Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

1.1 Agreement to Terms

By accessing and using coursecompare.co.nz (the "Service"), you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use our Service.

1.2 Legal Capacity

You must be at least 16 years of age to use this Service. If you are under 18 years of age, you confirm that you have obtained parental or guardian consent to use this Service. Parents and guardians are responsible for the online activities of minors under their supervision.

1.3 Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes by:

• Posting the revised Terms on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date
• Sending email notifications to registered users (for significant changes)
• Displaying a prominent notice on our website

Your continued use of the Service after changes constitute acceptance of the revised Terms.

2. Description of Service

2.1 What We Provide

Course Compare NZ provides:

• Course Comparison Tools: Side-by-side comparisons of university and online courses
• Educational Information: Course details, fees, duration, entry requirements, and career outcomes
• Provider Profiles: Information about universities, polytechnics, and online learning platforms
• Educational Content: Blog articles, guides, and resources for education decisions
• Search Functionality: Tools to filter and search courses based on preferences
• Inquiry Facilitation: Connection services to education providers for course inquiries

2.2 What We Are NOT

3. User Accounts and Registration

3.1 Account Creation

When creating an account on our Service:

• You must provide accurate, complete, and current information
• You must maintain and promptly update your account information
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your password
• You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account
• You must immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account
• We reserve the right to refuse service or terminate accounts at our discretion

3.2 Account Security

You agree to:

• Use a strong, unique password for your account
• Never share your password with anyone
• Log out after each session on shared computers
• Enable two-factor authentication when available
• Report any security breaches immediately to security@coursecompare.co.nz

3.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if:

• You violate these Terms of Service
• You provide false or misleading information
• Your account is used for fraudulent or illegal activities
• You abuse our Service or other users
• Your account remains inactive for more than 24 months

4. Acceptable Use Policy

4.1 Permitted Use

You agree to use our Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree not to:

• Violate any applicable local, national, or international laws or regulations
• Infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others
• Transmit any harmful or malicious code, viruses, or malware
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Service
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers or networks
• Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) without written permission
• Copy, reproduce, or redistribute our content without authorization
• Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state your affiliation
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Post false, misleading, or defamatory content

4.2 Data Scraping and API Use

Automated access to our Service is strictly prohibited without prior written consent. This includes:

• Web scraping or data mining tools
• Automated bots or crawlers (except authorized search engine bots)
• Bulk data extraction or downloading
• API access without a valid license agreement

For API access or data partnerships, contact: partnerships@coursecompare.co.nz

5. Course Information and Accuracy

5.1 Information Sources

We source course information from:

• Official university and polytechnic websites
• Online learning platform APIs and partnerships
• NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority) databases
• Direct data feeds from education providers
• Publicly available educational resources

5.2 Accuracy Disclaimer

5.3 User Responsibility

Before enrolling in any course, you are responsible for:

• Verifying current fees and payment terms with the provider
• Confirming entry requirements and prerequisites
• Understanding course duration and time commitments
• Checking accreditation and qualification recognition
• Reading the provider's terms and conditions
• Reviewing refund and withdrawal policies
• Confirming course availability and intake dates

6. Intellectual Property Rights

6.1 Our Intellectual Property

All content on coursecompare.co.nz, including but not limited to:

• Text, graphics, logos, and images
• Software code and functionality
• Database structure and organization
• Comparison algorithms and methodologies
• Blog articles and educational content
• User interface and design elements

...is the property of Course Compare NZ or its content suppliers and is protected by New Zealand and international copyright laws.

6.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to:

• Access and use the Service for personal, non-commercial purposes
• View and print content for your own education research
• Share links to our content on social media

You may NOT:

• Copy, reproduce, or republish our content without written permission
• Use our content for commercial purposes
• Remove copyright notices or attribution
• Create derivative works based on our content

6.3 User-Generated Content

If you submit reviews, comments, or other content to our Service:

• You retain ownership of your content
• You grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute your content
• You represent that you own or have rights to the content you submit
• You agree your content does not violate any third-party rights
• We reserve the right to remove any content at our discretion

7. Third-Party Links and Services

7.1 External Links

Our Service contains links to third-party websites and services (universities, online platforms, education providers). These links are provided for convenience only.

We do NOT:

• Control or endorse third-party websites
• Accept responsibility for third-party content or practices
• Guarantee the accuracy of information on external sites
• Warrant the quality or reliability of third-party services

7.2 Education Provider Relationships

Course Compare NZ may receive referral fees or commissions from some education providers when users inquire about or enroll in courses. These relationships:

• Do NOT affect our comparison rankings or recommendations
• Are disclosed where applicable on our website
• Do NOT result in additional costs to users
• Do NOT compromise our editorial independence

8. Disclaimers and Warranties

8.1 "AS IS" Service

8.2 No Professional Advice

Our content is for informational purposes only and does NOT constitute:

• Professional career counseling or advice
• Educational planning or guidance services
• Financial advice or investment recommendations
• Legal advice regarding visa or immigration matters
• Psychological or mental health counseling

Always consult qualified professionals for specific advice related to your situation.

8.3 No Guarantee of Outcomes

We do NOT guarantee:

• Course admission or acceptance
• Educational outcomes or academic performance
• Employment prospects or career advancement
• Salary levels or earning potential
• Qualification recognition by employers or regulatory bodies

9. Limitation of Liability

9.1 Maximum Liability

9.2 Exclusion of Damages

We shall NOT be liable for:

• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Loss of profits, revenue, or business opportunities
• Loss of data or information
• Course fees paid to third-party providers
• Educational decisions or career choices made based on our information
• Damages resulting from third-party actions or content
• Damages from service interruptions or technical issues

9.3 New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any rights you may have under the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or other mandatory consumer protection laws.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Course Compare NZ, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any third-party rights
• Your use or misuse of the Service
• Your user-generated content
• Your fraudulent or illegal activities

11. Privacy and Data Protection

Your use of our Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which complies with:

• New Zealand Privacy Act 2020
• European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Australian Privacy Principles (APP)

Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating formal dispute proceedings, you agree to contact us at legal@coursecompare.co.nz to attempt informal resolution. We will respond within 10 business days and work in good faith to resolve the dispute.

12.2 Mediation

If informal resolution fails, disputes shall be submitted to mediation under the LEADR New Zealand Inc. Standard Mediation Agreement before pursuing litigation or arbitration.

12.3 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand. The New Zealand courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes.

13. Modifications to Service

We reserve the right to:

• Modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time
• Change pricing or introduce fees for previously free features (with notice)
• Limit features or access for certain users or regions
• Remove content or data from the Service
• Impose usage limits or restrictions

We will provide reasonable notice of material changes when possible.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of law, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to reflect the parties' intentions as closely as possible.

15. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Course Compare NZ regarding the Service and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

16. Contact Information