DEGeneral Terms and Conditions SLA-Basel (applicable from 01/10/2019)
With your enrolment, you accept the following terms and conditions set by Swiss Language Academy.
1-General
The duration of one lesson is 45 minutes. Because of didactical reasons, a minimum of two lessons per appointment is required. The costs for the teaching materials is not included in the course fees, and will be listed separately on your bill. You are not entitled to define the structure of the lesson; you are, however, very welcome to suggest improvements.
2-Enrolment and terms of payment
After enrolling in a course, you will receive a registration confirmation with the account information for payment. The enrolment for a private course is valid for 12 months after the registration date. That also corresponds to the contractual period. As soon as the desired language course is organised, you will receive the course plan and the bill, separately, per e-mail. The listed payment date is binding. If desired, you may pay the course fee in instalments. In case of payment by instalments, the first payment is due at the beginning of the course. The further instalments are to be paid monthly, according to payment date. Failure to pay the course fee is not considered a cancellation. In the event of late payment, we reserve the right to charge CHF 20.- for the 2nd and 3rd overdue notice. By enrolling, the contracting partner confirms that they have acknowledged and agree to the general terms and conditions. In cases not specified in our T&A, the Swiss Code of Obligations applies.
3-Materials belonging to Swiss Language Academy
If Swiss Language Academy provides materials by way of lease or loan, these remain property of Swiss Language Academy during the entirety of the subscription period. Allowing third parties a right of retention of these materials is expressly prohibited. In case of seizure, retention or attachment, you will be required to immediately inform Swiss Language Academy and report the lost property of Swiss Language Academy to the competent enforcement authority. In the event of termination of the service terms, you are obliged to return the materials to Swiss Language Academy undamaged and within the period stipulated. If you fail to comply with these obligations, Swiss Language academy reserves the right to invoice you for the materials which were not returned.
4-Placement test and consultation
In the case of previous knowledge, we will invite you to our front office for a placement test and a following consultation. The test and consultation are free of charge and noncommittal. The definitive course arrangement will take place after the consultation through our course advisors.
5-Entering after course start
If there are free positions available, you can enter an ongoing course at any time. In this case, all liabilities refer to the rest of the duration of the course and the course price is reduced and calculated from the date of entrance.
6-Continuation of the course
Before the end of the course you may receive a course continuation form for the next level. The courses will, if possible, be continued at the same time.
7-Shorter attendance in a course
Shorter attendance in a course is possible if there are free positions in a course, as long as the plan to exit earlier has been noted down in writing with enrolment.
8-Withdrawal or deferral from a language course before course start
For cancellations received more than 14 days before course start, an administrative charge of 200,- CHF will be charged. Cancellations must be informed in writing by letter or e-mail. The message’s arrival at Swiss Language Academy counts as the effective date. Cancellations informed later than 14 days before course start will not be accepted. In this case, you will need to settle the course fee, as the course, teachers and rooms will already have been booked. With this in mind, according to art. 404, § 2 of the Swiss Code of Obligations and Compensation for Damage, Swiss Language Academy expressly reserves the right to claim course costs in case of a cancellation received fewer than 14 days before course start.
9 – Deferral from a group course after course start
Group courses have a set duration and are generally non-cancellable. There will not be any refunds for already paid course fees. In case of serious illness, credit for a later course may be approved, given that a medical certificate is presented. The credit issued may not be refunded, and is valid for one year after the date of issue, for an identical course at SLA Basel.
10 – Interruption or deferral from private lessons
If a course in private lessons is interrupted, the lessons purchased will remain valid until the end of the contract (contract length is 12 months after course start). During this time, the course can be attended at any point until the end of the contract. In case of cancellation, you will be required to pay for the full course price, as our teachers commit to the course and therefore a substantial damage would result to Swiss Language Academy.
11-Rescheduling and absences in private lessons
The scheduled lesson times are binding. If the student cannot attend a scheduled appointment, the office must be notified by 16:00 on the preceding day and a new appointment will be made. The office can be reached at the phone number +41 61 554 47 21 or the e-mail info@sla-basel.ch. If absences are not reported, or are reported later than 16:00 on the previous day, you will be billed for the lesson and will not be able to attend it at a later time, as the teacher and the room were booked. For appointments on Monday, the deadline for a cancellation is 16:00 on the Friday of the previous week. Cancellations after this time will be not be considered. In case of the teacher’s absence, the administration may arrange for a substitute teacher. If this is not possible for organizational reasons, the appointment will be rescheduled. If this does not work, the costs for the canceled lesson will not be billed.
12-Absences in group lessons: holidays, illnesses and other reasons for absence
If a group lesson cannot be attended by the student, the office needs to be notified as early as possible, per e-mail or telephone. The missed lessons can neither be compensated nor refunded. This applies also in case of illnesses or otherwise justified hindrances which are not encompassed by the school’s area of responsibility. The student will be billed as usual, as the teacher and the room were booked.
13-Course organisation and conduct
Group courses have a maximum and minimum number of participants. In case of an insufficient number of participants, the course will be postponed. For organisational reasons, Swiss Language Academy may postpone or merge existing and planned courses. In case of absence of the group teacher, the school administration may arrange a substitution. If the student misjudges his/her language level and the group teacher notices that his/her level is too low or too high for the group, Swiss Language Academy has the right to change his/her course (in consultation with the student), or to remove him/her from the course. In case of a course alteration of this sort, caused by an inaccurate enrolment on your part, you will be required to pay only for the course you registered for.
14-Reservations
The administration reserves the right to claim course spots that have not been paid by course start. For organizational reasons, Swiss Language Academy furthermore reserves the right to reschedule, rearrange, or merge classes.
15-Confirmation of attendance
After attendance of a minimum of 80% of the lessons, we will gladly issue a confirmation of attendance.
16-Data protection
Swiss Language Academy takes the protection of your personal data seriously and adheres to regulations according to the data protection act. Your personal data will be used exclusively for internal purposes, such as correspondence and information about new offers. On no account will we sell or give away your personal data to any third party.
17-Insurance and liability
Swiss Language Academy bears liability for damages caused intentionally or by gross negligence, maliciously concealed flaws, bodily injuries and unforeseeable shortcomings, which considerably affect the economical purpose of the legal transaction, in connection to the courses and activities organised by the school. We are hereby expressly released, insofar as legally possible, from all liability in case of other damages, in particular consequential damages. Clients are therefore responsible for an adequate insurance cover. Any liability for theft or loss of personal objects is hereby excluded.
18- Court of jurisdiction
Where no legal norm states otherwise, the exclusive court of jurisdiction is Basel-Stadt.
