Terms of Service

Last updated: February 11, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using LocalGuru ("the Platform"), you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Platform. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and LocalGuru.

By creating an account, using any feature of the Platform, or accessing any content provided through the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

2. Nature of the Platform

LocalGuru is strictly a discovery and communication platform. We provide a marketplace that enables students/parents to discover and connect with tutors. We facilitate initial introductions only.

  • LocalGuru does not employ, contract, or engage any tutor listed on the Platform.
  • LocalGuru does not provide, supervise, or control any tutoring services.
  • LocalGuru does not act as an agent, representative, or intermediary for any tutor or student.
  • All arrangements, agreements, payments, and interactions between tutors and students/parents occur independently and outside the scope of LocalGuru's services.
  • LocalGuru merely provides the technological infrastructure for users to discover and communicate with each other.

3. User Accounts

Account Registration:

  • You must provide accurate and complete information during registration
  • You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your account credentials
  • You must be at least 13 years old (parental consent required for minors under 18)
  • One person or entity may maintain only one account per role
  • You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account

Account Termination:

We reserve the right to suspend, deactivate, or permanently terminate accounts at our sole discretion, without prior notice, for any reason including but not limited to: violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, harmful behavior toward other users, inactivity, or any conduct that we reasonably believe is detrimental to the Platform or its users.

4. Communication & Messaging

The Platform may provide in-app messaging or chat features to facilitate initial communication between tutors and students/parents. By using these features, you agree to the following:

  • LocalGuru facilitates the transfer of contact information and communication between users, but is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or nature of any messages exchanged.
  • LocalGuru does not monitor, moderate, or censor private messages in real-time. However, we reserve the right to review messages if reported by users or if required by law.
  • You are solely responsible for your communications. Any agreements, promises, commitments, or arrangements made via chat are strictly between the communicating parties.
  • LocalGuru is not liable for any abusive, offensive, threatening, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable language or content shared by any user through the Platform's messaging features.
  • If you encounter abusive or inappropriate behavior, please report it immediately. We will investigate and take appropriate action, which may include account suspension or termination.

5. Identity Verification & Tutor Profiles

LocalGuru may offer optional or mandatory identity verification features for tutors. However:

  • LocalGuru does not guarantee, warrant, or certify the real identity, qualifications, credentials, character, or background of any tutor or user on the Platform.
  • While we make reasonable efforts to verify documents submitted by tutors (such as government IDs and degree certificates), we cannot guarantee the authenticity of any document or information provided by users.
  • The "Verified" badge on a tutor's profile indicates only that the tutor has submitted certain documents and that those documents have been reviewed by our team. It does not constitute a guarantee of identity, competence, safety, or trustworthiness.
  • Parents and students are strongly advised to exercise their own judgment and due diligence before engaging any tutor, regardless of their verification status on the Platform.
  • LocalGuru is not responsible for any misrepresentation, fraud, or false information provided by any user, including verified users.

6. Tutor Responsibilities

If you register as a tutor, you agree to:

  • Provide accurate, truthful, and complete information about your qualifications, experience, and identity
  • Submit only genuine certificates and documents for verification
  • Maintain professional and respectful conduct with students, parents, and other users at all times
  • Honor commitments and scheduled sessions arranged independently
  • Comply with all applicable local, state, and national laws and regulations
  • Not misuse student/parent contact information obtained through the Platform
  • Keep your availability and profile information up-to-date
  • Not engage in any form of harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior
  • Bear full personal responsibility for the quality and safety of tutoring services you provide

7. Student/Parent Responsibilities

If you use LocalGuru to find tutors, you agree to:

  • Provide accurate information about learning needs and requirements
  • Communicate respectfully with tutors at all times
  • Provide honest, fair, and truthful reviews based on actual experience
  • Honor payment commitments made directly to tutors
  • Report any inappropriate, suspicious, or harmful behavior immediately
  • Exercise your own independent judgment when selecting and engaging a tutor
  • Supervise minor children during tutoring sessions as you deem appropriate
  • Not hold LocalGuru responsible for any issues arising from your independent arrangement with a tutor

8. Payments and Fees

Platform Fees (Paid to LocalGuru):

  • Featured Listing / LocalGuru's Choice subscriptions for tutors
  • Any other premium features introduced from time to time

Tuition Payments:

All tuition fee payments between tutors and students/parents are arranged and processed entirely independently of LocalGuru. LocalGuru has no involvement in, and takes no commission or cut from, any tutoring fee transactions. LocalGuru is not a party to any financial arrangement between tutors and students/parents.

Refund Policy: Platform subscription fees and other fees paid to LocalGuru are non-refundable except in cases of verified technical errors or duplicate charges. No refunds will be provided for unused subscription periods, including time spent in "Away Mode."

