Terms and conditions
These terms and conditions form part of my copywriting contract with the client. They are short and simple to read in order to avoid misunderstandings and provide clarification if any disputes should arise.
Signing the contract confirms your agreement to these terms and conditions, please read them carefully.
1. The contract
The relationship between myself and the client will be that of ‘independent contractor’, which means that I am not the client’s employee, worker, agent or partner, and I will not give the impression that I am. My time will therefore be limited to the project at hand, including any consultation time warranted by the project.
2. My 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 copywriting / content writing 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 ensure your project is delivered on time. In the unlikely event that I cannot meet the agreed deadline, I will let you know as soon as possible. I will not be held liable for any loss or damages to any party as a result of missing a deadline.
6. Payment terms
For new clients, I require a signed contract and 50% of the total fee up front before commencing the work. The remaining 50% will be payable on completion of the project. Long term projects will be subject to an interim payment plan which will be specified in the contract. For projects under £500, I reserve the right to request the project is paid in full prior to commencement of work.
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 are sent electronically, unless agreed otherwise, and are payable within 14 days of the invoice date. I accept payment in £GBP via BACS transfer.
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 copywriting / content writing contract & pause clause
If a client fails to respond to communication within 14 days of paying the non-refundable deposit, the project will be terminated automatically. In the event that a client fails to provide feedback as per the project schedule milestones, the project will be considered ‘on hold’ and rescheduled dependent 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
Upon completion of the project and once I have received payment, all copyrights are automatically transferred to the client. I reserve the right to use any extracts of my work for my portfolio. Similarly, if I have worked alongside a subcontracted copywriter, they will also have the right to use any extracts of their work on their portfolio and marketing materials unless otherwise agreed beforehand.
Whilst I make every effort not to breach any copyright, you agree to indemnify me against action that may arise as a result of using my services.
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 written material or from unsought permissions to use my material.
Although every piece of written content I produce is original, the client accepts full responsibility for checking the authenticity of the project, including research materials and citations supplied and indemnifies me of any compensation for loss or damages.
Please get in touch if you have any questions about my terms and conditions.