View Terms & Conditions for: Individual Courses, Private tuition & Corporate training
View Terms & Conditions for: Courses Worldwide
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View Terms & Conditions for: Language Courses UK
View Terms & Conditions for: Suzanne Furstner Foundation Terms and Conditions

Definitions and Interpretations in these Conditions

The ‘Company’ shall mean Cactus, or Cactus Language, or Cactus TEFL, or Cactus Language Training, or Cactus Worldwide Limited. ‘The client’ shall mean the person in whose name the booking is made and shall include the person or persons on whose behalf the same is made. ‘Force Majeure’ shall mean any event outside the Company’s control which prevents the prompt performance of its obligations, including war and civil strife, etc.

School Group Travel

Cactus acts as a booking agent for the components of the package selected, and then deals directly with a carefully chosen blend of overseas services suppliers. As such, Cactus acts as a facilitator in the process of teachers and other group leaders organising student travel. Whilst Cactus endeavours to assist schools as much as possible in the completion of risk assessments and other documentation required by schools and local education authorities, the absolute responsibility for the accuracy of information provided and thus the final risk assessment lies with the client school. To this end Cactus, in line with HASPEV (Health & Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits) guidelines, makes provision for a member of staff to visit the chosen destination in order to permit verification and elaboration of risk assessment information.

Accommodation

Where accommodation is shown for one week, this means 6 nights from Sunday to Saturday, unless otherwise indicated. However, if you spend less than 6 nights in your accommodation in any particular week, you will not receive any discount. For arrival or departure dates (not on Saturdays or Sundays), a supplement may be payable.

Courses

Where the number of course lessons is shown, this corresponds to the particular school’s practice and one lesson may last from 40-60 minutes – the number of minutes per lesson is usually shown in the brochure or on the website. The exact number of hours shown in the brochure may be somewhat reduced due to the initial level test which usually takes place on the first Monday of the course (sometimes no classes are missed, often the first 2 lessons are missed, and occasionally the whole of the first Monday is missed). There may also be some missed hours due to evaluation testing during the course (often on Fridays every 2 or 4 weeks). The company does not accept any liability for lessons missed due to these reasons and no refunds will be given where lessons are missed due to testing. In the rare event that you are the only student of your level, and you are enrolled on a group course, the school may offer you individual tuition up to the value you have paid for group classes, rather
than put you in a class at the wrong level.

Materials and Transfers

Course materials, examination fees, airport transfers, and the cost of activities and excursions are not included except where specifically stated. The company will not refund any monies to a client who applies for a course requiring a specific level and is then found to be unable to join the course after the initial level test. In this case, the client will be offered a suitable alternative by the school and any difference in price (if the alternative course is less expensive) will be refunded by the company. In cases where there are insufficient numbers to run a group class, a reduced number of individual classes may be offered or the course may be offered at another school of similar standard.

Activities and Excursions

Descriptions of activities and excursions which accompany the language courses are for guidance only, unless specifically noted in the confirmation invoice. Some activities may not run at all or may be substituted by other activities. In low season, there may be no activities organised at all.

Public Holidays

Where a course takes place during a public holiday, no lessons will take place on that day and no reduction in price will be given except where specifically stated. Individual classes are usually rescheduled (but not always) but group classes are usually forfeited. Please consult the accompanying list of public holidays (although it is the client’s responsibility to check these since they are often subject to change).

Booking and Payment

No contract is made between the company and the client and no booking is valid until the company has issued a confirmation invoice by post, fax or e-mail. (An e-mail acknowledging receipt of an order does not constitute a confirmation invoice.) The company will issue this confirmation invoice after it has received a completed booking form, a deposit of 20% of the total cost per person, and correct travel costs and insurance premium if required. If the full balance of the holiday price is not paid by the due date shown on the initial confirmation/invoice (12 weeks prior to departure), the company reserves the right to cancel the client’s booking and to impose the cancellation charges, stated below.

Prices and Surcharges

The charges which make up the total holiday price plus any applicable supplements and surcharges will be as stated on our website (prices in any printed brochure supplements, advertisements or other materials are for indication only). The prices are valid for holidays until further notice but are subject to change at any time (prices for an online order may also be subject to change if they are not accompanied by full payment or a deposit – once a deposit or full payment is made, the prices will not change, even if they are changed on the website). For foreign language (non-English) courses in the UK, VAT may not be already included (this is clearly stated in the brochure or on the website). If your company requires a VAT invoice, this should be indicated at the time of booking.

