Refund Policy
Last updated · May 10, 2026
We keep this policy short and clear. Refunds are intentionally narrow — every Tohfa order commits a bakery, kitchen, or florist to real work, and we want customers to know up front what is and isn't covered.
When we refund
Three situations, narrowly defined:
- You cancel before we start preparing.If your order is still “Confirmed” in your order timeline (not yet “Preparing”), message us and we refund 100% — including any cash gift attached. Once the status moves to “Preparing,” ingredients and labour are committed and this no longer applies.
- Our mistake or a defect with the delivered item. Wrong item, damaged on arrival, a cake design materially different from what you ordered, food that arrived spoiled, or anything else not up to standard. Send us a photo of the issue on WhatsApp within 24 hours of delivery. We refund the affected item in full, or remake it — your choice.
- We genuinely cannot fulfil your order.If an obstacle outside both of our control (security closure, sustained road inaccessibility, etc.) makes delivery impossible and we cannot agree on a workable alternative date within a reasonable time, we refund the undelivered portion. This is the consumer-law floor we're obliged to honour even though it's rare in practice — we reschedule successfully in the vast majority of these cases.
When we don’t refund
Outside the three cases above, refunds don't apply. The most common scenarios:
- The order has been delivered as described. Taste preferences, change of mind after the fact, or second-guessing the choice of gift are not grounds for a refund.
- Incorrect or incomplete address.If the address you provided led the courier to the wrong location or no location at all, that's on the customer. We'll try to help — a fresh delivery may carry new courier costs.
- Recipient is unavailable on the agreed day. Our courier calls before arriving. If the recipient can't take delivery, we reschedule with you for the next practical date. Rescheduling is included; the order itself is not refundable on this basis alone.
- Delays we can work around.Severe weather, short-term road closures, power outages, or other transient obstacles — we reschedule. A delay that ultimately results in a successful delivery doesn't create a refund right.
14-day right of withdrawal (EU / UK customers)
EU Directive 2011/83/EU and the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015 give consumers a general 14-day right to withdraw from distance contracts. That right has exceptions, and Tohfa orders sit inside those exceptions for two reasons:
- Our cakes, flowers, and food are perishable goods liable to deteriorate rapidly — exempted under Article 16(d) of the Directive.
- Our gift boxes, cake designs, and personal messages are personalised to your order — exempted under Article 16(c).
In plain language: once we begin preparing your order, the 14-day cool-off does not apply. Up until that point, you can cancel for a full refund as described above.
How to request a refund
- Message us on WhatsApp or email [email protected] with your order number (begins with “TF-”).
- Tell us what happened. If the issue is with the delivered item (damaged, wrong, etc.), attach a photo. The clearer the evidence, the faster we resolve.
- We aim to respond within 24 hours. Once approved, refunds are issued to your original payment method through Stripe and typically appear in your account within 5-10 business days, depending on your bank.
Cash gifts
Cash attached to a refunded order is returned to your card with the rest of the refund. Cash already delivered to the recipient cannot be reversed — once it's in their hands, the transfer is considered complete.
Service fees
The 5% cash-gift service fee is refunded when the cash gift itself is refunded. Same-day express surcharges are refunded when we fail to deliver same-day for reasons within our control.
Chargebacks
Before opening a chargeback dispute with your bank, please message us. Most issues we can resolve in a day; chargebacks take weeks, hurt our merchant standing, and can delay your refund. We'll always work with you in good faith first.
Questions? Email [email protected] or reach us on WhatsApp.