Daresne Ltd: User Terms and Conditions (United Kingdom)

6.1 The Standard Lesson Rate is the rate charged for one-off Lesson Credits (including bulk one-off bundles) purchased without a Daresne membership. The applicable Standard Lesson Rate will be displayed or confirmed to the User before payment is taken.

As an incentive to support longer-term learning, planning, and continuity, Daresne may offer reduced per-lesson pricing for larger one-off purchases, typically where a User purchases sixteen (16) Lesson Credits or more.  The availability, scope, and value of any such volume-based incentive depend on multiple factors, including (without limitation) Tutor availability, subject demand, scheduling capacity, operational considerations, and the timing of the request.

Any reduced rate or incentive is offered solely at Daresne’s discretion and must be expressly confirmed in writing (including by email or WhatsApp) before payment is made. The availability of volume-based incentives does not create an automatic entitlement to discounted pricing, and any such incentives are assessed on a case-by-case basis by reference to the operational factors described above.

6.2 Users who subscribe to a Daresne membership benefit from discounted lesson rates or bundled pricing compared to the Standard Lesson Rate. These discounted rates are offered to support consistency, continuity of learning, and forward planning, including tutor allocation and operational support.

Users expressly acknowledge and agree that membership-based discounted lesson rates are conditional upon the fulfilment of the full membership duration and all associated payment obligations, as agreed at the time of subscription.

Where a membership is cancelled, terminated, or otherwise not completed in accordance with its agreed terms, the User may lose the benefit of the discounted rates, and pricing may be adjusted in line with the provisions set out in Section 13 (Termination) of these Terms. Further details regarding cancellation rights, early termination, and any applicable pricing adjustments are set out in the termination provisions and form an integral part of the membership agreement.

6.3 Where a User subscribes to a membership that includes discounted lesson rates and subsequently cancels, terminates, or otherwise fails to complete the membership in accordance with its agreed duration and payment obligations, the discounted rates shall no longer automatically apply.

• Where the completed membership duration is less than four (4) calendar months, and fewer than sixteen (16) lessons have been completed or paid for in total, all lessons delivered shall be charged at the Standard Lesson Rate, with no membership discount applied.
• Where the completed membership duration equals or exceeds four (4) calendar months, and at least sixteen (16) lessons have been completed or paid for, Daresne shall determine the applicable pricing by rounding down the completed duration and number of lessons to the closest lower membership package that is ordinarily offered to Users at the time of subscription.
• Any completed months or lessons that fall outside the scope of the applicable lower membership package, and which do not meet the requirements of the next higher membership tier, shall be charged at the Standard Lesson Rate, on the basis that the usage threshold for the higher tier was not met.
• The User acknowledges and agrees that this adjustment mechanism is intended to reflect the pricing that would reasonably have applied had the shorter commitment been selected at the outset and does not constitute a penalty.
• Any resulting balance arising from the above recalculation shall be payable in accordance with Section 13 (Termination) and the payment provisions of these Terms.

By way of illustration only, and without limiting the application of this clause, where a User enters into a long-term membership benefiting from a discounted per-lesson rate but does not complete the minimum duration or lesson volume required to qualify for that discounted tier, Daresne may reassess pricing by reference to the closest lower membership package ordinarily offered at the time of subscription.

In such circumstances, Daresne may:

(a) apply the discounted per-lesson rate applicable to the closest lower qualifying membership package that corresponds to the User’s completed duration and lesson usage; and
(b) charge any completed lessons, periods, or usage falling outside that lower package at the Standard Lesson Rate,

on the basis that the requirements for the higher discounted membership tier were not met.

This recalculation reflects the pricing that would reasonably have applied had the User selected the shorter qualifying commitment at the outset and does not constitute a penalty.

This example is provided for explanatory purposes only and does not amend, replace, or override the operative provisions of this clause or the termination provisions set out elsewhere in these Terms.

6.4 Daresne accepts payments through secure and reputable payment processors and merchant service providers, including but not limited to Stripe, and may make additional payment methods available from time to time. Accepted payment methods may include credit cards, debit cards, direct debit, bank transfer, or other methods displayed during onboarding or checkout. Cash payments are not accepted due to operational, security, and accounting considerations. The availability of payment methods may vary depending on the User’s location, bank, and the policies of the applicable payment provider.

6.5 Where payment by direct debit or other automated payment method is offered, Users must complete any required mandate or authorisation accurately and promptly. Users are responsible for ensuring that payment details are correct and that sufficient funds are available on the relevant payment date.

