Parent Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of the Mathos Tutors Ltd platform ("Mathos", "the Company", "we", "us", "our"), which connects parents with independent mathematics tutors for one-to-one online tuition.

By creating an account, booking a session, purchasing a membership, or making payment through the platform, you ("the Parent" or "Client") agree to be legally bound by these Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the platform.

2. Company Details

Mathos Tutors Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: 94 Wordsworth Avenue, Penarth, Wales, CF64 2RP
Company Number: 17040069

3. Nature of the Platform

Mathos provides an online marketplace platform that:

• Connects parents with independent tutors
• Facilitates bookings and recurring lessons
• Processes payments via Stripe
• Provides messaging, assignment and performance tracking tools
• Generates Microsoft Teams links for sessions

Mathos does not:

• Employ tutors
• Provide tuition directly
• Guarantee academic outcomes

Tutors operate as independent service providers and are responsible for the delivery of tuition.

4. Eligibility & Accounts

To create a Parent account, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be legally responsible for the child you register
• Provide accurate and complete information
• Maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials

You are responsible for all activity under your account. You must contact Mathos immediately if you believe your password has been compromised. You remain responsible for any actions taken under your account until you have notified us.

5. Membership Plans

Access to Mathos requires an active membership plan. Plans may include:

• Standard (1 child)
• Twin (2 children)
• Family Saver (3 children)
• Bulk (5 children)

Memberships may be billed monthly or annually. A 7-day free trial may apply to new users.

Memberships:

• Are managed via Stripe's secure Billing Portal
• May be cancelled at any time before the next billing date
• Do not automatically refund completed billing periods
• Are subject to Stripe's proration settings where applicable

Monthly subscribers may switch between plans at any time. Proration will be applied, and any credits or charges will appear on your next invoice.

Annual subscribers are committed for the full billing period and cannot switch plans mid-term. Plan changes for annual subscribers will take effect at the next renewal date.

Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing period. You will retain access to your current plan until then.

Cancelling a membership does not refund completed or booked lessons.

6. Booking & Payment Terms

All payments are processed securely via Stripe.

• Parents pay the tutor's listed hourly rate
• Mathos retains a 20% platform commission from tutor earnings (this does not increase the displayed parent price)
• Recurring bookings are processed through Stripe subscriptions

Where a recurring booking is accepted, the tutor's rate at the time of acceptance applies to that booking. Future rate changes apply only to new bookings.

7. Cancellation & Refund Policy

7.1 Single (One-Off) Lessons

• Parent cancels more than 24 hours before session: Full refund
• Parent cancels less than 24 hours before session: No refund
• Tutor cancels at any time: Full refund to parent
• Student does not attend ("no-show"): No refund. Tutor is paid

Refunds are issued to the original payment method.

7.2 Recurring Weekly Bookings

• Cancelling a recurring booking cancels all future sessions
• Pro-rata adjustments, if applicable, are handled by Stripe
• Sessions already completed remain payable and non-refundable
• Individual sessions within an active recurring booking are not separately refundable

7.3 Membership Plans

Membership cancellation is handled exclusively through Stripe's Billing Portal. Mathos does not provide additional manual pro-rata refunds outside Stripe's system.

8. Complaints & Dispute Resolution

If you are dissatisfied with a session or the service provided by a tutor, you should notify Mathos within 48 hours of the session's scheduled end time by contacting us via the platform or email.

Upon receiving a complaint, Mathos will:

• Acknowledge your complaint within 2 working days
• Investigate the matter, which may include contacting the tutor
• Provide a resolution or update within 7 working days

Mathos acts as a marketplace and is not a party to the contract between you and the tutor. However, we will use reasonable endeavours to mediate disputes fairly. If a resolution cannot be reached, you may pursue the matter directly with the tutor as an independent service provider.

You must give Mathos a reasonable opportunity to resolve any issue before incurring costs or seeking remedies elsewhere.

