Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of the MarkUp Tutors platform ("Platform"), operated by MarkUp Tutors Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. By registering, accessing, or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform.

MarkUp Tutors operates as an online marketplace connecting students with independent tutors. MarkUp Tutors Ltd is not itself a provider of tutoring services and does not employ tutors.

2. Definitions

• "Platform" means the website, application, and services operated by MarkUp Tutors Ltd at www.markuptutors.com
• "Student" means any individual who registers to book tutoring sessions through the Platform.
• "Tutor" means any individual who registers to offer tutoring services through the Platform.
• "User" means both Students and Tutors collectively.
• "Session" means a tutoring lesson booked and conducted through the Platform.
• "Service Fee" means the commission charged by MarkUp Tutors Ltd on each transaction, currently set at 15% of the session price.
• "Booking Fee" means the flat fee charged on every booking, as set out in clause 7.4.
• "Payment Processor" means Stripe, the third-party payment processor used by the Platform to process payments and pay Tutors directly.

3. Eligibility

To use the Platform you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age, or, if under 18, use the Platform only through an account registered by a parent or legal guardian in accordance with clause 3.1.
• Have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts.
• Not be prohibited from using the Platform under applicable law.
• Provide accurate, complete, and current registration information.

MarkUp Tutors Ltd reserves the right to suspend or terminate any account where eligibility requirements are not met.

3.1 Under-18 Users

MarkUp Tutors welcomes Students under the age of 18 ("Minor Students") to receive tutoring through the Platform. A Minor Student may not independently create an account, enter into a contract, or make payment. Instead:

• A parent or legal guardian (the "Guardian") must register and hold the account on the Minor Student's behalf. The Guardian is the contracting party under these Terms for all purposes, including payment, cancellation, refunds, and liability.
• The Minor Student's profile is created under the Guardian's account. The Guardian may permit the Minor Student to use the Platform directly (for example, to attend Sessions or message Tutors) but remains responsible for supervising that use.
• By accepting these Terms, the Guardian confirms they are the Minor Student's parent or legal guardian and consents to the Minor Student receiving tutoring Sessions booked through the account.

MarkUp Tutors Ltd may request reasonable verification of this arrangement and reserves the right to suspend an account where it reasonably believes a Minor Student is using the Platform without appropriate Guardian oversight. Profile and privacy settings for Minor Student accounts default to the most restrictive options available. Nothing in this clause limits MarkUp Tutors Ltd's own safeguarding obligations to Minor Students, which apply regardless of the identity of the contracting party.

4. Account Registration

Users must register an account to access core Platform features. You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.
• All activity that occurs under your account.
• Notifying us immediately at hello@markuptutors.com if you suspect unauthorised access.

MarkUp Tutors Ltd reserves the right to refuse registration or suspend accounts at its sole discretion without prior notice.

5. Tutor Verification

All Tutors must complete an application process before their account is activated, including submission of proof of identity, educational credentials, and supporting documents. MarkUp Tutors Ltd manually reviews each application before granting access to the Platform, and may, at its discretion, require the Tutor to complete a screening interview covering their teaching experience, subject knowledge, and understanding of appropriate conduct with Students, including Minor Students. Approval is at the sole discretion of MarkUp Tutors Ltd.

Tutors warrant that all information provided during the application process is accurate, genuine, and up to date. Misrepresentation of qualifications or credentials will result in immediate and permanent removal from the Platform and may be referred to relevant authorities.

Tutors may voluntarily obtain an enhanced background check (an Enhanced DBS certificate for UK-based Tutors, or the closest equivalent available in their country of residence) and submit it to MarkUp Tutors Ltd for verification. A verified certificate entitles the Tutor to a "Background Checked" badge on their public profile. A background check is not currently a condition of joining the Platform, and this position is reviewed periodically.

Verification by MarkUp Tutors Ltd does not constitute an endorsement of any Tutor's qualifications, teaching ability, or character.

6. Booking and Sessions

Students may browse Tutor profiles and book Sessions through the Platform. By confirming a booking, Students agree to the Session price on the Tutor's profile including any applicable platform or transaction fees.

Tutors may accept or decline booking requests at their discretion. Upon acceptance, a binding agreement is formed between the Student and Tutor for the delivery of the Session.

MarkUp Tutors Ltd is not a party to the contract between Student and Tutor but facilitates the transaction and payment.

