Terms & Conditions for Clients

1.1 The following definitions are used in these general terms and conditions of use:

• Account: The account on the Platform that enables the Client to use the Platform and to engage with Professionals for the purpose of entering into a Services Agreement.
• Client: Any legal or natural person who, subject to these Terms and Conditions, has registered an Account on the Platform enabling it to make unlimited use of the Platform, subject to these Terms and Conditions, including but not limited to placing an Order and/or entering into a Services Agreement with a Professional.
• Expat Bubble: EXPAT BUBBLE B.V., having its registered office at Groet, and its principal place of business at Tureluur 2, 1873 JW Groet, The Netherlands, and registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number: 42032553.
• Order: Any request for the provision of services submitted via the Platform by a Client.
• Parties: Expat Bubble and the Client.
• Platform: The online platform available at expatbubble.nl, through which Clients and Professionals can connect and enter into Services Agreements.
• Professional: Any legal person offering Services to Clients via the Platform.
• Services: The services to be performed by the Professional as described in the relevant Services Agreement.
• Services Agreement: Any agreement concluded between a Client and a Professional for the provision of Services, regardless of the form in which it is concluded.
• Terms and Conditions: These general terms and conditions governing the use of the Platform, irrespective of the form in which they are made available.

1.2 The headings in these Terms and Conditions are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect its construction.

1.3 Unless the context otherwise requires, words in the singular shall include the plural and in the plural shall include the singular.

1.4 Any phrase introduced by the terms include or including or for example shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words preceding or following those terms.

2.1 These Terms and Conditions apply to and form an integral part of the use of the Platform and any Services Agreement concluded via the Platform.

2.2 By creating an Account on the Platform, the Client agrees to the applicability of these Terms and Conditions and acknowledges that the use of the Platform is subject thereto.

2.3 By creating an Account on the Platform, placing an Order, or entering into a Services Agreement, the Client agrees that these Terms and Conditions apply to and form an integral part of every Order placed on the Platform and every Services Agreement concluded via the Platform.

2.4 Expat Bubble has the right to change these Terms and Conditions unilaterally. Expat Bubble shall inform the Client in writing of changes to the Terms and Conditions. The changed Terms and Conditions shall apply to and form part of the use of the Platform, and every Order and Services Agreement submitted or entered into, after notification of the changed Terms and Conditions. For the avoidance of doubt, changes shall not apply to existing Services Agreements and the Client may terminate its use of the Platform if it does not accept the changes.

2.5 To the extent that these Terms and Conditions contain provisions that confer rights upon the Professional in relation to the Client, such provisions shall constitute a stipulation for the benefit of a third party within the meaning of Article 6:253 of the Dutch Civil Code. The Professional accepts this stipulation by registering an account on the Platform and/or by accepting an Order, and may in any event invoke or accept any such stipulation by making use of the relevant right. Likewise, the general terms and conditions applicable to Professionals, which can be found on the Platform, contain a stipulation for the benefit of the Client as referred to in Article 6:253 of the Dutch Civil Code.

3.1 Expat Bubble operates the Platform to facilitate the connection between Clients and independent Professionals for the provision of Services, as well as bookings, invoicing, payments and related services.

3.2 Professionals create and maintain accounts on the Platform in order to offer and market their Services. The Platform includes an indication by the Professional of its availability and fees. This does not qualify as an order.

3.3 A Client seeking Services may use the Platform to identify and select a Professional. The selection and engagement of a Professional is made solely by the Client, who may use the information provided by the Professional on their profile, including specifications, qualifications, and user reviews (if any). To be able to place an Order on the Platform, the Client must first create an account in the manner described on the Platform.

3.4 If the Client identifies a Professional whom it wishes to engage, the Client may place an Order with that Professional. Such Order constitutes a request for an offer from the Professional and does not qualify as a binding offer. The Client warrants that it provides accurate and complete booking information, including without limitation its name, telephone number, address details and email address. The Client warrants that it is at least eighteen (18) years old and that it will only use the Services for its own purpose. The Professional may accept or decline an Order at its discretion.

