TERMS & CONDITIONS (SEMESTER CONTRACTS)

TERMS AND CONDITIONS for SEMESTER CONTRACTS FOR SINGING LESSONS

 

1. Start and duration of the contract

The contract is concluded between the service provider, i.e. singing teacher Heta Nykänen, and the customer, i.e. the student. The contract is concluded when the customer has registered as a student in person or by e-mail, or a message by phone. Enrollment is binding. By registering for a semester, the customer has read and accepted the terms of the contract. If the student is a minor, the contract is drawn up with his/her guardian, who is responsible for compliance with the terms of the contract. This contract is valid from 1.8.2024.

 

2. Service

The service includes weekly or bi-weekly singing lessons either in private or in pairs, as agreed. One semester includes a fixed number of lessons (Spring semester 2025 18 / 10 lessons, Autumn semester 2025 15 / 8 lessons). The duration of a singing lesson is either 40 or 55 minutes, of which the student chooses the most suitable one. For the purposes of this agreement, both are referred to as 'lessons'.

 

3. Timetable and number of lessons per term

The teaching semesters of Heta Nykänen are divided into three periods: spring, summer and autumn. The length of each period is determined separately each year. The terms and conditions of the semester contracts apply to the spring and autumn seasons.

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For the academic year 2024–2025, the terms are as follows:

 

Autumn term 2024: 5.8. - 20.12.2024

Spring term 2025:  7.1.2024 - 30.5.2024

 

The student can enroll to the semester tuition during the first 2 weeks of each semester. A Semester contract is concluded when there are at least 15 lessons for the semester (or 8 lessons every two weeks) and when agreed with the client. The amount is agreed upon with each student at the beginning of the term. If the pupil wishes, holidays will be taken during week 42 (14-20 October 2024) and week 8 (17-23 February 2025).

 

Semester contracts are not sold for the summer term, only individual lessons or packages of five or ten lessons are then available. The summer season is subject to the normal terms and conditions of the contract for singing lessons.

 

4. Enrollment

To enroll as a Semester student, please register by telephone, e-mail or in person. By registering as a Semester student, the customer undertakes to use and pay for all the lessons specified in this contract for each semester.

 

4.1. Cancellation of enrollment

Enrolment as a Semester student is binding. If you wish to cancel your enrolment, you must do so at least 7 days before the start of the semester. If the registration is cancelled after the deadline, a cancellation fee of EUR 50 will be charged. The cancellation fee does not entitle the customer to singing lessons but covers the administrative costs of the cancellation.

 

5. Scheduling and attending the lessons

Students undertake to attend a singing lesson once a week or every two weeks, at their choice. At the beginning of the semester, an effort will be made to agree on a fixed weekly time, but this is not essential; lessons can also be arranged flexibly, while maintaining the chosen weekly/bi-weekly pace. Again, bookings should be made well in advance to ensure regularity. The changes to the lesson times can be made in person, thourgh the online calendar or by messaging the teacher. It is recommended that a lesson is always booked at least two weeks in advance.

 

The teacher is not obliged to arrange special times for possible absences. The teacher is not obliged to make special arrangements for the student in case of absences – the cancelled lessons should be used within the time available. It is the student's responsibility to book a new lesson to replace the cancelled lesson.

 

If the teacher has to cancel a lesson herself, for example because of sick leave, she is responsible for arranging a new lesson. It is recommended that both the pupil and the teacher try to keep to the agreed timetable to be able to have the lessons during the term.

 

6. Payment and billing

Tuition fees are paid by invoice, Epassi, Edenred or Smartum. Payment is made before the start of the semester. The invoice will be sent by e-mail. The payment period is 14 days. A reminder will be sent for late payments.

 

Cancellation conditions apply to booked lessons (see chapter 7). Transfers or cancellations of lessons do not affect the billing schedule or the amounts to be billed.

 

When booking a place as a Semester student, the student commits to pay the invoice in full.

The invoice can be paid in 2 to 4 installments, but the invoice or the installment for the lessons starting must be paid before the lessons start. The division of the bill is always agreed with the teacher. Tuition fees are non-refundable. By paying the invoice the student commits to attend the lessons in accordance with the agreement they have accepted.

