Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

1.1 About the Platform

We provide a platform via the HandsOn Workshops website (handson.pt) (the “Platform”) where local workshop instructors and experience providers (“Teachers” or “Service Providers”) can list hands-on workshops, creative classes, and experiential activities (the “Services”) for purchase by participants (“Buyers” or “You”). As the platform provider, we facilitate the selling and buying process between Teachers and Buyers. We do not conduct the workshops or sell Services ourselves.

1.2 Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using the Platform, you accept these terms and conditions in full. If you disagree with these terms and conditions or any part of them, you must not use the Platform.

1.3 Express Agreement

If you register to use the Platform, submit any material, or use any part of the Platform, we will ask you to expressly agree to these terms and conditions.

1.4 Age Requirements

You must be at least:

• 18 years of age to use our Platform as a Service Provider; and
• 16 years of age to use our Platform as a Buyer

By using our website or agreeing to these terms and conditions, you warrant and represent to us that you meet these age requirements.

1.5 Data Protection

Under data protection legislation, we are required to provide you with certain information about who we are, how we process your personal data and for what purposes, and your rights in relation to your personal data and how to exercise them. This information is provided in our Privacy Policy available at handson.pt/privacy-policy.

2. Accounts

2.1 Account Creation

When you create an account with us, you must provide accurate, complete, and current information at all times. Failure to do so constitutes a breach of these Terms, which may result in immediate termination of your account.

2.2 Account Security

You are responsible for safeguarding the password that you use to access the Service and for any activities or actions under your password, whether your password is with our Service or a third-party service.

2.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, or cancel bookings at our sole discretion, particularly in cases of fraudulent activity, violation of these terms, or disruptive behavior.

3. Gift Cards

3.1 Validity

Gift Cards purchased through the Hands On platform are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. The expiry date is clearly indicated on the Gift Card provided to the customer.

3.2 Use of Gift Cards

Gift Cards represent a credit that can be used towards the purchase of workshops available on the Hands On platform.

Where a Gift Card is purchased in connection with a particular workshop, the customer is purchasing credit towards that workshop. However, the Gift Card does not guarantee the future availability of that specific workshop, teacher, location, date or time.

The credit may be used towards the workshop associated with the Gift Card or, if that workshop is no longer available or suitable at the time of redemption, towards any other workshop available on the Hands On platform, subject to availability and the applicable terms of the selected workshop.

3.3 Workshop Availability

Reservations made using Gift Cards are always subject to the availability and specific terms applicable to the selected workshop at the time of booking.

Hands On is not responsible for changes to workshop availability after a Gift Card has been purchased. If the workshop associated with a Gift Card is no longer available, the Gift Card credit may be used towards another workshop available on the Hands On platform.

Where no reasonably suitable alternative is available and the Gift Card credit cannot reasonably be applied to any available workshop on the Hands On platform, Hands On may, at its discretion, authorise an exceptional refund.

3.4 Price Differences and Remaining Balance

If the price of the selected workshop exceeds the available Gift Card balance, the customer may use the Gift Card and pay the remaining amount.

If the price of the selected workshop is lower than the available Gift Card balance, the remaining amount will remain available as credit for future purchases.

Workshop prices may change after a Gift Card has been purchased. Hands On cannot guarantee the future price of any workshop. If the price of the selected workshop increases, the customer must pay any difference between the available Gift Card balance and the price of the workshop at the time of booking.

3.5 Multiple Uses

A Gift Card may be used across multiple purchases until its available balance reaches zero. Any unused balance remains available until the Gift Card expires.

3.6 Multiple Gift Cards

Multiple Gift Cards may be used towards the same purchase, subject to the applicable payment and checkout conditions.

3.7 Use on Behalf of Others

Gift Cards may be used to purchase a workshop for the Gift Card holder or for another person. A Gift Card may also be given as a gift to another person.

Gift Cards may not be sold, resold or commercially transferred to third parties.

3.8 Non-Refundability and Cash Redemption

Except as expressly provided in Section 3.11, Gift Cards are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged, redeemed or converted for cash or any other monetary equivalent.

No cash refund will be provided for any unused balance.

3.9 Expiry of Remaining Balance

Any unused balance remaining on a Gift Card at the time of expiry becomes unavailable for use.

3.10 Gift Card Extension

A Gift Card may be eligible for one validity extension, provided that the extension is requested from 30 days before the original expiry date until no later than 6 months after the expiry date.

