Term & Conditions

Terms of Service

The StudyGainZ website is owned, edited and run by StudyGainZ. StudyGainZ is a Dutch company operating from Weerd 4E, 8911HM, Leeuwarden. Our working hours are on Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (Central European Standard Time). StudyGainZ is registered in the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under KVK number 84434384. The VAT ID is NL863209294B01

Using the StudyGainZ website and services is subject to acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. By utilizing and accessing StudyGainZ, you are agreeing to the latest version of the General Conditions which will be made available permanently on this website. These General Conditions are subject to regular updates by StudyGainZ.

In case of disagreements with the General conditions or unacceptable and restricted behaviour towards users on this website, StudyGainZ reserves the right to prohibit or restrict access to the site. Unacceptable and restricted behaviours include using the tutoring service without the intention of paying, discrimination or harassment in all forms.

 

Description of this Website

StudyGainZ is a platform for online tutoring, peer-tutoring, and learning for university students. It connects tutors, coaches and teachers with university students. StudyGainZ manages an online community for learning, sharing knowledge, sharing experience and networking. 

StudyGainZ is dedicated to the quality of the service it offers aimed at enabling university students to reach higher academic goals and outcomes. To ensure this, every effort is made to control the quality, accuracy of the information on the website, qualifications of the tutors, their contact information and availability. However, StudyGainZ does not guarantee the accuracy of this information under any circumstances.

StudyGainZ members must create a profile to use the platform and contact tutors. The user must commit to creating only one profile on the site. This profile can be modified, administered and deleted by the user in their personal account settings.

The StudyGainZ community is managed on the platform operated by circle.so. Once subscribed with a membership as a student or a tutor, users will be taken to the circle.so community of the StudyGainZ. Users should agree to the terms and conditions of circle.so and create an account on that platform. Contacting tutors, finding study materials and all other activities of StudyGainZ will be performed on the circle platform.

StudyGainZ and its services are reserved for exclusive use for those above the age of 16, who is legally able to subscribe, to purchase and sale agreements under applicable national laws in the Netherlands. Use of the service as a student is limited to individuals and for their own personal use, unless opting for a group tutoring service which will be determined between the tutor and students. Legal entities such as schools, education providers, other tutoring platforms or sites, or their employees will not be able to use the service to contact the tutors on StudyGainZ for their own professional benefit or use.

StudyGainZ brings to the attention of its users that they are subject to national labour and corporate laws, as well as national payment and tax systems. 

 

Tutors and tutoring on StudyGainZ

Tutors advertise their availability on StudyGainZ by registering as a tutor on the platform. Tutors are responsible for creating their profile bios, sharing their educational background and expertise on the platform. 

Any tutor advertising their service on StudyGainZ agrees to publish only information, content, photographs and videos that belong to them and which they are the rightful owners of. Their profile should not contain information that is incorrect, illegal, or likely to mislead the recipients. The profile of the tutor is not allowed to contain their contact details: address, phone, email, etc. 

Tutors on the platform are allowed to advertise only after a screening interview conducted by StudyGainZ. They are expected to commit to being completely transparent about their tutorings and references. However, StudyGainZ does not guarantee the quality of tutoring and the outcome of the course regarding the students’ academic performance. It is the student’s responsibility to verify that the information provided by the tutor is accurate in their decision to pick a tutor.

The tutor’s contact information is in no way shared with the students. Once a student and a tutor are matched, the tutor is responsible for sending a link for an online video call utilizing services such as Zoom or Google Meet. Tutors and students are not allowed to share their email addresses, phone numbers or social media accounts under any circumstances. Files and documents will be shared using the chat features of Zoom and Google Meet.

StudyGainZ website and all of the pages are secured by HTTPS protocol. All member and tutor information and data are encrypted. StudyGainZ does not store data concerning the bank cards of the students. StudyGainZ does not sell or rent any information or data about its members.

On the StudyGainZ Community, students can get in touch with tutors. Tags are used in the community to differentiate tutors from students. Tutors and student will have their profiles on the platform which will contain short bios. After finding the right tutor, students can get in touch with the tutor and send them a tutoring request. Students are allowed to send as many tutors that meet their needs. These messages and tutoring requests must not contain any contact details and the communications between the tutor and student must be limited to the StudyGainZ website and StudyGainZ community platform. Prohibited information includes telephone numbers, email addresses, internet addresses and/or social media accounts.

Messages containing restricted information will be deleted and the student will be informed about the violation. Repeated violations will lead to the account being suspended. After the tutor and student agrees on a tutoring plan through the chat, the tutor will share a video call link with the student to commence the tutorings.

Both the student and tutor is responsible for creating a tutoring plan, which includes the times of meeting, days of the week, etc. After this, the tutor calculates the hours based on which he or she sends us an invoice. At the same time, StudyGainZ will send an invoice to the student which needs to be paid out before the commencement of the classes. The student or tutor can reschedule the tutorings as they see fit. The tutorings can be rescheduled up to 24 hours before it is scheduled. 

