Recurring Billing Policy

Cascade renewal status: this mode is not currently used by UnderVPN. Sections 2.3 and 3.4 describe proposed terms for enabling it. They do not change the User's existing consent to ordinary auto-renewal. Its effective date will be announced separately in accordance with section 12.2 of the Terms of Service, and enabling this mode will require the User's separate, explicit consent. Reduced cascade payments are not made until these conditions are met.

1. What auto-renewal is

Auto-renewal is the automatic charge of the cost of a new Subscription from the User's linked payment method at the end of the current paid period.

The purpose of auto-renewal is to ensure uninterrupted access to the Service without the need to make a manual payment for each period.

2. Consent to auto-renewal

2.1. Enabling auto-renewal

Auto-renewal is enabled only with the User's explicit consent at the moment of the first payment.

When placing a Subscription order, the User is shown a separate item regarding consent to auto-renewal, with a description of:

• The amount of the recurring charge
• The frequency of charges
• The payment method that will be used
• The ability to cancel at any time

Consent to auto-renewal is confirmed by activating the corresponding toggle (option) when placing the Subscription order.

2.2. Principles

• Explicit consent — consent to auto-renewal is expressed by an explicit action of the User when placing the Subscription order and is not assumed to be activated "by default"
• Separable consent — the User may pay for a one-time Subscription without activating auto-renewal
• Revocable consent — the User may revoke consent at any time (see section 6)

2.3. Consent to cascade renewal

Cascade renewal is an additional auto-renewal mode that renews a Subscription for a shorter paid period after an unsuccessful attempt to pay for the full period. It applies only to eligible Subscriptions and payment methods and only after the User gives separate, explicit consent to its terms.

Before consent is obtained, the User is shown the full period and price, how the period and amount are reduced, the applicable intervals and limit on repeated attempts, the notification process and how to disable auto-renewal. A record of this disclosure and consent is retained with its date and the identifier of the applicable terms revision.

A saved payment method and previous consent to ordinary auto-renewal do not, on their own, constitute consent to cascade renewal. Without separate consent, ordinary renewal for the full period applies. Cascade renewal stops when auto-renewal is disabled under section 6.

3. Automatic charge parameters

3.1. Charge amount

The amount of each recurring charge equals the cost of the Subscription at the moment of the charge, as displayed in the Dashboard.

For consented cascade renewal, the amount of a successful reduced payment is determined under section 3.4 and covers a shorter period, rather than the full period.

If the cost of the Subscription has changed since the previous charge, the User is notified of the new cost within a reasonable period before the charge date, ensuring that the User can review the updated cost and has the ability to cancel auto-renewal before the charge date. The User is entitled to opt out of auto-renewal before the charge date.

3.2. Charge date

The charge is processed 4 (four) days before the end of the current paid Subscription period.

The date of the next charge is stated in the notification of the upcoming charge (section 4). The specified timeframe may be changed by the Service for technical reasons in accordance with section 8 of this Policy.

3.3. Payment method

The payment method linked by the User during the first payment via the Payment Service engaged by the Service is used.

The User may change or remove the linked payment method in the Dashboard.

3.4. Period and amount for cascade renewal

The Service first attempts payment for the full period of the selected plan. If this attempt is unsuccessful and the User has consented to cascade renewal, subsequent eligible attempts may cover a shorter period.

For a full period of D days priced at A rubles, step k covers the integer part of D / 2^k days. The amount is calculated in proportion to the original full-period price and rounded up to a whole ruble. The full-period price is first accounted for to the nearest kopeck. Steps covering zero days are not used; applicable payment deadlines and limits also restrict the actual number of attempts. For this calculation, periods of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months correspond to 30, 90, 180 and 360 days.

For example, a full-period price of 199 rubles for 30 days gives this calculated sequence: 199 rubles for 30 days, 100 rubles for 15 days, 47 rubles for 7 days, 20 rubles for 3 days and 7 rubles for 1 day. This is a calculation example, not a promise that every attempt will be made. The price takes the Subscription parameters into account, including paid additional devices where applicable.

Each subsequent attempt is permitted only after the previous attempt is unsuccessful. The sequence stops after its first successful payment, and paid access is extended only for the period covered by that step. Unsuccessful attempts do not constitute payment. A reduced payment does not pay for the full period, and partial renewal does not, by itself, reset the traffic allowance.

The next renewal sequence starts with an attempt to pay for the full period of the selected plan. A shorter paid period may bring the next attempt forward compared with ordinary renewal. The applicable period, amount and date are disclosed before that attempt under section 4; changing the Subscription end date does not remove notification requirements.

4. Notifications before a charge

The Service sends the User a notification of the upcoming automatic charge no later than 3 (three) days before the charge date.

The notification includes:

• The date and time of the upcoming charge
• The charge amount
• The payment method
• The ability to cancel automatic renewal before the charge date

The notification is sent via the Telegram bot @gutvpn_bot — the primary channel for Subscription management and interaction with the Service. In certain cases, where the User has a confirmed email address, the notification may additionally be sent to that address.

The specified notification timeframe may be changed by the Service for technical reasons in accordance with section 8 of this Policy.

Before the first attempt in a cascade sequence, the notification also discloses how the period and amount are reduced, the available steps and the applicable attempt limit. A successful reduced payment is followed by confirmation of the amount and added period, the new access end date and information about the next automatic payment. If the next sequence cannot be notified within the timeframe required by this Policy, no automatic charge is made until that requirement is met; the User may renew access manually.

5. Failed charge

If an automatic charge fails (insufficient funds, expired card, issuing bank restrictions, regulatory changes, technical failures of the Payment Service, other reasons):

• The Service is entitled to retry the charge in accordance with the procedure and timeframes agreed with the engaged Payment Service
• The User is sent a notification of the failed charge with a request to update the payment method
• If none of the eligible attempts results in a successful payment, the Subscription is not renewed. Termination of the paid Subscription and related consequences (including transfer of the account to the free plan and irreversible loss of access to legacy plans where applicable) are governed by sections 4.6 and 4.7 of the Terms of Service

Reasons for failed charges related to actions (or inaction) of the User, the issuing bank, the engaged Payment Service, regulatory authorities or other third parties are outside the Service's control. The Service is not liable for suspension of access to the Service caused by such reasons, nor for any indirect consequences of such suspension for the User.

6. Cancelling auto-renewal

6.1. How to cancel

The User may cancel auto-renewal at any time via:

• Dashboard at my.undervpn.org or in the mini app of the Telegram bot @gutvpn_bot → "Payments" section → "Autopay"
• Telegram bot @gutvpn_bot → the "Disable autopay" button in the notification of the upcoming charge

Cancellation is immediate — no confirmations, forms, or support contact required.

6.2. Consequences of cancellation

When auto-renewal is cancelled:

• The current paid Subscription continues to be valid until the end of the paid period
• On the period end date, the Subscription is not renewed. Termination of the paid Subscription and related consequences (including transfer of the account to the free plan and irreversible loss of access to legacy plans where applicable) are governed by sections 4.6 and 4.7 of the Terms of Service
• The User may at any time resume manual payment on the current terms published in the Service at the time a new Subscription is placed

6.3. Removing the payment method

The User may completely remove the linked payment method in the Dashboard. After removal, auto-renewal becomes technically impossible.

7. Refunds on automatic charges

Refunds of the amount of an automatic charge are governed by the Refund Policy (sections 4 and 5 of that Policy).

As a general rule, upon a successful automatic charge, the service is deemed to have been rendered by the Service for the corresponding billing period. A refund of the amount of an automatic charge based on a change in the User's intent — including a pro-rata refund for the unused portion of the period — is not provided.

To avoid unwanted charges, the User is provided with the ability to cancel auto-renewal at any time in accordance with section 6 of this Policy. After auto-renewal is cancelled, no new charges are made and access to the Service is preserved until the end of the period already paid for.

Compensation in case of technical failures on the Service's side is provided in accordance with section 5 of the Refund Policy.

8. Changes to auto-renewal terms

The Service is entitled to change the parameters of auto-renewal (the amount of the recurring charge, the frequency). The User is notified of such changes within a reasonable period before they take effect, ensuring that the User can review the updated terms and has the ability to cancel auto-renewal before the next charge date.

If the User disagrees with the changes, the User is entitled to cancel auto-renewal before the changes take effect.

9. Compliance with applicable rules

9.1. General regulatory principles

This Policy takes into account the requirements of applicable law governing recurring payments. In particular:

• The User's consent to automatic charges is explicit, separable and revocable
• Notice of an upcoming charge is provided in advance, in accordance with section 4 of this Policy
• Cancellation is available without contacting support, through the Service's interface

9.2. Payment service requirements

Auto-renewal is processed via third-party Payment Services engaged by the Service. The technical aspects of the automatic collection of funds are governed by separate agreements between the Service and the engaged Payment Services.

10. Contacts

Questions about automatic Subscription renewal should be sent to the email address support@undervpn.org.

Change history

Version	Date	Changes
1.0	2026-05-19	First version
1.0	2026-09-29	Section 3.2: the charge is processed 4 (four) days before the end of the paid period (previously 2 days); Section 4: notification no later than 3 days before the charge; Sections 3.2 and 6.1: clarified where the charge date is stated and how to cancel auto-renewal (effective date — 2026-10-29)
1.0	2026-10-03	Added a clearly labelled proposal for cascade renewal, separate consent, period/amount calculation and notification requirements. Cascade renewal remains disabled; its effective date will be announced separately.