Terms of Service

These terms outline our policies for payments, cancellations, and platform usage to ensure a fair experience for all users.

Payments and Cancellations

Mentee Cancellation - 24+ Hours Before Session

Full refund of 100% minus Stripe processing fees will be issued.

Mentee Cancellation - Less Than 24 Hours Before Session

Partial refund of 50% (after fees) will be issued. The mentor receives the remaining 50%.

Mentor Cancellation - Any Time

Mentee receives a full 100% refund. Stripe processing fees are covered by Birch Tree.

Auto-Cancellation

If a mentor does not respond to a booking request within 7 days, OR does not respond before the session start time, the session is automatically cancelled and the mentee receives a full refund.

Payment Processing and Dispute Period

Payment Hold Period

After a session is completed, mentor payouts are held for a 24-hour dispute period. This allows mentees time to report any issues before funds are transferred to the mentor.

Reporting Issues

If you experience issues with a session, you can report them through the session view page where you rate your session. This report option will be available for 24 hours after session completion.

Common reportable issues include:

  • Mentor did not show up for the scheduled session
  • Session ended significantly early without valid reason
  • Mentor was unprepared or unprofessional
  • Technical issues that prevented the session from occurring

Dispute Resolution Process

When an issue is reported, all funds are immediately frozen to prevent payout until resolution.

Our admin team will:

  • Contact both the mentee and mentor to gather information
  • Review session details, communications, and any evidence provided
  • Make a fair determination based on our platform policies
  • Issue appropriate refunds or approve mentor payouts accordingly

Possible outcomes: Full refund to mentee, partial refund with partial mentor payout, or full mentor payout if the dispute is unfounded.

Mentor Accountability Policy

Cancellation Tracking

1First cancellation: Mentor receives a warning notification and email.

2Second cancellation: Mentor profile is automatically suspended from search results until the issue is resolved with Birch Tree support.

Age Requirements

Mentees

Must be at least 13 years old. Users under 18 require parental consent to use the platform.

Mentors

Must be at least 18 years old to provide mentoring services.

Platform Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

Mentor Verification

While we strive to maintain quality standards and review mentor applications, we do not guarantee the qualifications, expertise, or professional conduct of any mentor. Users engage with mentors at their own risk and should exercise their own judgment when selecting mentoring services.

Content and Advice Disclaimer

Birch Tree is a marketplace platform only. We do not provide mentoring services directly. All mentoring content, advice, and recommendations are provided by independent contractors (mentors) and not by Birch Tree.

  • We are not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any mentoring content
  • We do not endorse any specific advice or recommendations made by mentors
  • Users should not rely solely on mentor advice for important decisions
  • Professional advice (legal, medical, financial) should be obtained from licensed professionals

Limitation of Platform Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Birch Tree shall not be liable for:

  • Any damages resulting from mentor-mentee interactions
  • Poor quality or inappropriate mentoring services
  • Business decisions made based on mentor advice
  • Technical issues that may affect session quality
  • Disputes between mentors and mentees
  • Any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages

Our liability is limited to the amount paid for the specific session in question.

User Responsibilities

Users are responsible for:

  • Evaluating mentor qualifications and suitability for their needs
  • Exercising independent judgment regarding any advice received
  • Seeking appropriate professional advice when necessary
  • Reporting inappropriate behavior or content through proper channels
  • Understanding that mentoring relationships involve inherent risks

Questions or Need to Report an Issue?

Contact our support team for help with these terms or to resolve any account problems.

team@birchtree.app

Important: Session issues must be reported through your session view page within 24 hours of completion.

Last updated: September 5, 2025