Terms and Conditions

1) Scope, Definitions

1.1 These General Terms and Conditions (hereinafter "T&C") of Beniamin Kuzin, operating under "GBS Method" (hereinafter "Provider"), apply to all contracts for participation in live online language courses (hereinafter "Events") concluded by a consumer or entrepreneur (hereinafter "Customer") with the Provider regarding the events presented on the Provider's website. The inclusion of the Customer's own terms and conditions is hereby rejected unless otherwise agreed.

1.2 A consumer within the meaning of these T&C is any natural person who concludes a legal transaction for purposes that can predominantly be attributed neither to their commercial nor their independent professional activity.

1.3 An entrepreneur within the meaning of these T&C is a natural or legal person or a partnership with legal capacity who, when concluding a legal transaction, acts in the exercise of their commercial or independent professional activity.

2) Services of the Provider

2.1 The Provider offers exclusively online events. The content of the event is set out in the respective description on the Provider's website.

2.2 For online events, the Provider renders its services exclusively in electronic form via online video conference using appropriate technical means. For this purpose, the Provider provides the Customer with suitable application software before the start of a video conference, whereby the Provider may also use the services of third parties. For error-free participation in the online video conference, the Customer's system must meet certain minimum requirements, which are communicated to the Customer on the Provider's website. The Customer is responsible for complying with the system requirements. The Provider is not liable for technical problems attributable to inadequate system requirements on the part of the Customer.

2.3 The lessons take place exclusively live and synchronously via video conference (e.g. Zoom). No recording of the sessions is made. The contract is based on synchronous, bidirectional communication between instructor and participant; asynchronous self-study phases are not part of the contract. The Customer has the opportunity at any time during the live sessions to ask questions directly and interact with the instructor.

2.4 The course comprises 6 weeks with 2 sessions per week of 90 minutes each (12 live sessions in total). The maximum number of participants per cohort is 10 persons. A minimum level of A2 (Foundation) or B1+ (Rebuild) is required for participation, unless otherwise stated in the course description.

2.5 Homework is provided with an answer key. Feedback on homework is given exclusively live in the next session; feedback between sessions is not part of the contract.

2.6 Unless otherwise stated in the description on the Provider's website and unless the parties have agreed otherwise, the Provider renders its services in person.

2.7 The Provider renders its services with the greatest care and to the best of its knowledge and belief. However, the Provider does not owe a specific result. In particular, the Provider does not guarantee that the Customer will achieve a specific learning outcome or reach a specific performance goal. This depends not least on the personal effort and will of the Customer, over which the Provider has no influence.

3) Conclusion of Contract

3.1 The events described on the Provider's website do not constitute binding offers by the Provider but serve to enable the Customer to submit a binding offer.

3.2 The Customer may submit their offer via the online registration form provided on the Provider's website or via the payment service provider. After the Customer has entered their data in the registration form, they submit a legally binding contract offer regarding the selected event by clicking the button that completes the registration process.

3.3 The Provider may accept the Customer's offer within five days,

  • by sending the Customer a written registration confirmation or a registration confirmation in text form (fax or email), whereby receipt of the registration confirmation by the Customer is decisive, or
  • by requesting the Customer to make payment after the Customer has submitted their declaration of intent.

If several of the aforementioned alternatives are present, the contract is concluded at the point in time at which one of the aforementioned alternatives occurs first. The period for accepting the offer begins on the day after the Customer sends the offer and ends with the expiry of the fifth day following the sending of the offer. If the Provider does not accept the Customer's offer within the aforementioned period, this shall be deemed a rejection of the offer with the consequence that the Customer is no longer bound by their declaration of intent. The same applies if the event selected by the Customer begins before the expiry of the acceptance period and the Provider does not accept the Customer's offer at least 24 hours before the start of the event, unless otherwise agreed between the parties.

3.4 In the case of registration via the Provider's website, the contract text is stored by the Provider after the conclusion of the contract and transmitted to the Customer in text form (e.g. email, fax or letter) after the Customer has sent their order. Beyond this, the contract text is not made available by the Provider.

3.5 Before binding submission of the offer via the Provider's online registration form, the Customer can correct their entries at any time using the usual keyboard and mouse functions.

3.6 German, English and Russian are available for the conclusion of the contract.

4) Right of Withdrawal for Consumers

4.1 Consumers are generally entitled to a right of withdrawal. Further information on the right of withdrawal can be found in the Provider's withdrawal policy.