3.5 If the Professional accepts the Order, it will make an offer to the Client for the conclusion of the Services Agreement. The offer contains at least (i) the Services to be performed, (ii) the price for the Services inclusive of VAT, and (iii) the date(s) on which the Services will be performed.

3.6 Upon the Professional's acceptance of the offer, the Client will receive an invoice for the fee for the Services from Expat Bubble on behalf of the Professional. The Services Agreement is concluded upon payment of the invoiced amount to Expat Bubble.

3.7 Expat Bubble acts solely as a technology intermediary that facilitates the Platform and never as a contracting party to the Services Agreement.

3.8 The Professional shall commence the provision of Services only after confirmation by Expat Bubble of receipt of full payment. If the Client fails to make such payment, the Services Agreement shall never have been concluded. Upon payment of the fee for the Services, the Client explicitly agrees to the commencement of the provision of the Services by the Professional, even if the provision for the Services takes place and/or is completed during the term described in Article 8.1 (fourteen days after the conclusion of the Services Agreement).

3.9 If the total fee for the Services cannot be determined in advance, for example because the work depends on the number of hours to be spent and this amount cannot reasonably be estimated beforehand, this shall be clearly specified in the Services Agreement. In such cases, the Services Agreement shall be concluded upon payment of a down payment, as agreed between the Client and the Professional.

3.10 It is assumed that the job the Client has selected (and described) accurately reflects the work the Client wishes to have carried out. If there is a (significant) discrepancy, the Professional may decline (terminate) the assignment or adjust the price in writing.

3.11 A Services Agreement may only be amended with the prior written consent of both the Client and the Professional. Any such amendment shall be valid only with respect to the specific Services Agreement to which it relates.

4.1 For the provision of Services, the Platform may contain an hourly rate or a fixed price. For specific Services, the Client may also request a fee quote for a specific fixed price or hourly rate tailored to the type of Services requested (for which the Professional may request additional information and/or an orientation call). All prices for the Services are inclusive of VAT.

4.2 The indicated prices are binding and will be reflected as such in the Services Agreement.

4.3 Materials, parking costs, and any other additional expenses are included in the prices shown, unless agreed separately in the Services Agreement between the Professional and the Client.

4.4 If Services are offered at a fixed price, the Client may reasonably expect the Services to be carried out for the stated amount. However, it is possible that the final price will be higher, for example if the actual situation differs from the description provided (as described in Article 3.10) or if additional work is required. The Professional must inform the Client hereof in writing in a timely manner, including an explanation for the price increase.

4.5 Expat Bubble charges the Professional a commission for each Services Agreement concluded via the Platform. Expat Bubble is entitled to deduct the commission from the amounts collected on behalf of the Professional before remitting the net amount to the Professional.

5.1 Prior to the conclusion of the Services Agreement, Expat Bubble shall prepare and send an invoice to the Client in accordance with Article 3.5 of these Terms and Conditions.

5.2 Once the Professional accepts a booking, the Client must pay within the following time limits, depending on how soon the Service is scheduled to start:

1. a.If the Service starts in more than 48 hours: The Client has 24 hours to pay after the Professional accepts the booking.
2. b.If the Service starts between 24 and 48 hours: The Client has 12 hours to pay after the Professional accepts the booking.
3. c.If the Service starts between 12 and 24 hours: The Client has 3 hours to pay after the Professional accepts the booking.
4. d.If the Service starts in less than 12 hours: The Client has 1 hour to pay after the Professional accepts the booking.

5.3 If the Client fails to pay within the applicable time limit, the offer referred to in Article 3.5 of these Terms and Conditions shall automatically lapse by operation of law. As a result, the offer can no longer be accepted in accordance with Article 3.6 of these Terms and Conditions, unless the Professional expressly agrees in writing to the conclusion of the Services Agreement.