6.1 Free Trial Sessions

Each Tutor may offer an initial free 15-minute trial session. Trial sessions are limited to one per Student per Tutor. No payment is taken for trial sessions. Following a trial session, Students may book paid sessions at the Tutor's stated rate.

6.2 Cancellation Policy

Students who wish to cancel a booked Session must contact MarkUp Tutors Ltd support. Cancellation requests made no later than 24 hours before the scheduled start time are eligible for a full refund, which will be reviewed and processed by MarkUp Tutors Ltd support. Cancellation requests made within 24 hours of the Session start time are not eligible for a refund unless the Tutor agrees otherwise.

Tutors who cancel Sessions with less than 24 hours' notice without reasonable cause may have their account reviewed and may be subject to penalties including suspension from the Platform.

6.3 No-Show Policy

If a Tutor fails to attend a confirmed Session without prior notice, the Student may contact MarkUp Tutors Ltd support to request a full refund, which will be reviewed and processed by MarkUp Tutors Ltd support. Repeated no-shows will result in the Tutor's account being suspended or permanently removed.

If a Student fails to attend a confirmed Session, the Tutor will receive their payment as normal.

6.4 Rescheduling of Missed Sessions

If either the Student (or, where applicable, the Guardian) or the Tutor is unable to attend a scheduled Session (a "Missed Session"), the party unable to attend must notify the other party and MarkUp Tutors Ltd as soon as reasonably possible.

Following a Missed Session, both parties shall have up to seven (7) days from the original scheduled Session date (the "Rescheduling Window") to agree and confirm a replacement Session date. If a replacement Session is confirmed within the Rescheduling Window, the original booking is treated as fulfilled once the rescheduled Session takes place, and no refund is due.

If the parties are unable to agree and confirm a replacement Session within the Rescheduling Window, the Student (or Guardian) may request a full refund of the fees paid for the Missed Session via MarkUp Tutors Ltd support, which will be reviewed and processed in line with clause 7.6. Repeated Missed Sessions caused by a Tutor may be treated as a breach of the Tutor's obligations and may result in account review or removal, independent of any refund due under this clause.

7. Payments

7.1 Payment Processing

All payments are processed securely through Stripe, a third-party payment processor. MarkUp Tutors Ltd does not store card details. By making a payment you agree to Stripe's terms and privacy policy.

7.2 Payment Flow

Upon booking confirmation, the Student's payment is processed through the Payment Processor and paid directly to the Tutor's connected account. MarkUp Tutors Ltd does not hold or take custody of Student funds at any point; funds remain within the Payment Processor's regulated payment infrastructure throughout, and MarkUp Tutors Ltd's Service Fee is deducted automatically as part of the transaction.

Refunds, where a Student is eligible under clause 6 or clause 7.6, are reviewed by MarkUp Tutors Ltd support and, where approved, processed through the Payment Processor.

7.3 Service Fee

MarkUp Tutors Ltd's Service Fee of 15% is deducted automatically from each Session payment as part of the Stripe transaction. The Tutor receives 85% of the agreed Session price directly. Payment processing costs are borne by MarkUp Tutors Ltd out of the Service Fee. The Service Fee is non-refundable once a Session has been completed.

7.4 Booking Fee

A flat booking fee of £1.50 applies to every booking, regardless of the number of lessons, the Tutor, or the payment method. It is included in the price shown wherever a booking is first displayed, so no separate charge is added at checkout. The Booking Fee is retained in full by MarkUp Tutors Ltd and is not shared with the Tutor.

7.5 Transaction Charges

Payment processing fees charged by Stripe are applied to each transaction. By completing a booking the Student accepts the total amount payable including any applicable transaction charges.

7.6 Refunds

Students may request a refund by contacting MarkUp Tutors Ltd support. Refunds are reviewed and, where the applicable conditions below are met, approved at MarkUp Tutors Ltd's discretion, in the following circumstances:

• Student cancels with more than 24 hours' notice — full refund.
• Tutor cancels the Session — full refund to Student.
• Tutor fails to attend without notice — full refund to Student.
• Valid dispute upheld in favour of Student following review by MarkUp Tutors Ltd.
• A Missed Session could not be rescheduled within the 7-day Rescheduling Window under clause 6.4 — full refund.

