Terms & Conditions

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in Connect Hearing, part of the Sonova Audiological Care family, and our website at www.connecthearing.com, along with any related websites or other online services provided by us (collectively, the “Service”). These Terms of Service are a legally binding contract between you and AudioNova regarding your use of the Service.
 
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TERMS CAREFULLY.
 
BY ACCESSING OR USING THE SERVICE, YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND, BY THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS, INCLUDING CONNECT HEARING'S PRIVACY POLICY (TOGETHER, THE “TERMS”). IF YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE, OR DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS, THEN YOU DO NOT HAVE OUR PERMISSION TO USE THE SERVICE.

As provided in greater detail in these Terms (and without limiting the express language of the Terms below), you agree and acknowledge that these Terms include the following provisions:
 
1.1 ARBITRATION – disputes arising hereunder will be resolved by binding arbitration, and BY ACCEPTING THESE TERMS, YOU AND CONNECT HEARING ARE EACH WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY OR TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION. YOU AGREE TO GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO GO TO COURT to assert or defend your rights under this contract (except for matters that may be taken to small claims court). Your rights will be determined by a NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR and NOT a judge or jury. (As set forth in Section 15);
 
1.2 LICENSE – the Service is licensed, not sold to you, and you may use the Service only as set forth in these Terms. (As set forth in Section 5);
 
1.3 PRIVACY – you consent to the collection and use of certain of your personally identifiable information in accordance with Connect Hearing's Privacy Policy (As set forth in Section 18);
 
1.4 NO WARRANTY – the Service is provided “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” without warranties of any kind and Connect Hearing's liability to you is limited. (As set forth in Sections 12 and 14)

Connect Hearing provides a strong network of convenient neighborhood hearing care centers across the country that continually strive to find innovative ways to serve you better. The Service provides users with information about Connect Hearing, its products, and its services.

You must be at least 13 years old to use the Service. By agreeing to these Terms, you represent and warrant to us that: (i) you are at least 13 years old; (ii) you have not previously been barred from using the Service; and (iii) your use of the Service is in compliance with any and all applicable laws and regulations. If you represent an entity, organization, or company, and you are accepting these Terms on behalf of such entity, then you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind such entity to these Terms.

To use some features of the Service, for example, to register to receive additional information from us, you may be required to provide us with some information about yourself, such as your name, phone number, email address, zip code, or other contact information (together, “Personal Information”). You agree that the information you provide to us is accurate and that you will keep it accurate and up-to-date at all times.

5.1 Limited License. Subject to your complete and ongoing compliance with these Terms, Connect Hearing grants you permission to access and use the Service for your personal use.
 
5.2 License Restrictions. You may not: (i) reproduce, distribute, publicly display, or publicly perform the Service or any of its component parts; (ii) make modifications to the Service; or (iii) interfere with or circumvent any feature of the Service, including any security or access control mechanism. If you are prohibited under applicable law from using the Service, you may not use it.
 
5.3 Feedback. If you choose to provide input and suggestions regarding problems with or proposed modifications or improvements to the Service or Connect Hearing’s other products or services (“Feedback”), then you hereby grant Connect Hearing an unrestricted, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, fully-paid, royalty-free right to exploit such Feedback in any manner and for any purpose, including to improve the Service and create other products and services.

The Service is owned and operated by Connect Hearing. The visual interfaces, graphics, design, compilation, information, data, computer code (including source code or object code), software, services, and all other elements of the Service (“Materials”) provided by Connect Hearing are protected by intellectual property and other laws. All Materials included in the Service are the property of Connect Hearing or our third-party licensors. Except as expressly authorized by Connect Hearing, you may not make use of the Materials. Connect Hearing reserves all rights to the Materials not granted expressly in these Terms.

7.1 Third Party Services and Linked Websites. Connect Hearing may provide tools through the Service that enable you to export information to third party services, including through our implementation of third party buttons (such as “like” or “share” buttons). By using one of these tools, you agree that we may transfer that information to the applicable third-party service. Third party services are not under our control, and we are not responsible for any third party service’s use of your exported information. The Service may also contain links to third-party websites. Linked websites are not under our control, and we are not responsible for their content.
 
7.2 Open Source Software. The Service may include or incorporate third-party software components that are generally available free of charge under licenses granting recipients broad rights to copy, modify, and distribute such components (“Open Source Components”). Although the Service is provided to you subject to these Terms, nothing in these Terms prevents, restricts, or is intended to prevent or restrict you from obtaining such Open Source Components under the applicable third-party licenses or to limit your use of such Open Source Components thereunder.

