Article 1. Purpose

The purpose of this “Terms of Use” is to define the rights, duties and responsibilities of users of “Wiggle” also referred as “Company” (including its domain and sub-domain, hereinafter ‘Homestay In’) in using and providing services.

Article 2. Definition

  1. “Homestay In” refers to the website established to provide services related to homestay and travel. It also refers to the business provider that operates www.homestayin.com.
  2. “User” refers to “Member” and “Non-member”, who access to “Homestay In” and use services provided by “Homestay In” according to this “Terms of Use”.
  3. “Member” refers to “Host” and “Guest”, who have registered their personal information to “Homestay In”, who receive information from “Homestay In”, and who can use the services provided by “Homestay In”.
  4. '“Host” refers to any person or family that provide homestay services and other related service(s), and “Guest” refers to person or business entity that book room(s) and service(s).
  5. “Non-member” refers to those who have not registered as “Member” and use service(s) provided by “Homestay In”.

Article 3. Validity and Amendments of “Terms of Use”

  1. When “User” accesses “Homestay In”, it indicates that the “User” has agreed to use the intermediation services provided by “Homestay In”. “User” should read carefully and agree to this “Terms of Use” before booking rooms and services or providing host services. “User” is legally bound by this “Terms of Use” from the moment which “User” agrees to it.
  2. “Homestay In” posts this “Terms of Use” at the bottom of “Homestayin”, along with company name, location of office, name of the representative, and contact details(phone number and e-mail address) for its “User”.
  3. “Homestay In” can amend this “Terms of Use” within the boundary of ‘Regulation of Standardized Contracts Act’, ‘Framework Act on Electronic Transaction’, ‘Digital Signature Act’, ‘Act on Promotion of Information & Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection’, ‘Consumer Protection Act’ and other related laws and regulations administered by the Korean government.
  4. In case of “Homestay In” amending the “Terms of Use”, “Homestay In” should notify its “User” the effective date of the new “Terms of Use” and the backgrounds for the amendments through e-mail and posting on the main page of the website, from 7 days prior to the actual effective date. 
  5. When “Homestay In” amends the “Terms of Use”, the revised “Terms of Use” will be applied to contracts made after the effective date of the amendment. For the contracts made before the amendments, the previous “Terms of Use” will be applied.
  6. For the items not specified in this “Terms of Use” and the interpretation of this “Terms of Use”, “Homestay In” follows the ‘Guidelines for Consumer Protection in Electronic Contracts’ regulated by the Korean government and commercial practices.

Article 4. Provision and Changes of Service(s)

  1. “Homestay In” conducts businesses as follows.
    • Provision of information on intermediation service specified in the Article 6
    • Other services defined and set by “Homestay In”
  2. “Homestay In” can change the substance/content of the services when there is a need for improvement in service(s) or an adjustment in technical specification.

Article 5. Suspension of Service(s)

  1. “Homestay In” can temporarily suspend the provision of service(s) in case of malfunction, maintenance check-up, repair and replacement of communication system, or communication failures.
  2. In case of “Homestay In” suspending its service(s) due to the reason mentioned in Clause 1, “Homestay In” notifies such suspension to its “User” in the way specified in the Article 11.
  3. “Homestay In” does not compensate for any possible losses of its “User” or the third party due to the temporary suspension of service(s) if such the suspension occurred due to the reasons specified in Clause 1.

Article 6. Intermediation Service

  1. “Homestay In” let its “Host” and “Guest” do as follow;
    • “Host” can register information on his/her accommodation, related service(s) and etc.
    • “Guest” can register desired accommodation and service information, and can book the preferred “Host”.
    • “Host” and “Guest” can search for information about each other and exchange messages.
  2. “Homestay In” provides its “User” with ‘Optimized host’ and ‘Optimized guest’ information in ‘My Page’ section of “Homestay in”, the information is systematically extracted from the registered information from “Hosts” and “Guests”. “Homestay In” does not recommend any specific “Host” or “Guest” to its “User”
  3. The bookings made on the website becomes valid once the “Guest” deposits 15% of the total fee for the service to “Homestay In”
  4. The “Guest” is responsible to pay the remaining 85% of the total fee (Including tax) directly to the “Host” upon completion of booking.
  5. The conditions for room booking and service(s) are same to the conditions that offered by “Host” in www.homestayin.com. “Host” is responsible for the accuracy of information in regards with the offered conditions. It is the responsibilities of “Guest” to check and ask for clarification or additional details to “Host” for any unclear issues. When “Guest” books “Host” through “Homestay In”, it is recognized that “Guest” has agreed to the conditions offered by the respective “Host”.

Article 7. Member Registration

  1. “User” applies for membership by entering information in the form at www.homestayin.com and agreeing to this “Terms of Use”.
  2. “Homestay In” registers the “User” as a “Member” if he/she has applied for membership in accordance with clause 1. However, “Homestay In” can decline application for membership in following cases, or ask for revision of information.
    • If the “User” has lost his/her membership due to the reasons specified in Article 8, Clause 2 (except for the case that “Homestay In” has agreed to give permission to the “User” for re-application of membership)
    • If the registered “User” data have false, omitted, or wrong information
  3. “User” must be a legal entity in order to register as “Host” or “Guest”. “User” should have no problem in making legal contracts or have written consents from his/her legal representative.
  4. The “User” becomes “Member” when he/she completes member registration process.
  5. In case of changes in registered information, “Member” should log-in to www.homestayin.com and reflect such changes.

Article 8. Membership Withdrawal and Disqualification

  1. “Member” can request withdrawal of his/her membership from “Homestay In”, and “Homestay In” should handle the request as soon as possible.
  2. “Homestay In” can disqualify the respective “Member” and terminate the account in following cases. (However, “Homestay In” can demand correction if “Homestay In” believes that the situation can be improved.)
    • If “Member” has entered false/fraud information during the registration process
    • If “Member” fails to make payment for the service reserved through www.homestayin.com or to fulfill his/her responsibility regarding the usage of www.homestayin.com
    • If automatic booking declination occurs more than twice (booking is automatically declined if “Host” does not confirm/decline the request from “Guest” within 3 days)
    • If automatic booking declination occurs more than twice (booking is automatically declined if “Host” does not confirm/decline the request from “Guest” within 3 days)
    • If “Host” and “Guest” deliberately exchange personal contact information twice (e-mail address, phone number, personal website, accommodation address, etc.) before the booking is confirmed
    • If “Member” is found guilty for past/current criminal conduct(s)
    • If “Host” is rated significantly low by “Guest” compared to other “Host”
    • If “Member” poses threat to other “User”, such as disrupting other “User” or illegally using names of other “User” or stealing information of other “User”
    • If “Member” conducts actions that violate legal regulations, this “Terms of Use”, public order, or fine custom by using service(s) of “Homestay In”.
    • If “Member” conducts actions specified in Article 16
  3. In such cases, “Homestay In” can disqualify the membership and demand for compensation if the conduct of “Member” has caused loss/damage to “Homestay In” and/or the third party.

Article 9. Credibility of “Member”

Homestay In” puts efforts to accommodate stable and credible “Member” as follow
  1. Implement “verification system” for “Host” members
  2. Request criminal background checks (if possible)
  3. If “Host” is rated significantly low by “Guest” compared to other “Hosts”. However, these efforts do not guarantee 100% reliability of “Host” members, so please refer to “Guest” testimonials, “Host” profile information, private messages with the “Host” members.

Article 10. Management of Messages among “Member”

Homestay In” implements a “Messaging policy” for messages among “User(s)”. Homestay In” does not allow its “User” to include their personal contact information in the messages to other “User”. “Homestay In” system automatically detects such message(s) and prevents the delivery of respective message(s). “Homestay In” can check the contents of the detected message(s) and can block the transmission of message(s) that include information that goes against our policy. Also “Homestay In” does not allow its “User” to use “Homestay In” message system to exchange address information for pre-meeting before the respective booking is confirmed. This is to protect “Homestay in” “User(s)” private information and for safe monetary transactions between the “User(s)”. If a “User” deliberately refuses to comply with this policy, “Homestay In” is entitled to terminate the account according to Article 8. “

Article 11. Notification to “Member”

  1. When “Homestay In” notifies its “Member”, “Homestay In” can use the e-mail address that “Member” have entered during the registration process.
  2. When informing many and unspecified “Member”, “Homestay In” can substitute individual notification with putting notices in the main page of www.homestayin.com for longer than 7 days.

Article 12. Request for Purchase

The purchase and contract will be valid under the following conditions
  1. 1. “Guest” looks for their desired “Host” using “Homestay In” “Host” search tool. “Homestay In” will then send the “Guest” member’s booking details (period of stay, total booking amount, request for services) to the “Host” member through the “Host” member’s e-mail and My Page. “Host” member will review the booking details and availability of the services and reply with either “Available” or “Not available” to the request. If the booking is replied with “Available”, the booking will be completed and legally valid once the “Guest” pays 15% of the total amount. After booking is confirmed, “Homestay In” sends an e-mail to the “Host” and “Guest” members.
  2. The “Host” and “Guest” mutually agrees a payment method for the remaining 85% of the total homestay fee. This can be paid all in advanced, in weeks, or in months depending on what the “Guest” and “Host” agrees on. Principally, "Host” cannot request an additional deposit that is not the 15% deposit that the “Guest” pays to “Homestay In” (If you wish an additional deposit, you must include it within your profile.)

Article 13. Payment Methods

“Guest” can pay for service(s) in “Homestay In” through following ways.
  1. Paypal
  2. Credit card

Article 14. Cancellation of booking and refund 

Bookings can be cancelled after completion. Bookings that are cancelled before departure will be refunded excluding the deposit fee for 1 month’s stay. Bookings that are made for less than 1 month’s stay and bookings that are cancelled after Check-in dates will not be refunded. Also, “Guest” members that don’t show up to the “Host” properties without cancelling will not be entitled to a refund.

Article 15. Change of Homestay Application

“Guest(s)” are entitled to change their homestay once during their stay. “Guest(s)” must report their departure 14days prior to the “Host” and “Homestay In” and can change their stay 14 days after reporting. “Guest(s)” can change their stay by looking for another “Host” within “Homestay In” and report it to “Homestay In” before paying the deposit for the booking. Once informed, “Homestay In” will transfer the deposit money that you have remaining from the previous stay.

Article 16. Responsibility & Liability (General)

  1. “Homestay In” requests the “Host” and “Guest” members to upload accurate information for their services. However, this information doesn’t directly come from “Homestay In” so the responsibility for the accuracy of information is on individual “User(s)”
  2. “Homestay In” is not also liable if any “Host” does not conduct the proposed service(s) or does not fulfill the needs/expectations of “Guest”. Thus, “Guest” must read through reviews of other “Guests” on the “Host” and exchange messages with the respective “Host” to check the details of service(s) and availability. Through mutual agreement, “Host” and “Guest” can adjust the conditions of homestay service(s).
  3. “Guest” should inform “Host” the exact date and time of arrival through e-mail and/or phone call.
  4. “Guest” may cancel the booking or may not show up without prior cancelation. Also “Guest” may shorten the period of stay. According to “Terms of Use”, “Homestay In” does not take any responsibility for such cases. However, “Homestay In” will inform “Host” through e-mail if “Guest” cancels the booking before the arrival date. However, if the “Guest” cancels within 14days of the “Check-in” date, or doesn’t show up, we deposit 5% of a maximum of 1 month’s deposit money to the “Host(s)” Paypal account to minimize the “Host(s)” loss. In case the “Host” doesn’t have a “Paypal” account, they must sign-up a new account. The transmission fee for “PayPal” will be excluded from the deposit that “Homestay In” makes.
  5. “Homestay In” is not liable for any civil/criminal incident(theft, violence, sexual assault, arson, facility damage, etc.) for “Host” or “Guest”, or between “Host” and “Guest”. “Homestay In” is not also liable for any accident(disease, injury, damage etc.) happen to “Host” or “Guest”. “Host” and “Guest” are wholly responsible for such incidents and accidents, and “Homestay In” does not intervene in the legal dispute between “Host” and “Guest” (However, “Homestay In” can intervene to try and help solve conflicts between “User(s)” depending on the case.)
  6. Regarding the intermediation service, “Homestay In” is liable only when intentional failure in fulfilling duty has directly caused loss to its “User”. Otherwise, “Homestay In” is not liable for any loss of its “User”.
  7. Even if “Homestay In” is held liable according to Clause 6, the compensation is limited to the deposit amount that “Homestay In” received from the respective “Guest” for the respective booking.

