Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to FindGrinds. By accessing or using our platform at findgrinds.ie (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Service.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and FindGrinds Limited ("we", "our", or "us"), a company registered in Ireland.

2. Description of Service

FindGrinds is an online marketplace that connects students and parents with qualified tutors for Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate exam preparation in Ireland. Our Service includes:

• Tutor discovery and search functionality
• Session booking and scheduling
• Secure payment processing
• Educational resource marketplace
• Communication tools between students and tutors
• Review and rating system

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Registration

To use certain features of the Service, you must register for an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and update your information as needed
• Keep your password secure and confidential
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account

3.2 Account Types

• Student: Users seeking tutoring services
• Parent: Users managing bookings for their children
• Tutor: Qualified educators offering tutoring services

3.3 Age Requirements

You must be at least 14 years old to use our Service. Users under 18 must have parental consent. Parents may create accounts to manage their children's tutoring.

4. Tutor Requirements

Tutors on our platform agree to:

• Provide accurate information about qualifications and experience
• Obtain and maintain Garda vetting where required
• Deliver high-quality tutoring services as advertised
• Maintain professional conduct with all students
• Comply with all applicable Irish laws and regulations
• Not engage in any inappropriate conduct with minors

We reserve the right to verify tutor credentials and remove any tutor who violates these requirements or receives consistent negative feedback.

5. Bookings and Sessions

5.1 Booking Process

When you book a session through our platform, you enter into a direct agreement with the tutor. FindGrinds facilitates this connection but is not a party to the tutoring agreement.

5.2 Cancellation Policy

• 24+ hours notice: Full refund
• 12-24 hours notice: 50% refund
• Less than 12 hours: No refund

Tutors who cancel sessions repeatedly may have their accounts suspended.

5.3 Session Conduct

All sessions must be conducted professionally. Recording sessions without consent is prohibited. Both parties should arrive on time and be prepared for the session.

6. Payments and Fees

6.1 Payment Processing

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. By making a payment, you agree to Stripe's terms of service. We do not store full payment card details.

6.2 Platform Fees

• Tutoring sessions: 15% platform fee (deducted from tutor earnings)
• Resource sales: 15% platform fee

6.3 Tutor Payouts

Tutors receive their earnings minus platform fees. Payouts are processed weekly via Stripe Connect. Tutors are responsible for their own tax obligations.

6.4 Featured Tutor Subscriptions

Tutors may subscribe to featured placement tiers. Subscriptions auto-renew monthly unless cancelled. No refunds for partial subscription periods.

7. Educational Resources

Tutors may upload and sell educational resources through our platform. By uploading content, tutors confirm they own or have rights to distribute the material. Purchased resources are for personal educational use only and may not be redistributed.

8. Prohibited Conduct

Users may not:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Impersonate others or provide false information
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Circumvent the platform to avoid fees
• Upload malicious content or spam
• Infringe on intellectual property rights
• Use the platform for any illegal purpose
• Attempt to access others' accounts without permission
• Scrape or collect user data without consent

9. Intellectual Property

The FindGrinds name, logo, and platform design are our intellectual property. Users retain ownership of content they create but grant us a license to display it on the platform. Educational resources remain the property of their creators.

10. Limitation of Liability

FindGrinds is a marketplace connecting tutors and students. We do not guarantee:

• The quality or outcome of tutoring sessions
• Academic results or exam performance
• Tutor qualifications beyond what is verified
• Continuous, uninterrupted access to the platform

To the maximum extent permitted by Irish law, FindGrinds shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Service.

11. Dispute Resolution

If you have a dispute with a tutor or another user, please contact us first at support@findgrinds.ie. We will attempt to resolve disputes informally. If informal resolution fails, disputes shall be governed by Irish law and subject to the jurisdiction of the Irish courts.

12. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account for violations of these Terms or for any other reason at our discretion. You may close your account at any time through your account settings. Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately.

13. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms periodically. We will notify you of significant changes via email or a notice on our website. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

14. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms of Service: