Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using Oostadoo ("the Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our services.

2. Description of Service

Oostadoo is an online marketplace that connects students with qualified teachers in Dubai, UAE. We facilitate bookings, payments, and video lessons between students and teachers.

3. User Accounts

3.1 Registration

• You must provide accurate and complete information when creating an account
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account
• You must be at least 18 years old to create a teacher account
• Parents/guardians must supervise minors using the platform

3.2 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or misuse the platform.

4. Teacher Responsibilities

Teachers on our platform agree to:

• Provide accurate information about qualifications and experience
• Conduct lessons professionally and respectfully
• Honor confirmed bookings or provide at least 24 hours notice for cancellations
• Maintain appropriate conduct during all interactions
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations

5. Student Responsibilities

Students using our platform agree to:

• Treat teachers with respect
• Attend scheduled lessons or cancel with appropriate notice
• Pay for booked lessons as agreed
• Provide honest and constructive feedback

6. Bookings and Payments

6.1 Booking Process

• Students book lessons through the platform
• Teachers have 48 hours to accept or decline booking requests
• Payment is authorized when booking is made
• Payment is captured when teacher accepts the booking

6.2 Pricing and Fees

• Teachers set their own hourly rates
• Payment processing fees are passed to students
• All prices are in AED (UAE Dirham)

6.3 Cancellations and Refunds

Important: Students have 48 hours after a lesson to report issues or request refunds. After this period, lessons are considered completed and accepted.

• Students can cancel bookings with full refund if teacher declines
• If teacher doesn't respond within 48 hours, booking automatically expires with full refund
• Cancellation timing affects refund amount (see Refund Policy)
• Teachers who don't show up result in 100% student refund
• Quality disputes are handled case-by-case within 48-hour window

📋 For complete refund terms: View our detailed Refund Policy

7. Prohibited Activities

Users may not:

• Engage in fraudulent or illegal activities
• Harass, abuse, or threaten other users
• Share inappropriate content
• Attempt to bypass payment systems
• Misrepresent qualifications or experience
• Use the platform for purposes other than tutoring
• Scrape or collect user data without permission

9. Independent Contractor Status

9.1 Teacher Status

Teachers on Oostadoo are independent contractors, NOT employees of Oostadoo or The Red Circle LLC. Teachers acknowledge and agree that:

• They are solely responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and legal compliance
• They control their own schedule, rates (within platform guidelines), and teaching methods
• Oostadoo does not provide employment benefits, health insurance, or retirement contributions
• They are free to work with other platforms or clients outside of Oostadoo
• They are responsible for obtaining any necessary permits or licenses required in their jurisdiction

9.2 No Employment Relationship

Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, agency, partnership, or joint venture relationship between Oostadoo and any User. Teachers are not authorized to make commitments on behalf of Oostadoo.

10. Platform Fees and Payments

10.1 Commission Structure

Oostadoo charges a platform commission on each completed lesson. Teachers are informed of the applicable commission rate during account setup and when setting their hourly rate. Payment processing fees are passed to Students at checkout.

10.2 Payment Terms

• Teacher payouts are processed weekly (every Friday for lessons completed the previous week)
• A 48-hour holding period applies to allow for dispute resolution
• Teachers must provide valid banking information to receive payments
• Oostadoo is not responsible for delays caused by banking institutions

10.3 Fee Changes

Oostadoo reserves the right to modify commission rates with 30 days written notice to affected Users. Continued use of the Platform after such notice constitutes acceptance of the new rates.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Oostadoo, The Red Circle LLC, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms of Service
• Your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property rights
• Any content you submit, post, or transmit through the Platform
• Any claim related to the quality of tutoring services provided (for Teachers)
• Any tax obligations or liabilities arising from payments received through the Platform
• Any claim that your actions caused damage to a third party

This indemnification obligation will survive the termination of your account and these Terms.

12. Intellectual Property

All content on the platform, including logos, designs, and text, is the property of Oostadoo or its licensors. Users retain ownership of content they upload but grant us a license to use it to provide our services.

13. Limitation of Liability

13.1 Platform Role

Oostadoo acts solely as a marketplace platform that facilitates connections between Students and Teachers. We are NOT a tutoring service provider.

13.2 No Responsibility For

Oostadoo expressly disclaims responsibility for:

• The quality, safety, or legality of lessons provided by Teachers
• The accuracy of Teacher qualifications, credentials, or background information
• The conduct of any User, whether online or offline
• Disputes between Students and Teachers
• Any damages, injuries, or losses resulting from lessons or interactions
• Technical issues, service interruptions, or data loss
• Third-party actions or content
• Learning outcomes or academic results

13.3 Maximum Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Oostadoo's total liability for any claims arising from your use of the Platform shall not exceed the lesser of:

• The amount paid by you to Oostadoo in the 3 months prior to the claim, OR
• AED 500 (Five Hundred UAE Dirhams)

13.4 No Consequential Damages

In no event shall Oostadoo be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, business opportunities, or goodwill, regardless of whether such damages were foreseeable.

14. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Implied warranties of merchantability
• Fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement
• Accuracy or completeness of content
• Uninterrupted or error-free service

Oostadoo does not warrant that Teachers are qualified, competent, or suitable for your needs. You use the Platform and engage with Teachers at your own risk.

15. Dispute Resolution

15.1 Informal Resolution

Before filing any formal dispute, you agree to first contact us at legal@oostadoo.com and attempt to resolve the dispute informally within 30 days.

15.2 Arbitration

If informal resolution fails, any dispute shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) under its rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in English in Dubai, UAE.

15.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes with Oostadoo on an individual basis only. You waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.

16. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. We will notify registered users of material changes via email at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

17. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the United Arab Emirates, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes not subject to arbitration shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of Dubai, UAE. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of these courts.

18. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

19. Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with our Privacy Policy and Refund Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Oostadoo regarding your use of the Platform. These Terms supersede any prior agreements or understandings.

20. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, contact us:

• Email: legal@oostadoo.com
• Support: support@oostadoo.com
• Website: https://oostadoo.com
• Company: The Red Circle LLC, Sharjah Media City, UAE