Refunds are processed within 5-10 business days to the original payment method. Stripe processing fees may not be refundable in all cases.

7.7 Disputes

Students may raise a dispute within 24 hours of the scheduled Session end time by contacting hello@markuptutors.com with details of the issue. MarkUp Tutors Ltd will review the dispute and make a determination within 5 business days. Our decision is final.

MarkUp Tutors Ltd reserves the right to withhold or reverse payments pending investigation of disputes, chargebacks, or suspected fraudulent activity.

8. Crash Course Packages

Tutors may offer pre-configured crash course packages on their profiles specifying a number of sessions per week, duration in weeks, and total price. Students may book these packages directly.

All crash course packages are subject to the same payment, cancellation, and refund terms as individual Sessions.

9. Tutor Rates and Tiered Pricing

Tutors may set different hourly rates for different subjects and curriculum levels. The rate applicable to a specific Session is the rate displayed on the Tutor's profile for that subject and level at the time of booking. Rates may not be changed after a Session has been confirmed.

10. Referral Programme

MarkUp Tutors Ltd may from time to time operate a referral programme offering incentives for referring new Users to the Platform. Referral terms, rewards, and eligibility criteria will be published on the Platform and are subject to change or withdrawal at any time without notice.

Referral rewards are only issued when the referred User completes their first paid Session. Fraudulent referrals will result in account suspension and forfeiture of all referral rewards.

11. User Conduct

All Users agree not to:

• Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information.
• Attempt to circumvent the Platform by arranging Sessions or payments outside of it.
• Harass, abuse, or discriminate against other Users.
• Upload or share content that is illegal, offensive, or infringes third party rights.
• Use the Platform for any purpose other than legitimate tutoring services.
• Attempt to reverse engineer, hack, or disrupt the Platform.

Breach of these conduct requirements may result in immediate account suspension, permanent removal, and where appropriate referral to law enforcement.

11.1 Reporting and Safety

Every profile and message on the Platform includes a Report function, available to registered Users. Users are encouraged to use it to flag content or conduct that breaches these Terms, including any concern about the safety of a Minor Student. Reports are reviewed under MarkUp Tutors Ltd's internal reporting and safeguarding procedures. Concerns believed to involve a risk to a Minor Student's safety may also be raised directly at safeguarding@markuptutors.com.

12. Off-Platform Transactions

Users must not arrange payment for tutoring services outside the Platform. Attempting to circumvent the Platform's payment system removes all protections for both Students and Tutors including secure payment processing, dispute resolution, and refund eligibility. MarkUp Tutors Ltd accepts no liability for transactions conducted outside the Platform.

Repeated attempts to conduct off-platform transactions will result in permanent account removal.

13. Intellectual Property

All content on the Platform including the MarkUp Tutors name, logo, design, text, and software is owned by or licensed to MarkUp Tutors Ltd and protected by UK intellectual property law. Users may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from Platform content without prior written consent.

Tutors retain ownership of original teaching materials they upload to the Platform but grant MarkUp Tutors Ltd a non-exclusive licence to display such materials on the Platform for the purpose of providing the service.

14. Limitation of Liability

MarkUp Tutors Ltd operates as an intermediary marketplace and is not responsible for the quality, accuracy, or delivery of tutoring services provided by Tutors. MarkUp Tutors Ltd's liability to any User is limited to the amount paid by that User for the specific Session giving rise to the claim.

MarkUp Tutors Ltd is not liable for any indirect, consequential, or special loss including loss of opportunity, loss of anticipated savings, or loss of data.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

15. Indemnity

Each User agrees to indemnify and hold harmless MarkUp Tutors Ltd, its directors, employees, and agents from any claims, losses, damages, or expenses arising from their use of the Platform, breach of these Terms, or infringement of any third party rights.

16. Termination

MarkUp Tutors Ltd may suspend or terminate any account at its discretion with or without notice for breach of these Terms, suspected fraud, or any other reason MarkUp Tutors Ltd deems appropriate.

Users may close their account at any time by contacting hello@markuptutors.com. Outstanding Session obligations and pending payments must be resolved before account closure is completed.

17. Changes to These Terms

MarkUp Tutors Ltd may update these Terms at any time. Users will be notified of material changes by email or Platform notification. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

18. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

19. Contact

For any questions regarding these Terms please contact us at hello@markuptutors.com.