4.2 The consumer may declare the withdrawal via the electronic withdrawal function (withdrawal button) provided on the Provider's website. The withdrawal button is accessible on every subpage of the website via the footer and is available throughout the entire withdrawal period. The withdrawal page can be reached at:

4.3 The right of withdrawal expires when the Provider has fully rendered the service and commenced performance only after the consumer has given their express consent to this and confirmed their knowledge of the loss of the right of withdrawal (§ 356 (4) BGB).

4.4 An exclusion of the right of withdrawal pursuant to § 312g (2) No. 9 BGB (leisure events) does not apply, as the courses serve the professional or social integration of participants and not leisure activities.

5) Prices and Payment Terms

5.1 Unless otherwise stated in the Provider's offer, the prices quoted are total prices. The Provider is a small business owner within the meaning of § 19 UStG. The sales are therefore exempt from VAT pursuant to § 19 UStG. No VAT is shown.

5.2 The payment options are communicated to the Customer on the Provider's website.

5.3 If advance payment by bank transfer is agreed, payment is due immediately after conclusion of the contract, unless the parties have agreed a later due date.

5.4 If payment by invoice is agreed, it is due 14 days after receipt of the invoice without deduction, unless otherwise agreed.

5.5 If a payment method offered via the payment service "PayPal" is selected, payment processing is carried out by PayPal (Europe) S.à r.l. et Cie, S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg (hereinafter "PayPal"), subject to the PayPal Terms of Use, available at https://www.paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/ua/useragreement-full or – if the Customer does not have a PayPal account – subject to the terms for payments without a PayPal account, available at https://www.paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/ua/privacywax-full.

5.6 If a payment method offered via the payment service "Stripe" is selected, payment processing is carried out by Stripe Payments Europe Ltd., 1 Grand Canal Street Lower, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin, Ireland (hereinafter "Stripe"). Stripe may use other payment services for processing payments, for which special payment terms may apply, to which the Customer may be separately referred. Further information on Stripe is available on the Internet at https://stripe.com/de.

5.7 If a payment method offered via the payment service "Google Pay" is selected, payment processing is carried out by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland ("Google"). Google may use other payment services for processing payments, for which special payment terms may apply, to which the Customer may be separately referred. Further information on Google Pay is available on the Internet at https://pay.google.com/intl/de_de/about/.

5.8 If a payment method offered via the payment service "Apple Pay" is selected, payment processing is carried out by Apple Distribution International (Apple), Hollyhill Industrial Estate, Hollyhill, Cork, Ireland ("Apple"). Apple may use other payment services for processing payments, for which special payment terms may apply, to which the Customer may be separately referred. Further information on Apple Pay is available on the Internet at https://www.apple.com/de/apple-pay/.

5.9 If a payment method offered via the payment service "Klarna" is selected, payment processing is carried out by Klarna Bank AB, Sveavägen 46, 111 34 Stockholm, Sweden.

5.10 If the SEPA direct debit payment method is selected, the payment data (IBAN, name of the account holder) is passed on to the respective participating credit institution.

6) Eligibility, Transfer of Contract

6.1 Only the person named by name in the registration confirmation is entitled to participate. A transfer of the contract to a third party is only possible with the consent of the Provider.

6.2 If a third party enters into the contract between the Customer and the Provider, they and the Customer shall be jointly and severally liable to the Provider for the participation fee and any additional costs arising from the third party's entry.

7) Falling Below the Minimum Number of Participants

7.1 The minimum number of participants for the respective event is set out in the description on the Provider's website. The Provider will expressly refer to this in the course description.

7.2 If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the Provider may withdraw from the contract by declaration to the Customer no later than seven days before the start of the coaching. The Provider will send its withdrawal declaration to the Customer immediately after becoming aware that the number of participants has not been reached, at the latest seven days before the start of the coaching.

7.3 If the Provider exercises its right of withdrawal pursuant to the above clause, the Customer may demand participation in an at least equivalent other event if the Provider is able to offer such an event from its range without additional cost to the Customer. The Customer must assert their claim to the Provider immediately after receiving the Provider's declaration.

7.4 If the Customer does not exercise their right pursuant to the above clause, the Provider will immediately refund any participation fee already paid to the Customer.

8) Cancellation of Sessions and No-Make-Up Policy

8.1 If the Customer misses a live session, it will not be made up. There is no claim to replacement, refund or transfer to a later course.

8.2 No recording of the live sessions is made. The Customer does not receive access to missed content. The course materials (homework, answer keys) are provided exclusively in electronic form.

