Standard Service Terms & Conditions
BACKGROUND:
These Terms and Conditions are the standard terms for the provision of services by Affordable Family Law Group Community Interest Company, trading as BH Support a Community Interest company registered in England under number 12447584, whose registered address is 67 Southbourne Grove, Southbourne, Dorset, BH6 3RN and whose main trading address is 67 Southbourne Grove, Southbourne, Dorset, BH6 3RN
Definitions and Interpretation
In these Terms and Conditions, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the following meanings:
“Business Day” | means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday |
“Calendar Day” | means any day of the year |
“Contract” | means the contract for the provision of Services, as explained in Clause 3 |
“Deposit” | means an advance payment made to Us, under sub-clause 13 |
“Month” | means a calendar month |
“Price” | means the price payable for the Services |
“Services” | means the services which are to be provided by Us to you as specified in your Order (and confirmed in Our Order Confirmation) |
“Special Price” | means a special offer price payable for Services which we may offer from time to time |
“Order” | means your order for the Services as attached or as supplied |
“Order Confirmation” | means Our acceptance and confirmation of your Order as described in sub-clause 3.1 |
“We/Us/Our” | means Affordable Family Law Group Community Interest Company, trading as BH Support a Community Interest Company registered in England under number 12447584, whose registered office is 67 Southbourne Grove, Southbourne, Dorset, BH6 3RN and whose main trading address is 67 Southbourne Grove, Southbourne, Dorset, BH6 3RN |
Each reference in these Terms and Conditions to “writing” and any similar expression includes electronic communications whether sent by e-mail, text message, fax or any other means.
Information About Us
2. Affordable Family Law Group Community Interest Company, trading as BH Support a Community Interest company registered in England under number 12447584, whose registered address is 67 Southbourne Grove, Southbourne, Dorset, BH6 3RN and whose main trading address is 67 Southbourne Grove, Southbourne, Dorset, BH6 3RN
2.1 Our VAT number is GB349397940
The Contract
These Terms and Conditions govern the sale and provision of Services by Us and will form the basis of the Contract between Us and You. Before submitting an Order, please ensure that you have read these Terms and Conditions carefully. If you are unsure about any part of these Terms and Conditions, please ask Us for clarification. Nothing provided by us including, but not limited to, sales and marketing literature, price lists and other documents constitute a contractual offer capable of acceptance. Your Order constitutes a contractual offer that We may, at our discretion, accept.
3.1 A legally binding contract between Us and you will be created upon our acceptance of your Order, indicated by Our Order Confirmation. Order Confirmations will be provided in writing.
3.2 We shall ensure that the following information is given or made available to you before the formation of the Contract between Us and you, save for where such information is already apparent from the context of the transaction:
The main characteristics of the Services;
3.2.1 Our identity (set out above in Clause 2) and contact details (as set out below in Clause 40);
3.2.2 The total Price for the Services including taxes or, if the nature of the Services is such that the Price cannot be calculated in advance, how it will be calculated;
3.2.3 The arrangements for payment, performance and the time by which (or within which) We undertake to perform the Services;
3.2.4 Our complaints handling policy;
3.2.5 Where applicable, details of after-sales services and commercial guarantees;
3.2.6 The duration of the Contract, where applicable, or if the Contract is of indeterminate duration or is to be extended automatically, the conditions for terminating the Contract;
3.2.7 Where applicable, the functionality, including appropriate technical protection measures, of digital content;
3.2.8 Where applicable, any relevant compatibility of digital content with hardware and software that We are aware of or might reasonably be expected to be aware of.
Orders
4. All Orders for Services made by you will be subject to these Terms and Conditions.
5. You may change your Order at any time before We begin providing the Services by contacting Us. Requests to change Orders do not need to be made in writing.
6. If your Order is changed, We will inform you of any change to the Price in writing.
7. You may cancel your Order immediately. If you have already made any payments to Us under Clause 13 (including, but not limited to the Deposit), subject to Clause 14, the payment(s) will be refunded as soon as is reasonably possible, and in any event within 14 Calendar Days of Our acceptance of your cancellation. [If you request that your Order, be cancelled, you must confirm this in writing.] If you wish to cancel the Services after this period, or once We have begun providing the Services, please refer to Clause 34 and 35.