The extension is subject to a fee equal to 20% of the remaining Gift Card balance at the time the extension is requested. Upon payment of the extension fee, the remaining balance is retained and the Gift Card validity is extended for an additional 12 months.

Each Gift Card may be extended only once. Once the extension has been used, no further extension will be available.

3.11 Cancellation by the Customer

A refund of the applicable amount via the original method of payment is possible if the customer cancels an unused Gift Card within 24 hours of receiving the Order Confirmation.

Once a Gift Card has been used, in whole or in part, no refund will be provided for the amount already redeemed. Any remaining unused balance will continue to be available for use in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

After the 24-hour cancellation period has elapsed, Gift Cards are non-refundable, except in exceptional and critical circumstances where the Gift Card credit cannot reasonably be applied to any available workshop on the Hands On platform. In such cases, Hands On may, at its discretion, authorise an exceptional refund.

3.12 Cancellation by the Teacher or Hands On

If a reservation paid for using a Gift Card is cancelled by the Teacher or by Hands On, the amount used from the Gift Card will be returned to the Gift Card balance.

The original Gift Card expiry date will remain unchanged, and the cancellation will not automatically extend the Gift Card validity.

3.13 No-Show

Failure to attend a booked workshop without cancelling or rescheduling within the applicable cancellation period may result in the amount used from the Gift Card being forfeited, in accordance with the cancellation and no-show policy applicable to the workshop.

3.14 Fraudulent or Unauthorised Gift Cards

If Hands On has reasonable grounds to believe that a Gift Card was obtained, purchased or used fraudulently, unlawfully or through unauthorised means, or that the transaction used to purchase the Gift Card has been reversed, charged back or otherwise identified as fraudulent or unauthorised, Hands On reserves the right to suspend or invalidate the Gift Card and/or the relevant account and to take any appropriate action.

3.15 Loss, Theft and Unauthorised Use

Gift Card holders are responsible for keeping their Gift Card details and redemption code secure.

Hands On is not responsible for Gift Cards that are lost, stolen, disclosed to third parties or used without the holder’s authorisation.

3.16 Changes to Workshop Terms

The use of a Gift Card is subject to the terms and conditions applicable to the selected workshop, including its availability, cancellation, rescheduling, no-show and other applicable policies.

3.17 Sale Days

Gift Cards cannot be used to pay for workshops or Services during Hands On promotional or "Sale Days", where Hands On has expressly stated that Gift Card redemption is excluded from the applicable promotion.

3.18 Explicitly Prohibited Uses

Gift Cards cannot be used to:

• purchase additional Hands On Gift Cards;
• pay for Services directly at a Teacher's own venue or through a Teacher's own website; or
• circumvent any applicable Hands On fees, restrictions, promotional conditions or other Platform terms.

3.19 Customer Support

For questions, assistance with Gift Card redemption, validity extensions or other Gift Card-related matters, customers may contact Hands On at hello@handson.pt.

4. Workshop Listings and Bookings

4.1 Teacher Responsibility

Teachers are solely responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and legality of their workshop listings, including descriptions, photos, pricing, availability, and cancellation policies.

4.2 Platform Role

We do not warrant, endorse, or guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of any Teacher’s offerings. We facilitate the marketplace but are not party to the contract between Buyers and Teachers for the actual workshop experience.

4.3 Booking Confirmation

When you complete a booking on our Platform:

• A contract is formed between you (the Buyer) and the Teacher
• We process the payment on behalf of the Teacher
• We send confirmation emails and reminders
• We facilitate communications between Buyers and Teachers

4.4 Workshop Standards

Teachers agree that their Services will:

• Be provided with reasonable care and skill
• Conform in all material respects to the description in the listing
• Comply with all applicable Portuguese laws and regulations
• Be conducted in a safe manner with appropriate insurance coverage

5. Pricing and Payment

5.1 Prices

All prices are displayed in Euros (€) and include VAT where applicable. The price you pay is the price displayed at checkout.

5.2 Payment Processing

We process payments on behalf of Teachers. When you make a booking, you authorize us to charge your selected payment method.

5.3 Commission

We charge Teachers a commission of 15% on each booking. This commission is automatically deducted from the Teacher’s payment.

5.4 Payment to Teachers

We pay Teachers the balance of fees (after deducting our commission) within 1 business day after the workshop has been completed for scheduled classes, or within 14 days after the order was placed for other Services.

5.5 Failed Payments

If a payment fails, we reserve the right to cancel the booking and suspend your account until payment is resolved.

