Terms and Conditions of Participation (GTC)

§ 1 Requirements for Participation

• The participant must generally be at least 18 years of age.
• For minors, special conditions apply, which must be agreed upon in writing between the legal guardians and BBL Sprachschule gGmbH.
• Valid identification documents (ID card or passport) must be presented at registration.
• Definition: “Participant with prior participation” refers to a participant who has already completed at least one full course at BBL.

§ 2 Prices and Payment Conditions

Course scope: Levels A1/A2/B1: 180 teaching hours; Levels B2/C1: 240 teaching hours.

Course fees (final prices): A1/A2/B1: €579 per course; B2/C1: €779 per course. If BBL’s services are exempt from VAT under § 4 No. 21 UStG, no VAT is included; otherwise, prices are gross prices including VAT.

Due date: Upon submission of the registration, the full course fee becomes immediately payable.

§ 2.1 Payments for Participants in Germany

Installment payment is permitted exclusively for participants who have already completed at least one full course at BBL.

• a) Anzahlung: 300 € (B2/C1) bzw. 279 € (A1–B1) bei Anmeldung.
• b) Restbetrag: 379 € bzw. 400 €, spätestens eine Woche vor Kursbeginn.

All other participants must pay the full course fee upon registration.

If the remaining amount is not paid on time, BBL is entitled to block access to the course until full payment is made or to cancel the registration; the down payment is non-refundable. Further claims for damages remain unaffected.

§ 2.2 Payments for Participants outside the EU

• Special conditions apply.
• A processing fee of €150.00 will be charged for issuing necessary documents (e.g. invitations/confirmations).
• The course fee must generally be paid in full in advance.

§ 2.3 General Notes

• All foreign-related bank charges (third-party fees) are borne by the participant. No additional fees are charged for SEPA payments (transfer/direct debit) (§ 270a BGB).
• Classes not attended or not used will neither be refunded nor rescheduled.
• The registration confirmation will only be issued after full payment of the entire course fee has been received. The participation certificate will only be issued after the start of the course and likewise only after full payment.

§ 2.4 Payment Delay

• If the participant defaults after the due date and reminder, or at the latest 30 days after receipt of the invoice, BBL may charge default interest at the statutory rate (base interest rate + 5 percentage points, § 288 para. 1 in conjunction with § 286 BGB) and claim further damages caused by the delay.
• The assertion of further rights (blocking access/termination) remains unaffected.

§ 3 Conclusion of Contract, Start of Services, and Reservation of Place (non-transferable)

Conclusion of contract: The contract is concluded when BBL issues the registration confirmation (acceptance of the registration). Delivery is deemed to have taken place once it has been sent to the address provided by the participant (by post or electronically). The registration confirmation is issued in accordance with § 2.3 No. 3 only after full payment.

Start of services & reservation of place: BBL begins performance of the contract by reserving a place (limited capacity) and providing administrative pre-services. The course place is personal and non-transferable; participation by a substitute participant requires BBL’s written consent.

§ 4 Online Instruction

• Online instruction will be conducted if face-to-face instruction is not possible due to official regulations, pandemics, or illness.
• Personal data will be processed to the extent necessary for the conduct of instruction; recipients may include in particular the appointed course instructors/service providers (see § 12).

§ 5 Withdrawal before the start of the course

• Withdrawal must be made in text form (§ 126b BGB; e.g., by e-mail).
• Up to 14 days before the start of the course: a handling fee of €150.00 will be retained, the remainder will be refunded.
• Less than 14 days before the start of the course: reimbursement only if the place can be completely reallocated; in this case, a handling fee of €150.00 will be retained.
• After the issuance of a registration confirmation or participation confirmation, no refund will be given. Mandatory consumer rights (in particular §§ 312g, 355 ff., 356, 357a BGB) remain unaffected.
• Exception (participants outside the EU): § 5.1 remains unaffected.

§ 5.1 Special regulation for participants outside the EU

• In the event of a visa refusal, the full course fee minus €150.00 will be refunded, provided that an official rejection certificate from the German embassy/consulate is submitted within 30 days of receipt.
• Without submission of such a certificate, or in the case of withdrawal for other reasons, no refund will be granted.
• Identity of the refund recipient: Refunds are generally made to the person in whose name the confirmation was issued; payment to a representative is only possible with appropriate proof of authorization. Assignment of claims remains generally permissible under § 398 BGB but requires BBL’s prior written consent.

§ 6 Withdrawal after the start of the course / Termination

• After the start of the course, a refund of the course fee is generally excluded; mandatory consumer rights remain unaffected. § 5.1 takes precedence where applicable.
• Services already provided must always be paid in full and are excluded from any refund.

§ 7 Arrival and Enrollment

• The course start date is the day of official enrollment.
• Delays must be reported to BBL without delay.