1. Agreement to Terms
Welcome to First String Mentors ("Platform," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using our platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Platform.
First String Mentors is a marketplace connecting high school student-athletes ("Mentors") with parents and guardians ("Parents" or "Clients") seeking tutoring, coaching, and mentoring services for their elementary and middle school children.
2. Eligibility
For Mentors:
- You must be between 14 and 18 years of age
- You must be currently enrolled as a high school student
- You must have parental or guardian consent to use this Platform
- Your parent or guardian must verify their phone number and agree to receive session notifications
- You must provide accurate information about your school, athletic participation, and academic standing
For Parents/Clients:
- You must be at least 18 years of age
- You must be the parent or legal guardian of the child receiving services
- You must provide accurate contact and payment information
- You agree to supervise or ensure appropriate supervision during sessions
3. Mentor Status
Independent Contractors: Mentors are independent contractors, not employees of First String Mentors. We do not control how Mentors provide their services, though we do require compliance with our safety guidelines and community standards.
No Employment Relationship: Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, agency, partnership, or joint venture relationship between Mentors and First String Mentors.
Mentor Representations: Mentors represent that all information provided regarding their skills, experience, academic standing, and athletic participation is accurate and current.
4. Services and Payments
Booking and Sessions:
- Parents book sessions through the Platform at the Mentor's listed hourly rate
- Mentors have 24 hours to accept or decline booking requests
- Payment is authorized at booking and captured after the session is confirmed
Platform Fee:
First String Mentors charges a 20% platform fee on all bookings. This fee covers payment processing, platform maintenance, safety verification services, and customer support.
Mentor Payouts:
Mentors receive 80% of the session rate. Payouts are processed through Stripe and subject to Stripe's terms and processing times.
5. Cancellation Policy
Please refer to our Cancellation Policy for detailed information about cancellations, refunds, and rescheduling.
- 24+ hours before: Full refund or free reschedule
- Less than 24 hours: Platform credit issued
- Weather-related: Free reschedule regardless of timing
- Mentor cancellations: Always receive full refund or reschedule
6. Safety and Conduct
Session Safety:
- Sessions should take place in public or semi-public locations (parks, libraries, school facilities)
- Home sessions require prior safety verification of both parties
- Mentor's parent/guardian receives check-in and check-out notifications for all sessions
Prohibited Conduct:
Users may not:
- Exchange personal contact information to arrange sessions outside the Platform
- Engage in any form of harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior
- Misrepresent their identity, qualifications, or experience
- Use the Platform for any purpose other than legitimate mentoring/tutoring services
- Share account credentials or allow others to use their account
Background Verification:
We perform sex offender registry checks on all Parents booking home sessions. Mentors receive visibility into family verification status before accepting requests.
7. Intellectual Property
Platform Content: All content on the Platform, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, and software, is the property of First String Mentors or its licensors.
User Content: Users retain ownership of content they submit (photos, videos, reviews). By submitting content, you grant First String Mentors a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute such content on the Platform.
8. Limitation of Liability
Marketplace Disclaimer: First String Mentors is a marketplace that connects Mentors and Parents. We are not a party to the services provided by Mentors and do not guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of services.
No Warranties: The Platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.
Liability Cap: To the maximum extent permitted by law, First String Mentors' liability shall not exceed the fees paid by you in the 12 months preceding the claim.
9. Dispute Resolution
Session Disputes: If you have a dispute regarding a session, please contact us within 48 hours at support@befirststring.com. We will work with both parties to reach a fair resolution.
Arbitration: Any disputes not resolved through our support process shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the American Arbitration Association rules.
Governing Law: These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to conflict of law principles.
10. Termination
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or pose a risk to the safety of our community.
Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall survive.
11. Changes to Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes via email. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at:
- Email: legal@befirststring.com
- Support: support@befirststring.com