 

7. Cancellation policy

A booked lesson can be cancelled or rescheduled free of charge 24 hours before the booked lesson. After this period, the lesson will be deemed to have been kept and 100% of the price will be charged, regardless of the reason for the absence. The lesson will therefore not be rescheduled or refunded, but the student will lose the lesson. However, it is possible to pass on the lesson to a friend or relative, for example.

 

If a client fails to attend a lesson without prior notice, the lesson will be deemed to have been kept and 100% of the lesson price will be charged.

 

The client is responsible for rescheduling any cancelled lessons in good time before the end of the semester. In the event of cancellation, the client must book a new appointment directly with the teacher.

 

7.1. Cancellations by the teacher

Cancellations due to the teacher (sickness/holiday) will always be made up by rescheduling them. In the case of longer periods of sick leave, the teacher may, if necessary, arrange for a qualified substitute to take his/her place to give the lessons during the period.

 

7.2. Force majeure and transfer of face-to-face teaching online

As a result of a compulsory government order, for example during a pandemic, a teacher may transfer a Semester client's lessons to be taught online. The online teaching will generally be delivered via the Zoom video conferencing application, but other applications may also be made available if the client so wishes. The e-learning is delivered via a smartphone, tablet or computer. If necessary, the teacher can also use other online materials, such as videos or audio recordings. In the above situations, lessons will not be carried over or refunded. If the student is unable to participate remotely, for example due to a lack of equipment, an attempt will be made to arrange lessons in some other agreed way within the term.

 

8. Termination and cancellation of the contract

Enrolment as a Semester client is limited in time and binding. The contract expires at the end of the semester.

 

8.2. Termination of the contract on the grounds of social performance obstacles

If the client suffers from social obstacles such as debt collection difficulties, long-term serious illness or sudden unemployment, this may be considered a justified reason to terminate the contract and stop the lessons in the middle of the semester. In this case, the client must provide written proof of the reason for the cancellation (e.g. a medical certificate or unemployment certificate). The contract will then be cancelled, billing will stop and the customer will have no further payment obligations. Short-term illness (viral diseases, etc.) or temporary financial obstacles are not considered as social obstacles to performance.

 

The teacher must be informed immediately after the client has taken the decision to terminate the contract on the grounds of social obstacles. Termination of the contract must be made in writing. In this case, the number of lessons taken will be checked and, if there are any outstanding lessons, the client will be charged for them. If, on the other hand, the client has paid for more lessons than could have been kept, the client will be credited for the lessons not kept.

 

8.3. Termination of the contract without just cause

If the customer wishes to stop being a Semester student in the middle of the semester without just cause (social performance obstacles mentioned above), he/she must cancel the contract in writing and pay the costs incurred. As the teacher has reserved a place for the Semester student for the whole semester, this will result in additional costs for the teacher. In addition, the client has received a reduced price for his lessons when he commits to lessons for the whole semester. Therefore, a client who cancels a Semester contract without just cause is liable to pay the cancellation fee (€50) set out in the price list, plus the difference between the price of a single hour and the Semester price for all lessons held up to the date of cancellation.

 

At the time of termination of the contract, the number of lessons provided will be reviewed in relation to the number of hours paid. If more lessons have been given than the amount paid by the customer, the price of the individual lessons will be charged for the lessons held, in accordance with the price list. If, on the other hand, the customer has paid for more lessons than the number of lessons booked, it will be agreed in the first instance that the customer will receive all the lessons paid for. If the client does not agree to pay the final bill, legal action will be taken to pursue recovery if necessary.

 

8.4. Termination of the contract by the teacher

The teacher has the right to terminate the contract if he/she is faced with force majeure which prevents him/her from giving the time to the client or if cooperation with the client is no longer possible. In this case, the number of lessons held will be checked against the number of lessons paid for and a termination date will be agreed.

 

9. Legal venue clause

Disputes arising from this contract shall be settled by the Consumer Disputes Board (Kuluttajariitalautakunta).