6. Cancellation, Rescheduling, and Refunds

6.1 Our Cancellation Philosophy

We understand that plans can change. Our cancellation policy is designed to be fair to both our learners and teachers, recognizing that advance notice allows everyone to adjust accordingly.

6.2 Individual Workshop Bookings

For individual bookings, the following cancellation refund policy applies:

30+ days before the workshop

• Full refund of the workshop price
• Payment processing fees (Stripe/Mbway) are non-refundable and will be deducted

7–29 days before the workshop

• Full refund minus a 10% platform fee
• Payment processing fees are non-refundable

3–6 days before the workshop

• 50% refund of the workshop price
• Teachers have typically begun preparations at this point

Less than 3 days before the workshop

• No refund available
• You may contact us at hello@handson.pt to explore alternative dates or solutions

6.3 Team Building and Group Bookings

For team building and group bookings (typically 5+ participants), recognizing the additional planning required, the following policy applies:

30+ days before the workshop

• Full refund of the workshop price
• Payment processing fees (Stripe/Mbway) are non-refundable

14–29 days before the workshop

• Full refund minus a 15% platform fee

7–13 days before the workshop

• 70% refund of the workshop price

3–6 days before the workshop

• 40% refund of the workshop price

Less than 3 days before the workshop

• No refund available

6.4 How to Cancel Your Booking

To cancel your booking, please email us at hello@handson.pt with:

• Your booking reference number
• The name on the booking
• The workshop name and date
• Your reason for cancellation (helps us improve!)

We’ll process your cancellation request and confirm the refund amount based on the timing guidelines above. You’ll receive a confirmation email once processed.

6.5 Teacher-Initiated Cancellations

If a Teacher cancels your workshop for any reason:

• You are entitled to a full refund, including all fees
• We will assist in finding an alternative workshop if desired
• The refund will be processed within 5–10 business days

6.6 HandsOn-Initiated Cancellations

We reserve the right to cancel any booking if we determine it violates these terms or if the workshop poses safety concerns. In such cases, full refunds (including all fees) will be provided.

6.7 Emergency Situations

We recognize that genuine emergencies occur. If you face an emergency situation that prevents you from attending:

• Contact us immediately at hello@handson.pt
• We will work with you and the Teacher to find the best solution
• While we cannot guarantee refunds outside our standard policy, we may be able to offer alternative dates or workshop credits on a case-by-case basis

6.8 No-Shows

If you fail to attend your booked workshop without prior cancellation notice, you are not entitled to a refund or rescheduling unless the Teacher agrees otherwise.

6.9 Rescheduling

Rescheduling options are subject to:

• Workshop and Teacher availability
• The cancellation policy timing outlined above
• Teachers’ individual rescheduling policies
• Contact us or your Teacher directly to arrange rescheduling

6.10 Refund Processing

• All refunds are processed to your original payment method
• Processing time is typically 5–10 business days from approval
• You will receive an email confirmation when your refund has been processed
• Bank processing times may vary and are beyond our control

6.11 Force Majeure

Neither HandsOn nor Teachers are liable for cancellations due to circumstances beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, government restrictions, pandemics, severe weather, or other unforeseen events. In such cases, both parties will work in good faith to reschedule or provide alternative solutions.

7. Our Role and Limitations

7.1 Marketplace Platform

You acknowledge that:

• We do not confirm the identity of users, check their credit worthiness, or otherwise vet them beyond basic verification
• We do not check, audit, or monitor all information contained in listings
• We are not party to the contract for the actual workshop experience between Buyer and Teacher
• We are not involved in the workshop delivery, save that we facilitate the marketplace, process payments, provide confirmation emails and reminders, and process refunds
• We are not the agents for any Buyer or Teacher

7.2 No Guarantee

We do not guarantee:

• The quality, safety, or legality of any workshops
• The accuracy of Teacher descriptions or reviews
• That Teachers have appropriate insurance or qualifications
• That workshops will meet your expectations

7.3 Teacher Verification

While we make reasonable efforts to verify Teachers’ identities and credentials, Buyers should conduct their own due diligence before attending workshops.

8. User Conduct

8.1 Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

• Provide false, inaccurate, or misleading information
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Use the Platform for any illegal purpose
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users or Teachers
• Attempt to circumvent the Platform to avoid fees
• Copy, modify, or distribute Platform content without permission
• Use automated systems to access the Platform (bots, scrapers, etc.)
• Post inappropriate reviews or content

8.2 Reviews and Ratings

Buyers may leave reviews after attending workshops. Reviews must:

• Be honest and based on your actual experience
• Not contain profanity, threats, or discriminatory content
• Not violate others’ privacy
• Comply with Portuguese law

We reserve the right to remove reviews that violate these guidelines.

