Schmooze Policies

Our policies are aimed to be as clear as possible with a view to avoid any misunderstandings. They are designed to respect our members privacy and to ensure their safety, as well as define our responsibilities to you as members and guests.

If you have any questions about these policies please do not hesitate to contact us.

 Pollcies Updated 4 January 2010

Liability

• Whilst Schmooze takes every effort to ensure a safe environment for our members and guests, we do accept any liability for injury or loss of members or guests at those events, but will exercise a reasonable a duty of care to ensure the safety and well-being of its members and guests through its activities.
• Schmooze does not accept liability for the actions, services or advice of its members or their guests. 
• Schmooze encourages responsible consumption of alchohol, and will also not serve alcoholic beverages to those under 18.

Acceptance or cancellation of Membership

• Schmooze reserves the right to not accept an application for membership, or cancel an existing membership on grounds of inappropriate behaviour- see below.
• We regret we do do not accept applications for membership from active members of BNI.

Eligibility to attend Events

• You must be a member, guest of one, or a pay for a casual ticket to attend our events
• Npte some activities are stictly members-only
• You must be over 18 to attend Schmooze events
• We regret that we cannot accept members of BNI as guests to our events
• We reserve the right to refuse entry to an event in the interests of the safey and comfort of our members and guests

 Suspension of Membership

• You can suspend your membership for up to two months without penalty. Just contact Schmooze with your dates before you wish to suspend your membership.

Transfer of Memberships

• Memberships can be transferred on a pro rata basis to another individual from the same organisation. So if a member leaves the company their membership can be transferred to their replacement or another staff member. To arrange a transfer- please contact Schmooze.
• Members who change jobs, cannot transfer their membership if it was paid for by their previous employer. The membership is the property of the person/company who paid for it.
• Membership is the property of the organisation who paid for it, so if a staff member leaves for another organisation and their membership was paid for by their former company, they cannot transfer it.

Sourcing of Venues, Products and Services

• Schmooze only uses members to sources it operational and business requirements
• We also aim to be as sustainable in our activities as possible

Refunds

• If you are unsatisfied with your Schmooze membership within 45 days of your confirmation email sent when you pay for your membership, you can receive a pro-rata refund.
• If you pay for an event in advance, then don't show (up (without contacting us prior to 24 hours of the event starting) you are not eligibile for a refund.

Website information collected

• Schmooze will not make an attempt to identify users or their browsing activities. However, in the unlikely event of an investigation, a law enforcement agency or other government agency may exercise its legal authority to inspect our server logs.
  Use of information collected
• Schmooze will only record your e-mail address if you send us a message or apply for membership/registration. Your e-mail address will only be used for the purpose for which you have provided it and it will not be provided to a mailing list, third party or sponsor or used for any other purpose without your consent.
• You can unsubscribe at any time by sending an email with  'Unsubscribe" in the subject line.
• Schmooze does not provide facilities for the secure transmission of information across the Internet with the exception of the PayPal system, so please don't send emails containing credit card numbers.

No-Show policy

• Members who have RSVP’d for an event and do not attend, will forfeit one Member Pass for every person reserved for in consideration of the catering and staffing arrangements put in place.

Payment terms

• Schmooze accepts cash, EFT, cheque and PayPal (Visa and MasterCard)  for membership and event fees. AMEX is also accepted, please call Phillip Jones to arrange payment
• Terms of payment is 7 working days

Spamming

• Using member emails collected via Schmooze for spamming is strictly forbidden and will result in forfeiture of membership. This includes data in the Member List.
• If you have a commercial proposition for the members you can send the information via Schmooze for inclusion in the regular correspondence.
• Members can add commercial offers to the website via the events calendar or notice board in the Members Lounge.

Code of Behaviour

Any of the following mayl result in instant removal from our mailing list and cancellation of your membership without a refund, following an opportunity for a member to explain themselves.

• Behaviour at a Schmooze event that can be reasonably perceived to be harassment
• If we feel that the culture fit of an individual isn't appropriate to the atmosphere we aim to create at Schmooze 
• Serious misbehaviour, eg fraud, criminal behaviour in general
• Sending unsolicited commercial emails to members, eg Spamming (if you want to inform members of commercial opportunity, please contact Phillip)
• If Phillip or event coordinators receive complaints of a participant's behaviour from several Schmooze participants on multiple occasions.

Responsible Consumption of Alcohol

• Schmooze encourages members and guests to drink alcohol responsibly at our events

Privacy

• Information collected on this website is strictly for the purposes of managing your membership. Details such as addresses will not be shared with third parties unless you agree first.