8. We may cancel your Order at any time before We begin providing the Services due to the unavailability of required personnel or materials, or due to the occurrence of an event outside of Our reasonable control. If such cancellation is necessary, We will inform you as soon as is reasonably possible. If you have made any payments to Us under Clause 13 (including, but not limited to the Deposit), the payment(s) will be refunded as soon as is reasonably possible, and in any event within 14 Calendar Days of Us informing you of the cancellation. Cancellations will be confirmed in writing.
Price and Payment
9. The Price of the Services will be that shown in Our Summary and Proposal or Invoice in place at the time of your Order. If the Price shown in your Order differs from Our current Price, We will inform you upon receipt of your Order.
10. If We quote a Special Price which is different to the Price shown in Our current Summary and Proposal or Invoice, the Special Price will be valid for 14 days or, if the Special Price is part of an advertised special offer, for the period shown in the advertisement. Orders placed during this period will be accepted at the Special Price even if We do not accept the Order until after the period has expired.
11. Our Prices may change at any time, but these changes will not affect Orders that We have already accepted.
12. All Prices include VAT. If the rate of VAT changes between the date of your Order and the date of your payment, We will adjust the rate of VAT that you must pay. VAT changes will not affect any Prices where We have already received payment in full from you.
13. Before We begin providing the Services, you will be required to pay a advance which will be formed from an agreed percentage of the initial invoice. The due date for payment of your Deposit will be included in the Order Confirmation.
14. In certain circumstances, if your order is cancelled, your Deposit will be refunded in full or in part. The amount due will be calculated based upon the Price for the Services, Our Summary and Proposal or Invoice, and the amount of work (if any) already undertaken by Us. Please refer to Clause 33 if your Order is cancelled before the Services begin, or to Clause 34 & 35 if the Services are cancelled after they have begun.
15. The balance of the Price will be payable once We have provided the Services OR in at each stage of the provision of the Services.
15.1 We accept the following methods of payment:
15.1.1 Credit and/or debit cards.
15.1.2 Cash.
15.1.3 Electronic bank transfers.
15.1.4 Or any other form of accepted payment;
15.2 Credit and/or debit cards will be charged immediately.
15.3 If you do not make payment to Us by the due date as shown in/on the Summary and Proposal or Invoice We may charge you interest on the overdue sum at the rate of between 2 and 4 % per annum above the base lending rate of Barclays Bank from time to time. Interest will accrue daily from the due date for payment until the actual date of payment of the overdue sum, whether before or after judgment. You must pay any interest due when paying an overdue sum.
15.4 The provisions of sub-Clause 15.3 will not apply if you have promptly contacted Us to dispute an invoice in good faith. No interest will accrue while such a dispute is ongoing.
Providing the Services
16. As required by law, We will provide the Services with reasonable skill and care, consistent with best practices and standards in the legal administration sector, and by any information provided by Us about the Services and Us.
17. We will begin providing the Services on the date confirmed in Our Order Confirmation.
18. We will continue providing the Services for as long as our services are required.
19. We will make every reasonable effort to complete the Services on time (and by your Order). We cannot, however, be held responsible for any delays if an event outside of Our control occurs. Please see Clause 31 for events outside of Our control.
20. If We require any information or action from you to provide the Services, We will inform you of this as soon as is reasonably possible.
21. If the information or action required of you under Clause 20 is delayed, incomplete or otherwise incorrect, We will not be responsible for any delay caused as a result. If additional work is required from Us to correct or compensate for a mistake made as a result of incomplete or otherwise incorrect information or action on your part, We may charge you a reasonable additional sum for that work.
22. In certain circumstances, for example where there is a delay in you sending Us information or taking action required under Clause 20, We may suspend the Services (and will inform you of that suspension in writing).
