Terms and Conditions

Definitions

'Client' means the party on whose behalf the work is to be carried out, or their duly authorised representative.

'Job' means each piece of work commissioned by the client.

'Proofreading' means a process of identifying typographical, linguistic, coding or positional errors and omissions on a printed proof and marking corrections.

'Supplier' means the party who will carry out the work.


Agreement of terms

Before commencement of the job, the client is required to sign and return a written agreement, confirming (but not limited to) the following:

  • the nature of the proofreading job and the agreed price (hourly rate, unless otherwise agreed). If the client's requirements subsequently change, the supplier reserves the right to amend the original quotation. Proofs will be marked up in accordance with BS 5261C:2005 Marks for copy preparation and proof correction (extracted from BS 5261 Part 2:2005) unless otherwise agreed

  • the date for delivery of the job by the client to the supplier and the form of delivery (post, courier, email, etc.)

  • the date for delivery of the completed job by the supplier to the client. In the event of extra time being required to fulfil the agreement, due to unforeseen circumstances, a new delivery date will be agreed by both parties before any further work is carried out

  • an estimate of the time required, including due allowance for time spent on ancillary tasks such as (but not limited to) assimilating the brief and writing the job report. If the client's requirements subsequently change, the supplier reserves the right to amend the original quotation

  • additional expenses to be borne by the client – e.g. telephone calls

  • any special dispatch requirements for materials belonging to the client.

    

Delivery

Completed work will be sent to the client via Royal Mail Special Delivery, unless otherwise specified in writing. The client will bear delivery and packing costs.


Job report

A job report will accompany the completed job. The client is responsible for checking the corrected material upon delivery and attending to any queries made in the job report.


Fees

Once the fee for a job has been agreed it is non-negotiable and not subject to change except where:

  • the client decides to extend the scope of the job, in which case a revised quote will be provided

  • the client decides to cancel the job. If the job is less than half completed the supplier will submit an invoice for the hours worked, less deposit received. If the job is more than half complete, the supplier reserves the right to invoice for the full amount.


Deposit

A 25% deposit is required in advance of work starting , unless otherwise agreed in writing.


Payment
The client will be invoiced on completion of the work. Payment is due strictly 15 days from the date of the invoice by direct transfer to the account specified in the invoice. Compound interest at 2.5% per month will be charged on overdue accounts. No VAT will be charged.


Acceptance and complaints

The client should confirm within 5 working days of the receipt of a completed job that they are satisfied with it. In the event of the client having reason to complain, they should do so in writing within 5 working days of receiving a completed job. The complaint will be dealt with in a fair and confidential manner.


Unfortunate or unforeseen circumstances

In the event of unfortunate or unforeseen circumstances affecting the supplier (e.g. illness, bereavement), the supplier will advise the client as soon as reasonably possible and will also advise the client of an alternative service provider. If either the client or the supplier are the victim of extraordinary events beyond their control (e.g. crime, flood, strike) liability and obligation may be cancelled.


Indemnity

The client is responsible for insuring any original materials while they are in the keeping of the supplier, and when in transit between the client and the supplier. The supplier accepts no responsibility for drawing attention to legal issues arising (if any), including (but not limited to) libel, obscenity, blasphemy, incitement to racial hatred, plagiarism and the reproduction of copyright material. The client is responsible for these matters.


Content
All material supplied for proofreading remains the property of the client. The supplier is not responsible for the content or end use of any material supplied. The supplier reserves the right to return any material that is illegal or deemed to be inappropriate.


Waiver

If the supplier does not exercise the supplier's rights on one occasion, this is not a waiver of the supplier's other rights or a waiver of the enforcement of the supplier's terms and conditions in the future.


Jurisdiction

The supplier operates within the law prevailing in England.


Refusal

The supplier reserves the right to refuse to take on any project.


Portfolio

The supplier reserves the right to name material proofread on the client's behalf in the supplier's portfolio, unless the client requests otherwise. A complimentary copy of the published work (where published in hard copy) is to be provided by the client to the supplier .


Confidentiality

All work is handled with complete discretion. The supplier will not:

  • share confidential commercial information with any third parties, unless required to do so by law

  • sell or otherwise transfer for commercial gain the client's contact details without specific authorisation.


Amendment
The supplier reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time.