Terms & conditions of sale and registration

Common Provisions

1. Subject matter and scope

These general terms and conditions of sale, hereinafter referred to as the “GTC”, apply to the services offered by FRENCH IMMERSIONS, namely:

French courses provided outside a stay;
Language immersions and stays including, depending on the chosen programme, courses, accommodation, activities and/or excursions.

The provisions of Part A apply exclusively to French courses provided outside a stay.
The provisions of Part B apply to language immersions and stays organised with the involvement of FRENCH IMMERSIONS and PYRENEES CONNEXIONS.

These GTC are supplemented, where applicable, by the accepted quotation, the programme description sheet and the pre-contractual information provided to the participant.

2. Identification of the providers

2.1. FRENCH IMMERSIONS

FRENCH IMMERSIONS, operational and pedagogical provider, with its head office at 22, rue du Maréchal Foch – 65200 Bagnères-de-Bigorre, represented by Prisca Reeman.
Email: contact@frenchimmersions.com
Telephone: +33 6 24 97 26 55

For French courses provided outside a stay, FRENCH IMMERSIONS acts as the direct provider of pedagogical services.

2.2. PYRENEES CONNEXIONS

PYRENEES CONNEXIONS, an association holding the ATOUT FRANCE travel operator label, with its head office at 22, rue du Maréchal Foch – 65200 Bagnères-de-Bigorre, registered under SIRET number 999 851 785 00017, represented by Guillaume Blanchet.
Email: pyrenees.connexions@gmail.com
Telephone: +33 6 02 25 27 69

PYRENEES CONNEXIONS intervenes solely in the context of language immersions and stays referred to in Part B, as the contractual, commercial and financial operator.

3. Order, quotation and formation of the contract

The participant or partner organisation submits a request specifying the desired service, dates, number of participants and, where applicable, the chosen programme.

For courses, FRENCH IMMERSIONS confirms availability and, if necessary, sends a price proposal or quotation.
For stays, PYRENEES CONNEXIONS confirms availability and sends the quotation, the programme description sheet and the applicable pre-contractual information.

The contract is formed after:

acceptance of the quotation or price proposal;
acceptance of these GTC;
payment of the registration fee of €80 (for courses);
payment of the amount required to confirm the booking, where such payment is requested.

All prices are stated inclusive of all taxes (VAT included). These GTC apply in the version in force on the date of the order or renewal. Participants are advised to keep the version of the GTC provided and accepted together with the corresponding quotation

4. Protection of personal data

Personal data are processed solely for the management of registrations, courses or stays, invoicing, communication with participants and compliance with legal obligations.

Data are retained for as long as necessary for these purposes and in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Participants may exercise their rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection and data portability by contacting:

for courses: contact@frenchimmersions.com;
for stays: pyrenees.connexions@gmail.com.

Complaints may be addressed to the French data protection authority, the Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL).

5. Image rights

FRENCH IMMERSIONS and, for stays, PYRENEES CONNEXIONS may take photographs or videos during the activities offered.

Any use for promotional purposes is subject to the prior consent of the participant or, where the participant is a minor, their legal representative.

The participant may object to such use at the time of registration or subsequently by sending a written request to the relevant provider.

6. Mediation and dispute resolution

Any complaint must first be addressed in writing to the relevant provider:

to FRENCH IMMERSIONS for courses;
to PYRENEES CONNEXIONS for immersions and stays.

If no amicable solution is found within two months of the written complaint, the consumer may refer the matter, free of charge, to a competent consumer mediator.

Competent mediator:
The professional uses a consumer mediator listed on the national list of mediators. The precise contact details of the appointed mediator will be provided to the consumer upon simple written request and without delay.

For information, the consumer may also consult the list of available mediators on the website of the Commission d’évaluation et de contrôle de la médiation de la consommation (CECMC): https://www.economie.gouv.fr/mediation-conso

7. Applicable law and final provisions

These GTC are governed by French law.

They do not deprive participants of any mandatory rights granted to them by law. Any clause seeking to exclude a legally mandatory liability shall be deemed inapplicable to that extent.