23. In certain circumstances, for example where We encounter a technical problem, We may need to suspend the Services to resolve the issue. Unless the issue is an emergency and requires immediate attention, We will inform you in advance in writing before suspending the Services.
24. If the Services are suspended under Clauses 22 or 23, you will not be required to pay for them during the period of suspension. You must, however, pay any invoices that you have already received from Us by their due date(s).
25. If you do not pay Us for the Services as required by Clause 13 and 14, We may suspend the Services until you have paid all outstanding sums due. If this happens, We will inform you in writing. This does not affect Our right to charge you interest under sub-Clause 15.3.
Problems with the Services and Your Legal Rights
26.We always use reasonable efforts to ensure that Our provision of the Services is trouble-free. If, however, there is a problem with the Services We request that you inform Us as soon as is reasonably possible (you do not need to contact Us in writing).
27. We will use reasonable efforts to remedy problems with the Services as quickly as is reasonably possible and practical. In emergencies, such as those where vulnerable people living on your property may be affected, We will use reasonable efforts to remedy problems within 24 hours.
28. We will not charge you for remedying problems under Clause 26 where the problems have been caused by Us, any of our agents or employees or sub-contractors or where nobody is at fault. If We determine that a problem has been caused by incorrect or incomplete information or action provided or taken by you, Clause 15 will apply, and We may charge you for remedial work.
29. As a consumer, you have certain legal rights concerning the purchase of services. For full details of your legal rights and guidance on exercising them, it is recommended that you contact your local Citizens Advice or Trading Standards Office. If We do not perform the Services with reasonable skill and care, you have the right to request repeat performance or, if that is not possible or done within a reasonable time without inconvenience to you, you have the right to a reduction in price. If the Services are not performed in line with information that We have provided about them, you also have the right to request repeat performance or, if that is not possible or done within a reasonable time without inconvenience to you (or if Our breach concerns information about Us that does not relate to the performance of the Services), you have the right to a reduction in price. If for any reason We are required to repeat the Services by your legal rights, We will not charge you for the same and We will bear any costs of a such repeat performance. In cases where a price reduction applies, this may be any sum up to the full Price and, where you have already made payment(s) to Us, may result in a full or partial refund. Any such refunds will be issued without undue delay (and in any event within 14 calendar days starting on the date on which We agree that you are entitled to the refund) and made via the same payment method originally used by you unless you request an alternative method. In addition to your legal rights relating directly to the Services, You also have remedies if We use materials that are faulty or incorrectly described.
Our Liability
30.1 We will be responsible for any foreseeable loss or damage that you may suffer as a result of Our breach of these Terms and Conditions or as a result of Our negligence (including that of Our employees, agents or sub-contractors). Loss or damage is foreseeable if it is an obvious consequence of the breach or negligence or if it is contemplated by you and Us when the Contract is created. We will not be responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable.
30.2 We provide Services for domestic and private use (or purposes). We make no warranty or representation that the Services are fit for commercial, business or industrial purposes of any kind (including resale). By making your Order, you agree that you will not use the Services for such purposes. We will not be liable to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, interruption to business or any loss of business opportunity.
30.3 If We are providing Services on your property and We cause any damage, We will make good for that damage at no additional cost to you. We are not responsible for any pre-existing faults or damage in or to your property that We may discover while providing the Services.
30.4 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions seeks to exclude or limit Our liability for death or personal injury caused by Our negligence (including that of Our employees, agents or sub-contractors); or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
30.5 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions seeks to exclude or limit Our liability for failing to perform the Services with reasonable care and skill or by information provided by Us about the Services or Us.
30.6 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions seeks to exclude or limit Your legal rights as a consumer. For more details of Your legal rights, please refer to Your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Trading Standards Office.
Events Outside of Our Control (Force Majeure)
31. We will not be liable for any failure or delay in performing Our obligations where that failure or delay results from any cause that is beyond Our reasonable control. Such causes include, but are not limited to: power failure, internet service provider failure, strikes, lockouts or other industrial action by third parties, riots and other civil unrest, fire, explosion, flood, storms, earthquakes, subsidence, acts of terrorism (threatened or actual), acts of war (declared, undeclared, threatened, actual or preparations for war), epidemic or other natural disasters, or any other event that is beyond Our reasonable control.
32. If any event described under this Clause 31 occurs that is likely to adversely affect Our performance of any of Our obligations under these Terms and Conditions:
32.1 We will inform you as soon as is reasonably possible;
32.2 Our obligations under these Terms and Conditions will be suspended and any time limits that We are bound by will be extended accordingly;
32.3 We will inform you when the event outside of Our control is over and provide details of any new dates, times or availability of Services as necessary;
32.4 If an event outside of Our control occurs and you wish to cancel the Contract, you may do so by your right to Cancel under sub-Clause 10.3.3. Any refunds due to you as a result of that cancellation will be paid to you as soon as is reasonably possible, and in any event within 14 Calendar Days of Our acceptance of your cancellation notice;
32.5 If the event outside of Our control continues for more than 2 weeks, We will cancel the Contract by Our right to cancel under sub-Clause 37 and inform you of the cancellation. Any refunds due to you as a result of that cancellation will be paid to you as soon as is reasonably possible, and in any event within 14 Calendar Days of Our cancellation notice.
Cancellation
33. If you wish to cancel your Order for the Services before the Services begin, you may do so under Clause 7.
34. Once We have begun providing the Services, you are free to cancel the Services and the Contract at any time. If you have made any payment to Us for any Services We have not yet provided, these sums will be refunded to you as soon as is reasonably possible, and in any event within 14 Calendar Days of Our acceptance of your cancellation. If We have provided Services that you have not yet paid for, the sums due will be deducted from any refund due to you or, if no refund is due, We will invoice you for those sums and you will be required to make payment by Clause 15.
35. If any of the following occur, you may cancel the Services and the Contract immediately by giving Us written notice. If you have made any payment to Us for any Services We have not yet provided, these sums will be refunded to you as soon as is reasonably possible, and in any event within 14 Calendar Days of Our acceptance of your cancellation. If We have provided Services that you have not yet paid for, the sums due will be deducted from any refund due to you or, if no refund is due, We will invoice you for those sums and you will be required to make payment by Clause 25. If you cancel because of Our breach under Clause 29, you will not be required to make any payments to Us. You will not be required to give notice in these circumstances:
35.1 We have breached the Contract in any material way and have failed to remedy that breach within 2 weeks of you asking Us to do so in writing; or
35.2 We enter into liquidation or have an administrator or receiver appointed over Our assets; or
35.3 We are unable to provide the Services due to an event outside of Our control (as under Clause 31); or
35.4 We change these Terms and Conditions to your material disadvantage.
36. We may cancel your Order for the Services before the Services begin under Clause 8.
37. Once We have begun providing the Services, We may cancel the Services and the Contract at any time by giving you 2 weeks’ written notice. If you have made any payment to Us for any Services We have not yet provided, these sums will be refunded to you as soon as is reasonably possible, and in any event within 14 Calendar Days of Our cancellation notice. If We have provided Services that you have not yet paid for, the sums due will be deducted from any refund due to you or, if no refund is due, We will invoice you for those sums and you will be required to make payment by Clause 5.
38. If any of the following occur, We may cancel the Services and the Contract immediately by giving you written notice. If you have made any payment to Us for any Services We have not yet provided, these sums will be refunded to you as soon as is reasonably possible, and in any event within 14 Calendar Days of Our cancellation notice. If We have provided Services that you have not yet paid for, the sums due will be deducted from any refund due to you or, if no refund is due, We will invoice you for those sums and you will be required to make payment by Clause 15. We will not be required to give 2 weeks’ notice in these circumstances:
38.1 You fail to make a payment on time as required under Clause 15 (this does not affect our right to charge interest on overdue sums under sub-Clause 5.10); or
38.2 You have breached the Contract in any material way and have failed to remedy that breach within 2 weeks of Us asking you to do so in writing; or
38.3 We are unable to provide the Services due to an event outside of Our control (for a period longer than that in sub-Clause 32.5).
39. For this Clause 35 (and in particular, sub-Clauses 35.1 and 35.4) a breach of the Contract will be considered ‘material’ if it is not minimal or trivial in its consequences to the terminating party (i.e. you under Clause 34 and Us under Clause 37). In deciding whether or not a breach is material no regard will be had to whether it was caused by any accident, mishap, mistake or misunderstanding.
Communication and Contact Details
40. If you wish to contact Us, you may do so by telephone at 01202 985111 or by email at info@bhsupport.co.uk.
41. In certain circumstances you must contact Us in writing (when cancelling an Order, for example, or exercising your right to cancel the Services). When contacting Us in writing you may use the following methods:
41.1 Contact Us by email at info@bhsupport.co.uk; or
41.2 Contact Us by pre-paid post at BH Support, 67 Southbourne Grove, Southbourne, Dorset, BH6 3RN.
Complaints and Feedback
42. We always welcome feedback from Our customers and, whilst We always use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that your experience as a customer of Ours is a positive one, We nevertheless want to hear from you if you have any cause for complaint.
42.1 All complaints are handled by Our complaints handling policy and procedure, available from 67 Southbourne Grove, Southbourne, Dorset, BH6 3RN.
43. If you wish to complain about any aspect of your dealings with Us, including, but not limited to, these Terms and Conditions, the Contract, or the Services, please contact Us in one of the following ways:
43.1 In writing addressed to The Board of Directors, 67 Southbourne Grove, Southbourne, Dorset, BH6 3RN;
43.2 By email, addressed to The Board of Directors, info@Bhsupport.co.uk;
43.3 By contacting Us by telephone on 01202 985111
How We Use Your Personal Information (Data Protection)
44. We will only use your personal information as set out in Our emails following GDPR guidelines available from Our Correspondence.
Other Important Terms
45. We may transfer (assign) Our obligations and rights under these Terms and Conditions (and under the Contract, as applicable) to a third party (this may happen, for example, if We sell Our business). If this occurs, you will be informed by Us in writing. Your rights under these Terms and Conditions will not be affected and Our obligations under these Terms and Conditions will be transferred to the third party who will remain bound by them.
46. You may not transfer (assign) your obligations and rights under these Terms and Conditions (and under the Contract, as applicable) without Our express written permission.
47. The Contract is between you and Us. It is not intended to benefit any other person or third party in any way and no such person or party will be entitled to enforce any provision of these Terms and Conditions.
48. If any of the provisions of these Terms and Conditions are found to be unlawful, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by any court or other authority, that / those provision(s) shall be deemed severed from the remainder of these Terms and Conditions. The remainder of these Terms and Conditions shall be valid and enforceable.
49. No failure or delay by Us in exercising any of Our rights under these Terms and Conditions means that We have waived that right, and no waiver by Us of a breach of any provision of these Terms and Conditions means that We will waive any subsequent breach of the same or any other provision.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
50. Alternative dispute resolution or ‘ADR’ refers to ways of resolving disputes between a consumer and a trader without going to court.
51. Our ADR provider is Frettens If you are unhappy with how we have handled your complaint, you may wish to contact the Board of Directors at Frettens.
52. Complaints can be submitted to Frettens via their website at www.Frettens.co.uk.
53. Frettens will not charge you for making a complaint, and you may still bring legal proceedings if you are not satisfied with the outcome of the ADR.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
54. These Terms and Conditions, the Contract, and the relationship between you and Us (whether contractual or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed by the law of England & Wales.
55. As a consumer, you will benefit from any mandatory provisions of the law in your country of residence. Nothing in Sub-Clause 16.1 above takes away or reduces your rights as a consumer to rely on those provisions.
Any dispute, controversy, proceedings or claim between you and Us relating to these Terms and Conditions, the Contract, or the relationship between you and Us (whether contractual or otherwise) shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, as determined by your residency.