9. Reviews & Ratings

The Platform allows students/parents to leave reviews and ratings for tutors. Regarding reviews:

  • Reviews must be honest, fair, and based on genuine personal experience
  • Fake, malicious, defamatory, or paid reviews are strictly prohibited
  • LocalGuru does not verify the accuracy of reviews and is not responsible for the content of user-submitted reviews
  • LocalGuru reserves the right to remove reviews that violate these Terms or are flagged as inappropriate
  • Tutors may report reviews they believe are unfair or fraudulent for admin review

10. Prohibited Conduct

Users must not:

  • Post false, misleading, or fraudulent information
  • Harass, abuse, threaten, stalk, or intimidate other users
  • Use abusive, vulgar, obscene, hateful, or discriminatory language
  • Share another user's personal information without consent
  • Scrape, crawl, or copy data from the Platform by any automated means
  • Create fake reviews, ratings, or profiles
  • Use the Platform for any illegal, harmful, or unauthorized purpose
  • Impersonate another person, entity, or LocalGuru staff
  • Attempt to circumvent any security features of the Platform
  • Upload malicious code, viruses, or harmful content
  • Engage in any activity that disrupts or interferes with the Platform's functioning

11. Safety & Physical Interactions

Since LocalGuru connects tutors for home visits and in-person sessions:

  • LocalGuru is not responsible for any physical harm, injury, theft, property damage, or any incident that occurs during in-person tutoring sessions or meetings.
  • LocalGuru does not conduct criminal background checks, police verification, or safety screenings on any user unless explicitly stated as part of a paid verification feature.
  • Parents/students are solely responsible for ensuring their own safety during any interactions with tutors.
  • We strongly recommend meeting tutors in safe, public, or supervised environments initially, and having a parent or guardian present during sessions with minor students.
  • Any incident of harassment, abuse, or criminal behavior should be reported to local law enforcement immediately, in addition to reporting to LocalGuru.

12. Intellectual Property

All content on LocalGuru, including but not limited to logos, text, graphics, software, design, and algorithms, is owned by LocalGuru or its licensors and is protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works without our prior written permission.

13. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, LOCALGURU DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

  • The quality, safety, legality, or outcomes of any tutoring services obtained through the Platform
  • The accuracy, completeness, reliability, or truthfulness of any information provided by any user, including tutors
  • The identity, qualifications, background, character, or intentions of any user
  • Uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or virus-free Platform access
  • That any tutor will meet your specific expectations, requirements, or standards
  • The accuracy or reliability of any reviews, ratings, or rankings displayed on the Platform

14. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, LOCALGURU, ITS FOUNDERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO:

  • Your use of, or inability to use, the Platform
  • Any interaction, communication, arrangement, or transaction between you and any other user (including tutors)
  • Any tutoring services provided by any tutor discovered through the Platform
  • Any abusive, offensive, defamatory, or harmful content or behavior by any user
  • Any physical harm, injury, theft, or property damage arising from in-person meetings or sessions
  • Any misrepresentation, fraud, or false information provided by any user
  • Any disputes over payments, services, or quality between tutors and students/parents
  • Loss of data, unauthorized access to your account, or security breaches
  • Any third-party actions, products, or services

In no event shall LocalGuru's total aggregate liability exceed the amount you have paid to LocalGuru (if any) in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless LocalGuru, its founders, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from or related to:

  • Your use of the Platform
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
  • Your interactions with other users
  • Any content you submit, post, or share on the Platform
  • Any tutoring services you provide or receive
  • Any dispute between you and another user

16. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes between users (including between tutors and students/parents) must be resolved directly between the involved parties. LocalGuru is not a party to any such dispute and has no obligation to mediate, arbitrate, or resolve any user-to-user disagreement.

For disputes with LocalGuru directly, we encourage resolution through good-faith negotiation before pursuing any legal action. Any legal proceedings relating to these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

17. Third-Party Services

The Platform may integrate with or link to third-party services (such as payment processors, map providers, and authentication services). LocalGuru is not responsible for the availability, accuracy, content, or practices of any third-party services. Your use of such services is governed by their respective terms and policies.

18. Modifications to the Platform

LocalGuru reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Platform at any time, with or without notice. We shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Platform.

19. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms of Service at any time at our sole discretion. Significant changes will be communicated via email or platform notification where possible. Your continued use of the Platform after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. It is your responsibility to review these Terms periodically.

20. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

21. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any other policies referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and LocalGuru regarding your use of the Platform, and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, and communications.

22. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any legal proceedings shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

23. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or complaints about these Terms of Service:

  • Email: localgurustartup@gmail.com

Summary: LocalGuru is a discovery platform that connects students with tutors. We do not employ tutors, do not guarantee any user's identity or qualifications, and are not responsible for any interactions, communications, or arrangements that occur between users. All tutoring services and payments are arranged independently between tutors and students/parents. By using LocalGuru, you agree to use the platform responsibly and at your own risk.