Terms and Conditions of the Swiss Language Academy (SLA Basel) for group courses (valid from 1 January 2022)
By registering, you accept and agree to the following general terms and conditions of SLA Basel.
1. General
The cost of course materials is not included in the course fee. These will be listed separately on the invoice. They amount to a flat rate of CHF 50. Participants will generally receive teaching materials and other documents in the form of copies.
2. Registration and payment terms
By registering, participants confirm that they have taken note of these general terms and conditions and agree to them. Otherwise, the provisions of the Swiss Code of Obligations shall apply
Registration is binding. Once participants have registered for a course, you will receive a registration confirmation from us.
Once the requested group course has been organised, participants will receive the course schedule and the invoice separately by email. The payment deadline stated on the invoice is binding. Upon request, the course fee can be paid in instalments. In the case of instalment payments, the 1st instalment is due at the start of the course. The remaining instalments are to be paid monthly in accordance with the payment deadline. Registration and the course schedule sent separately by email create a binding obligation to pay the course fee. Failure to pay the course fee does not constitute a cancellation. In the event of payment default, SLA Basel reserves the right to charge CHF 20 for each of the 2nd and 3rd payment reminders. If payment is still not made, SLA Basel reserves the right to initiate debt collection proceedings.
Registrations with the Caritas KulturLegi can only be accepted for group courses with three or more participants. Separate terms and conditions apply to group courses using vouchers from the Canton of Basel-Stadt for newly arrived residents.
3. Materials owned by Swiss Language Academy
If SLA Basel provides material on a rental or loan basis, it remains the property of SLA Basel for the entire duration of the service use. The creation of liens and rights of retention in favour of third parties on this material is strictly prohibited. In the event of seizure, retention or arrestment, participants are obliged to inform SLA Basel immediately and to notify the competent debt collection or bankruptcy office of SLA Basel's ownership. Upon termination of the service use, participants are obliged to return the material undamaged to SLA Basel within the deadline set by SLA Basel. If participants fail to meet this obligation, SLA Basel reserves the right to invoice the unreturned material.
4. Placement test and consultation
If you have previous knowledge, please visit our front office for a placement test and a subsequent consultation. The test and consultation are free of charge and non-binding. The final course allocation will be made by our course advisors after the consultation.
5. Admission after the course has started
Subject to availability, participants may join an already running course at any time in consultation with authorised persons. In this case, all obligations relate to the remaining duration of the course in accordance with the course programme. The course fee is reduced and calculated from the date of joining.
6. Continuation of the course
Before the end of the course, participants can receive a course continuation form for the next higher level. Where possible, the courses will continue at the same time.
7. Shorter participation period
A shorter period of participation is possible if there are free places on the course, provided that the earlier departure has already been noted in writing on the registration form when registering for this course period.
8. Cancellation or postponement of a group course prior to the start of the course
For cancellations received by SLA Basel more than 14 days before the start of the course, an administration fee of CHF 200 will be charged. Cancellation must be made in writing, either by email or letter. The decisive date is the date on which the notification is received by SLA Basel. Cancellations received by us less than 14 days before the start of the course are considered late and can no longer be accepted. In this case, the participant must pay the entire course fee, as the course, rooms and teachers have already been organised. Accordingly, SLA Basel expressly reserves the right to claim damages (the lost course fees) in accordance with Article 404, paragraph 2 of the Swiss Code of Obligations for cancellations received less than 14 days before the start of the course.
9. Cancellation of a group course after the course has started
Group courses have a fixed duration and are generally non-cancellable after the course has started. Course fees must be paid by the due date and there is no refund for course fees already paid. In the event of prolonged illness and upon presentation of a doctor's certificate, a credit note for a later course may be issued. The issued credit note cannot be paid out in cash. It is valid for one year from the date of issue. This credit note can be used to attend an identical language course at SLA Basel.
10. Absences in group lessons: holidays, illness and other absences
If you are unable to attend a group lesson, you must notify the office as soon as possible by telephone or email. Missed lessons cannot be made up or refunded. This also applies in the event of illness or other reasons for absence that are beyond the school's control. The course participant will be charged the normal fee, as the teacher has been called in and the room reserved.
11. Organisation and delivery of group classes
The group courses have a minimum and maximum number of participants. If there are insufficient participants, the course will be postponed. For organisational reasons, SLA Basel may reschedule or combine existing and planned courses. If participants overestimate their language level and register for a course, but the group teacher determines that their language level is too low or too high, SLA Basel has the right to change the course in consultation with the participants or to exclude them from the course. If such a course change occurs due to the participant's careless registration, the participant is obliged to pay for the registered course.
Each lesson lasts 45 minutes. For teaching reasons, a minimum of two lessons per appointment is required.
You are not entitled to a specific type of lesson, but you are welcome to make suggestions for improvement.
There is no entitlement to choose the teacher. As a rule, all booked lessons are conducted by the same teacher. In the event of illness of the teacher or in exceptional cases, a change of teacher will take place.
12. Reservations
SLA Basel reserves the right to dispose of course places that have not been paid for by the start of the course. For organisational reasons, SLA Basel reserves the right to reschedule, reassign and combine classes.
13. Course confirmation
At the end of the private lessons, SLA Basel will issue course participants with a course certificate stating the number of lessons attended, if requested.
14. Privacy policy
Swiss Language Academy takes the protection of your personal data seriously and complies with the provisions of the Data Protection Act. Your personal data will be used exclusively for internal purposes such as correspondence and information about new offers. Under no circumstances will your personal data be sold or passed on to third parties.
15. Insurance and liability
Swiss Language Academy is liable for damage caused by gross negligence or intent, fraudulently concealed defects, physical injury, and unforeseeable defects that significantly impair the economic purpose of the legal transaction in connection with courses and events organised by it. For all other damage, in particular consequential damage, any liability is hereby excluded to the extent permitted by law. Customers are therefore responsible for ensuring that they have adequate insurance cover. Any liability for theft and loss of items is hereby excluded.
16. Jurisdiction
Unless otherwise required by mandatory legal provisions, the exclusive place of jurisdiction shall be Basel-Stadt.