Terms and conditions
These terms and conditions form part of my contract with clients. They’re designed to be short, clear, and straightforward to avoid misunderstandings and give clarification if any disputes should arise.
By signing the proposal, you agree to these terms - please read them carefully.
1. The contract
The relationship between myself and the client is that of ‘independent contractor’. This means I am not the client’s employee, worker, agent or partner, and I will not give the impression that I am. My time is therefore limited to the agreed project and any consultation time required for delivery.
2. Pricing terms
My fee and what it includes will be specified in the contract so that you know exactly how much the work will cost prior to signing the contract and starting the work.
Any changes to the original brief initiated by the client may require me to adjust the cost. Any additional work requested that isn’t covered in the original brief will be quoted and invoiced separately.
3. The project brief
The Brief will be supplied by the client and must clearly outline the project requirements. Please email to request my briefing form before completing and returning. This is to ensure that I have all the necessary requirements beforehand.
4. Commencement of work
Before work on your project commences, I require a confirmation email and signed contract which specifies that you have read and agree to my terms and conditions, that you are authorised to commission the project and that you agree to my fees.
5. Timescale & deadlines
I will make every effort to deliver your project on time. If I believe a deadline cannot be met, I will notify you as soon as possible. I cannot be held liable for delays or losses resulting from missed deadlines.
6. Payment terms
New clients:
I require a signed contract and 50% of the total fee as a deposit before commencing the work. The remaining 50% will be payable on completion of the project. Larger or longer-term projects will be subject to an interim payment plan which will be specified in the contract.
Smaller projects:
For projects under £500, I reserve the right to request the fee is paid in full prior to commencement of work.
Retainer / ongoing contracts:
For retainer contracts, payment is required in advance at the start of each month (for example, fees for August will need paying by the 1st August) in order to secure my time.
Invoices:
Invoices are sent electronically, unless agreed otherwise, and are payable within 14 days of the invoice date. I accept payment in £GBP via BACS transfer.
Agencies:
I understand that with agencies, copywriting / content writing usually forms part of a bigger project and can often take several months to complete. When working with agencies, I still require a 50% non-refundable deposit to be made before we start work. When the copywriting / content writing part of the project is complete, the remaining payment should be paid within 14 days of the invoice date, whether the client has signed off on the project or not.
7. Termination of contract & pause clause
If a client does not respond within 14 days of paying the deposit, the project may be paused or cancelled. Where feedback is delayed beyond agreed timelines, the project will be paused and rescheduled based on current workload and availability.
8. Late payment terms
I understand and will exercise my statutory right to interest and compensation for debt recovery costs under the late payment legislation if I am not paid according to agreed credit terms (as stated above and in the signed contract).
The Late Payment of Commercial Debt (Interest) Act (1988) states that for debts of less than £1,000, the penalty is £40, rising to £70 for debts up to £9,999.99 and £100 above that.
Interest is payable at 8% over Bank of England base rate.
9. International payment fees
I invoice and accept payment in £GBP
International clients are expected to cover any additional currency conversion charges. Please note that international clients may also be subject to their own transaction fees for sending money overseas.
10. Intellectual property rights
Once full payment has been received on completion of the project, all final content writing copyrights are automatically transferred to the client. I reserve the right to use excerpts for portfolio and marketing purposes, unless otherwise agreed.
If I have worked alongside a subcontracted copywriter, they will also have the same rights.
11. Errors & omissions
I make every effort to ensure that the project is proofread, grammatically accurate and factually referenced where applicable. However, I cannot guarantee that every project is completely free from typographical, grammatical or factual errors.
12. Indemnity
By using my services, you agree to indemnify me against any claim, including that of a third party, for compensation or damages resulting from the use of my work or from unsought permissions to use my work.
You agree that you are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of any information provided and for reviewing final content writing before publication. I cannot be help liable for losses, damages, or claims arising from the use of my work.
Please get in touch if you have any questions about my terms and conditions.