General Terms and Conditions

Terms of Registration | General Information

Booking | Registration

The booking is realized by submitting a completed and signed registration form or online registration form. Minor participants (under 18 years of age) need the signature of their parents or legal guardians. The booking becomes binding after being confirmed in writing by did deutsch-institut, hereinafter referred to as did. With the registration the participant accepts all following general terms and conditions.

Change of Booking

Changes of booking can be made free of charge only in case of upgrading a booked service, for example changing to a course with a higher amount of weekly lessons. Up to four weeks prior to the course start all changes that result in a reduction of booked services will be charged with a service fee of 50,- € per change. For any changes made at a later date, did reserves the right to claim a higher service fee.

Cancellation prior to Course Start

All cancellations have to be submitted in writing. Until four weeks prior to the course start the cancellation fee will be 50,- €. After that, and until two weeks prior to the course start, did will charge a fee of 100,- €. For cancellations during the remaining 14 days prior to the course start the fee will amount to 250,- € (different terms apply for the High School Program where the cancellation fee will amount to 500,- € before the course start). Irrespective of the time the cancellation is received, did reserves the right to invoice the fees for booked services for accommodation and/or board in addition to the cancellation fee, either in part or to the full extent. In case of no-show all costs will become payable.

Cancellation after Course Start

Cancellations, in full or in parts, of all services booked in advance such as tuition, accommodation, transfer etc. are not possible after the starting date. If the participant abandons the course (or the program) for reasons unconnected with any fault on the part of did, there will be no refund. A cancellation of the selected type of accommodation within the first four weeks after arrival cannot be accepted as well.

Health | Insurance

did can only accommodate healthy participants in host families who do neither have to follow diets nor require medical treatment. All participants are obliged to inform did immediately in case of possible infectious diseases. At the time of registration, all participants have to show proof of a valid insurance coverage for Germany or have to take out a liability, accident and health insurance policy through did. The insurance coverage will be valid during the participant’s entire stay in Germany and also covers possible visits to other countries of the European Union (except the participant’s home country). The insurance rates in 2010 will amount to 12,- € per week from Sunday to Saturday.

Misbehavior

An undisputable, disciplined behavior of all participants towards host families, roommates, fellow students as well as the entire did staff is required at all times. In case of major violations against general customs – respectively school and house regulations – did reserves the right to terminate the contract without notice. In case of undisciplined behavior or violations of German laws (for instance theft, drug abuse, injuries to persons or damage of property), did reserves the right to exclude the participant from the course or program immediately. In this case, the expenses for premature departure have to be paid by the participant respectively the legal guardians. did will not refund any payments.

Responsability and Due Diligence (Care)

A booking for minor participants (under 18 years of age) requires a written agreement signed by their parents or legal guardians. did neither has any obligation to supervise nor the obligation to exercise due care for adult or minor participants. In particular, the did staff, host families, supervisors or other did assistant staff cannot guarantee an all-round supervision of minor participants. did also does not take any obligation to supervise or obligation to exercise due care for minor participants of the Junior Residence Courses in Berlin, Hintersee and Höchst. The responsibility of did is limited to immediately notify the parents or the legal guardians in case the participant’s behavior will give cause for concern.

Liability

For any injury to a participant’s life, body or health, did can only be held liable if this is due to the fault of did. For any damage or injury caused by the participant, the participant is directly and immediately liable towards the aggrieved party. did may have recourse in case of being held responsible for any damage or injury caused by a participant. did is not liable for the loss or theft of any personal belongings.

Damages | Security Deposit

Any damage caused by intention or negligence of the participant will be charged to the participant. All participants accommodated in residences or apartments have to furnish a deposit that will be withheld only in case of damage. If the damage exceeds the security deposit, additional compensation will be charged. If there is no damage caused, the deposit will be refunded in total upon departure.

Subject Matter of Contract | Place of Jurisdiction

Prices and scope of contractual services are binding according to the respective description in this price list. However, did reserves the right to non-detrimental program changes and to revise calculation, printing and translation errors. Any term or condition differing from what is written in this price list requires a confirmation in writing by did. In case a course or program is cancelled due to force majeure, did will not take any responsibility and will charge for services already rendered. In case did will have to cancel a course or program due to other reasons payments already made will be refunded. No further claims will be considered. Place and Court of Jurisdication is Frankfurt. German law applies.