For guidance, your holiday price may increase because of surcharges on the following items: governmental action, increases in scheduled airfares and adverse currency fluctuations. Even in this case the company will absorb an amount equivalent to 2% of the holiday price (excluding insurance premiums and amendment charges). The company will absorb any charges arising after receipt of the final balance. Should there be a favourable currency fluctuation, the company reserves the right to leave prices unaltered.

There are standard booking fees on credit card and non-UK debit card payments. These are fees that we are charged by our bank to process a payment with these cards, and we therefore need to pass these fees on to our clients. The reason why we have to charge more for USD, Euro and American Express payments is that the bank charges us a much higher amount to take payment with these cards. We do not add these fees to further our profits in any way.

Booking fees are as follows:

  • GBP Credit Card: 2.75%
  • USD Debit/Credit Card: 3.75%
  • EUR Debit/Credit Card: 3.75%
  • Amex: 3.50%

Alterations by the Company

The company will do its utmost to provide the arrangements that have been confirmed, but it must reserve the right to modify or cancel any holiday, flight schedule, carrier or aircraft type, accommodation or itinerary if unforeseen circumstances arise. If the company cancel or significantly alter an essential element of the client’s holiday for reasons of force majeure, on or before the date when the payment of the balance becomes due, the company shall inform the client as soon as possible and shall offer them the choice of an alternative holiday of at least comparable standard if available. If the company is unable to offer an alternative of similar price, the company will offer the nearest available alternative and will refund the difference paid by the client. If force majeure occurs while the holiday is in progress, the company will try to make reasonable alternative arrangements. The airline and types of aircraft which are likely to be used for the holidays are subject to change and the company is obliged by the CAA to state that it cannot give the client any certain information about the airline or the type of aircraft on which the client will travel. Clients should also be aware that where airlines hold codesharing agreements, the flight may actually be provided by an operator other than that which issued the ticket.

Liability of the Company

The company accepts responsibility for ensuring that all parts of the holiday are supplied as described and that all services shall reach reasonable standard. However the company shall not be liable for the failure or improper performance of these services where such failure or improper performance is attributable to a) the fault of the client, b) the unforeseeable or unavoidable actions of an unconnected third party, c) unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the company’s suppliers control, including force majeure (or delay, overbooking or cancellation by an airline, bus, train, car hire or ferry company). The obligations and responsibilities of the company shall also be limited where international conventions in respect of air or sea carriers apply. The company strongly recommends that clients pay an additional £5.00 for Special Delivery (within Mainland UK) of their flight, rail or coach tickets. If tickets are lost when regular post is used, there may be a charge for re-issue and in some cases no re-issue will be possible and the flights will be forfeited. The company cannot be held responsible for tickets after they are posted.

Alterations by the Client

If the client wishes to change their booking in any way after the confirmation invoice has been issued, they must inform the company immediately, in writing, and the company reserves the right to charge£50 per person per change to cover the additional administration involved, plus any additional charges imposed by schools, airlines or other suppliers (details available on request).

All airline tickets and other travel products (train, coach, bus tickets) issued are non-flexible (except where the company explicitly specifies otherwise) which means that any changes including date, time, destination, and name on a ticket will normally be treated by any airline as a cancellation and re-booking, and 100% cancellation charges may apply.

Cancellation by the Client and Visa Problems

If the client wishes to cancel their booking this must be done in writing by the group leader who signed the booking form. The date of cancellation will be taken as the date that the company receives the letter.

The cancellation charges are:

  • 12 weeks (84 days) or more before departure = deposit only + any non-flexible travel products
  • between 61 – 83 days before departure = 40% + any non-flexible travel products
  • between 31 – 60 days before departure = 60% + any non-flexible travel products
  • between 1 – 30 days before departure = 100% + any non-flexible travel products

After a course has started there is no refund for any course, accommodation or other item booked.

Where a client has made a reasonable attempt to obtain a visa for the destination country within a reasonable timescale but is unable to obtain the visa, all money and deposits will be returned subject to a £75 administration charge on receipt of written confirmation from the relevant consulate detailing the visa rejection (only original documents will be accepted). No refunds will be given for flights or other travel products. Notification of visa rejection must be made to the company in writing (or e-mail) at least 2 weeks before the start date of the course or accommodation booking.

In the case of cancellation or visa problems, the client will also be subject to the following charges, depending on the method used to provide the refund:£25 for a bank transfer, £7.50 for an international cheque, £1 for a UK cheque or a refund to a UK debit card, or 2.5% of the total to a credit card.

It is the client’s responsibility to claim any insurance monies due as the company cannot claim on behalf of the client, which is why insurance should always be taken out at the time of booking.

