Our philosophy is to treat all consumers, including our customers, honestly and reasonably. Most concerns and complaints can be resolved by contacting Customer Care at
hello@hellofresh.com or call (646) 846-3663. If a concern, complaint, or claim of any kind arises between you and HelloFresh that is not resolved by Customer Care, you and HelloFresh agree to work diligently and in good faith to reach a resolution that is fair and equitable to both sides using the Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution Process described below.
On occasion, despite our respective best efforts, a third party may be necessary to help resolve problems that may arise between you and HelloFresh. YOU AND HELLOFRESH AGREE THAT ALL DISPUTES BETWEEN YOU AND HELLOFRESH THAT ARE NOT RESOLVED INFORMALLY SHALL BE RESOLVED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS THROUGH BINDING ARBITRATION OR IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT ONLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ARBITRATION AGREEMENT (“ARBITRATION AGREEMENT”) SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION. YOU AND HELLOFRESH ALSO AGREE TO WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY AND TO WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY IN A CLASS ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH DISPUTES OR TO MAKE OR PROCEED WITH ANY CLAIM ON A COLLECTIVE OR CONSOLIDATED BASIS.
24.1 All Disputes Covered. You and HelloFresh agree that this Arbitration Agreement covers all concerns, complaints, demands for relief, disputes, and claims of any kind and in the broadest possible sense that may arise between you and HelloFresh (each a “Dispute,” and, collectively, the “Disputes”). Disputes covered by this Arbitration Agreement include, but are not limited to, those arising out of or related in any way to these Terms, including HelloFresh’s
Privacy Policy or other Supplemental Terms; the operation and content of the Site and App; your use of the Site and App; communications and interactions between you and HelloFresh; promotions by HelloFresh; and all purchases of, requests for, and uses by you of all Products and Services offered by HelloFresh (including all Offerings and supplemental Offerings). You and HelloFresh further agree that this mutual obligation to arbitrate encompasses Disputes of every kind and description, including, but not limited to, statutory, regulatory, constitutional, and common law Disputes, including, but not limited to, those involving allegations of negligence and intentional wrongdoing (including fraud and misrepresentation) and tax controversies, and irrespective of the source or origin of the law which may govern or give rise to such Disputes and irrespective of whether other parties may be involved in such Disputes. This Arbitration Agreement shall apply, without limitation, to all Disputes or claims and requests for relief that arose or were asserted before the Effective Date of these Terms or any prior version of these Terms.
24.2 All Persons and Entities Covered. You and HelloFresh agree that this Arbitration Agreement applies to all agents, attorneys, contractors, subcontractors, service providers, employees, and all others acting for, or on behalf of, you and HelloFresh, or under your or HelloFresh’s direction or control, and all companies affiliated with HelloFresh (including, but not limited to, parents, subsidiaries, and sibling corporations, if any). This Arbitration Agreement is binding not only on you and HelloFresh, but also your and HelloFresh’s respective heirs, successors, and assigns.
24.3 The Federal Arbitration Act Applies to this Arbitration Agreement. You and HelloFresh agree that this Arbitration Agreement and all arbitrations between you and HelloFresh under this Arbitration Agreement are governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) and federal law, notwithstanding any state or local laws, or the laws of other countries, concerning or purporting to place limits on the availability or scope of arbitration or imposing obligations greater than, or inconsistent with, the FAA.
24.4 Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution Process. If a dispute arises, HelloFresh is committed to working with you to reach a reasonable resolution. For any issue or Dispute that arises between you and HelloFresh, both parties acknowledge and agree that they will first make a good faith effort to resolve it informally before initiating any formal dispute resolution proceeding in arbitration or otherwise. This includes first sending a written notice of dispute (“Mandatory Dispute Notice”). A Mandatory Dispute Notice from you to HelloFresh must (1) be sent by certified mail, with a copy to
arbitrationoptout@hellofresh.com with the subject line “User Dispute”; (2) be addressed to: HelloFresh, Attn: Legal Department, 28 Liberty Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10005 (“Notice Address”); (3) contain your name, address, and email address; (4) describe the nature and basis of your claim; (5) include any relevant facts regarding your use of the Site, the App, the Offerings and/or Services (as may be applicable), including without limitation the specific order or conduct to which your Dispute pertains, the date(s) of any disputed charges, the date(s) of your interaction under which the Dispute arose; (6) specify the nature and basis of the specific relief sought, including the damages sought, if any, and a detailed calculation of them; and (7) include a personally signed statement from you (and not your counsel) verifying the accuracy of the contents of the Mandatory Dispute Notice. The Mandatory Dispute Notice must be individualized, meaning it can concern only your Dispute and no other person’s Dispute. If applicable, HelloFresh agrees to send a Mandatory Dispute Notice to you, containing a similar level of detail as described above, by email to an email address you have previously provided to HelloFresh or by certified mail, return receipt requested to an address you have previously provided to HelloFresh.
