TutorMe — Terms of Service

1. Roles & Definitions

• Student/Learner ("Student"): a user who books or receives tutoring services.
• Tutor: a user who offers or delivers tutoring services through the Platform.
• Session: any scheduled or on‑demand tutoring engagement arranged via the Platform.
• Content: text, files, images, videos, messages, reviews, and other material posted, uploaded, or transmitted on the Platform.
• Payment Processor: our third‑party payments provider that processes card payments, payouts, refunds, and identity verification.

TutorMe provides the Platform to help Students and Tutors find each other and arrange Sessions. Except when explicitly stated, TutorMe is not a party to any contract between Student and Tutor and does not directly provide tutoring services.

2. Eligibility & Accounts

• You must be 16 years or older to use the Platform. If you are under 18, you must have permission from a parent or legal guardian. Tutors must be at least 18.
• When you create an account, you must provide accurate information and keep it up to date. We may request verification (e.g., student email or ID) and may refuse or revoke access at our discretion.
• You are responsible for safeguarding your login credentials and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately of unauthorized use.

3. Platform Use & Academic Integrity

• Use the Platform only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms and our policies, including the Academic Integrity Policy and Acceptable Use Policy (collectively, the "Policies").
• No cheating or misconduct. Tutors may not complete graded work on behalf of Students (e.g., writing assignments, solving take‑home exams, or providing unauthorized solutions). Students may not request or use such services.
• You must comply with your institution’s honor code and all applicable academic rules. Violations may result in suspension or termination.

4. Booking, Pricing, Cancellations & No‑Shows

• Booking & pricing. Tutors set their availability and pricing (where applicable). Prices shown at checkout are inclusive of VAT when required by law. Any Platform fees will be disclosed at checkout.
• Cancellations by Students. You may cancel a Session up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Within 24 hours, refunds are at the Tutor’s discretion unless local consumer law provides otherwise.
• Cancellations by Tutors. If a Tutor cancels, Students are entitled to a full refund or a free rebooking where possible.
• No‑shows. If a Student does not join within 15 minutes of the start time, the Session may be treated as completed and non‑refundable. If a Tutor does not join within 15 minutes, the Student may request a full refund.
• Disputes. Report issues within 72 hours of the Session end at info@tutor-me.nl with evidence (chat logs, files). TutorMe may facilitate resolution but is not an arbitrator or liable for outcomes.

5. Payments, Fees & Payouts

• Payments are processed by the Payment Processor; you may need to accept their terms and complete identity checks.
• Students. You authorize charges for booked Sessions and applicable fees/taxes. Chargebacks may lead to account action.
• Tutors. Payouts are made to your designated account via the Payment Processor, net of Platform fees, taxes, refunds, and adjustments. You are responsible for your own taxes and compliance.
• TutorMe may change fees or pricing, add new features, or run promotions. We will provide notice where required by law.

6. Non‑Circumvention

To maintain a safe and fair marketplace, you agree not to circumvent the Platform. Do not solicit or accept payments outside the Platform for Users you meet through TutorMe for so long as you maintain an account and for 6 months thereafter, unless we provide written consent.

7. Messaging, Recordings & Safety

• Keep communication on‑platform. Off‑platform communication is at your own risk.
• Sessions may not be recorded unless both parties give explicit written consent and recording complies with applicable law and institutional rules. You are responsible for retention and privacy of any recordings.
• Do not share sensitive personal data unnecessarily. Report safety concerns to info@tutor-me.nl.

8A. Educational Materials & Sharing Restrictions

• Tutor‑provided materials. Any slides, notes, problem sets, solution sketches, recordings, or other files a Tutor provides during or after a Session remain the intellectual property of the Tutor (or their licensors) unless expressly stated otherwise. You may use these materials only for your own personal study. You may not redistribute, resell, share publicly, upload to public or private repositories, group chats, or file‑sharing platforms, or otherwise make them available to third parties without the owner’s prior written consent.
• Platform‑hosted materials. Any documents, summaries, templates, question banks, videos, or other content hosted on the Platform (including items produced or commissioned by TutorMe) are owned by TutorMe or its licensors and are provided under a limited, non‑transferable license for your personal study use only. Copying, scraping, bulk downloading, re‑uploading, mirroring, or sharing outside the Platform is forbidden unless expressly permitted in writing by TutorMe or clearly labeled with an open license that allows such use.
• No derivative marketplaces or compilation sharing. You may not compile, curate, or sell libraries of materials sourced from the Platform or from Tutors, nor may you use them to build or train competing services.
• Permitted exceptions. Where materials are explicitly marked with an open license (e.g., Creative Commons) that allows sharing, you must follow the exact terms of that license (including attribution and non‑commercial restrictions, if any).

