Subscription Terms

A CaskMatch subscription gives you access to the platform for the role you sign up under (Buyer, Seller, or Trader), subject to the feature set associated with that role and any platform-wide limits in force from time to time. The platform is an introduction service: subscriptions pay for access, valuation tooling, and the matchmaking layer. CaskMatch does not take commission on completed deals.

During the beta period, some or all subscription fees may be waived. Beta access is granted at our discretion and can be changed, paused, or withdrawn as the platform develops. We will tell you clearly before charging any user who previously had fee-free beta access.

Current plans, role tiers, and fees are shown on the platform. All amounts are in pounds sterling (GBP) unless stated otherwise. Prices and plan inclusions may change from time to time; where changes affect an existing subscription, we will tell you in advance and give you the option to cancel before the change takes effect.

When live billing is enabled, subscriptions are billed through Stripe. By starting a paid subscription, you authorise Katonah Platforms, LLC (which operates CaskMatch) to charge your payment method for the applicable fees and any taxes due at the start of each billing cycle. Stripe processes payments as an independent controller for the limited transaction data it collects from you.

All subscription and one-off fees displayed on the platform are exclusive of applicable sales, use, or value-added taxes, unless expressly stated otherwise. You are responsible for any taxes due based on your tax residency and billing country, which will be calculated and applied at checkout. Tax treatment will be detailed on your Stripe invoices and receipts.

You are responsible for keeping your billing details up to date and for any failed-payment fees imposed by your card issuer or bank.

Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each billing cycle until cancelled. The renewal amount is the then-current subscription fee for your role and tier. You can cancel renewal at any time before the next billing date through your settings or by contacting admin@caskmatch.com.

You can cancel your subscription at any time. After cancellation, your subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle, after which paid-tier features are turned off. Cancelling prevents automatic renewal but does not trigger a refund; unless required by law, fees already paid are non-refundable on a pro-rata basis when you cancel mid-cycle. Please refer to Section 7 (Refunds and statutory rights) for our detailed refund policies and statutory cancellation rights.

CaskMatch operates a clear and fair refund policy. Because our subscription model pays for real-time access to marketplace inventory, verified whisky cask listings, valuation intelligence, and matchmaking tooling (rather than taking transactional commissions), we do not offer general or change-of-mind refunds.

7.1 General principle

All fees paid to CaskMatch are for the specific subscription tier or credits purchased and the associated billing cycle. Subscriptions pay for platform access, not individual completed transactions.

7.2 No refund on voluntary cancellation

As stated in Section 6, when you voluntarily cancel your subscription, you retain platform access for the remainder of your pre-paid billing cycle. We do not provide pro-rata or partial refunds for unused days during that cycle.

7.3 Cancellation and auto-renewal rights

If you are subscribing as an individual consumer (rather than for a business, trade, or professional purpose), limited cancellation and auto-renewal rights may apply under the federal Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) and applicable state automatic-renewal laws (including, where applicable, California’s Automatic Renewal Law).

Where you log in and begin using the platform or access paid features immediately upon signup, you agree that the Services begin during any applicable cancellation period. You acknowledge that this immediate performance may limit cancellation rights to the extent permitted by applicable law.

7.4 Business and trade subscribers

CaskMatch is a platform designed primarily for commercial whisky brokers, trade merchants, and professional portfolio participants. If you register or subscribe on behalf of a company, limited liability partnership, sole trader business, or other commercial entity, you are contracting as a business. Business subscriptions are not subject to consumer cooling-off periods or statutory consumer refund regulations under applicable law.

7.5 Billing errors and duplicate charges

We want to make sure you are billed accurately. If you believe there has been a billing error, double-billing, or duplicate charge processed via Stripe, please contact us immediately. Upon verification of a system error or Stripe processing mistake, we will issue a full refund for the erroneous charge back to your original payment method.

7.6 Beta and go-live transitions

During the beta phase, access is free or waived as detailed in Section 2. If a billing system transition or error causes your payment method to be charged before the official billing go-live date without your explicit prior authorization, or if you are charged contrary to our communicated beta-extension agreements, we will promptly refund or void the charge.

7.7 Add-on credits and one-off packs

As set out in Section 8, one-off charges and add-on packs (such as extra bid credit allowances) are final and non-refundable once purchased, except where a billing error occurred or where required under applicable consumer-protection law.

7.8 Termination by CaskMatch

If CaskMatch terminates your active paid subscription without cause (for example, if we restructure the platform or discontinue a tier), we will refund a pro-rata portion of your most recent subscription fee representing the unused portion of your current billing cycle (as detailed in Section 10). If your account is suspended or terminated for cause (such as a material breach of our Terms of Service, Acceptable Use Policy, or non-payment), you will not be entitled to any refund.

7.9 How to request a refund

To dispute a charge or request a refund under any of the exceptions above:

• Send an email to admin@caskmatch.com with the subject line “Billing Dispute / Refund Request”.
• Include your registered account email, the date of the charge, the amount, and a brief explanation of the issue (e.g. duplicate charge, statutory cooling-off request, or billing error).
• Do not cancel your card or initiate a formal bank dispute before contacting us — we resolve valid billing errors directly and quickly.

We aim to review and respond to all refund requests within 5 business days. Approved refunds are processed immediately through Stripe and will be credited to your original payment card, typically taking 5 to 10 business days to appear on your statement depending on your financial institution.

7.10 Chargebacks and payment disputes

We encourage you to contact us directly to resolve billing disputes. If you initiate a chargeback or payment dispute with your bank or card issuer without first contacting us to seek an amicable resolution, we reserve the right to temporarily suspend or permanently terminate your CaskMatch account and blacklist your payment details to protect the platform against chargeback abuse.

From time to time CaskMatch may offer add-on packs or one-off charges (for example, additional bid credits beyond a tier’s included allowance). Add-on charges are taken at the point of purchase, are non-refundable except where required by law, and are subject to any usage limits or expiry windows shown at the time of purchase.

We may suspend or downgrade your access to paid features if a payment fails, if you breach the Terms of Service or the Acceptable Use Policy, or where required by law. We will tell you when we suspend or downgrade access and give you a chance to remedy a payment failure where appropriate.

We may terminate paid subscriptions, with reasonable notice, where we discontinue a tier, restructure the platform, or where continuing to provide the Services to you would be unlawful or commercially impractical. Where we terminate without cause, we will refund any unused portion of the most recent billing cycle, calculated on a pro-rata basis and processed in accordance with Section 7.

For clarity, CaskMatch does not take commission on completed cask deals. Subscription fees pay for access, data, and introductions. After introduction, the buyer and seller transact directly and CaskMatch is not a party to that transaction.

For general billing inquiries, billing disputes, or refund requests, please email admin@caskmatch.com. All formal refund requests must be submitted via email in accordance with the process outlined in Section 7.9.