Terms of Service

1. Our Services

AbboTalk offers English language courses and related educational services to domestic and international students. Our services include:

• General English language courses at various proficiency levels
• Specialized English programs (Business English, IELTS Preparation, etc.)
• Conversation clubs and language practice opportunities
• Cultural activities and field trips
• Online educational resources
• Student support services

We reserve the right to change, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of our services at any time, including the availability of any features, database, or content. We may also impose limits on certain features or restrict your access to parts or all of the services without notice or liability.

2. Enrollment and Registration

Eligibility

To enroll in our programs, you must:

• Be at least 16 years of age, or have parental/guardian consent if under 16
• Complete all required application forms and provide accurate information
• Meet any specific program prerequisites or requirements
• For international students: have appropriate visa status that permits study in Canada

Account Responsibility

If you create an account on our website, you are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account information and password
• Restricting access to your account
• Accepting responsibility for all activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

Accuracy of Information

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during the registration process and to update such information to keep it accurate, current, and complete. If we suspect that your information is inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent, we may suspend or terminate your account.

3. Fees and Payment

Fee Structure

Our fees vary depending on the program, course duration, and services selected. Current fee information is available on our website or upon request. Fees may include:

• Application fees
• Tuition fees
• Materials and resource fees
• Activity and field trip fees
• Administrative fees

Payment Terms

Payment terms include:

• Application fees are due at the time of application submission
• Tuition deposits may be required to secure your place in a program
• Full payment is typically required before the program start date
• Payment plans may be available for certain programs (subject to approval)

Accepted Payment Methods

We accept the following payment methods:

• Credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express)
• Bank transfers
• Interac e-Transfer (for Canadian residents)
• International wire transfers

Late Payments

Late payments may result in:

• Late payment fees
• Suspension of services or removal from courses
• Ineligibility for future enrollment until outstanding balances are paid

4. Cancellations and Refunds

Cancellation by Student

Our refund policy for student-initiated cancellations is as follows:

• More than 30 days before start date: Full refund minus application fee and $250 administrative fee
• 15-30 days before start date: 75% refund of tuition fees minus application fee
• 7-14 days before start date: 50% refund of tuition fees minus application fee
• Less than 7 days before start date: 25% refund of tuition fees minus application fee
• After program start date: No refund

Visa Refusal

If your study permit/visa application is refused by Canadian immigration authorities, we will provide a full refund of tuition fees minus a $250 administrative fee, provided that:

• You submit a formal refusal letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
• The refusal was not due to submission of fraudulent documents or information
• The refund request is made within 14 days of receiving the visa refusal

Cancellation by AbboTalk

AbboTalk reserves the right to cancel courses due to insufficient enrollment or other circumstances beyond our control. In such cases:

• Students will receive a full refund of all fees paid for the cancelled course
• Alternatively, students may transfer to another course where available

Dismissal

No refund will be provided in cases of dismissal due to violation of AbboTalk policies, misconduct, or violation of these Terms.

5. Code of Conduct

Students and website users must adhere to our Code of Conduct, which includes:

Expected Behavior

• Treating all students, staff, and community members with respect and dignity
• Attending classes regularly and punctually
• Completing assignments and participating actively in learning activities
• Following all school policies and procedures
• Respecting the property and facilities of AbboTalk and partner organizations
• Complying with Canadian laws and regulations

Prohibited Behavior

• Harassment, discrimination, or bullying of any kind
• Disruptive behavior that interferes with teaching or learning
• Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty
• Possession or use of alcohol or illegal substances on school premises
• Damage to school property or facilities
• Violent or threatening behavior
• Making false statements or providing fraudulent documents

Consequences

Violation of the Code of Conduct may result in:

• Verbal or written warnings
• Probation
• Suspension from specific activities
• Dismissal from the program (without refund)
• Legal action in serious cases

6. Intellectual Property

Ownership

The AbboTalk website, course materials, logos, trademarks, and content are owned by AbboTalk or its licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. This includes but is not limited to:

• Text and written content
• Graphics, images, and photos
• Videos and audio
• Logos and trademarks
• Software and code
• Course materials and curricula

Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use our website and services for personal, non-commercial purposes. This license does not allow you to:

• Modify or copy the materials
• Use the materials for any commercial purpose
• Attempt to reverse engineer or extract source code from our software
• Remove any copyright or proprietary notations
• Transfer the materials to another person or "mirror" the materials on any other server
• Redistribute course materials without written permission

Termination of License

This license automatically terminates if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by AbboTalk at any time. Upon termination, you must destroy any downloaded materials in your possession.

7. User Content

User Contributions

Our website may contain forums, blogs, or other features that allow users to post, submit, or display content ("User Content"). By providing User Content, you:

• Retain ownership of your User Content
• Grant AbboTalk a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, and display such content
• Represent that you own or have necessary rights to the User Content
• Understand that your User Content may be visible to other users

Content Standards

User Content must not:

• Be defamatory, obscene, offensive, hateful, or inflammatory
• Promote discrimination, racism, or intolerance
• Infringe any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property right
• Violate the privacy or data protection rights of others
• Contain viruses or malicious code
• Impersonate any person or misrepresent your identity or affiliation
• Promote illegal activities or commercial solicitations

Content Monitoring

AbboTalk is not obligated to monitor User Content but reserves the right to:

• Review and moderate any User Content
• Remove or refuse to post any User Content for any reason
• Take action against any user who violates these Terms
• Disclose user information to law enforcement as required by law

8. Website Use and Restrictions

Acceptable Use

You agree to use our website only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You specifically agree not to:

• Use the website in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our website, systems, or networks
• Interfere with the proper functioning of the website
• Collect or harvest user data without permission
• Use automated means (bots, scrapers, etc.) to access the website
• Bypass measures designed to prevent or restrict access
• Introduce viruses, trojans, worms, or other malicious code

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by AbboTalk. We:

• Have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services
• Are not responsible for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of third-party content, products, or services
• Recommend reading the terms and privacy policies of each third-party website you visit

9. Disclaimers

No Guarantees

While we strive to provide quality educational services:

• We do not guarantee specific language proficiency outcomes
• Results depend on individual effort, attendance, and aptitude
• We cannot guarantee acceptance to other institutions based on completion of our programs
• We do not guarantee visa approval or immigration outcomes

Website Disclaimer

Our website and services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without any warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, or course of performance
• Guarantees that the website will be uninterrupted, secure, error-free, or free from harmful components
• Assurances about the accuracy, reliability, or quality of any information or content provided

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, AbboTalk shall not be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses
• Damages resulting from interruption of service or inability to access our website
• Damages resulting from unauthorized access to or alteration of your transmissions or data
• Damages resulting from third-party conduct or content

Our total liability for any claims arising under these Terms shall not exceed the amount you paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim.

11. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless AbboTalk, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your User Content
• Your use of the website or services
• Your violation of any third-party rights

12. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Any dispute arising from these Terms shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of British Columbia, Canada. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts and waive any objection to proceedings in such courts.

13. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time at our sole discretion. The most current version will be posted on our website with the effective date.

Your continued use of our website or services after any changes to the Terms constitutes your acceptance of such changes. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically for any changes.

14. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at: