Terms and Conditions
These Terms and Conditions apply to bookings, enquiries, and use of services provided by Basic Computing. By booking a session, making payment, or using our services, you agree to these terms.
1. About Basic Computing
Basic Computing provides beginner-friendly computer tutoring, guidance, and support. Services may include in-person sessions, online sessions, help choosing a suitable computer, and group sessions.
Basic Computing is a teaching and support service. We aim to explain technology clearly, patiently, and in plain English, but we do not guarantee that every issue can be resolved in a single session.
2. What our service is, and is not
Basic Computing is here to help people learn, understand, and build confidence with technology.
Unless we agree otherwise in writing, our service is educational and guidance-based. This means we show clients how to carry out tasks, explain the steps, and support them in learning to do things themselves.
We do not complete work on behalf of clients where doing so would be inappropriate, dishonest, or outside the purpose of the service. This includes, but is not limited to:
- school, college, university, or course assignments
- assessed work or exams
- business tasks that a client is expected to complete themselves
- applications, documents, or submissions that should be the client's own work
Where suitable, we may demonstrate similar examples, practise the same type of task, or explain the process step by step, but the final work remains the client's responsibility.
3. Bookings
Bookings are subject to availability.
We may ask for information before confirming a booking, including the type of help required, whether the session is online or in person, and what device or software is involved.
A booking is considered confirmed once we have agreed the session details with you and, where applicable, payment has been received or payment arrangements have been agreed.
4. Session length and pricing
Session lengths, bundle options, and prices are shown on the website or confirmed at the time of booking.
Unless stated otherwise, session prices apply to the session time itself and do not include the cost of any hardware, software, subscriptions, accessories, repairs, third-party services, or travel arrangements outside our normal service area.
Group booking prices may be quoted separately.
5. Payment
Payment may be required in advance, on the day of the session, or in line with any arrangement confirmed when booking.
If payment is overdue, Basic Computing may decline to provide further sessions until the outstanding amount has been paid.
Bundle bookings must be used within any validity period stated at the time of purchase. If no validity period is stated, sessions should be used within a reasonable time.
6. Cancellations and rescheduling
If you need to cancel or rearrange a session, please let us know as soon as possible.
If you cancel or request to rearrange more than 2 hours before the scheduled start time, we will normally rearrange the session or, where appropriate, refund that session.
If you cancel less than 2 hours before the scheduled start time, or do not attend, the session will usually be treated as used and will not be refunded.
If Basic Computing has to cancel or rearrange a session, we will offer an alternative appointment or, where appropriate, a refund for the affected session.
Nothing in this section removes any cancellation rights you may have under consumer law.
7. Cooling-off rights for consumer bookings
If you book as a consumer online, by phone, by email, or in another off-premises or distance way, you may have legal rights to cancel within 14 days of booking.
If you ask us to begin providing the service during that 14 day period, you agree that the service may start before the cooling-off period ends.
If you cancel after asking us to begin during that period, you may be required to pay for any service already provided up to the point of cancellation, where the law allows this.
If the service has been fully performed within that period at your express request, your right to cancel may end once the service has been completed.
8. Your responsibilities
You are responsible for providing accurate information about your needs, equipment, and circumstances.
You are responsible for backing up any important files, photos, documents, emails, or other data before a session starts.
You are responsible for ensuring that you have the legal right to access the device, account, software, files, or network you ask us to help with.
For online sessions, you are responsible for having a suitable internet connection and access to the device involved.
For group sessions, the booking party is responsible for ensuring the venue, equipment, and attendee arrangements are suitable unless we have expressly agreed otherwise.
9. Data loss, corruption, and backups
Basic Computing takes care when providing support, guidance, and tuition. However, technology can be unpredictable, and there is always some level of risk when changing settings, moving files, installing or removing software, carrying out updates, connecting devices, or troubleshooting faults.
For that reason, clients must back up important data before any session.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Basic Computing is not responsible for loss of data, corruption of files, loss of access to accounts, or other data-related issues arising during or after a session where this results from pre-existing issues, third-party systems, software faults, hardware faults, user actions, internet service issues, manufacturer issues, or other causes outside our reasonable control.
Nothing in these terms excludes liability where it would be unlawful to do so.
10. Hardware faults and technical issues
Basic Computing does not manufacture, sell, or control the hardware, operating systems, software platforms, internet services, email providers, or third-party products used by clients unless expressly stated otherwise.
We are not responsible for hardware failures, device breakdowns, battery faults, network failures, software bugs, account lockouts, security restrictions, third-party outages, or compatibility issues that occur during or after a session, unless caused directly by our failure to use reasonable care and skill.
If a device already has faults, is unstable, is infected, is damaged, is outdated, or is close to failure, any work carried out may carry additional risk. Where possible, we will warn you of obvious risks before continuing.
11. No guarantee of a specific outcome
We aim to provide clear, patient, and useful support. However, Basic Computing does not guarantee that:
- every issue can be fixed
- every device can be made compatible with a desired task
- any third-party software or service will continue to work in the same way
- any manufacturer, provider, or online platform will maintain the same features, prices, or policies
- a single session will achieve every goal discussed
Any timescales, recommendations, or likely outcomes given by us are estimates only unless we have confirmed otherwise in writing.
12. Remote and online support
For online support, we may guide you by video call, screen sharing, or similar tools.
You remain in control of your device unless you expressly agree to any remote-access arrangement.
Where remote access is used, you understand that it is provided for convenience and support purposes only. You should close confidential material that is not relevant to the session where possible.
13. Security and passwords
Basic Computing may provide guidance on passwords, online safety, settings, scams, privacy, and account security. However, you remain responsible for your own passwords, security decisions, and account use.
Unless clearly necessary for the agreed support, we do not want to know your passwords. If you choose to enter passwords during a session, you should do so yourself wherever possible.
Basic Computing is not responsible for losses caused by phishing, scams, weak passwords, password reuse, third-party breaches, or unauthorised account access that is outside our reasonable control.
14. Suitability of advice and purchasing decisions
Where we help you choose a computer, accessory, or other technology product, our guidance is based on the information you provide, your stated budget, and what appears suitable at the time.
Final purchasing decisions remain yours unless we are explicitly acting as an authorised purchasing agent for you.
We are not responsible for retailer errors, stock changes, manufacturer changes, delivery problems, warranty issues, or later dissatisfaction with a product where the product reasonably matched the information available at the time of recommendation.
15. Fair and respectful use
We may refuse or end a session if a client behaves in a threatening, abusive, discriminatory, unsafe, or inappropriate way.
We may also refuse work that we reasonably believe would be dishonest, unlawful, unethical, unsafe, or outside the scope of our service.
16. Missed appointments and lateness
If you are late, the session may still end at the originally scheduled time.
If you are significantly late or unavailable, the session may be treated as missed.
If we are running late, we will make reasonable efforts to let you know and either provide the remaining time, rearrange the session, or agree another fair solution.
17. Website information
We try to keep the website accurate and up to date, but information may occasionally change or contain errors. We may update services, pricing, descriptions, and availability without notice, although confirmed bookings will be honoured based on what was agreed at the time.
18. Liability
Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.
Subject to that, Basic Computing will not be liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profits, loss of business, loss of opportunity, or loss arising from matters outside our reasonable control.
Where the law allows, our total liability in connection with any single booking or session will be limited to the amount paid for that booking or session.
19. Privacy
Any personal information we collect will be handled in line with our Privacy Policy.
20. Changes to these terms
We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time of booking will generally apply to that booking unless a change is required by law.
21. Governing law
These terms are governed by the law of Scotland, and any disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts, unless consumer law gives you the right to bring a claim elsewhere in the UK.