You and HelloFresh will then, upon receipt of any Mandatory Dispute Notice, attempt in good faith to resolve each Dispute described in the Mandatory Dispute Notice on an individual basis. You and HelloFresh agree that, after receipt of the completed Mandatory Dispute Notice, the recipient may request an individualized telephone or video settlement conference (which can be held after the 60-day period) and both parties will personally attend (with counsel, if represented). You and HelloFresh agree that the parties (and counsel, if represented) shall work cooperatively to schedule the conference at the earliest mutually convenient time and to seek to reach a resolution. If we and you do not reach an agreement to resolve the issues identified in the Mandatory Dispute Notice within 60 days after the completed Mandatory Dispute Notice is received (or a longer time if agreed to by the parties), you or we may commence an arbitration proceeding or a small claims court proceeding (if permitted by small claims court rules).
Compliance with this Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution Process is a condition precedent to initiating arbitration. Any applicable limitations period (including statute of limitations) and any filing fee deadlines (other than the filing fees due by a claimant to commence an arbitration matter) shall be tolled while the parties engage in Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution Process set forth herein. All of the requirements of the Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution Process are essential so that you and HelloFresh have a meaningful opportunity to resolve disputes informally. If any aspect of these requirements has not been met, a court of competent jurisdiction may enjoin the filing or prosecution of an arbitration. In addition, unless prohibited by law, the arbitration administrator may not accept, administer, assess, or demand fees in connection with an arbitration that has been initiated without completion of the Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution Process, provided that this shall not excuse a claimant from timely paying filing fees necessary to commence arbitration. If the arbitration is already pending prior to the completion of the Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution Process, the arbitration shall be administratively closed. A party may seek in arbitration, and an arbitrator or process arbitrator may award damages for non-compliance with the Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution Process.
24.5 Disputes Not Settled Informally May Only Be Resolved in Small Claims Court or By Individual Arbitration. At the conclusion of the Mandatory Informal Dispute Resolution Process, Disputes presented in a Mandatory Dispute Notice, but not resolved, may be asserted on an individual basis in either (1) small claims court in: (a) the county or parish where you live, if such a court is available and has jurisdiction to hear the Dispute; or (b) another location you and HelloFresh agree on, but only if the Disputes (and the relief sought) qualify to be brought in that court; or (2) binding individual arbitration as provided for in this Arbitration Agreement, below.
24.6 ARBITRATION RULES AND REQUIREMENTS. You and HelloFresh agree that the party initiating arbitration must submit a certification that they have complied with and completed the Mandatory Dispute Notice and Informal Dispute Resolution Procedure requirements referenced in Section 24.4, and that they are a party to the Arbitration Agreement enclosed with or attached to the demand for arbitration. The demand for arbitration and certification must be personally signed by the party initiating arbitration (and their counsel, if represented).
Any arbitration conducted pursuant to this Arbitration Agreement shall be administered by the American Arbitration Association pursuant to its Consumer Arbitration Rules, and, if applicable, its Mass Arbitration Supplementary Rules, that are in effect at the time the arbitration is initiated (the “AAA Rules”), as modified by the terms set forth in this Agreement. Copies of the AAA rules can be obtained at the AAA’s website (www.adr.org). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if requested by you or HelloFresh, and if proper based on the facts and circumstances of the claims presented, the arbitrator shall have the discretion to select a different set of AAA Rules, but in no event, unless you and HelloFresh agree otherwise, shall the arbitrator consolidate more than one person’s claims, or otherwise preside over any form of representative, collective, or class proceeding. The parties may select a different arbitration administrator, forum, and/or third-party neutral upon mutual written agreement. If the AAA is unable or unwilling to administer the arbitration under this Arbitration Agreement, you and HelloFresh will select another arbitration provider, forum, and/or third-party neutral upon mutual written agreement. If there is no agreement, a court shall appoint an appropriate arbitration provider.