Payments are processed through third-party payment providers. By making a payment, Users acknowledge and agree that their payment is subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable payment provider in force at the time of onboarding or transaction. Daresne shall not be responsible for failed payments, processing delays, or service disruption arising from incomplete authorisations, insufficient funds, bank processing timelines, or restrictions imposed by the User’s bank or payment provider.

6.6 Tutoring memberships are billed on a recurring basis for administrative efficiency and continuity of service. By subscribing, the User expressly authorises Daresne and its payment processors to automatically collect the applicable membership fees on the agreed renewal date using the selected payment method, unless the membership is cancelled in accordance with the applicable notice and termination provisions. Where required as part of onboarding, Users must sign or otherwise confirm acceptance of an agreement before access to the Platform and services is granted.

6.7 Tutors engaged by Daresne operate as independent contractors. Users make payments exclusively to Daresne, and Daresne compensates Tutors in accordance with its internal contractor arrangements. Users acknowledge and agree that they do not have, and shall not attempt to establish, any direct payment, contractual, or financial relationship with Tutors.

6.8 All payments made by Users are paid directly to Daresne for the provision and administration of services, which may include, without limitation, lesson coordination, scheduling support, secure platform access, communication tools, operational management, tutor sourcing, safeguarding processes, and platform development. For the avoidance of doubt, Daresne does not act as an escrow agent, trustee, or fiduciary in respect of any payments, and no funds are held on trust for Users or Tutors.

6.9 Except where expressly stated in these Terms or required by applicable law, all payments are non-refundable. Lesson Credits, once consumed, expired, forfeited, or allocated in accordance with these Terms, shall not be reinstated. Any refunds or re-credits (where offered) are provided strictly in accordance with Daresne’s stated cancellation, rescheduling, and dispute policies. Users acknowledge that payments are made for access to Daresne’s services as a whole and not solely for individual lesson attendance.

6.10 Users must raise any queries or disputes relating to payments, charges, Lesson Credits, or billing directly with Daresne via the official communication channels specified in these Terms and within a reasonable timeframe. Users acknowledge that payments made to Daresne do not create any direct financial relationship between the User and any Tutor, and that all payment-related disputes must be resolved exclusively between the User and Daresne.

6.11 Inflation-based price adjustments do not apply to one-off Lesson Credits that are prepaid in full at the time of purchase. The price of such credits is fixed at the point of payment and shall not be subject to any subsequent increase or decrease.

Inflation-based adjustments may apply only to ongoing payment arrangements, including monthly pay-as-you-go plans or membership-based agreements, where payments are made on a recurring basis over time.

For any agreement with a total duration exceeding six (6) calendar months, Daresne may review and adjust future payment amounts to reflect changes in inflation, measured by reference to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) or an equivalent official index. Any such adjustment shall apply only to future payments and only after the initial six (6) months have elapsed.

For ongoing payment arrangements, Daresne will ordinarily review pricing and inflation indicators at intervals of approximately three (3) months. In periods of exceptional economic volatility or operational instability, Daresne may carry out such reviews more frequently, including on a monthly basis where reasonably necessary. Any review does not, of itself, result in a price change. Adjustments, where applied, remain subject to the notice and limitation provisions set out in this Section.

6.12 Where an inflation-based increase has been applied and the relevant inflation index subsequently decreases, Daresne will, where reasonably practicable, reflect such decrease in future pricing reviews. Nothing in this clause requires retrospective refunds or obliges Daresne to apply reductions where no prior inflation-based increase has been implemented.

6.13 Daresne will provide written notice of any inflation-based price adjustment as soon as reasonably practicable and, in any event, no later than seven (7) days before the adjusted price takes effect. The notice will explain the basis of the adjustment and its effective date.

6.14 If an inflation-based adjustment results in an increase exceeding seven and a half percent (7.5%) to the User’s monthly payment within the same membership semester, the User may terminate the agreement without incurring any inflation-related price correction, provided written notice is given within seven (7) days of receiving the adjustment notice.

Where the User continues to use the services after this period, the adjustment shall be deemed accepted and the standard termination provisions in Section 13 shall apply.

6.15  The User acknowledges that periodic price adjustments linked to inflation are a standard and reasonable practice in subscription-based services and are intended to support the sustainability and continued delivery of Daresne’s services. Except as expressly set out in this Section, such adjustments do not, of themselves, give rise to a right of early termination, suspension of payments, or waiver of contractual obligations.

