General Terms and Conditions

Courses

1. Scope of application

The following General Terms and Conditions apply to language courses and additional services of Sprachstudio Köln.

2. Course duration and prices

The course duration amounts to the units stated in the course plan. 1 unit = 45 minutes. The course fee and necessary textbooks will be stated in the course plan.

The course plan will be provided by Sprachstudio Köln, changes of dates and times are reserved.

In order to guarantee the success of the language course, the units of class as well as the self-study are mandatory by 80%. If the participant doesn´t meet these requirements, Sprachstudio Köln subjects to transfer the participant to a course matching their level or to refuse to issue a certificate of attendance (see point 10.).

Furthermore the participant is obligated to be on time for classes. Delay or absence have to be excused. There is no claim for information regarding missed educational content by the language coach.

Courses can be booked weekly as well. The participant is not required to book a complete month.

3. Registration and conclusion of contract

The registration follows by completing the online form via our website or completing and signing the PDF registration form. By signing the registration form/clicking "kostenpflichtig anmelden", the participant is obligated to pay the course fee within the indicated time (see point 4.) As Sprachstudio Köln offers a free trial class and free consultation, it is not possible to switch to another level once the course that the participant has registered for has started. It is also not possible to credit payments from an intensive course to one-to-one lessons. (also see point 5. for withdrawal from the contract.)

There is no entitlement to a specific language coach. Sprachstudio Köln also subjects to change the language coach, this does not entitle the participant to terminate the contract. Sprachstudio Köln reserves to refuse registrations.

Course Times, Prices and Terms can furthermore be changed at any time and without preannouncement. German legislation applies.

4. Terms of payment

Fees for the services provided in the contract are due not later than 7 calendar days before the course starts, if the registration followed later, the fees are due immediately. The prices listed on www.sprachstudiokoeln.com at the time of registration apply. Fees can be payed cash or by transfer. If the fee is tranferred, the registration is valid at the day of receipt, not the day the participant initiated the transfer. A deferred payment can only happen after explicit agreement with Sprachstudio Köln and is only possible starting from an amount of 1,000€. With deferred payment, the price reductions offered by Sprachstudio Köln expire. If you apply for a Visa with the registration certificate issued by Sprachstudio Köln, deferred payment is not possible.

For delayed payments, we charge a fee of 10€ per request for payment. Sprachstudio Köln also subjects to preclude participant who have not payed the complete fees from the courses as their payed time in the course expires. A refund of the amount payed to that point of time is not possible in any case.

5. Withdrawal from the contract

A withdrawal from the contract is only possible in exceptional cases. These include relocation, longer illness as well as refusal of a visa. Withdrawal is only possible with submission of official documents, i.e. an embassy or a doctor. The application for withdrawal has to be in writing.

There will be a refund of 50% of the balance in case the participant already attended courses. If a visa was granted with the registration at Sprachstudio Köln, withdrawal from the contract and refund is not possible in any case.

6. Illness

For illnesses that continue longer than one week, there is the possibility to credit the missed hours on presentation of a doctor´s certificate from the first day of illness. How and when those missed hours will be made up for will be decided in agreement with Sprachstudio Köln.

In case of illness of a language coach, Sprachstudio Köln endeavours to organize a substitute language coach. If a replacement is not possible, cancelled lectures will be made up for as soon as possible and in agreement with the participants.

7. Vacation

If Sprachstudio Köln has been informed about the vacation 7 calendar days prior to beginning of vacation, it is possible to credit missed hours. This can happen personally, over the phone or in writing. At information in writing, the date of entry applies.

8. Public holidays and holidays

Sprachstudio Köln is closed on public holidays. All language coaches at Sprachstudio Köln are entitled to holidays. The participants will be informed about time and duration in advance. Sprachstudio Köln endeavours to organize a substitute coach for this time, but does not guarantee this.

9. Teaching materials

In order to participate in courses at Sprachstudio Köln, the participant is obliged to purchase the predefined textbook and possible additional materials not later than by the third day of language course. If this does not happen, this can lead to exclusion of the language course until the participant owns these materials. Other options have to be discussed with Sprachstudio Köln.

10. Terms of participation and Participation Certificate

If a participant attends less than 80% of the lessons in the intensive course, the claim to attend the following course resp. the next level expires. Sprachstudio Köln reserves the right to reassess the participants level. This does not entitle the participant to withdraw from the contract. A participation certificate will be issued once the participant has attended at least 80% of the lessons in the intensive course. If this is not the case, the claim to a participation certificate expires.

11. Special arrangements

All exceptions and special arrangements that differ from the conditions stated here need to be discussed with Sprachstudio Köln and fixated in writing as well as signed by both partys. Verbal agreements are not legal.

12. Insurance

Sprachstudio Köln does not provide insurance for participants against illness and accident or theft, loss or damage of personal belongings. Sprachstudio Köln does not accept responsibility for accidents during courses, excursions or other activities. Therefore it is urgently recommended tha t the participant takes care of insurance coverage.

13. Misbehaviour

Proper and disciplined behavior towards other participants and the staff of Sprachstudio Köln is assumed. Violations against applicable regulations, customs resp. house rules can lead to termination of the contract with immediate effect. Refunds will not be granted in this case.

14. Force majeure and liability

Neither Sprachstudio Köln nor their staff can be held liable for default or delayed compliance of contractual liabilities and/or for damages due to force majeure, especially due to natural disasters such as storm, earthquake, flooding or due to other causes beyond their responsibilities and sphere of influence such as strike, disturbance, riots, malicious injury, war, explosions, onset of an epidemic etc.

15. Duty of supervision and care

Sprachstudio Köln does not undertake duties of supervision and care beyond the booked services for any participant. Should the behavior of a participant cause for concern, the duty of Sprachstudio Köln is limited to inform a legal guardian.

16. Storage of data

The information regarding the participant and the language course of his/her choice will only be gathered in order to fulfill the contract. They will not be passed on to a third party.

One-to-one coaching

1. Scope of application

The General Terms and Conditions above as well as the following additions apply to one-to-one coaching at Sprachstudio Köln.

2. Duration of the coaching and prices

One session of one-to-one coaching amounts to 45 minutes to the prices stated on www.sprachstudiokoeln.com.

3. Registration and conclusion of contract

The registration follows by completing and signing the registration form. By signing the registration form, the participant is obligated to pay the fee within the indicated time.

Course Times, Prices and Terms can furthermore be changed at any time and without preannouncement. German legislation applies.

3. Validity of the lessons booked

The participant is free to book as many lessons as wanted. Should the participant not make use of those lessons within a period of six months, these lessons lapse irrevocable.

4. Appointment arrangement and punctuality

The appointments for one-to-one coaching have to be fixed at least 7 days in advance. In case the participant is not able to attend the coaching, the appointment can be cancelled 48 hours in advance. Should a cancellation be made later, the fee for the agredd lesson becomes due anyway.

Should the participant be late, he is obligated to let the language coach know. There is no claim to make up for the missed time due to a late arrival.