Tuition and Activity Program

Timetable | Duration of Lessons

Tuition of all courses for participants under 18 years of age, as well as summer intensive courses for adults in Heidelberg, is generally held in the mornings. The same applies generally to our institutes in Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich. However, here classes may also be held in the afternoons, for instance during the peak booking season. In that case, should classes coincide with the leisure time activities, participants have no right of compensation for the missed activities. One lesson at did lasts 45 minutes. In group tuition classes are usually given as 90 minutes units. Please note that individual tuition can generally only be booked as double units of 90 minutes (2 lessons of 45 minutes each).

Minimum Number of Participants

If the number of participants on one course level is under 4, did reserves the right to reduce the weekly lessons by 20%. For Premium Courses a special rule applies. This course is an extension of the Intensive Course by 4 lessons. If there are less than 4 participants on one course level, the number of additional lessons given will be reduced by half. In total the Premium Course would in this case include only 26 lessons instead of 28 lessons per week.

Canceled Lessons on Bank Holidays in 2010

Private tuition not taking place due to German bank holidays will be compensated. Group tuition will be canceled.

Jan. 06 Munich
April 02 countrywide
April 05 countrywide
May 13 countrywide
May 24 countrywide
June 03 Munich / Frankfurt / Wiesbaden
November 01 Munich

Annual Closing

During the following periods did institutes remain closed. This offers participants the opportunity to spend Christmas at home. Courses booked within the annual closing period will be extended for the respective number of course weeks.

Activity Program

The fees of our junior courses generally enclose an activity program. The Summer Intensive Courses for adults in Heidelberg and the year-round Intensive Courses for juniors in Wiesbaden include the costs for the activity program as well. However, in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich, travel expenses (fares) and entry fees for some of the excursions have to be paid by the participant.

Arrival, Transfer and Accommodation

Entry Requirements and Visa

Generally participants from all countries of the European Union will only need a valid identity card for traveling to Germany. Participants from other countries who may need to obtain a visa in order to stay in Germany may book the did visa service. In this case did will send the participant – after having received full payment – along with the confirmation of payment a letter of invitation. For the visa service, did will charge a service fee of 100,- Euro. The amount will be credited to the total course fee in case of a successful visa application. However, in case the application is rejected, did will refund the course fee in its entirety minus the bank and visa service fees.

Transfer from / to Station or Airport

Participants of junior courses (under 17 years of age) with family accommodation are always accompanied from and to the train station on their arrival and departure day. This service is free of charge. The same applies to participants of Summer Intensive Courses in Heidelberg with host family accommodation. Participants arriving by plane may book an airport or train-station pick-up service through did. They will be picked up at the airport / train-station by either a member of the did staff or directly by the host family and attended to the host’s home by car or public transportation. In any case, transfers will have to be booked at least one week in advance. If the participant asks for this service at short notice, did reserves the right to charge a higher transfer fee.

Accommodation in Host Families | Time of Arrival

Participants with accommodation in host families are asked to inform their hosts one week in advance about the scheduled time of arrival. Otherwise did cannot guaranty, someone will be home at the time of arrival. Arrivals and departures should be scheduled between 8am and 8pm. All host families either live directly at the course location or in close vicinity. Participants can easily reach the school with public transport within 45 minutes of traveling time.

Conditions of Payment

Payments

All Payments have to be settled in Euro (€). The full payment for all services booked (e.g. course, accommodation and additional services) must be credited to the did account at least two weeks after the invoice has been issued. In case the payment was not credited did reserves the right to cancel the contract automatically or to withhold details on accommodation such as the address of the host family, the person to contact, etc. All bank charges have to be paid by the participant and are due, if necessary, latest on the first day of the course or program. Please note that for technical and financial reasons we don’t accept credit card payments nor payments made by bank check.

Bank Details

Beneficiary: did deutsch-institut worldwide GmbH
Credit Institution: Deutsche Bank AG Frankfurt am Main
Account Number: 094 163 300
Bank Code (BLZ): 500 700 10
IBAN: DE 7150 0700 1000 9416 3300
SWIFT BIC: DEUT DE FF XXX

Validity of Prices | VAT

Generally all prices for courses and programs offered by did are valid from 01.01.2010 until 31.12.2010, and beyond this date, as long as the start of a selected course or program is within the time of validity. The prices for all types of accommodation are solely valid from 01.01.2010 until 31.12.2010. All did prices are exempt of VAT (value added tax). The VAT is already included in the prices for family accommodation.