Terms & Conditions
Last updated: October 20, 2026
Richard Toad ("we," "us," or "our") operates www.richardtoad.com and newsletter.richardtoad.com (the "Service").
Please read these Terms carefully before using the Service. By accessing or using any part of the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to all of them, you may not access the Service.
Subscriptions and Billing
Some parts of the Service are billed on a subscription basis ("Subscriptions"). You are billed in advance on a recurring basis ("Billing Cycle"): monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on the plan you select at purchase.
At the end of each Billing Cycle, your Subscription automatically renews under the same conditions unless you or Richard Toad cancel it. You may cancel through your online account page or by contacting us.
A valid payment method, such as a credit card or PayPal, is required. You must provide accurate and complete billing information, including your full name, address, state, ZIP code, phone number, and valid payment details. By submitting this information, you authorize Richard Toad to charge all Subscription fees incurred through your account to that payment method.
Cancellation
You are responsible for canceling your Subscription before the end of the current Billing Cycle if you do not want it to renew. Richard Toad is not liable for renewal charges resulting from your failure to cancel.
We will automatically cancel your Subscription to minimize accidental renewals. You keep access through the end of the billing period you have already paid for. If you manually resubscribe after cancellation, you accept these Terms and agree that we will formally contest any related chargeback or payment dispute.
Refund Policy
Except where required by law, Subscription fees are non-refundable. We do not provide refunds or credits for partial Subscription periods or for any period in which you have already received the value of the Service. Once a payment is processed, you are responsible for the fees for the entire Billing Cycle, whether or not you use the Service.
Your first annual payment is non-refundable, with no exceptions.
Refunds for accidental renewals are available on request within 7 days of the renewal date (for example, a March 16, 2027 renewal is eligible for a refund through March 23, 2027). Refunds are limited to one per customer.
Payment Disputes
If you have a payment-related issue, please contact us first so we can resolve it.
Initiating a payment dispute or chargeback with your payment provider immediately ends your access to the disputed product, even if the dispute is later resolved or reversed. Anyone who disputes a payment without contacting us first will be permanently banned from all of our services.
Failed Payments
If a renewal payment fails for any reason, access may be terminated immediately. A grace period offered by the payment processor or website platform does not guarantee continued access. Because the full value of a product can be accessed during a grace period, Subscriptions with failed payments may be canceled at our discretion. Reinstatement, if permitted, may require repayment and may be denied for any reason.
If automatic billing fails, we may send an electronic invoice requesting manual payment of the full amount for that billing period by a stated deadline.
If a payment still fails after two retries, your Subscription is canceled. If you sign up again later, you will pay the price in effect at that time, not your previous or discounted rate. Missed payments permanently void grandfathered pricing.
Fee Changes
Richard Toad may change Subscription fees at any time at its sole discretion. Any change takes effect at the end of the then-current Billing Cycle. We will give you reasonable advance notice so you can cancel before the change takes effect.
Your continued use of the Service after a fee change takes effect constitutes your agreement to pay the new amount.
Scope of Purchase
Your purchase grants access only to the specific product or service identified at checkout and in your order confirmation. It does not include any other product, service, subscription, database, job board access, newsletter tier, consulting session, or content offered by Richard Toad or Cheng Gong Consulting LLC, whether currently available or released in the future, unless that item is expressly listed as included in your order.
Purchasing any product or service, including rΓ©sumΓ© editing, job boards, databases, written content, templates, or digital resources, does not entitle you to career advice, coaching, strategic guidance, or personalized consultation unless those services are explicitly included in the product description at the time of purchase.
Statements such as:
"I bought your [product/service], so I was hoping you could advise meβ¦"
"Since I'm a customer, can you tell me what role I should pursue?"
"Given what I purchased, can you answer this career question?"
do not create any entitlement to career advice, follow-up consultation, or individualized guidance. No advisory services are implied, inferred, bundled, or included by default.
Your Responsibility Before Purchase
By purchasing, you confirm that you have read and understood the product descriptions, these Terms, and the frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the Service. It is your responsibility to review this information before buying.
Intellectual Property and Resale Prohibition
All content, research, analysis, data, insights, and other materials provided through the Service (collectively, "Intellectual Capital") are the exclusive property of Richard Toad and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other applicable intellectual property laws.
Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, sharing, resale, or commercial exploitation of any Intellectual Capital, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
Richard Toad actively monitors for violations and will pursue legal action, including claims for damages and injunctive relief, against any individual or entity that resells, repurposes, or otherwise misuses our Intellectual Capital without express written permission.
Accounts
When you create an account, you must provide accurate, complete, and current information at all times. Failure to do so is a breach of these Terms and may result in immediate termination of your account.
You are responsible for safeguarding your password and for all activity under it, whether your password is with our Service or a third-party service. You agree not to disclose your password to anyone and to notify us immediately if you become aware of any security breach or unauthorized use of your account.
Termination
We may terminate or suspend your account immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including if you breach these Terms. Upon termination, your right to use the Service ends immediately.
If you wish to close your account, you may stop using the Service and cancel any active Subscription.
Service Availability and Third-Party Services
The Service may rely on or be hosted by third-party providers, including web hosting, infrastructure, and payment processing providers ("Third-Party Services"). Richard Toad does not control and is not responsible for the performance, availability, or reliability of any Third-Party Services.
We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation of the Service. Downtime, interruptions, delays, or failures may occur due to factors outside our control, including outages affecting Third-Party Services.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Richard Toad is not liable for any loss, damage, or inconvenience arising from any interruption, suspension, or unavailability of the Service caused by Third-Party Services, and is under no obligation to provide refunds, credits, or other compensation for such interruptions.
Links to Other Websites
The Service may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by Richard Toad. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, their content, privacy policies, or practices. You acknowledge and agree that Richard Toad is not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by your use of or reliance on any content, goods, or services available through those websites or services.
We strongly advise you to read the terms and privacy policies of any third-party websites or services you visit.
Privacy and Data Protection (GDPR)
Richard Toad is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of its users in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data protection laws.
Data collection and processing. We collect and process personal data only for the purposes described in our Privacy Policy. By using the Service, you consent to this collection and processing.
Data security. We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.
Data transfer. Your personal data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than the one where you live. We take all reasonable steps to ensure it is treated securely and in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.
Your rights. Under the GDPR, you have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data. For details on how to exercise these rights, see our Privacy Policy.
Data controller. Richard Toad is the data controller for personal data collected and processed through the Service.
Governing Law
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States, without regard to conflict-of-law provisions.
Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms is not a waiver of that right. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable by a court, the remaining provisions remain in effect. These Terms are the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Service and supersede any prior agreements.
Changes to These Terms
We may revise these Terms at any time. By continuing to access or use the Service after revisions take effect, you agree to be bound by the revised Terms. If you do not agree, please stop using the Service.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us.