StudyGainZ allows students to cancel tutoring and apply for a refund. However, a refund is only possible with a notice of one week. This means the student should contact the admins on the platform regarding the refund the week before the class is supposed to take place. If the classes are cancelled in the same week, before 24 hours, the student will be provided with the option of rescheduling it to a later day or cancelling it without a refund. Students can apply for a refund without any notice if the class is cancelled due to a fault of the tutor. 

A refund will not be given to the student in the case where the tutor has refused to give classes to the student in special circumstances. This includes requests from the student to complete assignments, thesis, homework, exams, or any other work on the student’s behalf.

Students are not allowed to contact the tutor outside the platform for private tutoring. Tutors are not allowed to work with students registered on StudyGainZ outside the platform. Failure to comply with this will lead to the suspension of accounts of both the tutor and the student. 

If the tutor the student contacted for tutoring becomes unavailable due to any reason, the student will be matched with other tutors who fits into the same criteria. Additionally, the student also has the option of choosing an alternate tutor.

Students will have to purchase a package of the tutorings. These packages include a minimum of 4 hours of tutorings for assignment and study guidance and a minimum of 8 hours for thesis guidance. For example, it is not possible to get only one hour of tutoring per tutor. Students are allowed to add additional hours to this packages when contacting the tutor for the tutorings.

Privacy Policy

1. General

StudyGainZ (registered at Weerd 4E, 8911HM, Leeuwarden, Netherland), is responsible for the users data on the platform. StudyGainZ (Also referred to by “we”, “our” or “us”) acts as the data controller on the platform and is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This notice (“Privacy policy”) has been created to inform you about our practices regarding the collection, use and disclosure of information that you provide on our website and the community platform.

The Privacy Policy along with the Terms and Conditions explains how personal data we collect from you or provided by you to us, will be processed. Read the following Privacy Policies to understand our views and practices regarding your personal data and how we will process it.

2. Information we collect from you and how long it is retained

You may provide us with information that can be used to identify you (“Personal Data”) when you register on our website and agree to use the platform. This data is collected from the form that you fill in, sign-up for promotions or surveys, when you correspond with us by phone, e-mail or otherwise, and when you are reporting a problem. 

The information you provide us may include:

  • The information which is mandatory for registration for services on our platform and access to any other services by us. This information includes your name, email address, date of birth, gender, mobile phone number and password. All of these fields are mandatory for registration. StudyGainZ will not be able to provide you with the services if the required information is not provided, which will also be used for registering for a user account on the platform. 
  • Photographs for your profile
  • Photos and media content posted on the platform
  • Postal address
  • Your educational Qualifications
  • Your biography for the user profile
  • Requests for tutors made on the platform
  • Details of financial transactions carried out on our platform such as payment cards, bank account details
  • Resources and page visits on the platform
  • Replies to questionnaires and surveys, reviews on the tutors you have had tutorings with
  • Information collected when you report a problem with the platform or services
  • Certificates, study materials and other documents you provide on the platform and the tutors for their services.

Information is also collected automatically in the following circumstances:

    • When signing up to the platform using social media authentication methods, StudyGainZ will get access to your Personal Data such as first name, last name, picture, email, etc. made available by the social media platform. This will be done in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions of the social media platform.
    • We will collect information related to your visit to our website and platform which will be in accordance with applicable laws and when required, with your consent. This information is related to the device you use and the network you are connected to while using our service. This includes your IP address, log-in information, browser type and version, browser version, operating system and platform, advertising identifier, URL clickstream in our platforms, lengths of visits to certain pages, page interaction and downloads. This information is collected through the use of technologies such as cookies which you consent to. Phone numbers used to call for customer service will also be recorded.
    • Information collected regarding your activity on the Platform such as tutors contacted, planning made with the tutors and your communication with the tutors.

Data and personal information retention policy

Your data and personal information will be kept securely for an indefinite period of time. We will clear out your personal information on your request of full deletion of all your data. To request for deleting your data, please send is an email to info@studygainz.com. Use “Delete Personal Data” as the subject.

3. Usage of the collected information

    •  Carrying out commitments arising from contracts that were entered between you and us and providing you with information and services you request from us. This is necessary for performing our mutual obligations.
    •  Sending you service-related information through different communication means to ensure performing mutual obligations with your consent.
    •  Enabling you to personalize the user profile on the platform which is done with your consent.
    •  Collecting payments from you or transferring payments to the tutors on your behalf.
    •  Communication and interaction with other members about our services.
    •  Accessing our customer service and other support service and enabling communication with our customer care team
    •  Ensuring your compliance with our Terms and Conditions, applicable laws and our Privacy Policy.
    •  Notifying you about changes in our services.
    •  Sending you marketing materials and information necessary to facilitate the service. This is done in accordance with applicable laws and with your consent.
    • Measuring and understanding the effectiveness of advertising aimed at you and others about StudyGainZ.
    • To verify personal information on documents that were collected with you at on registration or any other time using the service
    • Administration on our platform and other internal operations such as surveys, analytics, research, testing and troubleshooting. This is done for improving features on our platform and updating the service for your and our benefit.
    • Improving the StudyGainZ platform to ensure that content is presented effectively for you.
    • Allowing you to participate in features of this service requiring your interaction at your discretion.
    • Security reasons for keeping the platform safe and secure.

