Terms & Conditions

English 読書会 – Terms of Service & Participation Agreement

Last Updated: March 2026

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between English 読書会 (“English 読書会,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) and any individual or legal entity (“Participant,” “Student,” “you,” or “your”) who accesses our website, enrolls in a course, purchases a subscription, or participates in any of our services.

By enrolling, purchasing, or participating, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Nature of the Service

English 読書会 provides small-group, online English reading circles, educational discussion sessions, and related digital materials.

Our services include:

Live facilitated group discussions conducted via video conferencing platforms
Structured reading schedules and curriculum guidance
Access to moderated online community spaces
Digital educational materials and written resources

Our services are educational in nature and are not accredited academic programs, licensed childcare services, therapy, counselling, or formal exam preparation programs.

Participation requires reliable internet access and compatible hardware. You are responsible for ensuring your own technical readiness.

We reserve the right to modify, improve, or discontinue any part of the service at any time.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to enroll independently.

Participants under 18 may enroll only with verified parental or legal guardian consent.

By enrolling, you confirm that:

All information you provide is accurate and truthful
You have legal authority to enter this agreement
You will comply with all applicable laws

We reserve the right to refuse enrollment at our sole discretion.

3. Enrollment and Subscription Plans

We offer subscription-based enrollment.

Quarterly Plan

Covers one 12-week course term
Automatically renews every 12 weeks unless cancelled

Annual Plan

Covers four consecutive 12-week terms
Offered at a discounted rate in exchange for long-term commitment

Your seat is reserved exclusively for you during the active term.

We do not refill vacated seats mid-term.

4. Billing and Payment

Payments are processed via secure third-party providers such as Stripe or PayPal.

By enrolling, you authorize recurring billing according to your selected plan.

You agree to maintain valid billing information at all times.

If payment fails:

You will be notified
A grace period of up to 7 days may be provided
Access may be suspended until payment is resolved
Continued non-payment may result in termination

You remain responsible for any unpaid charges incurred.

We do not store full credit card numbers on our servers.

5. Cancellation Policy

Cancellation must be submitted in writing via email or official account channel.

Required Notice

You must provide at least 14 days notice before your next billing date.

If cancellation is received in time:

Your subscription will not renew
You will retain access until the current term ends

If cancellation is received too late:

The next billing cycle may be charged
That payment becomes non-refundable

Cancellation is effective only after confirmation from us.

6. Refund Policy

Because our circles are small and capacity-limited, refunds are strictly limited.

Quarterly Plan

Once a term has begun, no refunds, partial refunds, or prorated refunds are provided.

The full fee is considered earned when the first session occurs or materials are released.

Annual Plan

If cancelled early:

Completed terms are recalculated at the full quarterly price. Only unused future terms may be refunded.

Missed Sessions

No refunds or credits are provided for:

Absences
Illness
Scheduling conflicts
Travel
Personal emergencies
Technical problems on your side

We will always aim to provide lesson summaries, notes and handouts whenever possible.

7. EU Right of Withdrawal (Cooling-Off Period)

Under EU and Portuguese consumer law, new customers normally have a 14-day withdrawal period.

However, under Article 16(a) and 16(m) of Directive 2011/83/EU, this right is waived once digital services begin with your consent.

By enrolling and attending a session or accessing course materials, you explicitly request immediate service delivery and acknowledge that your withdrawal right is waived.

8. Code of Conduct

Participants must behave respectfully and professionally.

Prohibited conduct includes:

Harassment
Threats
Discrimination
Hate speech
Disruptive behaviour
Repeated interruption of others
Sharing private group discussions externally
Recording sessions without permission

We reserve sole authority to determine violations.

9. Right to Refuse Service and Remove Participants

We may suspend or permanently terminate access at our sole discretion.

Reasons include:

Violation of conduct rules
Harassment or abusive behavior
Payment failure
Illegal activity
Protection of community safety

Removal for misconduct does not entitle you to a refund.

10. Youth Participation Terms

For participants under 18:

Parents or guardians remain fully responsible for:

Supervision
Internet safety
Physical environment
Technology use

We are not a childcare provider.

Parents consent to the minor using required third-party platforms.

Parents accept responsibility for reviewing course content suitability.

11. Intellectual Property

All materials provided are protected by copyright and intellectual property law.

This includes:

Curriculum
Study guides
Written analyses
Website content
Branding
Graphics
Educational systems

You receive a limited personal license.

You may not:

Copy
Redistribute
Sell
Share publicly
Upload to file-sharing sites
Use commercially

Unauthorized use may result in legal action.

12. Recording and Confidentiality

Sessions may not be recorded without explicit permission.

Participants must respect the privacy of others.

Sharing personal information of other participants is prohibited.

13. Third-Party Platforms

We rely on third-party services such as:

Zoom
Discord
LINE
Stripe
Website hosting providers

We are not liable for outages, security failures, or policy changes of these services.

We may substitute alternative platforms if necessary.

14. Service Availability and Modifications

We may:

Change course schedules
Change reading selections
Change facilitators
Modify program structure

We will attempt reasonable notice when possible.

No refunds are provided due to reasonable operational changes.

15. Disclaimer of Educational Outcomes

We do not guarantee:

Language fluency
Exam results
Career advancement
Specific learning outcomes

Progress depends on individual effort and participation.

16. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

We are not liable for indirect or consequential damages.

Our total maximum liability shall not exceed the amount you paid during the current billing cycle.

17. Force Majeure

We are not liable for failure or delay caused by events beyond our control, including:

Natural disasters
War
Pandemic
Power outages
Internet outages
Government action

We may reschedule affected sessions when possible.

18. Account Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or terminate accounts for:

Policy violations
Payment failure
Fraud
Security concerns

You may terminate by cancelling your subscription.

19. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless English 読書会 from claims resulting from:

Your misuse of the service
Your violation of these Terms
Your violation of laws

20. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Portugal.

Any disputes shall fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of Portuguese courts.

21. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms periodically.

Continued use of the service constitutes acceptance.

22. Contact

Contact: info@english-dokushokai.com