To begin an arbitration proceeding, you or HelloFresh must file a demand for arbitration (“Demand”) with the AAA and serve a copy on the other party. You and we agree that notwithstanding any rules of the arbitration provider to the contrary, the Demand must (1) describe the factual and legal nature and basis of the claim or Dispute; (2) set forth the specific relief sought; and (3) include the name, mailing and email addresses, and phone number of the party bringing the claim. Unless the AAA Rules provide otherwise, a Demand shall be sent to the American Arbitration Association Case Filing Services, 1101 Laurel Oak Road, Suite 100, Voorhees, NJ 08043, or by filing online through the AAA’s website: https://www.adr.org/Support. For Demands initiated against HelloFresh, a copy of the Demand shall also be sent to HelloFresh by email to
arbitrationoptout@hellofresh.com or by certified mail, return receipt requested to Grocery Delivery E-Services USA, Inc. d/b/a HelloFresh, Attn: Legal Department, 28 Liberty Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10005.
While there is no judge or jury in an arbitration, subject to the terms of this Arbitration Agreement, the arbitrator has the power to hear and resolve all claims and to award all the relief that a court can award to an individual litigant. The arbitrator, however, may award declaratory or injunctive relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by that party's individual claim. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU AND WE AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR OUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, REPRESENTATIVE, OR PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL PROCEEDING. Further, unless both you and HelloFresh agree otherwise or as permitted by the Additional Procedures for Mass Arbitrations set forth in Section 24.8 below, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative, class, or private attorney general proceeding. If, after exhaustion of all appeals, any of these prohibitions on non-individualized declaratory or injunctive relief; class, representative, and private attorney general claims; and consolidation are found to be unenforceable with respect to a particular claim or with respect to a particular request for relief (such as a request for injunctive relief sought with respect to a particular claim), then the parties agree such a claim or request for relief shall be decided by a court of competent jurisdiction, after all other arbitrable claims and requests for relief are arbitrated, as set forth below.
The arbitrator must interpret and apply this Arbitration Agreement as a court would. Court review of an arbitration decision is limited. To the extent that any cause of action or claim for relief cannot for any reason be addressed in arbitration, you and HelloFresh agree that any court proceedings shall be stayed pending the final resolution in arbitration of all arbitrable causes of action and claims for relief. In the event you and HelloFresh disagree on whether a Dispute must be arbitrated or disagree concerning the scope of the arbitrator’s powers, the arbitrator shall have, but only to the extent permitted by law, the sole authority to address all such disagreements, including, but not limited to, arguments concerning or related to the formation, legality, interpretation, and enforceability of this Arbitration Agreement, the scope of the Arbitration Agreement, the applicability of this Arbitration Agreement to you and HelloFresh, and the arbitrability of any Dispute arising between you and HelloFresh. Any court of competent jurisdiction will have the authority to enforce these arbitration requirements (including those related to Mass Arbitration set forth below) and, if necessary, enjoin the filing or prosecution of any arbitrations and the assessment of fees by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) or any other organization, arbitrator, or mediator in a manner inconsistent with this Arbitration Agreement.
As in court, you and HelloFresh agree that any counsel representing a party in arbitration certifies when initiating and proceeding in arbitration that they are complying with the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b), including certification that the claim or relief sought is neither frivolous nor brought for an improper purpose. The arbitrator is authorized to impose any sanctions under the AAA Rules, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11, or applicable federal or state law, against all parties and counsel.
