This English version is provided for convenience. In the event of any discrepancy, the German version shall prevail.
Dear (prospective) test participant
These General Terms and Conditions apply to admission to and participation in the participant pool of USE-Ing. GmbH, Zettachring 8A, 70567 Stuttgart, Germany (hereinafter “USE-Ing.”), which enables test participants (“Test Participant”) to take part in user and market research studies (“Studies”). These Studies include, for example, usability tests or user research interviews & workshops, which USE-Ing. conducts on behalf of its clients.
Please read these Terms and Conditions for the Test Panel carefully before using www.use-ing.com, www.use-ing.de or any related websites, digital services or applications operated by USE-Ing. (together the “Website”). By registering in our Test Panel, you accept these Terms and Conditions for the Test Panel. If you do not agree to these Terms and Conditions for the Test Panel, you may not take part in any of our Studies.
1. Registration as a Test Participant
Anyone who wishes to be selected as a Test Participant must first register on the Website. To register, Test Participants must be at least 18 years old.
After registering, Test Participants receive an email to verify their email address and are then added to the USE-Ing. database (“Database”).
Registration as a Test Participant is free of charge and voluntary. Test Participants can have their data deleted from the Database at any time free of charge.
Further information on how we handle your personal data and ensure its protection can be found in our privacy policy.
2. Types of Studies
On behalf of its clients, USE-Ing. recruits Test Participants for the following types of Studies:
“In-house Studies” take place at a time and place determined by the client.
“In-home Studies” are carried out at a time determined by the client and at a place determined by the Test Participant.
“Moderated online Studies” are carried out online at a time determined by the client.
“Unmoderated online Studies” are carried out online at a time determined by the Test Participant (within a specified period).
3. Selection of Study Participants
USE-Ing. selects participants for the Studies on the basis of the Test Participants’ information in the Database, any additionally requested data and the required participant characteristics specified by the clients of USE-Ing.
If Test Participants are eligible for a particular Study, USE-Ing. will contact them directly and invite them to take part in the Study for the client of USE-Ing. The selection of participants for Studies is at the sole discretion of USE-Ing. and cannot be contested. Test Participants have no entitlement to participate in any particular Study.
4. Study Participation
After being contacted by USE-Ing. as potential participants for a particular Study, Test Participants may confirm or decline their participation in the Study within a specified period communicated to them. Following confirmation by the contacted prospective Test Participant, USE-Ing. carries out a final check and confirms participation in the Study. Neither the contact nor the confirmation of participation gives the prospective participant a binding entitlement to take part in a Study. USE-Ing. reserves the right to cancel the participation of participants who have confirmed after being contacted, due to external circumstances (e.g. overbooking or rescheduling).
If a Test Participant agrees to take part in a Study but does not do so, USE-Ing. reserves the right to exclude the Test Participant from further Studies and to remove them from the Database.
Participation in a Study does not create an employment relationship between the Test Participant and USE-Ing.
5. Compensation
The type of compensation depends on the Study and is communicated in advance by USE-Ing. when the Test Participant agrees to take part in the respective Study. After successful participation in the Study, the Test Participant receives the previously defined fee from USE-Ing. The type of compensation and the corresponding payment terms are documented by USE-Ing. in a separate document as part of the Study process with the Test Participant. USE-Ing. reserves the right to carry out an appropriate identity check before payment. The Test Participant is personally responsible for paying tax on the fee received and for declaring it in their private income tax return.
6. Responsibility and Liability for Studies
USE-Ing. is not liable for any damage to health or other damage arising from participation in Studies, unless such damage is due to gross negligence or intent on the part of USE-Ing.
7. Termination of Contract
Both the Test Participant and USE-Ing. may terminate the contract at any time. No claims for damages can be asserted on the basis of the termination of the contractual relationship. Payment transactions that have not yet been completed are irrevocably forfeited in this case.
8. Validity of the Terms of Use
Amendments to these Terms and Conditions for the Test Panel must be made in writing. Should any provision of these Terms and Conditions for the Test Panel be declared (in whole or in part) unlawful, invalid or otherwise unenforceable, it shall be replaced by a valid provision of similar economic significance. The remaining provisions shall remain fully valid and effective in their spirit.
9. Jurisdiction
To the extent legally permissible, the place of jurisdiction is Stuttgart. The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies.
10. Severability Clause
Should any provision of this contract be invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected. The parties undertake to replace an invalid provision with a valid provision that comes as close as possible to the invalid provision.
These Terms and Conditions for the Test Panel are currently valid and are as of October 2023.