Payment Policies

Dues Refund Policy

A Partner that has applied for Partnership and has been approved agrees to pay annual dues at the time of application or at the beginning of their renewal year. As a non-profit, 501(c)6 organization, we greatly appreciate your support of our mission. As such, all Partner dues, every program, and every event organized by the Columbia Chamber must be mindful of its budget and therefore, we have a no refund policy. The Columbia Chamber will honor and uphold the Partnership for one year at which time Partnerships are recurring unless The Columbia Chamber is otherwise notified by the Partner. Partners that do not comply with Partner guidelines, procedures, and regulations shall be removed from the Chamber's Partnership by a two-thirds vote of the Board. If the Partner is on a payment plan the Partner has agreed and is bound to the agreed upon amount of dues for the one year term of the Partnership with a credit card on file at which time the Partnership can be reevaluated. The Partner of course has the opportunity to terminate their Partnership at any time and for any reason without refund. Columbia Chamber Partnerships dues are 90% tax-deductible as ordinary and necessary expenses. 

Registration Event Cancellation Policy

The Columbia Chamber must maintain a cancellation policy for events in order to properly plan for catering, venue expenses, and marketing efforts. The Columbia Chamber works hard to ensure that every partner dollar is spent responsibly. Unless stated otherwise, Chamber reservations must be canceled in writing five business days prior to the event to be eligible for a refund, less a 50% processing fee. No refunds will be issued after the event. No-shows will be charged in full. Substitutions are welcome at any time. All refund requests must be made by the registrant or credit card holder. Refund requests must include the name of the registrant and/or transaction number. Refunds will be issued by check. 

Event Cancellation Policy

The Columba Chamber reserves the right to refuse/cancel event registrations. If the Columbia Chamber refuses a registration, registrants will be offered a refund. The Columbia Chamber reserves the right to cancel an event due to low enrollment, inclement weather or other circumstances which would make the event non-viable. If the Columbia Chamber cancels an event, registrants will be notified and offered options to roll-over their event fees to the postponed event or receive a refund. 

Sponsorship Cancellation Policy

The Columbia Chamber does not offer refunds on any sponsorships. 

Marketing Services Cancellation Policy

Marketing services are not refundable and must be used in the year purchased unless other arrangements are agreed to by both parties in writing. 

Privacy Policies

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce respects the privacy of online visitors and members. 

Definition of Personally Identifiable Information

"Personally identifiable information" means any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual who is the subject of the information. This includes information such as names, addresses, social security numbers and credit card numbers. 

Personally Identifiable Information Not Routinely Collected

Users are not required to provide personal information simply to visit the Columbia Chamber web site or to access information. Columbia Chamber may request personally identifiable information in order to authenticate identities when requesting access to some types of information. 

Use, Collection and Retention of Personal Identifiable Information

While the IP addresses of computers used to visit the Columbia Chamber website are noted through statistical analysis, the Columbia Chamber does not attempt to gain personally identifiable information on the users associated with the IP addresses. 

Use of Cookies

The Columbia Chamber web site might create "cookies" on systems belonging to Columbia Chamber web site visitors. Information stored in cookies is handled in the same way as other personally identifiable information. No user information will be gathered through the use of cookies except that which is required to run the specific application(s) being accessed by the user and to provide information that is used to improve the Columbia Chamber's web site. 

Use of Constituent E-mail Addresses

E-mail addresses obtained as a result of requests to the Columbia Chamber's web site will not be sold or given to any organization outside of the Columbia Chamber for marketing purposes. The information collected is subject to the access and confidentiality provisions of the South Carolina Code of Laws and/or federal law. E-mail or other information requests sent to Columbia Chamber web site may be maintained in order to: respond to the request, forward that request to the appropriate person or provide the Columbia Chamber web designer with user feedback to assist in improving the site.

Discrimination Policy

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce believes that a policy prohibiting discrimination and harassment is in the best interests of our organization and our Partners. For this reason, it will be the policy of the Chamber to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws relating to discrimination or harassment based on race, color, national origin, religious, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or political beliefs.