Descriptions

The company honestly believes that all statements made in its brochure or website are factual and correct. Every reasonable effort has been made to describe the schools and environs and to provide the amenities described. The company cannot therefore be held responsible for any changes that become known after the brochure was produced (up-to-date information can be found on the website), nor can the company accept liabilities for happenings outside its reasonable control. The company undertakes to advise the client of any material changes known to it prior to the client’s departure.

Special Requirements

Any special requests must be advised to the company in writing.

Insurance

The company reserves the right to refuse to accept bookings from clients who are not adequately insured against holiday risks. The standard holiday insurance organised by the company is strongly recommended. Clients not taking this insurance must provide evidence of adequate alternative insurance at the time of booking.

General Information

General information is included in this brochure and website for help and guidance to the client. Please read it carefully. The contract incorporating these conditions shall be governed by English law and any matters arising out of it shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.

Terms & Conditions for Free Languages Courses Competition – September/October 2015

  • Prizes include a language course, and accommodation and meals where stated: please see individual terms below for each individual prize.
  • In addition to the 11 language holidays abroad, there is one prize for an evening language course in the UK, in the language and location of the recipient’s choosing: this language course must be taken in January 2016
  • Date restrictions apply to some courses: please see individual terms below.
  • Air fares, transfers and other expenses are not included in the prizes.
  • Entry is at the Cactus Language stand at the Expat Show (11th-12th September 2015) or Language Show Live (16th-18th October 2015) at London Olympia. Entrants must complete and submit an entry form at either show.
  • Entry can also be via the entry form on the Cactus blog and Language Courses UK website.
  • Only one entry per person.
  • The deadline for entries is Sunday 22nd November 2015 at midnight.
  • The winners of the 11 language courses abroad and the 1 evening language course will be picked at random and notified by Monday 7th December.
  • Prizes are valid for one year from the date of notification, unless otherwise stated in the individual terms below.
  • Prizes are only valid when booked through Cactus and cannot be booked directly with the school.
  • Prizes cannot be exchanged for money.
  • This promotion is not valid in conjunction with any other offer or promotion.
  • In the rare event that student numbers are not sufficient, our partner schools reserve the right to cancel a course and provide a suitable alternative. This will be agreed prior to the course start date.
  • The winners are required to write an article for the Cactus blog (approx 500 words) about their experience on their language course. Cactus reserves the right to use any material for marketing purposes.
  • Mandarin Chinese: 1 x 1 week General Mandarin Course (20 lessons) in Shanghai with Mandarin House. The prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a shared apartment (single room, no meals). Prize does not include the Chinese visa fee or course book (the book can be purchased on the first school day for RM150). Not valid during peak season.
  • French: 1 x 1 week General French Course (20 lessons) in Nice, Paris, Bordeaux or Biarritz with France Langue. Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a host family (single room, half board). Valid for a stay between October 2015 and May 2016.
  • French:1 x 1 week French & Cooking Course (20 language + 2 cooking lessons) in Nice with France Langue. Prize includes 6 nights’ stay in a host family (single room, half board). Valid for a stay on selected dates between October 2015 and May 2016: not available from 26th October and 1st November 2015, from 15th February and 19th February 2016 and from 31st October and 4th November 2015.
  • German: 2 x 1 week General German Course (20 lessons) in Berlin with GLS.
    Prize includes activities but not accommodation. Not valid between 27th June and 19th August 2016. Two courses available as prizes.
  • Italian: 1 x 1 week General Italian Course (20 lessons) in Salerno with Accademia Italiana.
    Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a shared apartment (single room, no meals) OR host family (single room, with breakfast), plus cultural seminars and guided city tour. Not valid from June to September 2016.
  • Portuguese: 1 x 1 week General Portuguese Course (20 lessons) in Lisbon with Portuguese Connection. Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a host family (single room, with breakfast). Valid 5th Oct-18th December 2015 and 4th Jan-29th April 2016.
  • Portuguese: 1 x 1 week Portuguese & Painting Course (20 language + 6 painting lessons) in Lisbon with Portuguese Connection. Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a host family (single room, with breakfast). Valid 5th October-18th December 2015 and 4th January-29th April 2016.
  • Russian: 1 x 1 week General Russian Course (20 lessons) in Riga with Durbe Latvia.
    Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a shared apartment (single room, no meals) OR, for students under 18 years, in a host family (single room, with breakfast). Not valid from 26th June-28th August 2016 (unless the student wishes to buy an extra two weeks, in which case a 3-week course is accepted in the summer).
  • Spanish: 2 x 1 week General Spanish Course (20 lesson) in Valencia with Taronja.
    Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a shared apartment (single room, no meals). Not valid during March, July, August and September 2016. Two courses available as prizes.