you're ready to consult an expert for a paid session, you can either conduct a Live session, or contact your expert via Email.

All sessions (Live Chat or Phone) begin in free mode. Only after the user clicks the 'Hire Expert' button does the paid session begin. Take advantage of the time before clicking the 'Hire' button to get to know a little bit more about your expert and the services they offer - it's completely free.

If your expert is offline and you'd like to conduct an Email session, you can send them an inquiry at no charge. Note that the cost for actual Email sessions is set individually by each expert, and is often subject to negotiation.

Your computer must be supported by operating systems Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 or Windows Vista

• Be supported by web browsers Internet Explorer 6 SP2, Internet Explorer 7 (all versions) or Mozilla Firefox (all versions)

• Support Flash

• Support Javascript

• Support Cookies

• Support SSL

You only pay for the minutes of Live Chat between the time you clicked "Hire Expert" and the time either you or the expert clicked the "Quit Session" button. The length of the paid session is indicated by a timer that is located at the bottom of the communication center (the chat window). Parts of a minute are rounded up to a full minute. Once you click "Quit Session" and depending on your initial selection, the session fee will either be charged to your credit card or deducted from your Online-tutors account.

Occasionally, a session might end suddenly and without you having clicked the “Quit Session” button. This occurs either because the expert chose to end the session without notice, or, the session was cut short because of a technical fault. If you had hired an expert, and the session was cut-off, a transcript of the session will be in your History section.

If you have any further questions regarding a session that was cut off, please contact us, giving the date of the session, the expert’s screen name, and the session fee (if any).

Online-tutors offers the following payment options:

Credit Card: All major credit cards are accepted and can be safely submitted via our secure server.

Online-tutors Account: The Online-tutors account enables you to pay for Online-tutors services without using your credit card. Use it to keep track of your Online-tutors budget and plan for future sessions.

Transfer funds into your Online-tutors account by the following method:

PayPal: Send funds to your Online-tutors account via email! Simply submit the amount you want to send and whether you want to pay by credit card or from your checking account.

To learn more about our payment options, please sign in to your Online-tutors account. In the Billing section of your My Online-tutors menu, click on the “Account Balance” link. From there, click on the "add funds" link

To give your expert advice on Online-tutors, first you must register as an expert. It's free and very simple to get started. To learn more about the registration process before you register, read on.

Once you begin registering you'll be asked for your personal details, including a valid address so we can mail you a check once you start earning money on Online-tutors. You'll need to accept the "Expert Terms and Conditions" and "Member Terms and Conditions" by marking the check box, after which you'll click the green "Continue" button.

In the next step, choose a screen name, select a category and sub-category, and, if required, a level 2 sub-category. At that point we'll ask you to describe your expertise. Remember that this form will essentially become your business card and will be able to be seen by all.

After you've chosen a language and mode of consultation, you'll enter the fee that you want to charge for Email, Live Chat and Phone sessions. Once you've completed all the required information, click on the grey “Preview Expert Profile” tab.

Make sure that your profile gives a detailed description of your expertise. Check that it is free from spelling and grammatical errors, as well. You can edit your profile by clicking on the “Make Changes” button and when you're finished, simply click on the “Save and finish” or “Save This Profile And Register In Another Category” button.

After you click on the “Save and Finish” button, we'll ask you if you want to install the Expert Communication Suite. The Expert Messenger is free to download and enables you to have Live Chat and Phone sessions with our members, which is the number one way to make money on Online-tutors!

At this stage you can also add a picture to your profile. To do so, simply follow the online instructions.

When setting your session fee, keep in mind the nature of the inquiry; the client’s price range; and your standard fee as indicated in your profile.

If you are just starting off at Online-tutors, you may decide to offer your services for a fee that is lower than what is normally charged. This will increase the chances of you being hired by a client and receiving a rating, all important to your success at Online-tutors.

All payments are made in US Dollars. Your first payment will be made by check, and sent to the mailing address which you submitted when registering with us. Subsequent payments can be made either by check or via PayPal.

Live Chat or Phone Sessions
When a client hires you for a Live Chat or Phone session, there is no need to issue an invoice. Your session fee, minus the Online-tutors service charge, is automatically added to your pending earnings as soon as the session ends.

Email Sessions
With a “PAY TO VIEW” answer, your invoice is automatically attached to your answer or service. The client can either confirm your invoice immediately, or request further clarification of your invoice and/or the service you have provided. You can then either email your client with more information relating to the inquiry and/or revise your invoice.

After you submit your invoice, the client has seven (7) days to respond. If you or your client should decide to send a new message within this session, the client will have seven (7) days from the date of the most recent message to confirm the invoice.

Once the invoice is confirmed, the session fee, minus our service charge, will be added to your Pending Earnings. If the client does not respond to your invoice within seven (7) days, the invoice will be confirmed automatically, and the session fee, minus our service charge, will be added to your pending earnings.

If you select the "Send an offer or request more info" option rather than "PAY TO VIEW" option, you should send the client an electronic invoice by clicking “Reply and Invoice” AFTER you have been hired and provided the client with the agreed upon service.

After you submit the invoice, the client has seven (7) days to respond. If you or your client should decide to send a new message within this session, the client will have seven (7) days from the date of the most recent message to confirm the invoice. Once the client confirms the invoice, the session fee, minus the Online-tutors service charge, will be added to your Pending Earnings.

*If you would like to close a hired session without charging a client, you may issue an invoice of $0. If an invoice has already been issued for the session and you would still like to close the session, please instruct your client to "contest" the current invoice. Once the session is in "contest" status, you may reissue the final invoice at $0. Upon confirmation of the $0 invoice, the session will close. You will not receive payment for the session.