5.4 Payments directly to the Professional are strictly prohibited, regardless of the payment method used. All payments must be made exclusively through the Platform. If the Client nevertheless makes or attempts to make a payment outside the Platform, no Services Agreement shall be concluded via the Platform, and neither the Platform nor Expat Bubble shall have any involvement whatsoever in the conclusion of any agreement between the Client and the Professional. In such cases, Expat Bubble shall not provide any (additional) services in relation thereto and shall bear no responsibility for any payments between the parties.

6.1 Expat Bubble shall require all Professionals to perform each job to the standard that may reasonably be expected from a skilled and experienced professional, and the Services must comply with the requirements of the Services Agreement. However, as Expat Bubble is not a party to the Services Agreement, it is unable to exercise any control over the quality, safety or legality of the Services, or the accuracy of any offers made.

6.2 Expat Bubble does not instruct the Professional on how to perform their work and cannot verify the quality of the Services. In addition, the Platform mainly depends on user-generated client reviews. If the Client has concerns about the Services being provided, the Client should immediately contact Expat Bubble and refuse further provision of the Services until Expat Bubble has assessed the allegations made. Expat Bubble will then try to find an appropriate solution.

6.3 If the Client has any complaints about the Professional and/or the Services performed and/or about the Platform, Expat Bubble encourages the Client to contact Expat Bubble and submit its complaint by email.

6.4 Applicable and relevant terms and conditions for the Services are also reflected in the confirmation emails you receive.

6.5 If a Client reports that Services were not delivered as described, Expat Bubble may request the Client to provide evidence of any allegations made to verify the correctness hereof and may require another professional to inspect the Services performed (and the Client will provide any reasonable assistance necessary in this regard, including without limitation allowing access to its premises insofar as necessary).

6.6 In principle, in case of a complaint about the Services and/or the Professional and insofar as reasonable, the Professional must first be granted the opportunity to remedy the defect and complete the work to the satisfaction in accordance with the Services Agreement.

6.7 If the Professional does not or cannot remedy the defect, Expat Bubble may, at its sole discretion, decide on an appropriate remedy, which may include a partial or full refund. If the Client has remedied the defect itself, or has the defect remedied by a third party, without allowing the Professional a reasonable opportunity to remedy the defect, Expat Bubble cannot assess the correctness of the allegations made and will not pay any reimbursement.

7.1 Upon completion of the Services, and/or after expiration or termination of the Services Agreement, Clients have the opportunity to submit a review of the Professional.

7.2 By submitting a review, you grant Expat Bubble permission to use and publish the review on the Platform and in other communications. Expat Bubble may calculate and present composite ratings on the Platform.

7.3 Reviews are user-generated content. Expat Bubble does not pre-screen all reviews and expects all reviews to be fair and accurate. However, Expat Bubble has no influence over the contents of user-generated reviews. The Client acknowledges that reviews of a Professional do not constitute a guarantee regarding the quality of that Professional or the Services to be performed.

7.4 Amongst others based on customer reviews, Expat Bubble assesses whether a Professional may continue to offer services via the Platform.

7.5 If a Client believes that certain information on the Platform is unlawful or incorrect, including without limitation any client reviews, Expat Bubble requests the Client to report this to Expat Bubble using the contact details provided on the Platform. This allows Expat Bubble to improve the quality of the Platform. Expat Bubble shall process such notices in a timely, diligent and objective manner and inform the notifying party of its decision, including a statement of reasons where required by applicable law.

7.6 Expat Bubble will investigate reported abuses. In the event that Expat Bubble, acting reasonably and in good faith, determines that the Client has submitted false, misleading, inappropriate and/or inaccurate reviews on the Platform, Expat Bubble may not publish or remove the review and/or exercise its rights pursuant to Article 9 of these Terms and Conditions.

8.1 The Client has the right to dissolve the Services Agreement within fourteen (14) calendar days after its conclusion. To exercise this right, the Client must notify the Professional within this period by means of an unambiguous statement (for example, in writing or by email) or by using the model withdrawal form attached as Annex 1 to these Terms and Conditions, which shall be made available by Expat Bubble upon request.