Except as expressly provided in this Arbitration Agreement, the arbitrator may grant any remedy, relief, or outcome that the parties could have received in court, including awards of attorneys’ fees and costs, in accordance with applicable law. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the parties shall bear their own attorneys’ fees and costs in arbitration unless the arbitrator awards sanctions or finds that either the substance of the claim, the defense, or the relief sought is frivolous or brought for an improper purpose (as measured by the standards set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b)).
24.7 Additional Procedures for Mass Arbitrations. If twenty-five (25) or more claimants or their lawyers file, threaten to file, or indicate an intention to file Demands for arbitration raising substantially identical Disputes, and counsel for the claimants are the same or coordinated across such Disputes (a “Mass Arbitration”), the AAA’s Mass Arbitration Supplementary Rules, as modified by this Arbitration Agreement, shall apply. The AAA’s Mass Arbitration Supplementary Rules, as modified by this Arbitration Agreement, shall also apply if HelloFresh initiates Disputes raising similar claims against 25 or more consumers represented by the same or coordinated counsel.
Each Mass Arbitration claimant must complete the Mandatory Dispute Notice and Informal Dispute Resolution Procedure requirements referenced in Section 24.4 above before that Mass Arbitration claimant can proceed to arbitration.
You acknowledge and agree that, by choosing to participate in a Mass Arbitration, the resolution of your Dispute might be delayed. The parties agree that throughout this process, their counsel shall meet and confer in an effort to informally resolve the Dispute, streamline procedures, address the informal exchange of information, modify the number of Disputes to be adjudicated and to promote efficiency, conservation of resources, and the resolution of Disputes, including to engage with the arbitration administrator and/or process arbitrator to address threshold administrative issues.
A first set of arbitrations (“Stage One”) will be resolved using bellwether proceedings if the claims are not resolved during pre-arbitration negotiations. In Stage One, each side shall select up to 20 cases (40 cases total) to be filed in arbitration. The cases shall be resolved individually by different arbitrators to the extent that the AAA has enough arbitrators available. If the AAA does not have enough available arbitrators to decide all the cases filed, the AAA may assign multiple cases to the same arbitrator, but the arbitrator must still resolve each arbitration individually, and no arbitration shall be binding on the others or on subsequent arbitrations. In the meantime, no other cases may be filed in arbitration, and the AAA shall not accept, administer, or demand payment of fees for arbitrations commenced in violation of this Arbitration Agreement.
After Stage One is completed, the parties must engage in a single mediation of all remaining cases. The parties shall attempt to reach agreement on a mutually agreeable mediator. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, the AAA may administratively appoint a mediator.
If the parties cannot agree how to resolve the remaining cases after the conclusion of Stage One and the mediation, to increase the efficiency of administration and resolution of the remaining cases, the parties shall attempt to agree on a batching process that allows all arbitrations to proceed in an orderly, efficient, and cost-effective manner. If the parties cannot agree on an orderly process, each side shall submit a proposal to a process arbitrator, who will then decide upon an appropriate batching process (“Stage Two”). During State Two, the parties or a process arbitrator may appoint a single arbitrator to preside over batches of arbitrations, and the batches may be decided (as appropriate) on a consolidated basis with one set of filing and administrative fees due per side per batch, one procedural calendar, one hearing (if any) in a place to be determined by the arbitrator, and one final award. AAA shall administer all batches in Stage Two concurrently, to the extent possible.
You and HelloFresh agree to cooperate in good faith with AAA to implement this batch arbitration process. This batch arbitration process shall in no way be interpreted as authorizing or creating a class or collective action of any kind, and nothing about the batch arbitration process will preclude any party from participating in any arbitration administered according to that process, or any arbitrator from awarding individual relief as between each respondent and claimant in accordance with this Arbitration Agreement, even if they are part of the same batch. Nothing about the prohibition on class, collective, or representative actions shall be construed as prohibiting the batch arbitration described herein.
If your Dispute is part of a Mass Arbitration, any applicable limitations periods (including statutes of limitations) shall be tolled for your Dispute from the time that your Dispute is first submitted to AAA until your Dispute proceeds in arbitration or is settled, withdrawn, otherwise resolved, or opted out of arbitration on mutual agreement of the parties.
A court of competent jurisdiction shall have the authority to enforce the Additional Procedures for Mass Arbitration section of the Arbitration Agreement, including by enjoining the filing, prosecution, or administration of arbitrations, and the assessment or collection of arbitration fees.
