Terms of Service

1. About These Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of Tutor GO! UK ("the Platform"), operated by A-Digital Works Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales ("we", "us", "our"). By creating an account or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

2. What We Are

Tutor GO! UK is a technology marketplace that connects language tutors with students. We are not a language school, employer, or educational institution. Tutors are independent contractors, not employees or agents of A-Digital Works Ltd. We do not supervise, direct, or control the content or methods of any lesson. We facilitate connections, process payments, and provide safety tools. The quality, suitability, and safety of any lesson is ultimately the responsibility of the participants.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account. Users aged 16-17 may register with verified parental or guardian consent. Users under 16 are not permitted to use the Platform under any circumstances. Minor students (16-17) must conduct in-person lessons in public locations only and must have a parent or guardian designated as a trusted contact.

4. Tutor Obligations

All tutors must complete an Enhanced DBS check before their profile is approved. This is non-negotiable and the cost is the tutor's responsibility. Tutors must provide valid government-issued identification for verification. Bunka-cho certification is optional but will be verified against the official registry if claimed. Tutors are independent contractors responsible for their own tax obligations, including registering with HMRC and reporting income. Tutors must comply with the Code of Conduct at all times, which includes no harassment or inappropriate behaviour, no solicitation of off-platform transactions, no attendance of lessons under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and no discriminatory behaviour of any kind.

5. Student Obligations

Students must comply with the Code of Conduct, attend booked lessons or cancel within the required notice period, treat tutors with respect and professionalism, and make timely and honest reports of any safety concerns.

6. Prohibited Conduct

The following conduct is strictly prohibited and will result in enforcement action up to and including permanent removal from the Platform:

Off-platform transactions: Arranging or conducting lessons outside the Platform to avoid fees. This results in a permanent ban for both parties.

Sharing contact information: Phone numbers, email addresses, social media handles, and URLs are automatically blocked in the messaging system. Attempts to circumvent this will result in account suspension.

Criminal or harmful conduct, MLM or pyramid scheme solicitation, discrimination or hate speech, filing false reports, and attempting to circumvent a ban are all grounds for immediate and permanent removal.

7. Lessons

In-person lessons are 50 minutes. Online lessons are available in 25, 50, 80, or 110 minute sessions. Trial lessons are offered at 50% off the tutor's standard rate for first-time student-tutor pairings. Lesson packages of 5 lessons (5% discount) or 10 lessons (10% discount) are available, valid for 90 days from purchase.

8. Lesson Venues

For in-person lessons, tutors indicate their available venue types: public places (cafes, libraries, co-working spaces), tutor's home, or student's home. The Platform does not select, endorse, or inspect any lesson venue. Users choose their own locations at their own risk. Home-based lessons (whether at the tutor's or student's home) are conducted entirely at the discretion and risk of both parties. The Platform strongly recommends public locations for all in-person lessons. Minor students (16-17) must conduct all in-person lessons in public locations only.

9. Payments & Fees

All payments are processed through Stripe. Students are charged at the time of booking. The Platform charges a commission on each lesson: 15% (standard), 12% (50+ lessons), or 10% (150+ lessons). Tutor payouts are subject to a 48-hour hold following lesson completion, followed by 2-3 business days for bank transfer. Transport costs are included in the tutor's hourly rate. There is no separate transport fee.

10. Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made 12 or more hours before the scheduled lesson receive a full refund. Cancellations made less than 12 hours before the scheduled lesson are charged in full. No-shows are charged in full. This policy applies equally to both students and tutors. Repeated cancellations or no-shows may result in account restrictions.

11. Safety

The Platform provides safety tools including an emergency button, check-in/check-out system, lesson sharing with trusted contacts, and a reporting system. In any emergency, call 999 first. Then report through the Platform. We take all safety reports seriously and investigate promptly. Critical incidents result in immediate suspension of the reported user pending investigation.

12. Account Enforcement

Enforcement follows a graduated approach: warning, temporary suspension, then permanent ban. Critical incidents (criminal activity, assault, harassment) result in immediate suspension without prior warning. Ban circumvention through new accounts is detected and results in immediate removal.

13. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, A-Digital Works Ltd shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform. Our total liability is limited to the commission fees paid by you in the 12 months preceding the claim. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any liability that cannot be excluded under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

14. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. You may close your account at any time through your account settings. Upon termination, unused package credits are forfeited.

15. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

For questions about these Terms, contact us at [EMAIL ADDRESS].