8.2 The Client acknowledges that he will lose and expressly waives the right to dissolve the Services Agreement pursuant to Article 8.1 once the Services have been fully performed, taking into account Article 3.8 of these Terms and Conditions.

8.3 The Client may terminate the Services Agreement at any time, subject to a reasonable notice period. In the event of termination, the Client shall reimburse the Professional for any costs reasonably incurred in connection with the performance of the Services Agreement. If the Services Agreement is terminated before the Services have been completed or before the agreed term has expired, and entitlement to payment depends on completion or the expiry of that term, the Professional shall be entitled to a reasonable proportion of the agreed fee, taking into account, for example, the work already performed.

8.4 If the Services Agreement is terminated within twenty-four (24) hours prior to the scheduled commencement of the Services, the Client shall be liable to pay the full agreed fee for such Services unless such fee would be unreasonable in light of the actual costs and loss suffered by the Professional. In the case of Services to be performed over multiple days, the Client shall be liable to pay an amount equal to the fee applicable for the first scheduled day, calculated on the basis of the total agreed fee. This Article 8.4 shall also apply in the event that the Client fails to appear (on time) at the agreed location or if access is not provided.

8.5 In the event of termination of the Services Agreement, where the Client has made an advance payment and no cancellation fee is due, or where such advance payment exceeds the applicable cancellation fee, Expat Bubble shall promptly and ultimately within fourteen days after Expat Bubble has been notified hereof refund the excess amount (taking into account the foregoing provisions) to the Client.

8.6 The Client and the Professional may cancel or reschedule the Services at any time, subject to the prior written consent of both the Client and the Professional. In the event of such cancellation, where the Client has made an advance payment, Expat Bubble shall refund the amount paid in respect of the cancelled Services.

8.7 The Client may request a rescheduling of the Services without the prior consent of the Professional in the event of urgent circumstances that prevent the (proper) performance of the Services. In such cases, Expat Bubble may, but shall not be obliged to, require the Professional to reschedule the Services.

8.8 If the Professional fails to appear for the provision of the Services without prior notice to the Client, the Client shall notify Expat Bubble accordingly. Following such notification and verification, the Client shall be entitled to a full refund of the amount pre-paid for the Services, unless the Client and the Professional agree to reschedule the Services at a different date and time.

8.9 If the Professional is more than fifteen (15) minutes late for the provision of the Services, the Client may refuse the performance of the Services. Upon notification and verification thereof by Expat Bubble, the Client shall be entitled to a full refund of the amount pre-paid for the non-performed Services, unless the Client and the Professional agree to reschedule the Services at a different date and time.

9.1 The Client may terminate its account on the Platform at any time by written notice (email suffices) to Expat Bubble. Termination does not affect obligations accrued prior to termination, including without limitation under any existing Services Agreement, and the Client shall remain bound by these Terms and Conditions in respect thereof.

9.2 Expat Bubble may at all times, acting reasonably, fairly and proportionately, suspend or terminate the Client's account with immediate effect and without prior notice being required, in any case but without limitation in the event of breach of any obligation by the Client under these Terms and Conditions, abuse of the Platform, fraud, repeated complaints, improper behaviour by the Client, or legal reasons such as but not limited to the Client requesting the performance of illegal services or services that may be harmful to the health of others or that are in breach of third party (intellectual property) rights or applicable laws.

9.3 Expat Bubble shall notify the Client of a suspension or termination and the reasons therefor as soon as reasonably possible, unless this would be contrary to applicable law or a court order.

9.4 Termination or suspension does not affect obligations accrued prior to termination, including without limitation under any Services Agreement(s) concluded prior to such termination or suspension.

10.1 Where relevant, Expat Bubble may process personal data of the Client and/or the Professional while providing its services or otherwise interacting with the Client and/or the Professional. Expat Bubble will do so in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, in any case consisting of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Dutch Telecommunications Act.

10.2 Information regarding the processing activities of Expat Bubble as data controller is included in the online privacy statement available at https://www.expatbubble.nl/privacy-policy. In some cases, Expat Bubble may process personal data on behalf of the Professional or the Professional processes personal data of the Client. For more information about such processing activities, reference is made to the applicable privacy statement of the relevant Professional.

11.1 All intellectual property rights in and to the Platform, including but not limited to the software, design, databases, trademarks, logos and content (including but not limited to User Content as defined below) are and shall remain the property of Expat Bubble or its licensors. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions grants any right or license to use such intellectual property other than as strictly necessary to use the Platform in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

11.2 All information, materials, reviews, images, requests, offers, and other content submitted or made available via the Platform by a Client or Professional ("User Content") remains the property of the party that submitted it. By submitting User Content, the relevant party grants Expat Bubble a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, display, and make available such User Content for the purposes of operating, promoting, and improving the Platform.

11.3 Clients or Professionals shall not upload, post, or otherwise make available any content on the Platform that infringes the intellectual property rights or other rights of third parties. Each Client and Professional warrants that it has all necessary rights and permissions to make its User Content available via the Platform and indemnifies Expat Bubble against claims arising from any breach of this warranty.

11.4 Expat Bubble is not a party to any agreement between Clients and Professionals concerning the transfer or licensing of intellectual property rights in deliverables in light of Services and shall not be responsible for the terms governing such rights.

12.1 Expat Bubble operates the Platform as a technology intermediary and is not a party to any Services Agreement concluded between a Client and a Professional. Expat Bubble is therefore not liable for any acts or omissions of a Professional, including but not limited to the quality, safety, legality, or fitness for purpose of the Services, any failure by the Professional to perform or complete the Services, or any damage caused to the Client or to third parties in connection with the Services.

12.2 Expat Bubble is not liable for any indirect or consequential loss arising from the Client's use of the Platform, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of opportunity, or reputational damage, howsoever caused.

12.3 Expat Bubble shall not be liable for any failure or delay in the availability of the Platform to the extent that such failure or delay is caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control (force majeure) including but not limited to natural disasters, government action, war, cyberattacks, or failure of third-party infrastructure.

12.4 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall exclude or limit liability for loss or damage arising from fraud, intent, or wilful misconduct, for death or personal injury, or for any other liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable mandatory law, including mandatory consumer protection provisions.

12.5 The limitations set out in this Article 12 do not affect the Client's statutory rights as a consumer under applicable Dutch and European law.

13.1 If any provision in the Terms and Conditions is declared null and void, or is annulled, the remaining provisions of the Terms and Conditions and the relevant Agreement will remain in force. Parties shall replace the null and void or unenforceable provision with a new provision that approaches the content of the original provision as closely as possible.

13.2 Expat Bubble continuously strives to improve the Platform. As a result, the content and appearance of the Platform may be changed at any time and may not be identical for all Clients.

13.3 Expat Bubble may temporarily take the Platform offline from time to time, for example where this is necessary or desirable for maintenance or modification of the Platform.

13.4 Expat Bubble has compiled the content of the Platform with the utmost care. However, all substantive information on the Platform, including in advertisements, reviews (with the exception of third-party client reviews), and offers, is provided by the Professionals. These Professionals are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of such information.

13.5 These Terms and Conditions may be made available in multiple languages. In the event of any inconsistency or discrepancy between the various language versions, the English version shall prevail to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

14.1 These Terms and Conditions, Offers and any Services Agreements concluded via the Platform are exclusively governed by the laws of the Netherlands.

14.2 Without prejudice to mandatory rules of law regarding jurisdiction, any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions or the use of the Platform shall be submitted to the competent courts of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Expat Bubble may only invoke the jurisdiction of the courts of Amsterdam after notifying the Client that it intends to submit the dispute to those courts and granting the Client a period of one (1) month to choose to submit the dispute to the court that is competent under applicable law.

14.3 Any disputes arising out of or in connection with a Services Agreement shall be submitted to the court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with applicable law.

Please complete and send this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract. In case of questions and/or missing information, please do not hesitate to contact Expat Bubble.