BY USING THE SERVICE YOU AGREE NOT TO:
 
a. use the Service for any illegal purpose or in violation of any local, state, national, or international law;
 
b. violate, or encourage others to violate, any right of a third party, including by infringing or misappropriating any third party intellectual property right;
 
c. interfere with security-related features of the Service, including by: (a) disabling or circumventing features that prevent or limit use or copying of any content; or (b) reverse engineering or otherwise attempting to discover the source code of any portion of the Service, except to the extent that such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding this restriction;
 
d. interfere with the operation of the Service or any user’s enjoyment of the Service, including by: (a) uploading or otherwise disseminating any virus, adware, spyware, worm, or other malicious code; (b) making any unsolicited offer or advertisement to another user of the Service; (c) collecting personal information about another user or third party without consent; or (d) interfering with or disrupting any network, equipment, or server connected to or used to provide the Service;
 
e. perform any fraudulent activity including impersonating any person or entity, claiming a false affiliation, or falsifying your age, date of birth or other Personal Information;
 
f. sell or otherwise transfer the access granted under these Terms or any Materials (as defined in Section 6) or any right or ability to view, access, or use any Materials; or
 
g. attempt to do any of the acts described in this Section 8 or assist or permit any person in engaging in any of the acts described in this Section 8.

We reserve the right, at our discretion, to change these Terms on a going-forward basis at any time. Please check these Terms periodically for changes. If a change to these Terms materially modifies your rights or obligations, you will be required to accept the modified Terms in order to continue to use the Service. Material modifications are effective upon your acceptance of the modified Terms. Immaterial modifications are effective upon publication. Except as expressly permitted in this Section 9, these Terms may be amended only by a written agreement signed by authorized representatives of the parties to these Terms. Disputes arising under these Terms will be resolved in accordance with the version of these Terms that was in effect at the time the dispute arose.

10.1 Term. These Terms are effective beginning when you accept the Terms, access or use the Service, and ending when terminated as set for in Section 10.2.
 
10.2 Termination. If you violate any provision of these Terms, these Terms automatically terminate. In addition, Connect Hearing may, at its sole discretion, terminate these Terms, or suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time for any reason or no reason, with or without notice. You may terminate your account and these Terms at any time by contacting Connect Hearing.
 
10.3 Effect of Termination. Upon termination of these Terms your license rights will terminate and you must immediately cease all use of the Service;
 
10.4 Modification of the Service. Connect Hearing reserves the right to modify or discontinue the Service at any time (including by limiting or discontinuing certain features of the Service), temporarily or permanently, without notice to you. We will have no liability whatsoever on account of any change to the Service or any suspension or termination of your access to or use of the Service.

You are responsible for your use of the Service, and you will defend and indemnify Connect Hearing and its officers, directors, employees, consultants, affiliates, subsidiaries and agents (together, the “Connect Hearing Entities”) from and against every claim, liability, damage, loss, and expense, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs (“Claims”) brought by a third party arising out of or connected with: (a) your use of, or misuse of, the Service; (b) your violation of any portion of these Terms, any representation, warranty, or agreement referenced in these Terms, or any applicable law or regulation; (c) your violation of any third-party right, including any intellectual property right or publicity, confidentiality, other property, or privacy right; or (d) any dispute or issue between you and any third party. We reserve the right, at our own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you (without limiting your indemnification obligations with respect to that matter), and in that case, you agree to cooperate with our defense of those Claims.

THE SERVICE AND ALL MATERIALS AND CONTENT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SERVICE ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND ON AN “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. CONNECT HEARING DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, RELATING TO THE SERVICE AND ALL MATERIALS AND CONTENT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SERVICE, INCLUDING: (A) ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT; AND (B) ANY WARRANTY ARISING OUT OF COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE, OR TRADE. CONNECT HEARING DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE OR ANY PORTION OF OR THE SERVICE, OR ANY MATERIALS OR CONTENT OFFERED THROUGH THE SERVICE, WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR FREE OF ERRORS, VIRUSES, OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS, AND DOES NOT WARRANT THAT ANY OF THOSE ISSUES WILL BE CORRECTED.
 
NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM THE SERVICE OR CONNECT HEARING ENTITIES OR ANY MATERIALS OR CONTENT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SERVICE WILL CREATE ANY WARRANTY REGARDING ANY OF THE CONNECT HEARING ENTITIES OR THE SERVICE THAT IS NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THESE TERMS. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT MAY RESULT FROM YOUR USE OF OR ACCESS TO THE SERVICE AND YOUR DEALING WITH ANY OTHER SERVICE USER. YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT YOU USE THE SERVICE, AND ACCESS, DOWNLOAD, OR OTHERWISE OBTAIN MATERIALS OR CONTENT THROUGH THE SERVICE AND ANY ASSOCIATED SITES OR SERVICES, AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK, AND THAT WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR PROPERTY (INCLUDING YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR MOBILE DEVICE(S) USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICE), OR THE LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE USE OF THE SERVICE OR THE DOWNLOAD OR USE OF THE MATERIALS OR CONTENT.
 
