These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern all services provided by GardenMate ("we", "us", "our") to you ("the customer", "you"). By booking a service, subscribing to a plan, or accepting a quote, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Service Area

GardenMate operates exclusively in Hamilton, New Zealand. Bookings placed from outside this area will be cancelled and refunded in full. We reserve the right to assess and decline bookings in areas we determine are outside our operational capacity.

2. Subscription Memberships

2.1 Minimum Commitment. All subscription membership plans require a minimum commitment of 6 fortnightly visits (approximately 3 months). By subscribing, you agree to pay for the full minimum term regardless of whether individual visits are used.

2.2 Billing. Subscriptions are billed automatically every 2 weeks via the payment method provided at checkout. You authorise GardenMate to charge your payment method on the scheduled billing date.

2.3 Cancellation. After completing the minimum term, you may cancel your subscription at any time by giving 14 days written notice to hello@gardenmate.co.nz. Cancellation takes effect after the 14-day notice period. Billing continues during the notice period.

2.4 No Refunds for Completed Visits. No refunds will be issued for visits already completed, including during any notice or cancellation period.

2.5 Early Cancellation. If you cancel before completing the minimum term, you remain liable for the remaining visits in the minimum commitment period. GardenMate reserves the right to charge the outstanding balance.

2.6 Pausing. You may request to pause your subscription for up to 4 weeks per calendar year. Pause requests must be submitted at least 5 business days before the next scheduled visit and are subject to our availability and approval.

2.7 Price Changes. GardenMate may adjust subscription pricing with 30 days written notice. Continued use of the service after the notice period constitutes acceptance of the new pricing.

3. One-Time Services

3.1 All one-off visits are non-refundable once completed.

3.2 Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the scheduled visit for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours will be charged in full.

3.3 If you fail to provide access at the time of a confirmed one-time booking without prior notice, the visit will be charged in full.

4. Booking & Scheduling

4.1 GardenMate will contact you within 24 hours of booking to confirm your first visit date and time.

4.2 We reserve the right to reschedule visits due to severe weather, equipment failure, staff illness, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control. We will provide as much notice as possible and reschedule at no extra cost.

4.3 Subscription visits are scheduled fortnightly on your preferred day. We will send a reminder at least 24 hours before each visit.

4.4 GardenMate is not liable for any losses arising from rescheduling or missed visits due to circumstances outside our control.

5. Property Access

5.1 You are responsible for ensuring safe, clear, and unobstructed access to your property on the scheduled visit date.

5.2 If our team cannot safely access the property due to locked gates, animals, obstacles, or any other reason not communicated in advance, the visit will be deemed completed and charged in full.

5.3 You must inform us of any access codes, gate combinations, or special instructions prior to the first visit. GardenMate accepts no liability for delays or incomplete service caused by access issues.

6. Property Condition & Hazards

6.1 You must inform GardenMate of all known hazards prior to the first visit, including but not limited to: underground utilities, irrigation systems, tree roots, unstable ground, chemicals, or other dangers.

6.2 GardenMate is not liable for damage to undisclosed underground utilities, irrigation systems, unmarked obstacles, or pre-existing damage to your property.

6.3 We reserve the right to refuse or suspend service at any time if we determine that conditions pose a safety risk to our staff or equipment. In such cases, any subscription billing is suspended until the issue is resolved.

6.4 If overgrown lawns or neglected areas require additional effort beyond the scope of the selected plan, we may apply an additional charge or require an initial clean-up visit before commencing regular service.

7. Equipment & Service Scope

7.1 All GardenMate services use battery-powered, low-emission equipment.

7.2 Services are limited to the scope described in your selected plan. Work outside this scope (e.g., tree removal, large-scale landscaping, chemical treatments) is not included and must be quoted separately.

7.3 We are not responsible for damage caused by unmaintained or overgrown lawns, concealed objects (rocks, pipes, toys, debris), or areas that exceed the operational limits of our equipment.

8. Payment Terms

8.1 All prices are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD) and include GST where applicable.

8.2 Payment is processed automatically at the time of booking or on the scheduled billing date for subscriptions.

8.3 If a payment fails, we will notify you and attempt to collect payment again within 3 business days. GardenMate reserves the right to suspend service until outstanding payments are settled.

8.4 Disputed charges must be raised within 14 days of the billing date by contacting hello@gardenmate.co.nz.

9. Service Quality & Complaints

9.1 If you are unsatisfied with the quality of a completed visit, you must notify us within 48 hours with details and photos where possible.

9.2 Where a valid quality concern is established, GardenMate's remedy will be a remediation visit at no charge. We do not issue monetary refunds for completed visits except at our sole discretion.

9.3 Complaints raised after 48 hours of a completed visit will not be eligible for a remediation visit.

10. Limitation of Liability

10.1 To the maximum extent permitted by New Zealand law, GardenMate's total liability to you is limited to the value of the service provided in the relevant billing period.

10.2 GardenMate is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including but not limited to loss of income, loss of business, or damage to third-party property.

10.3 Nothing in these Terms limits your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or the Fair Trading Act 1986. Where those Acts apply, our liability is as set out in those Acts.

11. Insurance

GardenMate holds $10M Public Liability Insurance. This covers accidental damage caused by our team during the course of service delivery. It does not cover pre-existing damage, undisclosed hazards, or damage resulting from your failure to inform us of known risks.

12. Privacy

We collect and handle your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020. We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

13. Changes to These Terms

GardenMate reserves the right to update these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on our website with an updated date. Continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. For significant changes affecting subscription customers, we will provide 30 days advance notice by email.

14. Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand. Any disputes arising under these Terms will first be referred to good-faith negotiation. If unresolved, disputes may be referred to the Disputes Tribunal of New Zealand or the appropriate New Zealand court.