These GTC are available in French and in English. In the event of any discrepancy between the two versions, the French version shall prevail.

For stays, these GTC are supplemented by the quotation, the programme description sheet and the pre-contractual information applicable to the booked programme.

PART A – FRENCH COURSES

8. Prices and payment

The applicable prices are those in force on the date of booking or renewal. They are available on the Course Prices page.

Individual courses are charged per hour or per pack. Packs, single lessons and training cycles must be paid for before the first lesson or, for recurring training, before the first session of the relevant month or cycle.

FRENCH IMMERSIONS may apply fees corresponding to the payment method used, where these are indicated to the participant in advance.

9. Packs, validity period and cancellation of individual lessons

A pack must be used within three months following the last lesson. After this period, unused hours are forfeited, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

If a participant is unable to attend an individual lesson, an alternative time slot may be sought.

If no replacement slot can be found, the lesson remains payable and will be invoiced or deducted from the pack.

Any cancellation or request to reschedule must be made sufficiently in advance, in accordance with the procedures communicated at the time of booking.

10. Organisation of lessons and absences

Lesson times and frequency are agreed with the participant or partner organisation.

Sessions generally start on a Monday, unless otherwise agreed.

Public holidays are normally worked, with the exception of 1 January and 25 December, which are non-working days and are not made up, unless otherwise agreed.

Absences, late arrivals and early departures attributable to the participant do not give rise to any refund, except where mandatory legal provisions provide otherwise.

A training certificate may be issued at the end of a cycle or pack, upon request.

11. Age conditions, level and accessibility

Courses are open to participants from the age of 4 and to all French proficiency levels.

FRENCH IMMERSIONS assesses the participant’s needs and level in order to design a suitable programme or allocate them to the appropriate group.

Lessons may take place in an old house built before 1900, with narrow passageways. Due to its characteristics and the disproportionate cost of the necessary adaptation works, the premises are not accessible to people with reduced mobility.

12. Liability applicable to courses

FRENCH IMMERSIONS is responsible for the operational and pedagogical delivery of the courses it provides, within the limits prescribed by law.

The participant must comply with the teacher’s instructions, the internal rules and safety regulations.

In the event of serious misconduct, repeated disruptions or behaviour endangering others, FRENCH IMMERSIONS may suspend the courses without refund, subject to the participant’s legal rights.

PART B – LANGUAGE IMMERSIONS AND STAYS

13. Respective roles of FRENCH IMMERSIONS and PYRENEES CONNEXIONS

FRENCH IMMERSIONS is responsible in particular for:

preparatory exchanges with participants;
level assessment;
design and adaptation of the pedagogical programme;
allocation to groups;
selection and coordination of host families and local providers;
organisation and supervision of activities and excursions;
day-to-day on-site management;
pedagogical follow-up;
issuance of the end-of-stay certificate.

PYRENEES CONNEXIONS is responsible in particular for:

receiving registrations and payments;
issuing quotations, confirmations and invoices;
concluding the stay contract;
administrative and financial obligations relating to the organisation of the stay;
providing the financial guarantee and insurance required by applicable tourism legislation.

The participant acknowledges that FRENCH IMMERSIONS is primarily responsible for the pedagogical and operational implementation, while PYRENEES CONNEXIONS is their contracting party for the booking, payment and contractual commitments relating to the stay.

This division of responsibilities does not limit participants’ legal rights.

14. Guarantees and insurance

PYRENEES CONNEXIONS declares that it benefits from the financial guarantee required by the French Tourism Code, provided by GROUPAMA.

This guarantee is intended, in particular, to cover the reimbursement of sums paid by participants and, where applicable, their repatriation in the event of the operator’s insolvency, in accordance with applicable legislation.

PYRENEES CONNEXIONS also holds professional civil liability insurance with GROUPAMA, under policy number 4000719123 0.

15. Registration and payment for stays

The registration request specifies the desired dates, type of stay, number of participants and chosen options.

The booking is confirmed after acceptance of the quotation and payment of a 40% deposit of the total quotation amount within seven days.

