Consumer Rights for Students in Japan
(Specified Continuous Services under the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions)
If your Program constitutes a Specified Continuous Service under the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions of Japan, you are entitled to the following statutory rights. Whether your Program falls within this category depends on the nature, duration and total contract amount of the Program as prescribed by Japanese law.
1. Cooling-off Right
You may cancel your Contract within eight (8) days after receiving the Outline/Invoice.
To exercise this right:
- send written notice to LTL before the end of the cooling-off period;
- email is acceptable where permitted by Japanese law;
- the notice is effective once sent within the statutory period.
If cooling-off is exercised:
- the Contract will be cancelled;
- no cancellation fee or penalty will be charged;
- LTL will refund all amounts paid by you in accordance with Japanese law;
- if any related goods purchased through LTL are covered by the Act, those goods may also be cancelled.
2. Mid-term Cancellation
After the cooling-off period has expired, you may still terminate your Contract at any time before completion of the Program.
Refunds will be calculated in accordance with the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions.
You will generally be responsible only for:
- payment for services already provided;
- Payment for any related goods already supplied to the Student, to the extent permitted by applicable law; and
- a cancellation charge permitted by Japanese law.
If the amount already paid exceeds the amount legally payable, LTL will refund the balance.
Maximum Cancellation Charges
a. If the Program has not yet started
The maximum cancellation charge is: 15,000 JPY
or the actual contract amount paid, whichever is lower.
b. If the Program has already started
The amount payable upon cancellation shall be the total of the following:
- 15,000 JPY;
- The tuition corresponding to the portion of the Program already completed; and
- Twenty percent (20%) of the tuition for the remaining unprovided portion of the Program, subject to a maximum of 50,000 JPY.
If the Student has already paid more than the amount legally payable, LTL will refund the balance in accordance with the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions.
LTL will never charge more than the amount permitted by law.
3. Refund Method
Any refund due will normally be made using the original payment method unless otherwise agreed. Refunds will be processed within a reasonable period after confirmation of the cancellation.
Any bank charges, transfer fees, exchange rate differences, or fees imposed by payment providers in connection with the refund shall be borne by the Student, to the extent permitted by applicable law
4. Related Goods
If you purchased educational materials or other goods that are legally regarded as “related goods” under the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions together with your Program, those goods may also be subject to the cooling-off or mid-term cancellation rules.
Examples may include:
- textbooks;
- educational materials;
- CDs;
- DVDs;
- digital learning media.
Whether a particular item qualifies depends on Japanese law.
5. How to Cancel
To cancel the Contract, the Student shall send a written cancellation notice by email to the Student Advisor assigned to the Student
The cancellation notice should include:
- The Student’s full name;
- The Program;
- The date of the cancellation request; and
- A clear statement that the Student wishes to cancel the Contract.
6. Applicable Law
These consumer rights are provided under the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions of Japan and apply only where the Program constitutes a Specified Continuous Service under that Act.