8.3 Communication

You agree to communicate respectfully with all Platform users. Harassment, threats, or discriminatory language will result in account suspension or termination.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 Platform Ownership

The Service and its original content, features, and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of Learn Something New, lda and its licensors. The Service is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws of both Portugal and foreign countries.

9.2 Trademarks

Our trademarks, logos, and trade dress (including “HandsOn” and “HandsOn Workshops”) may not be used in connection with any product or service without our prior written consent.

9.3 User Content

By posting content (reviews, photos, comments) on our Platform, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute that content in connection with the Platform and our marketing activities.

9.4 Teacher Content

Teachers retain ownership of their workshop content but grant us the right to display and promote their listings on the Platform and in our marketing materials.

10. Limitation of Liability

10.1 Exclusions and Limitations

To the maximum extent permitted by Portuguese law, Learn Something New, lda, nor its directors, employees, partners, agents, suppliers, or affiliates, shall be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses
• Any injuries, damages, or losses incurred during workshops (liability rests with Teachers)
• Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content
• Any conduct or content of any third party on the Service
• Any content obtained from the Service

10.2 Liability Cap

Our total liability to you for any claims arising from your use of the Platform shall not exceed the amount you paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim.

10.3 Exceptions

Nothing in these terms excludes our liability for:

• Death or personal injury caused by our negligence
• Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
• Any liability that cannot be excluded by Portuguese law

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Learn Something New, lda and its affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party
• Your use of the Platform
• Your attendance at or conduct during workshops

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Between Buyers and Teachers

Disputes between Buyers and Teachers regarding workshop quality, delivery, or cancellations should first be resolved directly between the parties. We may facilitate communication but are not obligated to mediate disputes.

12.2 With HandsOn

If you have a dispute with HandsOn:

• First contact our support team at hello@handson.pt
• We will attempt to resolve the matter informally
• If unresolved, disputes are subject to Portuguese jurisdiction (see Section 13)

12.3 EU Online Dispute Resolution

The European Commission provides an online dispute resolution platform at http://ec.europa.eu/odr. You may use this platform to resolve disputes.

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

13.1 Applicable Law

These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Portugal, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

13.2 Jurisdiction

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Portuguese courts.

13.3 Consumer Rights

Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer under Portuguese or European Union law.

14. Third-Party Services and Links

14.1 Third-Party Links

Our Platform may include hyperlinks to websites owned and operated by third parties. Such hyperlinks are not recommendations. We have no control over third-party websites and accept no responsibility for them or for any loss or damage arising from your use of them.

14.2 Payment Processors

We use third-party payment processors to handle transactions. Your payment information is subject to their privacy policies and terms of service.

15. Privacy and Data Protection

15.1 Privacy Policy

Our collection and use of personal information is described in our Privacy Policy. By using the Platform, you consent to our privacy practices as described therein.

15.2 GDPR Compliance

We comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Portuguese data protection laws. You have rights regarding your personal data, including access, correction, deletion, and portability.

15.3 Communications

By creating an account, you consent to receive:

• Booking confirmations and reminders
• Important service updates
• Marketing communications (you may opt out)

16. Changes to Terms

16.1 Modification Rights

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material, we will provide at least 30 days’ notice prior to any new terms taking effect.

16.2 Notice

What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion. Notice may be provided via:

• Email to your registered address
• Prominent notice on the Platform
• Pop-up notification upon login

16.3 Continued Use

Your continued use of the Platform after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

16.4 Version History

We will not maintain copies of previous terms versions. We recommend saving a copy of these Terms for your records if desired.

17. Termination

17.1 Account Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account and access to the Platform immediately, without prior notice, for any breach of these Terms or for any other reason at our sole discretion.

17.2 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use the Platform ceases immediately
• Outstanding bookings may be honored or cancelled at our discretion
• Certain provisions of these Terms survive termination, including those relating to intellectual property, liability limitations, and dispute resolution

18. Miscellaneous

18.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Learn Something New, lda regarding the Platform.

18.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

18.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not be deemed a waiver of such right or provision.

18.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms without restriction.

18.5 Language

These terms and conditions are available in Portuguese and English. In case of any discrepancy between translations, the Portuguese version shall prevail.

18.6 Technical Requirements

You are responsible for ensuring your device and internet connection meet the requirements for using the Platform. We do not guarantee compatibility with all devices or browsers.