8.3 The Provider reserves the right to postpone individual sessions for important reasons (e.g. illness of the instructor). In this case, a replacement date will be offered. If no replacement date can be found, the proportional amount for the cancelled session will be refunded.

9) Communication and Course Materials

9.1 Course-related communication takes place via the platforms provided by the Provider (in particular Slack for English-speaking cohorts, Telegram for Russian-speaking cohorts). The Provider reserves the right to change the communication platform for important reasons. The Customer will be informed of this in good time.

9.2 The Customer agrees to the use of the respective communication platform. Participation in the cohort groups is voluntary. Participants who do not wish to use a group can reach the Provider by email or via the contact form.

9.3 The Customer may send direct messages to the Provider via the communication platforms, in particular in the event of technical problems. The Provider endeavours to respond to inquiries promptly but does not owe any specific response time.

9.4 The Customer is obliged to treat their access data confidentially and not to pass it on to third parties. In the event of misuse by third parties, the Customer shall be liable for any damage incurred.

9.5 There is no claim to the use of a specific communication platform. The Provider may block or delete access to the communication platforms after the end of the course. Course materials should be downloaded by the Customer in good time.

10) Changes or Cancellation of the Event

10.1 The Provider reserves the right to change the time, place, person of the coach and/or content of the event, provided that the change is reasonable for the Customer taking into account the interests of the Provider. Only insignificant changes in performance are reasonable that become necessary after the conclusion of the contract and were not brought about by the Provider in bad faith. The Provider will inform the Customer in good time in the event of a change of time, place, person of the coach and/or content of the event.

10.2 In the event of a significant change in performance, the Customer may withdraw from the contract free of charge or instead demand participation in an at least equivalent other event if the Provider is able to offer such an event from its range without additional cost to the Customer.

10.3 The Customer must assert their rights pursuant to the above clause to the Provider immediately after the Provider's information about the change in performance.

10.4 The Provider is entitled to cancel the event at short notice for important reasons, such as force majeure or illness of the coach, with full refund of any participation fee already paid. The Provider will endeavour to find a replacement date in the event of cancellation.

11) Materials

11.1 The Provider is the owner of all rights of use required for the implementation of the event. This also applies with regard to materials that may be provided to the Customer in connection with the event.

11.2 The Customer may use the content of the event, including any materials provided, only to the extent required by the contract purpose on which both parties have agreed. Without separate permission from the Provider, the Customer is in particular not entitled to record the event or parts thereof or to reproduce, distribute or make publicly available materials.

11.3 For online events, course-accompanying material (e.g. documents) is provided to the Customer exclusively in electronic form by email or for download. Unless otherwise agreed, the Customer has no claim to the provision of the material in physical form.

12) Data Protection

12.1 The Provider processes personal data of the Customer exclusively for the performance of the contract and in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations.

12.2 Further information on data processing, the service providers used (in particular payment service providers, video conference services, communication platforms and web analytics services) and the rights of the Customer can be found in the Provider's privacy policy, available at:

13) Liability

The Provider is liable to the Customer from all contractual, quasi-contractual and statutory, including tortious claims for damages and reimbursement of expenses as follows:

13.1 The Provider is liable without limitation on any legal ground

  • in the event of intent or gross negligence,
  • in the event of intentional or negligent injury to life, limb or health,
  • due to a guarantee promise, unless otherwise regulated in this respect,
  • due to mandatory liability such as under the Product Liability Act.

13.2 If the Customer acts as a consumer with place of residence in Germany or as an entrepreneur, the following limitations of liability apply:

If the Provider negligently breaches a material contractual obligation, its liability is limited to the foreseeable damage typical for the contract, unless it is liable without limitation pursuant to the above clause. Material contractual obligations are obligations which the contract imposes on the Provider according to its content in order to achieve the purpose of the contract, the fulfilment of which is essential for the proper performance of the contract and on the observance of which the Customer may regularly rely. Otherwise, liability of the Provider is excluded unless it is liable without limitation pursuant to the above clause.

13.3 The above liability regulations also apply with regard to the liability of the Provider for its vicarious agents and legal representatives.

14) Applicable Law

The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies to all legal relationships between the parties. For consumers, this choice of law applies only insofar as the protection granted by mandatory provisions of the law of the country in which the consumer has their habitual residence is not withdrawn.

15) Alternative Dispute Resolution

The Provider is neither obliged nor willing to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.

Last updated: 24 September 2026