Article 17. Responsibility & Liability

  1. “Homestay In” is not held responsible for the inability to provide services to the “User(s)” in case of natural disasters or other irresistible incidents that are not under the reasonable control of the “Company”
  2. “Homestay In” is not held responsible for the inability to provide services due to “User(s)” related issues.
  3. The credibility of the service information posted by “Host” and “Guest” in “Homestay In” are responsible by “Hosts” and “Guests”. Any losses that the 3rd party may receive from the inaccuracy of the information, will not be held responsible by “Homestay In”
  4. “Homestay In” is not held responsible for any of the losses to the 3rd parties that were the results of the mistakes or deliberate actions by the “User(s)”.

Article 18. Advertisements and etc

“Homestay In” can publish commercial advertisements on the main page or send e-mails and MMS, DM etc to individual “User(s)”. These actions are to prepare a foundation fund to provide the best service for the “User(s)” of “Homestay In”. However, in case the “User(s)” explicitly points out that they would not like to receive any of the advertisements above; “Homestay In” will no longer send e-mails or MMS. DM etc to those specific “User(s)”.

Article 19. Privacy Protection

For privacy and personal information protection, “Homestay In” follows “Privacy Policy” posted in the website.

Article 20. Responsibility & Liability of “Homestay In”

  1. “Homestay In” does not conduct any action against related laws, this “Terms of Use”, and public order. “Homestay In” exerts all its effort to provide sustainable and stable service according to this “Terms of Use”.
  2. “Homestay In” exerts efforts to protect personal information(including credit information) of its “User”.
  3. When sending advertisement e-mails to its “User”, “Homestay In” should seek ways that the “User” can refuse receiving them.

Article 21. Responsibility of “Member” regarding ID and Password

  1. Excluding the responsibilities listed on Article 15, the User” is responsible for the Login ID and Password.
  2. “Members” should not let the third party to use their IDs and passwords.
  3. “Members” should inform “Homestay In” immediately when their IDs and passwords are hacked or used by the third party. “Members” should follow instructions from “Homestay In” in resolving such cases.

Article 22. Responsibility & Liability of “User”

“User” should not conduct actions listed below. 
  1. Registration of false information during the application or the correction process
  2. Transmitting or posting information not designated by “Homestay In” (ex. computer program)
  3. Infringing copyrights of “Homestay In” or the third party
  4. Defamation of “Homestay In” or the third party’s character, and/or impeding the business of “Homestay In” or the third party
  5. Releasing or posting sexually explicit or violent message/image/voice, or other information against public order and morals on www.homestayin.com

Article 23. Copyrights

  1. Copyrights of works and writings by “Homestay In” belong to “Homestay In”
  2. “User” should not use the information gained through using www.homestayin.com for profitable purposes without prior consent from “Homestay In”. Such usage of information includes copying, transmitting, publishing, broadcasting or other methods. Also “User” should not let the third party use the information.

Article 24. Dispute Settlement

  1. “Homestay In” gives priority processing when a “User” makes claims or suggestions. However, if prompt processing is not possible for any reason, “Homestay In” informs the respective “User” the reason for delay.
  2. Disputes between “Homestay In” and its “User” can be arbitrated by ‘E-Commerce Intermediation Committee’, established by the Article 28 of Framework Act on Electronic Transactions and Article 15 of its implementing ordinance.

Article 25. Jurisdiction & Governing Law

  1. These terms and conditions, and contract are subject to the law of the Republic of Korea.
  2. For conflicts in the context of these terms of use or the contract conditions or use of www.homestayin.com, the courts in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, are exclusively responsible.