If payment is not made within this period, PYRENEES CONNEXIONS is no longer obliged to guarantee availability.

The balance must be paid no later than one week before the start of the stay by Wise, bank transfer or PayPal, with any fees announced before payment, or in cash on the first day of the stay.

Any bank charges incurred are borne by the participant or paying organisation, where not included in the advertised price.

The quotation or programme description sheet specifies in particular the total price, included services, dates, programme, accommodation, activities and, where applicable, the minimum number of participants.

16. Cancellation, modification and visa refusal

16.1. Cancellation by the participant

Any cancellation must be notified in writing.

Unless special conditions are stated in the programme description sheet:

more than 30 days before the start of the stay: refund of 80% of the total amount;
between 15 and 30 days before the start of the stay: refund of 50%;
less than 15 days before the start of the stay: no refund.

Participants are advised to take out travel and cancellation insurance covering, in particular, medical, family or professional reasons.

16.2. Cancellation or modification by the organiser

PYRENEES CONNEXIONS may cancel the stay, in particular:

if the minimum number of participants is not reached;
for safety or public health reasons;
in the event of force majeure;
where essential services cannot be provided under reasonable conditions.

In the event of cancellation by the organiser, a postponement or refund of sums paid will be offered in accordance with applicable legislation and the specific conditions of the stay.

Minor modifications, such as changes to the order of activities, replacement of an instructor or adjustment of the programme, may be made where they do not alter the essential nature of the stay.

16.3. Visa refusal

After receipt of the deposit, PYRENEES CONNEXIONS may provide the pre-registration certificate required for the visa application.

In the event of visa refusal, the participant must inform PYRENEES CONNEXIONS in writing and provide official supporting documentation.

The financial consequences are determined by the applicable cancellation conditions and by the stay description sheet.

17. Stay organisation, accommodation and activities

Before arrival, FRENCH IMMERSIONS exchanges with the participant to identify their needs, assess their level according to the CEFR and prepare the pedagogical programme.

Sessions generally start on a Monday. The total number of course hours set out in the programme is guaranteed, even if timetables or the order of activities may vary.

Public holidays are normally worked, with the exception of 1 January and 25 December, which are non-working days and are not made up, unless otherwise stated.

Activities may be adapted depending on weather conditions, safety constraints or provider availability.

Services provided by third-party providers are subject to their own terms and conditions, without prejudice to the organiser’s legal liabilities.

Where accommodation is included in the price, FRENCH IMMERSIONS puts the participant in contact with the host family or landlord.

If the participant chooses alternative accommodation, they book and pay for it directly with the relevant provider. The amount corresponding to the included accommodation may then be deducted from the stay price, where this is provided for in the quotation.

18. Passports, insurance and liability

The minimum age to participate in immersions is 14, unless otherwise stated in the programme description sheet. If the participant is a minor, the contract must be signed by their legal representative.

Minimum language levels are:

A0 for individual immersions;
A1+ for open group stays;
A0 for closed group stays.

The participant must hold the travel documents, visas and authorisations required for their stay in France.

Short-stay Schengen visa applications should be initiated sufficiently in advance, ideally around two months before the start of the programme.

Long-stay student visas are not supported for diploma-granting training programmes lasting more than three months.

Participants are advised to take out insurance covering, in particular, medical expenses, repatriation, civil liability, accidents, theft and cancellation.

PYRENEES CONNEXIONS remains responsible for the provision of the services set out in the contract within the limits of applicable legislation. FRENCH IMMERSIONS is responsible for the delivery of the operational and pedagogical services it provides.

Neither organisation can be held liable for failures attributable exclusively to an independent third-party provider, to the extent permitted by law.

19. Force majeure

Any unforeseeable event beyond the reasonable control of the parties and constituting a case of force majeure may suspend or prevent the performance of all or part of the contractual obligations.

The parties shall promptly inform each other of the situation and seek an appropriate solution, such as postponement, rebooking or refund.

The definition and consequences of force majeure are determined in accordance with applicable legislation.