# Guideline 3.1.3(d) - Person-to-Person Services: Claiming Exception for Group Classes

**Guideline:** 3.1.3 · **Store:** Apple App Store · **Severity:** high · **Fix difficulty:** hard · **Typical turnaround:** 1-3 days

Canonical URL: https://appstorereject.com/rejections/apple/3/guideline-313d-person-to-person-services-claiming-exception-for-group-classes

## Description

Apple is rejecting your app because it claims the person-to-person services exception (which allows real-time one-on-one services like tutoring, medical consultations, and personal training to use external payment) for group classes, pre-recorded content, or one-to-many services that do not qualify. The person-to-person exception under 3.1.3(d) is specifically for real-time, one-on-one services between two individuals. It covers scenarios like a student paying a specific tutor for a live session, a patient paying a specific doctor for a telehealth visit, or a client paying a specific trainer for a personal workout. The service must be performed by a specific identified person for a specific identified customer in real time. Group fitness classes, pre-recorded webinars, one-to-many workshops, and asynchronous courses do not qualify. Even if a live instructor leads the class, if multiple participants attend simultaneously, it is a one-to-many service and must use IAP.

## Common variations

- Group classes do not qualify for person-to-person services exception
- Pre-recorded content charged through external payment
- One-to-many live sessions using external payment instead of IAP
- Workshop or webinar payments bypass IAP under person-to-person claim

## Example rejection email

```
Guideline 3.1.3(d) - Business - Payments - Services

We found that your app uses external payment for services that do not qualify for the person-to-person services exception. Specifically, the app charges users through an external payment method for group fitness classes and recorded workout sessions.

The person-to-person services provision applies to real-time, one-on-one services between individuals, not group classes, pre-recorded content, or one-to-many sessions.

Next Steps:
Please revise the app to use in-app purchase for group classes and pre-recorded content. Individual, real-time, one-on-one sessions with a specific provider may continue to use external payment if they meet the person-to-person criteria.
```

## Resolution steps

## Quick Assessment
- **Risk level:** High
- **Resolution path:** Fix & Resubmit
- **Typical turnaround:** 1-3 days

## The Fix

1. **Categorize your services** -- Separate your offerings into two categories:
   - One-on-one real-time sessions with a specific provider (eligible for external payment)
   - Group classes, recorded content, and one-to-many sessions (must use IAP)

2. **Implement IAP for group/recorded content** -- Use StoreKit for any content or service that is not a real-time, one-on-one interaction. This includes group classes, pre-recorded videos, courses, and workshops.

3. **Keep external payment for qualifying services** -- Genuine one-on-one, real-time sessions (private tutoring, personal training, telehealth) can continue using external payment.

4. **Make the distinction clear in your UI** -- The purchase flow should make it obvious which services are one-on-one and which are group/recorded.

5. **Document your service model** -- In Review Notes, explain which services use IAP and which use external payment, with justification for each.

## Prevention
- Only claim the person-to-person exception for services that are genuinely real-time and one-on-one
- Use IAP as the default for all digital content and services, then carve out only the qualifying one-on-one services
- When in doubt about whether a service qualifies, use IAP

## Appeal guidance

Appeal only if Apple misidentified the service type -- e.g., if you offer genuinely one-on-one sessions that the reviewer mistook for group sessions. Provide screenshots and documentation showing the one-to-one nature of the sessions.

## Before / after examples

**Before:** Yoga app charges for all classes (group and private) through Stripe, claiming the person-to-person exception for everything including 30-person live group classes and pre-recorded sessions
**After:** Private one-on-one yoga sessions with a specific instructor use external payment; group classes and recorded sessions are available via IAP subscription
**Why it works:** The person-to-person exception only applies to real-time, one-on-one services. Group and recorded content must use IAP.

## Common questions

**Can you appeal a 3.1.3 rejection?**

Appeal only if Apple misidentified the service type -- e.g., if you offer genuinely one-on-one sessions that the reviewer mistook for group sessions. Provide screenshots and documentation showing the one-to-one nature of the sessions.

**How long does this typically take to fix?**

Typical turnaround is 1-3 days (difficulty: hard). After resubmission, most re-reviews complete within 24-48 hours.

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