6.16 Users must ensure that all payments due to Daresne are made accurately and on time. Where payment is not received within a reasonable period, Daresne may take proportionate steps to recover outstanding amounts, including temporary suspension of services, recovery of unpaid fees, and recovery of reasonable administrative or legal costs, where permitted by law. Users are encouraged to contact Daresne in advance if genuine payment difficulties arise.

6.17 One-off Lesson Credits purchased outside a membership plan are non-refundable and may only be used to book and attend lessons.

Where a User elects not to subscribe to a membership, a minimum commitment of eight (8) lessons applies. Where a User clearly commits (verbally or in writing) to a specific number of lessons or payment arrangement, and Daresne reasonably relies on that commitment by allocating tutors, scheduling lessons, or providing onboarding and support, the User remains responsible for the agreed payment unless the cancellation arises from a material service failure attributable to Daresne. This clause does not limit any statutory consumer rights.

6.18 Tutoring fees, membership fees, and recurring charges are calculated and collected automatically by Daresne’s authorised payment processors based on the User’s agreed plan, renewal date, and pricing structure in force at the relevant time.

Users acknowledge and agree that the payment records generated by Daresne’s systems and payment providers shall be treated as authoritative and binding, save for demonstrable technical error. Users may not unilaterally delay, defer, or adjust payment on the basis of personal calculations, assumptions, or misunderstandings regarding Lesson Credit balances.

6.19 The existence of unused, partially used, or remaining Lesson Credits does not entitle a User to delay, withhold, suspend, or defer any scheduled payment.

Lesson Credits are allocated in accordance with the User’s plan and subject to expiry and usage rules set out in these Terms. Failure to fully utilise allocated credits within the relevant period does not affect the User’s payment obligations.

6.20 Where payment by bank transfer has been expressly agreed by Daresne, the User must ensure that payment is received no later than three (3) calendar days following the applicable renewal date, unless otherwise agreed in writing. Late bank transfers may result in temporary service restriction, delayed lesson scheduling, or administrative intervention. Users acknowledge that bank transfer arrangements require manual reconciliation and therefore carry stricter timing requirements.

6.21 Users have no right to alter, postpone, suspend, or reschedule payment dates, renewal cycles, billing frequencies, or billing amounts without Daresne’s prior written agreement. Any attempt to delay payment, impose alternative payment timing, condition payment on future events (including lesson usage, attendance, personal availability, or remaining Lesson Credits), or otherwise interfere with the agreed payment schedule shall constitute a material breach of these Terms and may result in enforcement action.

6.22 Where Daresne is required to manually intervene due to repeated late payments, unjustified deferrals, failed payment attempts, inaccurate payment assumptions, or misuse of goodwill, Daresne may apply a flat administrative fee of £25 to compensate for operational disruption and staff time, unless the issue arises solely from a verified platform or payment processor error.

Where such conduct continues after the application of an administrative fee, or where the User’s behaviour reasonably indicates an intention to avoid, manipulate, or frustrate payment obligations, Daresne may take further proportionate enforcement action, including suspension or termination of services.

6.23 Suspension or termination of services under this Section shall not release the User from any payment obligations already accrued or reasonably arising under this Agreement, including outstanding fees, administrative charges, price re-calculations, or loss of discounted rates. Payment obligations survive suspension or termination to the extent permitted by law.

6.24 Where a User’s breach of these Terms results in early termination, restriction, or suspension of services, Daresne may recover:

• all fees already due or accrued;
• any price corrections resulting from the loss of discounted or conditional rates;
• reasonable administrative and operational costs incurred; and
• any outstanding charges required to meet the minimum commitment or pricing tier originally agreed,

provided that such recovery reflects a genuine pre-estimate of loss and does not constitute a penalty.

6.25 Users acknowledge and agree that fees paid to Daresne are charged for access to the Platform, the User’s account, administrative services, lesson scheduling infrastructure, educational support systems, and the opportunity to book and attend tutoring sessions with self-employed Tutors, rather than on a pay-per-attendance or usage-based basis.

A User’s decision not to attend lessons, reduced participation, personal unavailability, or failure to utilise available Lesson Credits does not suspend, reduce, or excuse any payment obligations. Payment obligations are independent of actual lesson attendance and remain due for the duration of the applicable billing period or commitment, subject only to cancellation and termination rights expressly set out in these Terms.

6.26 Users acknowledge that timely payment is essential to tutor allocation, scheduling continuity, staffing stability, and business planning. Delayed, withheld, or manipulated payments materially disrupt these processes. Accordingly, payment obligations are not contingent on lesson attendance patterns, personal availability, or subjective assessments of usage.