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Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions

Effective date: 1 Octorber 2026

Important fee update: 1 Octorber 2026, one-to-one live lessons will continue to have 0% platform commission. A 5% payment processing fee will apply to payments for one-to-one live lessons. Transactions completed before 11 September 2026 will not be affected.

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Online Tutor Alliance website, platform and related services (collectively, the "Platform”). The Platform is operated by Chinese Learning Buddy Pte. Ltd. (UEN: 202320472E), a company incorporated in Singapore ("Online Tutor Alliance”, "we”, "us” or "our”).

By creating an account, applying as a Tutor, booking or purchasing a lesson or course, or otherwise using the Platform, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you are using the Platform for a child, you confirm that you are the child’s parent or legal guardian and accept these Terms on the child’s behalf.

1. The Platform

Online Tutor Alliance is an online marketplace that helps Students and Parents discover and connect with independent Tutors offering one-to-one live lessons, live group classes and recorded courses.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, Tutors are independent service providers and are not employees, agents or representatives of Chinese Learning Buddy Pte. Ltd. Tutors are responsible for their teaching methods, lesson content, qualifications, schedules, fees and delivery of their services.

The Platform does not provide its own video-conferencing or virtual classroom service. Tutors may provide links to third-party meeting services. Use of those services may be subject to separate terms and privacy policies.

2. Eligibility and Accounts

  • You must provide accurate, complete and current information.
  • You are responsible for safeguarding your login details and for activity conducted through your account.
  • Users under 18 may use the Platform only with the involvement and consent of a parent or legal guardian. A child under 13 must use the Platform through a Parent account and must not independently create or manage an account.
  • You must promptly notify us if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.
  • We may request identity, age, qualification or other verification where reasonably required for safety, payments or legal compliance.

3. Bookings, Prices and Payments

Tutors set their own lesson and course prices. The total price and applicable currency will be shown before payment. Users are responsible for reviewing the course description, schedule, technical requirements and Tutor information before purchasing.

Payments may be processed by third-party payment providers. Payment processing charges, currency conversion charges and applicable taxes may apply and will be disclosed where required or reflected at checkout.

A booking is confirmed only after the Platform records successful payment or otherwise confirms the booking. Users must not make fraudulent payments, initiate improper chargebacks or misuse promotional offers.

4. Platform Fees, Payment Processing Fees and Tutor Earnings

Unless a different written promotion or arrangement applies, the following rates apply:

  • One-to-one live lessons: 0% platform commission. A 5% payment processing fee will be deducted from the amount actually paid by the Student or Parent.
  • Live group classes: 20% platform service fee.
  • Recorded courses: 30% platform service fee.

The 5% payment processing fee for one-to-one live lessons is not a Platform commission. It is charged to cover payment gateway, transaction processing and local payout costs. Tutors will therefore receive 95% of the amount actually paid for a one-to-one live lesson, subject to any refunds, chargebacks, discounts, taxes or other adjustments described in these Terms.

No additional Platform withdrawal fee is charged for payouts through PayNow, PayPal or a Singapore local bank transfer. However, third-party providers may impose their own charges.

For international payouts, any international transfer fees, currency conversion charges, intermediary bank fees, receiving bank fees or other third-party charges will be borne by the Tutor and may be deducted from the payout amount.

Tutor earnings are calculated based on the amount actually paid and successfully received by the Platform after discounts, refunds, reversals and chargebacks. Unless otherwise stated, fees will be calculated separately for each transaction.

We may change commission rates or payment processing fees for future transactions by giving reasonable advance notice. A change will not retrospectively alter a completed purchase. Any special written arrangement accepted by us will take priority for the transactions it covers.

5. Cancellation, Rescheduling and Refund Policy

5.1 One-to-One Live Lessons

  • If a Student cancels at least 12 hours before the scheduled start time, the Student may request one rescheduling or a full refund to the original payment method or Platform balance, subject to payment-provider limitations.
  • If a Student cancels less than 12 hours before the start time or does not attend, the lesson is non-refundable and the Tutor may receive the lesson fee.
  • If the Tutor cancels or fails to attend, the Student may choose a full refund or rescheduling without additional charge.
  • In a genuine emergency, we may consider reasonable supporting information and make an exception at our discretion.

5.2 Live Group Classes

  • A full refund may be requested within 24 hours after purchase, provided the first class has not started.
  • After the initial 24-hour period, a Student may cancel at least 48 hours before the first class and receive a full refund as Platform balance. Where reasonably available, we may instead refund the original payment method.
  • Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the first class, and withdrawals after the course has started, are normally non-refundable.
  • Missing an individual session in a multi-session course does not qualify for a partial refund.
  • If a Tutor cancels an entire class, affected Students will receive a full refund. If an individual session is cancelled, the Tutor should provide a reasonable replacement session; if this is not possible, the affected session will be refunded proportionately.

5.3 Recorded Courses

  • A refund may be requested within 7 days after purchase only if no more than 10% of the total course content has been viewed and no downloadable course materials have been downloaded.
  • No refund is normally available after more than 10% has been viewed, substantial materials have been accessed, or the 7-day period has expired.
  • A duplicate purchase will be refunded after verification.
  • If a material technical fault prevents access and cannot be resolved within a reasonable time, we may provide a replacement, Platform credit or full or partial refund.
  • We may reject requests involving repeated or abusive refund behaviour.

5.4 General Refund Terms

Refund requests must be submitted promptly through the Platform or to support@onlinetutoralliance.com with the order details and reason. Approved refunds will normally be returned to the original payment method. Where that is not reasonably available, we may offer Platform balance with the user’s agreement. Processing times depend on the payment provider and financial institution.

Nothing in this policy excludes any non-excludable rights or remedies under applicable consumer law. We may issue a full or partial refund where a service was materially misdescribed, not delivered, defective, or where fairness and applicable law otherwise require it.

6. Tutor Applications and Obligations

By applying to become a Tutor or publishing a Tutor profile, you additionally agree that:

  • all information about your identity, experience, qualifications, employment status, subjects and availability is truthful and not misleading;
  • you will provide supporting documents where requested and will promptly update information that changes;
  • approval is discretionary and may be refused, suspended or withdrawn for safety, quality, legal, reputational or operational reasons;
  • you are responsible for determining whether you need any licence, approval, insurance, tax registration, work authorisation or employer consent;
  • you will prepare and deliver lessons professionally, punctually and in accordance with the published description;
  • you will use age-appropriate materials and maintain professional boundaries, particularly when teaching minors;
  • you will not make false guarantees about results, impersonate another person, plagiarise content or infringe third-party rights;
  • you will not request off-platform payment or direct users away from the Platform to avoid applicable commission on group classes or recorded courses;
  • you will comply with the cancellation, refund, safety, privacy and communication requirements in these Terms; and
  • you are an independent service provider and are responsible for your own income tax, CPF or other statutory obligations where applicable.

7. Payouts, Refunds and Chargebacks for Tutors

Tutor payouts are subject to the Platform’s displayed payout schedule, successful receipt of funds, completion of required verification and any applicable refund or dispute period. We may withhold or adjust amounts reasonably required to address refunds, chargebacks, suspected fraud, legal requirements or breaches of these Terms.

If a payment is refunded, reversed or charged back, the related Tutor earnings may be cancelled, deducted from a future payout or recovered where already paid. We will provide relevant transaction information where reasonably possible.

Tutors may select from the payout methods currently supported by the Platform. The availability of a payout method may depend on the Tutor’s country, account eligibility and the requirements of the relevant payment provider.

No additional Platform withdrawal fee is charged for payouts through PayNow, PayPal or a Singapore local bank transfer. However, third-party providers may impose their own charges. For international payouts, all currency conversion charges, international transfer fees, intermediary bank charges, receiving bank charges and other third-party costs will be borne by the Tutor and may be deducted from the payout amount.

The Platform may establish reasonable minimum payout amounts, payout schedules and verification requirements and will notify Tutors of any material changes.

8. Student and Parent Responsibilities

  • Review Tutor profiles and course information before booking.
  • Ensure suitable equipment, internet access and a safe learning environment.
  • Join lessons punctually and behave respectfully.
  • Parents and guardians remain responsible for deciding whether a Tutor or course is suitable for their child and for providing appropriate supervision.
  • Do not share meeting links, recordings, course materials or account access without permission.

9. Safety and Acceptable Conduct

Users must not engage in harassment, discrimination, sexual or exploitative conduct, threats, violence, fraud, unlawful activity, unauthorised disclosure of personal information, or communication that is unsafe or inappropriate for minors. Suspected child-safety concerns or unlawful conduct may be reported to relevant authorities.

Users should communicate through Platform-supported channels where available and avoid sharing unnecessary sensitive personal information. No lesson may be recorded without the prior informed consent of all participants and, for a minor, the consent of the parent or legal guardian.

10. Course Content and Intellectual Property

The Platform and its underlying software, branding and original materials belong to us or our licensors. Tutors retain ownership of content they create, subject to the rights granted below.

By publishing content on the Platform, a Tutor grants us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, reproduce, display, format and promote that content for operating and marketing the Platform. This licence ends when the content is removed, except where retention is reasonably required for existing purchasers, records, disputes or legal compliance.

Recorded-course purchases grant the Student a personal, limited, non-transferable licence to view the content during the access period shown at purchase. Students may not copy, redistribute, resell, publicly display, upload or otherwise exploit course materials.

11. Reviews and User Content

Reviews must reflect genuine experiences and must not be purchased, manipulated, defamatory, discriminatory or unlawful. We may moderate or remove content that breaches these Terms, but we do not undertake to review every communication or item before publication.

12. Third-Party Services

The Platform may link to payment processors, calendar services, video-conferencing services and other third-party tools. We do not control those services and are not responsible for their separate availability, security, content or practices. Users should review the third party’s terms and privacy policy.

13. Suspension and Termination

You may stop using the Platform at any time, subject to outstanding bookings, payments and obligations. We may restrict, suspend or terminate access where reasonably necessary to protect users or the Platform, investigate suspected misconduct, comply with law, address non-payment or enforce these Terms.

Where appropriate, we will give notice and an opportunity to respond. Serious safety concerns, fraud, unlawful conduct or urgent risks may require immediate action. Termination does not remove accrued payment, refund, intellectual-property, confidentiality or dispute obligations.

14. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

We use reasonable care in operating the Platform but do not guarantee uninterrupted availability, specific learning results, the suitability of any Tutor, or the accuracy of every user-provided statement. Verification, where conducted, reduces but does not eliminate risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special or consequential loss, loss of profit, data or opportunity, or conduct occurring through a third-party meeting service. Our aggregate liability relating to a claim will not exceed the amount paid by the claimant through the Platform for the specific service giving rise to the claim during the six months before the event, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms to reflect changes in law, Platform functions or business practices. Material changes will be notified through the Platform or by other reasonable means. The updated effective date will appear at the top. Changes do not retrospectively alter completed purchases unless required by law or agreed by the affected parties.

16. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of Singapore. Users should first contact us so we can attempt to resolve a concern fairly. Subject to any non-excludable consumer rights, the courts of Singapore will have jurisdiction over disputes arising from these Terms or the Platform.

17. Contact Us

Chinese Learning Buddy Pte. Ltd. UEN: 202320472E Registered address: Block 330A Anchorvale Street, #05-521, Singapore 541330 Email: support@onlinetutoralliance.com

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