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FORGOING, CONNECT HEARING DOES NOT DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTIES THAT CONNECT HEARING IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCLAIMING UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

Connect Hearing does not, through the Service, directly or indirectly render medical advice. Nothing contained on the Service is intended to constitute medical advice, instruction on medical diagnosis, or instruction for treatment. Information provided through the Service should not be considered complete, nor be relied when making decisions regarding the personal, medical, technical, financial, or treatment decisions for a particular individual. The Service is not intended to be a substitute for the consultation or advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL THE CONNECT HEARING ENTITIES BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, OR ANY OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSS) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF, OR YOUR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE, THE SERVICE OR ANY MATERIALS OR CONTENT ON THE SERVICE, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STATUTE, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND WHETHER OR NOT ANY CONNECT HEARING ENTITY HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE.
 
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 15.4(iii) AND TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF THE CONNECT HEARING ENTITIES TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE USE OF OR ANY INABILITY TO USE ANY PORTION OF THE SERVICE OR OTHERWISE UNDER THESE TERMS, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, IS LIMITED TO $100.
 
EACH PROVISION OF THESE TERMS THAT PROVIDES FOR A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES, OR EXCLUSION OF DAMAGES IS INTENDED TO AND DOES ALLOCATE THE RISKS BETWEEN THE PARTIES UNDER THESE TERMS. THIS ALLOCATION IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE BASIS OF THE BARGAIN BETWEEN THE PARTIES. EACH OF THESE PROVISIONS IS SEVERABLE AND INDEPENDENT OF ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF THESE TERMS. THE LIMITATIONS IN THIS SECTION 14 WILL APPLY EVEN IF ANY LIMITED REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

15.1 Generally. In the interest of resolving disputes between you and Connect Hearing in the most expedient and cost effective manner, you and Connect Hearing agree that every dispute arising in connection with these Terms will be resolved by binding arbitration. Arbitration is less formal than a lawsuit in court. Arbitration uses a neutral arbitrator instead of a judge or jury, may allow for more limited discovery than in court, and can be subject to very limited review by courts. Arbitrators can award the same damages and relief that a court can award. This agreement to arbitrate disputes includes all claims arising out of or relating to any aspect of these Terms, whether based in contract, tort, statute, fraud, misrepresentation, or any other legal theory, and regardless of whether a claim arises during or after the termination of these Terms. YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT, BY ENTERING INTO THESE TERMS, YOU AND CONNECT HEARING ARE EACH WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY OR TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION.
 
15.2 Exceptions. Despite the provisions of Section 15.1, nothing in these Terms will be deemed to waive, preclude, or otherwise limit the right of either party to: (a) bring an individual action in small claims court; (b) pursue an enforcement action through the applicable federal, state, or local agency if that action is available; (c) seek injunctive relief in a court of law; or (d) to file suit in a court of law to address an intellectual property infringement claim.
 
15.3 Arbitrator. Any arbitration between you and Connect Hearing will be settled under the Federal Arbitration Act, and governed by the Commercial Dispute Resolution Procedures and the Supplementary Procedures for Consumer Related Disputes (collectively, “AAA Rules”) of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), as modified by these Terms, and will be administered by the AAA. The AAA Rules and filing forms are available online at www.adr.org, by calling the AAA at 1-800-778-7879, or by contacting Connect Hearing.
 
15.4 Notice; Process. A party who intends to seek arbitration must first send a written notice of the dispute to the other party by certified U.S. Mail or by Federal Express (signature required) or, only if such other party has not provided a current physical address, then by electronic mail (“Notice”). Connect Hearing's address for Notice is: [Connect Hearing, Inc., 750 N Common Dr, Ste 200, Aurora, Illinois 60504]. The Notice must: (a) describe the nature and basis of the claim or dispute; and (b) set forth the specific relief sought (“Demand”). The parties will make good faith efforts to resolve the claim directly, but if the parties do not reach an agreement to do so within 30 days after the Notice is received, you or Connect Hearing may commence an arbitration proceeding. During the arbitration, the amount of any settlement offer made by you or Connect Hearing must not be disclosed to the arbitrator until after the arbitrator makes a final decision and award, if any. If the dispute is finally resolved through arbitration in your favor, Connect Hearing will pay you the highest of the following: (i) the amount awarded by the arbitrator, if any; (ii) the last written settlement amount offered by Connect Hearing in settlement of the dispute prior to the arbitrator’s award; or (iii) $1,000.
 
