“You Didn’t Do the Work, So No Refund”: How to Test a Coaching Program’s Terms

Before you act#

These articles address consumer purchases in the United States and Canada; they are not a single North American legal regime. In Canada, provincial or territorial contract remedies vary; Ontario examples are labelled. In the United States, state laws and the facts of the transaction may add or change remedies. A report to a regulator is not an individual refund order. If you bought a course primarily for an existing business, consumer-law coverage may be different. Check your agreement and applicable local law; seek legal advice for a material loss.

Put the sales promise and condition side by side#

Ask for four specific records#

Request the refund clause as shown at checkout, its date/version, a log of missed tasks the seller relies on, and a log of promised coaching actually delivered. If you missed conditions plainly presented before purchase, say so; a missed condition does not make every other misleading claim disappear.

Reply without making legal threats#

I understand your position that [specific condition] was unmet. Please provide the checkout terms in force on [date], where that condition was disclosed, the records showing my alleged non-compliance, and the delivery log for the promised [coaching/support]. The ad stated “[quote].” Please explain how your refund decision addresses the difference between that promise and what was provided.

Escalate according to jurisdiction#

In Ontario, an alleged false or misleading representation can support a notice to withdraw within the period described by the province; the remedy depends on the facts and coverage. Elsewhere in Canada consult the applicable provincial law. In the U.S., dispute a non-delivered service with the card issuer and report suspected deceptive marketing to the FTC; no U.S.-wide rule turns every “no refund” clause into an automatic refund. Ontario unfair-practice remedies↗ · CFPB on undelivered purchases↗

Frequently asked questions#

▪Is an onerous homework requirement automatically illegal?

No. The issue is whether the condition was clear before purchase and how it relates to the promise and services actually delivered.

▪What if I did complete the homework?

Save timestamps, submissions, portal logs and requests for feedback. Compare them with the seller’s stated criteria.

▪Can I demand proof of everyone else’s results?

Ask the seller for the basis of any quantified claim; do not assume they will disclose other customers’ private records.

Your next move#

Send the four-record request today and keep the seller’s exact response.

Official sources#

• FTC: coaching scam red flags↗
• Ontario: misleading representation and cancellation↗
• CFPB: purchase refund/dispute↗

**Editorial note:** Any scenario labelled illustrative is fictional. Do not imply that the named agencies investigated the hypothetical seller or that a refund is guaranteed.