Terms and conditions

1. REGISTRATION
Since space in our partner schools is limited, we recommend that you register as early as possible. Depending on your country of destination you may require a visa, which can take up to three months for application and issue. We charge an express surcharge of SwF 50 for registrations received less than 14 days before the start of the course.

2. CONTRACT
The contract between you and Boa Lingua involves:
– Your registration, orally or in writing, is binding on you.
– The contract takes effect following our written confirmation.

3. PRICES
The prices for the language stays are normally published in our brochures in the currency of the country in which the school is located or as indicated by our partner schools.

4. SPECIAL LANGUAGE COURSE SURCHARGES
- Processing fee per booking SwF 50.
- Language course less than 4 weeks (excl. courses in Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain and South America as well as mini groups & individual courses) SwF 50.
- Hotel/Apartment finder’s fee SwF 40.
- Subsequent changes in accommodation, type of course or course dates, depending on administration required min. SwF 50 to max. SwF 200.

5. PAYMENT
You will receive the invoice for your language stay together with the course confirmation as soon as possible after your registration is received. The initial payment of SwF 400 must be made within 10 days of receiving the invoice, with the remaining payment due no later than 5 weeks prior to the start of the course. Unless specifically requested otherwise, we calculate the national currency at the prevailing exchange rate (notes sold/date of invoicing). The exchange rate is shown on the invoice and no subsequent changes can be made. Credit cards and traveller’s cheques are not accepted. If the payment dates are not met, we have the right to cancel the bookings and charge the full cancellation rate (as outlined in point 7).

Any applicable membership or promotional discounts must be asserted by the Customer at the time of booking. Subsequent claims are not possible.

6. SERVICES PROVIDED BY BOA LINGUA
The services provided by Boa Lingua (hereinafter abbreviated to BL) are described in the brochure and in the confirmation. They correspond to the conditions prevailing at the time of printing. We specifically reserve the right to make changes in services (price, course, timetable and accommodation) by our partner organizations and subsequent claims on BL are specifically excluded. Clearly erroneous entries on the customer invoice may be rectified with justification or – if in favour of the customer – reimbursed.

7. CANCELLATION/LANGUAGE COURSE/ACCOMMODATION
Cancellations must be sent by registered mail to BL or to your reservation office.

- Cancellation up to 30 days before the start of the course SwF 400*
- Cancellation 29 - 15 days before the start of the course 20 % of the course and accommodation if charged*
- Cancellation 14 -  8 days before the start of the course 40 % of the course and accommodation if charged *
- Cancellation 7 -    1 day before the start of the course 80 % of the course and accommodation if charged *
- Cancellation on the date of departure or after the start of the course 100 % of the course and accommodation if charged *

*Registration fees (course and accommodation if charged) together with the BL registration fee will not be reimbursed under any circumstances. Courses that are shortened are deemed to be cancelled..

Apartments/studios/residences/hotel rooms are subject to the cancellation fees of the local service provider and are generally somewhat higher than in the case of host famiy accommodation. The cancellation charges could be up to 100%.

Cancellations for medical, family reasons (doctor’s or medical certificate required) can be covered by cancellation insurance or liability insurance.

8. COMPLAINTS
Should you not be satisfied by the services provided by our schools during your journey or language stay, please address your complaints as soon as possible to the service provider or school administration. Should the problem not be solved to your satisfaction within a short amount of time, please contact BL as soon as possible by telephone, fax or email (info(at)boalingua.ch) or your booking office. Complaints cannot be considered after the end of the course and subsequent complaints are excluded. In the even that the problem cannot be solved during the course of the stay, it must be submitted within 30 days of the completion of the language course or the termination of the course to BL or your reservation office. No complaints will be considered if these guidelines are not adhered to. Remember that any complaints or admissions must be confirmed in writing by the school administration. No refunds are possible for services that are not used. Holidays are neither compensated nor reimbursed.

9. LIABILITY
Basically, BL shall be liable in accordance with the statutory provisions. BL shall not incur any further liability. Our liability shall cover only direct damages and shall be limited to a maximum of twice the price paid for the travel arrangement.

9.1. GENERAL
No liability is acknowledged for scheduling changes due to travel delays or strikes. BL specifically declines liability for changes to the travel schedule due to higher powers, official actions, delays by third parties for which BL is not liable.
The competent court is Zug, Switzerland. Swiss law shall prevail exclusively.

9.2. FOR CLAIMS DUE TO FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS
BL acknowledges absolutely no liability. Participants must acknowledge that BL does not organize any flight arrangements but merely communicates customer data and flight details to partner travel agents. The contracting party confirms by their signature on the registration form that they consent to the communication of personal data and contact with the partner travel agent. This normally takes place once the course confirmation has been received. The appropriate general contract conditions of the partner travel agents apply to all travel bookings and arrangements.

9.3. MATERIAL LIABILITY AND SPECIAL PROVISIONS
BL denies any liability resulting from theft or damage by and to objects. BL denies any liability in respect of bookings of local excursions, car rentals, etc at the course location if not arranged by BL.

9.4. INSURANCE
BL accepts liability in the contexts of commercial liability for damages to persons and property insured with Scweizerische Mobiliar, for which BL is legally liable.
BL recommends that you take out cancellation insurance, travel insurance for return travel costs, damage to or loss of luggage, accidents etc as well as cost guarantees by your medical insurer to assume or reimburse medical costs incurred abroad. Take a copy of your policy with you, along with the address, telephone number of your insurer.

9.5. CUSTODY OF CUSTOMER’S MONEY
BL is a member of the Swiss tourist industry guarantee fund, which guarantees payments made. Detailed information will be found at www.reisegarantie.ch.

9.6. OMBUDSMAN
should any dispute arise unexpectedly, you can refer the matter to the independent ombudsman of the Swiss travel industry:

Ombudsmann der Schweizer Reisebranche, Etzelstrasse 42, CH-8038 Zürich.

9.7. IMMIGRATION PROVISIONS
Participants are responsible for the required travel documents and for compliance with the appropriate entry, customs, currency, vaccination and insurance provisions. If entry is denied for reasons for which the traveller is responsible, the travel is deemed to be cancelled and the cancellation costs will be levied in accordance with the conditions laid out in paragraph 7.

Boa Lingua, 03/2012