The Additional Procedures for Mass Arbitrations section of the Arbitration Agreement and each of its requirements are essential parts of this Arbitration Agreement. If, after exhaustion of all appeals, a court of competent jurisdiction decides that this Additional Procedures for Mass Arbitrations section applies to your Dispute and is not enforceable, then your Dispute shall not proceed in arbitration and shall only proceed in a court of competent jurisdiction consistent with the remainder of the Agreement.
24.8 No Class Actions. Except as expressly provided for in the Mass Arbitration Rules, you and HelloFresh agree that all Disputes must be resolved on an individual basis only. This means that in such circumstances: (a) neither you nor HelloFresh can bring a claim as a plaintiff or class member in a class action, consolidated action, or representative action; (b) an arbitrator cannot combine multiple claimant’s claims into a single case (or preside over any consolidated, class, or representative action); and (c) an arbitrator’s decision or award in one person’s case can only decide the Disputes of that claimant, not other claimants. Nothing in this Arbitration Agreement, including this section, is intended to limit the relief available to either you as an individual or HelloFresh in arbitration or small claims court, including equitable relief that an arbitrator may be required to make available by applicable law. Nor does anything in this section limit your or HelloFresh’s rights to resolve a Dispute by mutual agreement through a class-wide settlement of claims whether through mediation or otherwise.
24.9 Fees and Costs. You and HelloFresh will each bear their own costs and attorneys’ fees in the event of a Dispute, provided, however, that either party may recover attorneys’ and arbitral fees and costs to the extent permitted by applicable law or under applicable arbitration rules. If an arbitrator determines that an arbitration has been brought in bad faith, for an improper purpose, or to exert unfair pressure greatly disproportionate to the harm alleged, or that the demand was entirely frivolous, the arbitrator may award costs, arbitration fees, and attorneys’ fees to the party defending itself in connection with any such Disputes.
24.10 Offer of Settlement: In any arbitration between you and HelloFresh, the defending party may, but is not obligated to, make a written settlement offer at any time before the evidentiary hearing or, if a dispositive motion is permitted, prior to the dispositive motion being granted. The amount or terms of any settlement offer may not be disclosed to the arbitrator until after the arbitrator issues an award on the claim. If the award is issued in the other party's favor and is less than the defending party's settlement offer or if the award is in the defending party's favor, the other party must pay the defending party's fees and costs incurred after the offer was made, including any attorney's fees. If any applicable statute or case law prohibits the shifting of costs incurred in the arbitration, then the offer in this provision shall serve to cease the accumulation of any costs to which the party bringing the claim may be entitled for the cause of action under which it is suing.
24.11 Rules of Construction. This Arbitration Agreement shall be interpreted, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to facilitate the resolution of all Disputes in arbitration in a way that is cost-effective to all parties.
24.12 Severability. If for any reason any provision of this Arbitration Agreement shall be held to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Arbitration Agreement shall remain in effect to the maximum extent permitted by law in a manner that facilitates resolution of Disputes in arbitration in a way that is cost effective to all parties.
24.13 Survival. All provisions of this Arbitration Agreement shall survive the termination, cancellation, or expiration of the Terms or of your customer relationship with HelloFresh.
24.14 Right to Opt Out. You have the right to opt out of the provisions of this Arbitration Agreement by sending written notice of your decision to opt out to:
arbitrationoptout@hellofresh.com, within 30 days after first becoming subject to this Arbitration Agreement. Your notice must include your name and address, your HelloFresh username (if any), the email address you used to set up your HelloFresh account (if you have one), and an unequivocal statement that you want to opt out of this Arbitration Agreement. If you opt out of this Arbitration Agreement, all other parts of this Agreement will continue to apply to you. If you have previously agreed to such an arbitration provision, you may opt out of any revisions to your prior arbitration agreement made by this provision in the manner specified above, but opting out of this Arbitration Agreement has no effect on any previous, other, or future arbitration agreements that you may have with HelloFresh. Opting out of this Arbitration Agreement has no effect on any arbitration agreements that you may enter in the future with us.