9. Reviews & Ratings

• Students may leave reviews and ratings after Sessions. Reviews must be truthful, fair, and not abusive or discriminatory.
• We may moderate or remove reviews that violate our Policies but are not obligated to do so.

10. Privacy & Data Protection

• TutorMe processes personal data in accordance with the EU GDPR and applicable Dutch law. See our Privacy Policy for details on data categories, purposes, lawful bases, and rights.
• By using the Platform, you authorize cross‑border transfers as needed to provide the service (with appropriate safeguards).

11. Consumer Rights & Right of Withdrawal (EU/EEA)

If you are a consumer in the EU/EEA, you may have a 14‑day right of withdrawal for service contracts made at a distance. However, you consent to the immediate performance of tutoring services scheduled within this period and acknowledge that you lose the right to withdraw once the Session has been fully performed. For partially delivered services, you may owe a proportionate amount.

12. Acceptable Use

1. Violate law, academic rules, or third‑party rights.
2. Post or transmit harmful, defamatory, obscene, hateful, or discriminatory Content.
3. Interfere with Platform security or integrity (e.g., scraping, reverse engineering, malware).
4. Impersonate another person or misrepresent your affiliation.
5. Use the Platform for advertising unrelated products/services without our written consent.

13. Intellectual Property of TutorMe

The Platform, including software, design, logos, trademarks, and content created by TutorMe, is protected by intellectual property laws. Except as permitted by law or these Terms, you may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from the Platform without our prior written consent.

14. Third‑Party Services

The Platform may link to or integrate with third‑party services (e.g., video conferencing, calendars, payments). TutorMe does not control and is not responsible for third‑party services. Your use of them is governed by their terms and privacy policies.

15. Suspension & Termination

We may suspend or terminate access to the Platform (including removal of Content) if you violate these Terms or our Policies, or to protect Users and the Platform. You may close your account at any time. Certain provisions survive termination (e.g., IP licenses for Platform operation, limitations of liability, dispute resolution, non‑circumvention for the stated period).

16. Disclaimers

• The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error‑free operation.
• TutorMe does not warrant any specific learning outcomes, grades, or results from Sessions.
• While we may conduct checks, we do not guarantee the identity, qualifications, or suitability of Users. Exercise appropriate caution.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

17. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, TutorMe and its directors, employees, and volunteers are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for lost profits, data, or goodwill, arising from or related to your use of the Platform.

Our total liability for any claim arising out of or relating to the Platform shall not exceed the greater of €100 or the total amount paid by you to TutorMe for Platform fees (excluding Tutor compensation) in the 12 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim. This does not limit liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or willful misconduct.

18. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless TutorMe from and against claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of your violation of these Terms, your Content, or your misuse of the Platform.

19. Changes to the Terms

We may modify these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will post the updated Terms and update the "Effective date" above. If changes materially affect your rights, we will provide additional notice (e.g., email or in‑app). Your continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

20. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Netherlands, without regard to conflict‑of‑laws rules. You and TutorMe submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in the Netherlands (with primary venue in Overijssel), except where mandatory law provides otherwise.

If you are a consumer in the EU/EEA, you may be entitled to use the ODR platform of the European Commission for online dispute resolution. Participation by TutorMe is voluntary unless mandated by law.

21. Contact

22. Additional Tutor Terms (if you are a Tutor)

• Qualifications. You represent that you possess the knowledge and skills to teach the subjects you offer.
• Profile & Content. Keep your profile accurate; do not make false claims about credentials.
• Professional Conduct. Be punctual, prepared, and respectful. Do not harass, discriminate, or engage in inappropriate conduct.
• Materials. Provide only materials you have rights to share. Respect copyright and licensing.
• Taxes & Compliance. You are solely responsible for tax filings and compliance with employment/contractor rules.
• Off‑platform contact & payments. Respect the Non‑Circumvention clause (Section 6).

23. Additional Student Terms (if you are a Student)

• Preparation & conduct. Be on time and ready. Treat Tutors and peers respectfully.
• Institutional rules. Comply with your academic institution’s policies, including exam and assignment rules.
• Technology. Ensure you have the required hardware, software, and connectivity for online Sessions.

24. Severability & Miscellaneous

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force and effect. No waiver is effective unless in writing and signed by TutorMe. You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them in connection with a merger, acquisition, or asset transfer.

Policy References (publish alongside these Terms)

• Privacy Policy (GDPR)
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Academic Integrity Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Refund & Cancellations Policy (summary of Section 4)