My terms

My terms and conditions

These terms and conditions are designed to ensure that things run as smoothly as possible throughout our working relationship.

1.        General

1.1.  These terms and conditions shall apply to all agreements for the supply of copywriting services by the copywriter to the client.

1.2.  When a job is first discussed the copywriter will submit a proposal/estimate which shall specify the freelance services to be performed and the fees payable. The proposal/estimate shall be subject to these terms and conditions. The client will notify the copywriter immediately if they do not agree with the contents of the proposal/estimate.

1.3.  The copywriter requires confirmation of the client’s brief or email acceptance of the proposal/estimate before copywriting can commence.

1.4.  If the client then changes their mind on what they want or the task takes much longer than initially thought, the copywriter will contact the client to renegotiate the proposal/estimate.

1.5.   The copywriter will use all reasonable endeavours to complete the services within the time frames requested but time shall not be of the essence in the performance of any copywriting services.

2.        Fees, payment and deposits

2.1.  The copywriting fees for the performance of the services and payment schedule are set out in the proposal/estimate.

2.2.  Once a proposal/estimate has been agreed by the client the full project fee becomes due unless the copywriter has specifically agreed otherwise in line with clause 2.3.

2.3.  If the total fee exceeds £1,000, or the project takes more than one month, the copywriter will either:

2.3.1.      Send an invoice for 50% of the total project fee within a month of the project’s commencement. The second invoice for the remaining 50% will be sent on submission of the draft copy and is not subject to final sign off, or

2.3.2.      Send an invoice for 50% of the total project fee within two weeks of the project’s commencement and an invoice for the remaining 50% on submission of the draft copy and is not subject to final sign-off by the client.

2.4.  If the total fee is less than £1,000, or the project takes less than four weeks, the copywriter will provide the client with the final invoice when the first draft copy is submitted.

2.5.  The client has no right to withhold or reduce payment based on their critical response to, or appraisal of, the copy supplied by the copywriter.

2.6.  Payment must be made within 30 days of submission of any invoice by the copywriter and is not subject to final sign-off of the copy submitted by the client.

2.7.  The client will be able to request two rounds of revisions within 20 days of submission of the first draft copy.

2.8.  Should the project remain unfinished after 30 days, the copywriter reserves the right to invoice the client for all work up to that date, even if the project then continues after that time and to its agreed scope as per the initial estimate/proposal. 

3.        Cancellations

3.1  If the client cancels the project after the copywriter has begun working on it, the copywriter will invoice the client for the fees due up to that point and any costs incurred during that time.

4.        Client obligations

4.1.  To enable the copywriter to perform their obligations under these terms and conditions, the client will:

4.1.1.      provide any information reasonably required by the copywriter; and

4.1.2.      obtain all necessary consents and permissions which may be required before the commencement of the services.

5.        The work

5.1.  Unless otherwise specified in the proposal/estimate, the copywriter’s estimated fee includes one meeting or start-up phone conversation and two rounds of revisions within 20 days of submission of the draft copy. Any additional work including meetings or interviews will be charged according to the copywriter’s daily rate.

5.2.   If the client, or any third party, shall commit anything which prevents or delays the copywriter from undertaking or complying with any of their obligations under these terms and conditions, then the copywriter will notify the client as soon as possible of this, and:

5.2.1.      The copywriter has no liability in respect of any delay to the completion of the project,

5.2.2.      If applicable, the timetable for the project will be modified accordingly,

5.2.3.      The copywriter will notify the client of any additional costs.

5.3.  Every effort will be made to ensure that copy is free of spelling mistakes and other literals. However, the responsibility for checking spelling and literals, as well as checking the technical accuracy of copy which lies within the field of expertise of the client, rests with the client and the client absolves the copywriter of any responsibility for any costs incurred as a result of the appearance of such errors in the final published form of any collateral in which the client uses the copy in question, whether or not these errors appeared in any draft of the copy supplied by the copywriter.

6.        Invoicing and late payments

6.1.  The copywriter will invoice according to the terms set out in clause 2.

6.2.  Payment for each project is due 30 days from the invoice date.

6.3.  The client is liable to pay interest (see clause 6.4) to the copywriter for each day that the invoice is outstanding over the agreed 30 working days.

6.4.  Debt recovery costs and interest are chargeable in accordance with The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 as amended and supplemented by Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2002.

7.        Ownership

7.1.  The client owns the copywriter’s work once they have paid any outstanding invoices in full.

7.2.  The copywriter reserves the right to use samples of work for their own promotional purposes on their website and social media channels.

8.        No warranty

8.1.  The copywriter will not be liable for any loss or damage sustained by the client or any other party arising out of the provision of these services.

9.        Security

9.1.  If the client wishes to pass data, information or materials of any kind to the copywriter as part of a project and requires the copywriter to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), the copywriter will do so in good faith. However, the client agrees to indemnify the copywriter against any action by the client or a third party associated with the client whatsoever relating to the accidental disclosure or loss of this information.

10.  Jurisdiction

9.1. In the settlement of any and all disputes arising out of these terms and conditions or arising in any other way from any contract formed between us, the client acknowledges that delivery is deemed to occur in the United Kingdom.

9.2. The client accepts that jurisdiction in the Courts of England and Wales will prevail and agree to subject themselves to and comply with any settlement ordered by the Courts of England and Wales.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the copywriter these terms and conditions shall prevail or supersede over any other terms of business put forward by the client.