4. Sending and receiving of information and data collected from you and its utilization

    •  Some of this information is shared with other members of the community such as your public profile and to the tutors to carry out the tutoring. 
    •  Your Personal Data is shared with social media platforms when connecting services such as creating an account on our platform using your social media account.
    •  Some of your data may be shared with technical, payment services and analytics.
    •  Your data is shared when necessary to facilitate services such as collection of money or fees with our banking providers.
    •  Information such as your name, photographs, and some personal details may be passed on to tutors if you are a student and to the students if you are a tutor. This is done to process and provide services.
    •  Your review and rating are published in the platform along with your name and photo. This is necessary for the ratings systems.
    •  Analytics and search engine providers use some of the information for assistance in improvement and optimization of the platform.
    •  Your data is shared with third parties when requested explicitly by you.
    •  Your information may be disclosed if required to do so by the law or bona fide reasons that the access, preservation or disclosure is necessary for carrying out agreements with users, respond to claims against StudyGainZ, comply with legal proceedings, in event of emergencies, protect the rights, property and personal safety of StudyGainZ and its member or others. 
    • If authorized by you, your name, photo and content could be used for commercial, sponsored or related content that is distributed by us.
    • Your personal data and information will not be shared for resale to any third party.
    • StudyGainZ complies with all applicable laws and when required, with your consent to gather, send and receive information about you from our business partners (Social media platforms, payment services, etc.). This information will be used as mentioned in article 4 of our Privacy Policy. 
    • Your attention must be brought to the fact that if you choose to share your information and Personal Data with us through third parties such as social media connection services, the privacy policies of the third parties are also applicable to you along with our Privacy Policy. We are not responsible for the collection and processing of your information eventually made by third parties on their platforms.

5. Moderation of user-generated messages and content

    •  StudyGainZ may review, scan and analyze the messages you exchange with other users on the community and platform for service improvement, customer support, fraud prevention and ensuring compliance with our Terms and Conditions (To ensure that contact details are not shared)
    •  Your messages will never be scanned or analyzed with other members of the community for any reason.

6. Targeted ads on social media platforms and other electronic communications

    • We may use the information you provide through the platform for direct marketing purposes such as receiving newsletters and sending you targeted advertising on social media platforms and third-party websites. This will be done in accordance with applicable laws and when required, with your consent. 
    • You can withdraw your consent for these marketing communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in all our communications or sending us an email to info@studygainz.com
    • You can object to targeted ads and content from the setting regarding advertisements on your social media account

7. Regarding transferring of your information 

All the Personal Data that we collect and hold about you is stored in the European Union (“EU”). Therefore, all of your data is collected and stored based on terms set by the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679. However, due to the location of some of our service providers, this data may be transferred to countries outside the European Union, in some cases to countries where the European Commission has not given the assurance on the adequate level of protection. StudyGainZ does everything in its power to ensure that the data is transferred in accordance with applicable legislation and that applicable safeguards are present to guarantee a sufficient level of protection of individuals’ private life and fundamental rights.

8. Users’ rights over their personal data

    •  You have the right to data access (to obtain a copy of your personal data which we have stored)
    •  You have the right to erase and rectify your data (you can request deletion of personal data or make corrections to this data). However, we may keep certain data when required by the law on a legal basis.
    • You have the right to object to processing your data (For purpose of direct marketing or other purposes based on the interest of StudyGainZ)
    •  You have the right to restrict the processing of your personal data (In special circumstances when the accuracy of your data is in question, your personal data has been processed by us in an unlawful way or you exercised your right to object)
    • You have the right to data portability (You can receive and/or transfer your personal data which you have provided us)
    • You have the right to make a complaint to data protection authorities or seek the support of the court if you believe that your rights have been violated.
    •  To exercise your rights, you can contact us at info@studygainz.com with the subject “Exercising my rights to personal data”.

9. Securing the confidentiality of your password

You choose your own password to secure your account which enables you to access the platform. You are responsible for keeping your password confidential and we are not responsible for damages that occur from you sharing the password.

10. Regarding links to social media and other websites

StudyGainZ and our platform may contain links to and from other websites. When following these links to other websites, you have to be aware that these websites have privacy policies. In such cases, we do not accept any responsibility or liability for these policies. You are responsible for checking these policies before submitting any personal data to these websites.

11. Changes to the Privacy Policy

Any changes to our Privacy Policy will be reflected on this page. If needed, we will send you a notification about changes or ask you for your consent. You can check back to this page at any moment to find our latest Privacy Policy (1st December 2021) 

12. Contacting us regarding our Privacy Policy

You are welcome to contact us at any time regarding our Privacy Policy and practices and make an enquiry related to your personal data.

You can reach out to us on our contact page or send an email to info@studygainz.com