Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User") and Axcended Tutoring ("Axcended", "we", "us", or "our") governing your access to and use of the website at axcended.co.za and all related services (the "Platform").

By registering an account, submitting a booking request, applying as a tutor, or otherwise using the Platform, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms. If you are under 18, your parent or legal guardian must agree to these Terms on your behalf.

2. The Platform

Axcended Tutoring is an educational marketplace that enables students and parents to discover and connect with private tutors across South Africa. Axcended facilitates these connections but is not itself a tutoring agency and is not a party to any tutoring arrangement.

The Platform includes:

• A tutor directory and profile system.
• A lesson booking and request system.
• A student and tutor dashboard.
• An educational articles blog.
• A community forum for registered users.
• A free study notes library.
• Messaging between tutors and students.

3. User Accounts

To access most features of the Platform you must register for an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration.
• Keep your account credentials confidential and not share your password with anyone.
• Notify us immediately at axcended1@gmail.com if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.
• Take responsibility for all activity that occurs under your account.

We reserve the right to refuse registration or cancel accounts at our discretion, particularly where we suspect fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity.

4. Students & Parents

Students and parents using the Platform acknowledge that:

• Axcended facilitates the introduction to tutors but does not guarantee any specific learning outcome or academic result.
• Parents or guardians are responsible for supervising minors during in-person tutoring sessions and are encouraged to verify a tutor's qualifications independently.
• All tutors listed on the Platform have been screened by Axcended, but final judgment regarding suitability rests with the parent or student.
• Session fees are agreed directly between the student/parent and the tutor. Axcended is not responsible for disputes over payment amounts not processed through our Platform.

5. Tutors

Tutors on the Platform are independent contractors, not employees of Axcended. By applying and being approved as a tutor, you agree to:

• Provide truthful information about your qualifications, experience, and subjects.
• Deliver tutoring services professionally, reliably, and in accordance with any booking agreed with a student.
• Not misrepresent your identity, qualifications, or the services you offer.
• Comply with all applicable South African laws, including tax obligations arising from income earned through the Platform.
• Not solicit students to move off-platform to avoid Axcended's service processes.

Axcended reserves the right to suspend or remove any tutor profile that violates these Terms or that attracts complaints from students or parents.

6. Payments & Fees

Session fees are set by tutors and displayed on their profiles. Where payments are processed through the Platform:

• Axcended may deduct a service fee from tutor earnings. The applicable rate will be communicated separately to tutors.
• Payments are processed and disbursed as described in the Tutor Dashboard. Processing times may vary.
• Refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis. If a session did not take place due to tutor fault, you may be entitled to a refund — contact us within 7 days of the scheduled session.

Axcended is not liable for payment disputes between students and tutors that fall outside the Platform's payment system.

7. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use the Platform to:

• Post or transmit any content that is unlawful, defamatory, abusive, threatening, obscene, or discriminatory.
• Impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity.
• Harvest or collect contact information of other users without their consent.
• Upload malicious code, viruses, or any software intended to damage or interfere with the Platform.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Platform or its underlying systems.
• Use the Platform for any commercial purpose not expressly permitted by Axcended.
• Engage in academic dishonesty, including requesting tutors to write or complete assessments on behalf of students.

Violation of these rules may result in immediate account suspension and, where warranted, referral to law enforcement authorities.

8. User-Generated Content

You retain ownership of content you post on the Platform (forum posts, article comments, tutor profile descriptions). However, by submitting content you grant Axcended a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to display and distribute that content on the Platform.

You are solely responsible for content you post. Axcended does not pre-screen user content but reserves the right to remove any content that violates these Terms or is otherwise objectionable. If you believe any content infringes your rights, contact us at axcended1@gmail.com.

9. Intellectual Property

All content on the Platform produced by Axcended — including the website design, logo, articles, graphics, and software — is owned by or licenced to Axcended and is protected by South African and international intellectual property law.

You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from Axcended's proprietary content without our express written permission. Limited personal, non-commercial use (such as printing an article for study purposes) is permitted.

Study notes uploaded by tutors remain the intellectual property of those tutors. Downloading notes for personal study is permitted; redistribution or commercial use is not.

10. Disclaimers & Liability

The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the fullest extent permitted by South African law, Axcended makes no warranties — express or implied — regarding the Platform's fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, or uninterrupted availability.

Axcended is not liable for:

• The conduct or performance of any tutor or student.
• Any loss or damage arising from reliance on content posted by users.
• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from use of the Platform.
• Any academic results or outcomes achieved or not achieved through tutoring.
• Interruption or unavailability of the Platform due to maintenance, technical faults, or events outside our control.

Nothing in these Terms limits our liability for death, personal injury, or fraud caused by our negligence, or for any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under South African law.

11. Suspension & Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Platform at any time, with or without notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms or engaged in conduct that may harm other users, tutors, or Axcended.

You may close your account at any time by contacting us. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Certain provisions of these Terms — including intellectual property, disclaimers, and governing law — survive termination.

12. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute arising from or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Africa.

We encourage users to first attempt to resolve any dispute informally by contacting us directly. We will make every reasonable effort to address concerns promptly and fairly.

13. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Where appropriate, we will notify registered users by email.

Your continued use of the Platform after updated Terms are published constitutes your acceptance of those changes. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Platform.

14. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms, or any other legal enquiries, should be directed to: