Terms and conditions

Here’s a pretty long list of words to help us avoid misunderstandings, and make things clear in the (so unlikely it’s never happened) event of a dispute. When I get a signed copy of this document from you, you confirm that you have read and agree to them. All of it applies unless otherwise agreed in writing.

1. Quotations/proposals

Before commencing work on your project, I will supply a full breakdown of costs within a formal quotation or detailed email. Quotations are valid for 30 days. All quotations are provided on my understanding of the project and on the basis that the scope of the work doesn’t change during the course of the job. In the event that it does, I will discuss any potential changes in costs with you in advance of carrying out the work to which the new charges relate.

2. Confirmation of a project

Before I start a project, I require your written confirmation that you are commissioning me to write for you, and that you agree to the quoted fee (an email is fine), along with a signed copy of the terms and conditions document that you are currently reading. If any alterations are requested to these working terms and conditions they need to be agreed, amended and signed off, before I am able to commence work on a project.  

3. Contract

If you are hiring me to work for you on behalf of any organisation, company or group of individuals other than yourself alone, you confirm that you are authorised to hire me on their behalf.  If you hire me on behalf of a marketing or advertising agency, to work on a project for one of their clients, a contract will exist between the agency and me and not between me and the agency’s client.

4. Fees

I work primarily on a day-rate basis. The number of days for any given project will be discussed and agreed in advance.  Please note that revisions based on a change in the project at the client’s end made after the first draft is submitted will incur an additional fee. Revisions that were not included in the initial briefing will also incur a fee.  On larger jobs, with unusual variables, I may prefer to charge a fixed fee to cover my services from start to finish. I would always discuss this with you in advance. The smallest block of time I’m available for bookings is a half-day. 

5. Revisions

Should revisions to my copy be necessary, these will be charged at an hourly rate. This rate agreed in advance of the project. Revisions may be subject to delays to accommodate workflow and other client bookings; I will always communicate this clearly with you in writing. Complete rewrites due to a change in direction at the client’s end are considered to be additional drafts and will be charged accordingly. A new quote can be submitted before commencing this work, if required.

6. Working hours & Overtime

I work between the hours of 9am-5.30pm GMT. I am only available to attend meetings, and take phone calls, between these hours.  For clarity, a one-day booking means that I have been booked to work within these hours on the agreed day. Any additional revisions outside of this time, or tweaks beyond basic corrections, will be charged additionally. A one-day booking is confined to a single day and I do not spread time over a number of days. Any overtime is to be agreed in advance. Overtime is charged at an hourly rate subject to negotiation, which usually begins at time and a half.

6. Expenses

You will not be charged for any minor, out-of-pocket expenses required to complete this project – including phone, Internet, email or courier. In the unlikely event that a chargeable expense becomes necessary, you will be notified in advance for approval.

7. Errors, Omissions and Indemnity

I will make every effort to ensure that the copy is free of errors and omissions – including errors in spelling and content – but cannot warrant this. I request that you review the copy thoroughly before committing the project to production, as the ultimate responsibility for the content rests with you the client. You shall hold me harmless against any liability anywhere in the world, including liability arising from copyright infringement and libel that results in any way from your use of my copywriting services and counsel on this project.   You agree to indemnify me against any claim for compensation or damages brought about as a direct or indirect consequence of the work I do for you and/or your organisation. It is the sole responsibility of you the client to ensure that all statements, claims, promises, information on said product or service, and guarantees are upheld in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. No claim for compensation or disbursement due to loss of earnings or any other detrimental effect to your business can be made against me.

8. Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements

Whilst I am happy to sign whatever confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements you or your organisation deem necessary, you agree to indemnify me against any action whatsoever by you or a third party, associated with the  accidental disclosure or loss of this information.

9. Copyright

The copyright for any creative concepts and copy I develop shall be fully transferred to you upon full payment of the applicable invoice, unless otherwise discussed and agreed in advance.

10. Showcasing your project

Where possible, for offline materials, I would request a copy of the finished project for my own records and use in my portfolio. I reserve the right to use selected extracts of my work for self-promotion or advertising purposes unless specifically forbidden to do so by a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement. If, as part of your brief to me, you include materials written by someone else, I will make every effort to ensure that I do not inadvertently breach their copyright. However, you confirm that you are authorised to send me the material for my use either as reference material or to form part of a new piece of work, and you indemnify me against any action arising, directly or indirectly, as a result of use of this content.

11. Payment terms

Jobs up to the value of £500 require prepayment in full. Jobs with a value of £501 and above require a 50% deposit, payable upon invoice.

The balance payment is then to be made within 14 days upon submission of the ‘final’ draft with an accompanying invoice. I currently accept the following payment methods: Direct bank transfer. No credit is given. If you require alternative payment terms, these must be agreed and amended and signed off within this document in advance of the commencement of any project. 

12. Late payment

If payment is not made in full within 14 days of receipt of the invoice, you may face a late payment charge (10% of the outstanding amount).

13. Cancellation

Work can be cancelled by you, the client, up until the point of paying a deposit or prepayment without incurring any cost. Once a deposit has been paid, it cannot be refunded. Paying a deposit or prepayment is viewed as a clear instruction for me to proceed with the project without delay. If I have agreed to be paid according to your payment terms, this will be agreed upon by email, there is a cancellation fee of 50% of the agreed price for the job for any booking that is cancelled less than 24 hours before commencement.