Code of Conduct

Welcome to SimRaces. This Code of Conduct applies to all users of the SimRaces platform, including customers, coaches, organization owners, and administrators. By using our Services, you agree to abide by this Code of Conduct in addition to our Terms of Service.

1. User Conduct Policy

All users must use SimRaces only for lawful purposes and in accordance with our Terms of Service. You agree not to:

1.1 Prohibited Activities

• Violate any local, state, national, or international laws or regulations.
• Use the Services in any manner that could interfere with, disrupt, or negatively affect the platform or other users.
• Engage in any fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative practices, including but not limited to fake reviews, fraudulent bookings, or identity misrepresentation.
• Post or transmit any unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable content.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Services, other user accounts, or computer systems or networks connected to the Services.
• Use the platform to solicit or promote services unrelated to sim racing coaching, or to conduct transactions outside of the SimRaces payment system.
• Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity.
• Collect, store, or share other users' personal information without their explicit consent.
• Use automated means (bots, scrapers, etc.) to access the Services without prior written permission from SimRaces.

1.2 Coach-Specific Obligations

Coaches on the SimRaces platform must additionally:

• Provide services only within the categories permitted by the platform and by our payment processor (Stripe). Prohibited categories include gambling, adult content, illegal activities, financial products, and any other business type prohibited by Stripe or applicable law.
• Accurately represent their qualifications, expertise, and experience on their profile.
• Honor all confirmed bookings and provide the full duration of the scheduled session.
• Maintain professional conduct during all coaching sessions and communications.
• Not solicit customers to transact outside of the SimRaces platform to avoid platform fees.
• Comply with all applicable tax obligations related to income earned through the platform.

1.3 Customer-Specific Obligations

Customers on the SimRaces platform must additionally:

• Attend scheduled sessions on time with equipment in working order.
• Treat coaches with professionalism and respect during all interactions.
• Not request or accept coaching services outside of the SimRaces platform for sessions booked through SimRaces.
• Submit honest, accurate reviews that reflect the genuine experience of the coaching session.
• Not use the dispute or chargeback process fraudulently. Contact [email protected] to resolve payment issues before initiating a chargeback with your bank or card issuer.

1.4 Payment & Financial Conduct

• All payments for coaching sessions booked through SimRaces must be processed through our designated payment system (Stripe).
• Users may not circumvent, manipulate, or abuse the payment system, including but not limited to filing fraudulent chargebacks, using stolen payment methods, or creating fake bookings.
• Violations of payment policies may result in immediate account termination and referral to law enforcement where applicable.

1.5 Intellectual Property

• Users may not upload, post, or transmit any content that infringes on the intellectual property rights of SimRaces or any third party.
• Coaches retain ownership of their original coaching materials but grant SimRaces a license to display their profile information (name, description, specialty, ratings) on the platform.
• All SimRaces trademarks, logos, and branding are the property of SimRaces and may not be used without written permission.

2. Community Standards

SimRaces is a community built around a shared passion for racing. We are committed to providing a welcoming, respectful, and professional environment for everyone — regardless of skill level, background, or experience.

2.1 Our Values

• Respect: Treat every member of the community — coaches, customers, and staff — with courtesy and professionalism.
• Honesty: Be truthful in your profile, your reviews, and your communications. Accurate information helps everyone make better decisions.
• Fairness: Compete and participate on a level playing field. Don't game the system or take advantage of others.
• Constructiveness: Offer feedback that helps people improve. Criticism should be specific, relevant, and aimed at the experience — never at the person.
• Inclusivity: Racing is for everyone. Discrimination, gatekeeping, and exclusionary behavior have no place here.

2.2 Expected Behavior

All community members are expected to:

• Communicate respectfully in all interactions, including reviews, messages, and during coaching sessions.
• Provide honest, constructive feedback when leaving reviews.
• Be punctual and prepared for scheduled coaching sessions.
• Resolve disagreements professionally — reach out to [email protected] if you need help mediating a situation.
• Respect the privacy of others. Do not share personal details, session recordings, or private communications without consent.