15.5 Fees. If you commence arbitration in accordance with these Terms, Connect Hearing will reimburse you for your payment of the filing fee, unless your claim is for more than $10,000, in which case the payment of any fees will be decided by the AAA Rules. Any arbitration hearing will take place at a location to be agreed upon in DuPage County, Illinois, but if the claim is for $10,000 or less, you may choose whether the arbitration will be conducted: (a) solely on the basis of documents submitted to the arbitrator; (b) through a non-appearance based telephone hearing; or (c) by an in-person hearing as established by the AAA Rules in the county (or parish) of your billing address. If the arbitrator finds that either the substance of your claim or the relief sought in the Demand is frivolous or brought for an improper purpose (as measured by the standards set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b)), then the payment of all fees will be governed by the AAA Rules. In that case, you agree to reimburse Connect Hearing for all monies previously disbursed by it that are otherwise your obligation to pay under the AAA Rules. Regardless of the manner in which the arbitration is conducted, the arbitrator must issue a reasoned written decision sufficient to explain the essential findings and conclusions on which the decision and award, if any, are based. The arbitrator may make rulings and resolve disputes as to the payment and reimbursement of fees or expenses at any time during the proceeding and upon request from either party made within 14 days of the arbitrator’s ruling on the merits.
 
15.6 No Class Actions. YOU AND CONNECT HEARING AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. Further, unless both you and Connect Hearing agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person’s claims, and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding.
 
15.7 Modifications to this Arbitration Provision. If Connect Hearing makes any future change to this arbitration provision, other than a change to Connect Hearing's address for Notice, you may reject the change by sending us written notice within 30 days of the change to Connect Hearing's address for Notice, in which case your account with Connect Hearing will be immediately terminated and this arbitration provision, as in effect immediately prior to the changes you rejected will survive.
 
15.8 Enforceability. If Section 15.6 is found to be unenforceable or if the entirety of this Section 15 is found to be unenforceable, then the entirety of this Section 15 will be null and void and, in that case, the parties agree that the exclusive jurisdiction and venue described in Section 17 will govern any action arising out of or related to these Terms.

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any other agreements expressly incorporated by reference into these Terms, are the entire and exclusive understanding and agreement between you and Connect Hearing regarding your use of the Service. You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights under these Terms, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise, without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms at any time without notice or consent. The failure to require performance of any provision will not affect our right to require performance at any other time after that, nor will a waiver by us of any breach or default of these Terms, or any provision of these Terms, be a waiver of any subsequent breach or default or a waiver of the provision itself. Use of section headers in these Terms is for convenience only and will not have any impact on the interpretation of any provision. Throughout these Terms the use of the word "including" means "including but not limited to". If any part of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the unenforceable part will be given effect to the greatest extent possible, and the remaining parts will remain in full force and effect.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to conflict of law principles. You and Connect Hearing submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the state courts and federal courts serving DuPage County, Illinois for resolution of any lawsuit or court proceeding permitted under these Terms. We operate the Service from our offices in the United States, and we make no representation that Materials included in the Service are appropriate or available for use in other locations.

Please read the Connect Hearing Privacy Policy carefully for information relating to our collection, use, storage, disclosure of your personal information. The Connect Hearing Privacy Policy is incorporated by this reference into, and made a part of, these Terms.

Your use of the Service is subject to all additional terms, policies, rules, or guidelines applicable to the Service or certain features of the Service that we may post on or link to from the Service (the “Additional Terms”). All Additional Terms are incorporated by this reference into, and made a part of, these Terms.

By using the Service, you consent to receiving certain electronic communications from us as further described in our Privacy Policy. Please read our Privacy Policy to learn more about our electronic communications practices. You agree that any notices, agreements, disclosures, or other communications that we send to you electronically will satisfy any legal communication requirements, including that those communications be in writing.

The Service is offered by [Connect Hearing, Inc. located at 750 N Common Dr, Ste 200, Aurora, Illinois 60504]. You may contact us by sending correspondence to that address or by emailing us at privacy@sonova.com.

If you are a California resident, under California Civil Code Section 1789.3, you may contact the Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs in writing at 1625 N. Market Blvd., Suite S-202, Sacramento, California 95834, or by telephone at (800) 952-5210 in order to resolve a complaint regarding the Service or to receive further information regarding use of the Service.