Refund Policy

This is a courtesy translation. The Korean version is the legally binding text; if the two differ, the Korean prevails. This policy sets out how and when steps and reading passes purchased on Telling are refunded. It follows the Act on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce and Article 5 of the Terms of Service; where this policy and the Terms read differently, the reading more favourable to you applies.

1. Scope

This policy applies to step top-ups, Story Saju reading passes, and A Dog's Life and A Cat's Life reading passes purchased on the Telling website and app.

Payment methods are domestic card and mobile payment in Korea (NICEPAY), overseas payment (Stripe), and app store billing (App Store, Google Play). For app store purchases the store's own refund procedure and policy apply first; if the store refunds a purchase, the Company withdraws the steps and passes it granted.

Steps granted without payment, such as sign-up bonuses, event rewards, and rewards for watching ads, and bonus steps granted together with a top-up, are free goods and are not refundable.

2. Refunds of step top-ups

If you request within 7 days of payment and none of the steps granted by that payment (bonus included) have been spent, the full payment is refunded.

Steps are granted per payment and your balance does not distinguish between payments, so once any step from a payment has been spent, that payment can no longer be refunded. The remaining steps stay available in the Service.

A once-per-account product such as the first-purchase pack does not become available again after a refund. This prevents the same benefit from being claimed repeatedly through refunds.

3. Refunds of reading passes (Story Saju, A Dog's Life, A Cat's Life)

A pass remains unused until the result is generated. While unused, it is refunded in full if you request within 7 days of payment.

The moment a result is generated the pass is used and delivery of the digital content is complete, so after that point it is not refundable under Article 17(2) of the Act on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce. You can check this rule in this policy and in Article 5 of the Terms of Service before paying.

If a result could not be generated or cannot be opened because of an error on the Company's side, the payment is refunded in full regardless of the period, or the result is generated again if you prefer.

4. How to request a refund and processing time

Request a refund by email to our support address (info@twostepsahead.co.kr). Include the account you signed up with (email or sign-in method) and the order number. The order number is shown on the payment completion screen and in the usage history on your My page.

The Company replies within 3 business days of receiving the request, and approved refunds are returned to the payment method used. Depending on the card issuer and payment provider, it can take 3 to 10 business days for the money to arrive.

When a refund is processed, the steps and passes granted by that payment are withdrawn. If steps are spent while a refund is being processed, the refund may be cancelled.

5. Overseas payments (Stripe)

Payments made on the English and Japanese screens are processed through Stripe, and the refund rules above apply. Refunds are returned in the currency you paid, to the payment method you used; differences caused by exchange rates between the time of payment and the time of refund follow the policies of the payment provider and card issuer.

For payments through Stripe, Stripe acts as the Merchant of Record and handles payment and tax. This is shown on the payment screen and on your receipt. To request a refund, contact our support address and we will process it through Stripe.

If a chargeback is filed through the payment provider, the Company may withdraw the steps and passes granted by that payment.

6. Exceptions and changes to this policy

The Company may refuse a refund, or take necessary legal action, for payments made with someone else's payment method without authorisation, payments by accounts restricted for violating the Terms of Service, and repeated abuse of the refund process.

If the Company terminates the Service, it will announce this before the closing date and will refund remaining paid steps or take equivalent measures.

Changes to this policy are announced within the Service 7 days before they take effect. Changes unfavourable to users are announced 30 days in advance.

Effective date: 2026-08-24