Payment Terms

These Payment Terms (“Terms”) govern the payment and billing practices for membership in the General Contractors Association of Ottawa (“GCAO,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By becoming a member of GCAO, you (“Member,” “you,” or “your”) agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with these Terms, you should not apply for membership or continue with payment.

1. Payment Provider

1.1 Third-Party Processor
Payment for GCAO memberships is facilitated through our third-party payment processor, Stripe, which is integrated into our Webflow Ecommerce platform (collectively, the “Payment Provider”). By making a payment for membership dues, you agree to comply with the Payment Provider’s terms, conditions, and privacy policies.

1.2 Processing and Liability
GCAO is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or disputes arising out of or related to payment processing by the Payment Provider. Any payments made through the Payment Provider are deemed payments to GCAO for the applicable membership or services. GCAO reserves the right to change the Payment Provider at its sole discretion. Any such change will be communicated to you, but will not affect your outstanding payment obligations.

2. Membership Fees and Billing Cycle

2.1 Annual Billing
GCAO membership is billed on an annual cycle, with invoices generated each January for the upcoming calendar year. Members agree that these fees will be automatically charged to the saved credit card on file unless the membership is canceled in accordance with Section 5 of these Terms.

2.2 Quarter-Based Fees for New Members

• If you join GCAO in Quarter 1 (January through March), you will be charged the full annual membership fee. Your subsequent payment for renewal will occur each January thereafter.
• If you join in a later quarter (e.g., Quarter 3: July through September), you will pay a prorated fee that reflects the remaining quarters of that calendar year. This prorated fee is a one-time charge covering the remainder of that calendar year.
• Regardless of which quarter you join, you will be required in the following January to confirm or maintain your automatic recurring membership to align with our standard annual billing cycle.

2.3 Fee Changes
GCAO reserves the right to change its membership fees from time to time. Any such changes will be communicated to you in a timely manner and will apply to subsequent billing periods. By continuing your membership, you agree to the new fees. If you do not agree with the new fees, you may cancel your membership as outlined in Section 5.

3. Automatic Renewal and Credit Card Authorization

3.1 Saved Credit Card Details
By becoming a member, you authorize GCAO to store your credit card information through the Payment Provider. You acknowledge and agree that such information will be stored securely on the Payment Provider’s servers and may be accessible via our website’s integrated Ecommerce functionality for the purpose of processing recurring payments.

3.2 Recurring Charges
You authorize us to automatically charge your stored credit card for annual membership dues each January unless you cancel your membership before the renewal date. You acknowledge that failure to update your card details or insufficient funds may result in suspension or termination of membership.

3.3 Receipt of Payment
Once a payment has been successfully processed, you will receive a confirmation email or invoice from GCAO. This serves as your official receipt for the payment made.

4. Billing Disputes

4.1 Dispute Procedure
If you believe you have been billed in error, you must contact GCAO in writing within thirty (30) days of the billing date. Please include any supporting documentation in your written notice. We will investigate the dispute and respond promptly.

4.2 Chargebacks
Initiating a chargeback or other payment dispute with your credit card provider without first contacting GCAO may result in suspension or termination of your membership and additional fees to cover dispute resolution costs.

5. Cancellation and Refunds

5.1 Cancellation of Membership
You may cancel your membership at any time by contacting GCAO or using any cancellation method available through your account settings on our website. Cancellation requests must be received before January 1st of the upcoming billing cycle to avoid charges for that year.

5.2 Refund Policy
All fees paid to GCAO are generally non-refundable, including but not limited to fees paid in advance for annual membership or prorated membership. If your membership is canceled mid-year, no refunds or credits will be issued for unused portions of your membership, unless otherwise indicated by GCAO in writing.

5.3 Effect of Termination
Upon cancellation or termination of your membership, your account will be deactivated, and you will lose access to all membership benefits, including any exclusive resources, programs, or events offered to current members.

6. Failure to Pay

6.1 Late or Missed Payments
If you fail to pay any fees when due, GCAO reserves the right to suspend or terminate your membership.

6.2 Reinstatement
If your membership is terminated or suspended due to non-payment, you may be required to pay any outstanding fees plus a reinstatement fee (if applicable) to restore your membership.

7. Changes to These Payment Terms

We may update or modify these Payment Terms from time to time at our sole discretion. We will provide notice of any significant changes by posting the updated Terms on our website or through other reasonable means of communication. Your continued membership and use of GCAO services after such notice constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you should cancel your membership as provided in Section 5.

8. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about these Payment Terms, please contact us at:

General Contractors Association of Ottawa (GCAO)
Email: info@gcaottawa.com
‍‍Address: 9 Antares Drive, Ottawa, ON, K2E7V5

BY CHECKING THE BOX OR OTHERWISE INDICATING YOUR ACCEPTANCE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE PAYMENT TERMS.