2.3 Unacceptable Behavior

The following behaviors are strictly prohibited across all areas of the platform, including coaching sessions, reviews, messages, profiles, and any other user-generated content:

• Harassment: Intimidation, bullying, stalking, unwanted contact, or any behavior intended to make another person feel unsafe or unwelcome.
• Hate speech: Slurs, derogatory language, or content that attacks or demeans a person or group based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or any other protected characteristic.
• Personal attacks: Insults, name-calling, or hostile language directed at individuals rather than constructive feedback about the session experience.
• Threats: Any threat of violence, harm, or retaliation — whether direct, indirect, or implied.
• Sexually explicit content: Posting or sharing sexual, pornographic, or otherwise sexually explicit material.
• Doxxing: Sharing or threatening to share another person's private or personally identifiable information.
• Spam & manipulation: Fake reviews, review manipulation, repetitive unsolicited messages, or any form of platform abuse intended to artificially inflate or deflate ratings.
• Discrimination: Refusing to provide or accept services based on protected characteristics, or treating users differently based on those characteristics.
• Off-topic abuse: Using reviews or platform communications to air grievances unrelated to the coaching session or platform services.

2.4 Review Guidelines

Reviews are a core part of the SimRaces experience. They help coaches improve and help customers make informed decisions. All reviews are public and visible to the entire SimRaces community.

When leaving a review:

• Be honest: Rate your genuine experience. Do not exaggerate, fabricate, or misrepresent what happened during the session.
• Be specific: Explain what went well and what could be improved. Vague reviews like "bad" or "great" are less helpful than specific feedback.
• Be professional: Focus on the session experience, not the person. Avoid personal attacks, insults, or inflammatory language.
• Be relevant: Reviews should only address the coaching session itself. Do not use reviews to discuss unrelated disputes, personal matters, or issues with the platform.
• Be fair: Consider the full context of the session. A minor technical issue is different from a pattern of unprofessional behavior.

The following will result in review removal and possible account action:

• Reviews containing hate speech, slurs, or discriminatory language.
• Reviews containing threats, harassment, or personal attacks.
• Fake or fraudulent reviews (e.g., reviewing a session that did not occur, or coordinating with others to manipulate ratings).
• Reviews containing personally identifiable information about another user.
• Reviews that are entirely off-topic or used to harass another user.

3. Enforcement

SimRaces reserves the right to take action against any user who violates this Code of Conduct. Actions are taken at our sole discretion and may include:

3.1 Enforcement Actions

3.2 Additional Consequences

• Coaches: Violations may result in removal from the coaching marketplace, loss of pending payouts (subject to Stripe's policies), and permanent prohibition from offering coaching services on SimRaces.
• Customers: Violations may result in loss of access to booking services and forfeiture of any pending refund requests.
• Legal action: SimRaces reserves the right to pursue legal remedies, including reporting to law enforcement, for violations involving fraud, threats, or illegal activity.

3.3 Appeals

If you believe an enforcement action was taken in error, you may appeal by emailing [email protected] with the subject line "Code of Conduct Appeal." Include your account information and a detailed explanation of why you believe the action should be reversed. Appeals are reviewed within 10 business days.

4. Reporting Violations

If you witness or experience behavior that violates this Code of Conduct, please report it:

• Email: [email protected]
• Subject line: "Code of Conduct Report"
• Include: Your account information, the offending user's name or profile (if known), a description of the violation, and any relevant screenshots or evidence.

All reports are reviewed confidentially. We do not disclose the identity of reporters to the reported party. Retaliation against anyone who reports a violation in good faith is itself a violation of this Code of Conduct and will be treated accordingly.

5. Changes to This Code of Conduct

We reserve the right to update this Code of Conduct at any time. Continued use of the Services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Code of Conduct.

6. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Code of Conduct, please contact us at:

• Email: [email protected]

This Code of Conduct is supplementary to and governed by our Terms of Service. In the event of a conflict between this document and the Terms of Service, the Terms of Service shall prevail.