9. Session Delivery

Sessions are delivered via:

• Microsoft Teams (auto-generated meeting links)
• Excalidraw digital whiteboard

Mathos is not responsible for:

• Internet connectivity issues
• Device or browser incompatibility
• Third-party software outages
• Failure to attend a session on time

Sessions are automatically marked as completed two hours after the scheduled end time if not manually updated.

You must not independently record, store, or distribute any part of a tutoring session without the prior written consent of all participants.

10. Safeguarding

Mathos requires all tutors to maintain:

• A valid DBS certificate
• Valid professional insurance

Tutors are automatically deactivated if documentation expires. Parents may report safeguarding concerns via the platform.

10.1 Parent Responsibilities During Sessions

As the parent or legal guardian of a child under 18, you are responsible for your child's welfare during sessions. You should be present or readily available during sessions so that your child can report any concerns immediately. You are responsible for ensuring the physical environment is safe and appropriate for online learning.

10.2 Reporting Concerns

You must report any safeguarding concerns or inappropriate behaviour immediately via the platform. Any tutor or user reported for a safeguarding concern will be immediately suspended pending investigation. Mathos may refer concerns to the relevant authorities.

Safeguarding records:

• Are retained permanently for compliance purposes
• May be referred to relevant authorities (including LADO, Social Services, or Police) where appropriate

Mathos supports safeguarding best practice but does not replace school or statutory safeguarding frameworks. If a child is at immediate risk, contact emergency services.

11. Messaging & Communications

Messaging between parents and tutors:

• Is visible within the platform for 24 hours
• Is retained for up to 90 days for safeguarding and compliance
• May be accessed by admin for safeguarding, dispute resolution, or investigation purposes

Users must not attempt to circumvent the platform by exchanging payment details to conduct sessions outside Mathos.

By registering on the platform, you agree that Mathos may contact you via your registered email address for purposes including:

• Account setup and onboarding
• Booking confirmations, reminders, and cancellations
• Billing, subscription, and payment matters
• Platform updates, new features, or scheduled maintenance
• Safeguarding or compliance matters
• Changes to these Terms or related policies

You are responsible for keeping your registered email address up to date. Mathos is not liable for communications missed due to an outdated or incorrect email address.

12. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• Harass, threaten, or abuse tutors
• Share illegal, harmful, or inappropriate content
• Attempt to bypass platform payment systems
• Use the platform for non-educational commercial purposes
• Share login credentials

Mathos reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that breach these Terms.

13. Intellectual Property

Tutors retain ownership of materials they create during sessions.

Mathos retains ownership of:

• Platform software
• Assignment generation system
• Question bank content

Materials provided through Mathos are for personal educational use only and may not be commercially redistributed.

14. Academic Outcomes

Mathos does not guarantee:

• Grade improvements
• Examination success
• Specific learning outcomes

Academic progress depends on multiple factors including student effort, attendance, and external circumstances.

15. Data Protection & GDPR

Mathos complies with UK GDPR. Parents have the right to:

• Request a data export
• Submit a data deletion request

Deletion requests:

• Anonymise personal information
• Permanently lock the account
• Preserve financial records — including associated names and email addresses — for a minimum of 7 years (HMRC requirement)
• Preserve safeguarding records permanently

Further details are available in our Privacy Policy.

16. Account Suspension or Termination

Mathos may suspend or terminate accounts where:

• These Terms are breached
• Safeguarding concerns arise
• Fraudulent or abusive behaviour is detected

Accounts subject to GDPR deletion are permanently locked and cannot be restored.

17. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• Mathos is not liable for indirect or consequential loss
• Mathos does not guarantee uninterrupted service or minimum tutor availability
• Mathos' total liability shall not exceed the total fees paid by you in the preceding three months

Nothing excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded under UK law.

18. Changes to These Terms

Mathos may update these Terms from time to time. Where changes are material, we will notify you via email or platform notice before the changes take effect. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you may contact us to discuss your concerns or close your account.

19. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of law, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

20. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.