Catch the Sun Communications
Standard terms and conditions
Scope
These terms and conditions apply to any work done for the Client by Catch the Sun Communications, unless otherwise agreed.
Acceptance of quotation, payment of deposit or receipt of a purchase order will be taken as acceptance of the following terms and conditions.
Please ensure you’ve read and full understand everything that is written below. Please contact Maddie if anything is unclear.
The Client is under no obligation to offer Catch the Sun Communications work; neither is Catch the Sun Communications under any obligation to accept work offered by the Client.
Catch the Sun Communications will provide service(s) as mutually agreed and confirmed in writing by the Client.
The work will be carried out unsupervised at such times and places as determined by Catch the Sun Communications, using own equipment.
Quotes
Samples of work will be requested prior to giving a project quote, to ensure the service quoted for is what the Client is looking for.
The quote may be a fee per hour OR per printed page OR per thousand words OR an agreed flat fee for the project, and will be based on required Client level of turnaround time (e.g. standard, 48 hours, 24 hours).
Only written quotes are binding (e.g. email, post, fax). Verbal quotes are not binding.
If the scope or length of the project changes significantly from when the initial quote is given, the quote may be altered by agreement. If not otherwise discussed, the original fee still applies.
Quotes are valid for 30 days from date of issue.
Quotes are given on the basis that the entire document is sent at once, unless otherwise agreed.
All quotes are based on Catch the Sun Communications providing one round of proofreading amends, unless otherwise agreed.
Confidentiality
All work is guaranteed confidential. All copyright remains with the author of the piece.
Any content created by Catch the Sun Communications as part of the copywriting/proofreading/copy editing process will become the copyright of the Client, unless otherwise agreed.
Liability
Documents will be returned using due diligence. Final liability for the document rests with the author, and while the utmost care will be taken to identify errors, it is conceivable that on occasion, errors will be missed due to human error. Catch the Sun Communications will not be liable for any losses resulting from missed errors or proofreading/copy editing/copywriting advice provided, including loss of profit, income, revenue, anticipated savings, contracts, business, goodwill, reputation, data, or information. Catch the Sun Communications will not be liable for any consequential, indirect or special loss or damage. Catch the Sun Communications will not be liable for any loss or damage arising out of any event or events beyond our reasonable control.
The standard proofreading or copy editing service is to make suggestions to and highlight errors in copy. Although the functionality of digital proofreading means that these errors are often corrected by the proofreader or copy editor, it is not the responsibility of Catch the Sun Communications to action changes.
Plagiarism
If you are a student, having your work proofread or copy edited for larger structural and linguistic concerns does not constitute plagiarism.
For international students, work will only be proofread or edited with a statement in writing from the student that they are not being assessed on their English language abilities.
Timescales
Clients will receive an indication of estimated timescale along with the quote, unless otherwise agreed, and this will be linked to the turnaround time level required by the Client (e.g. standard, 48 hours, 24 hours).
The meeting of this timescale is dependent on the work being sent to Catch the Sun Communications at the agreed date and time. If the document is sent later than planned by the Client, a revised timescale may be given.
The document return date and time will be confirmed to the Client once the document is received by Catch the Sun Communications, unless otherwise agreed, and will be quoted in local time – either GMT (UK) or EST (Australia).
Receipt of documents from Client to Catch the Sun Communications is deemed to have occurred upon email, phone or text message confirmation by Catch the Sun Communications. In the interests of urgency, it is always best to advise Catch the Sun Communications that a document has been emailed with a follow-up phone call or text message.
Every effort will be made to meet deadlines. If external circumstances beyond the control of Catch the Sun Communications are likely to cause possible delays, the Client will be notified at the earliest opportunity.
Delivery of documents from Catch the Sun Communications to Client is deemed to have occurred at the time the email programme confirms that an email has been sent. It is the Client’s responsibility to confirm receipt of the proofed document as soon as it is acknowledged in their in-box. For urgent jobs, Catch the Sun Communications will follow-up receipt with a phone call or text message if email receipt confirmation has not been received within one hour.
Quote or timescale revisions
The completed work will be delivered on or before the date agreed, for the agreed fee, which will be based on a quote provided to the Client by Catch the Sun Communications, or based on a per hour, per page, or per thousand word agreement.
If, on receipt of the document to be worked on, or at an early stage in the project, it becomes apparent that significantly more work is required than had been anticipated in the preliminary discussion/brief, Catch the Sun Communications may renegotiate the fee and/or the deadline.
Similarly, if during the term of the project, additional tasks are requested by the Client, Catch the Sun Communications may renegotiate the fee and/or the deadline, or invoice separately for the additional elements.
Proofreading covers basic errors in spelling, grammar, formatting, syntax and design consistency only. Light editorial advice or minor language suggestions may be given at times. However, if the document received by Catch the Sun Communications requires more comprehensive copy editing, this may be subject to a new quote.
If the parameters of the job change after the commencement of the project and the quote isn’t renegotiated in line with the new parameters, the additional work will be charged at Catch the Sun Communications’ agreed-upon hourly rate, which itself is based on required turnaround time.
Returning documents without change
Catch the Sun Communications reserves the right to return any project after receiving it if there are concerns about the work. These concerns may include, but are not limited to:
- The standard of writing or the scope of the project is such that it requires more work or time than originally estimated.
- The subsequent increased timescales would encroach upon the confirmed projects of other Clients of Catch the Sun Communications.
- The nature of the business or the job raises ethical concerns.
Subcontracting
Catch the Sun Communications reserves the right to subcontract work to trusted professional proofreaders, copy editors, copywriters and PR and marketing professionals, if required.
Payment
Catch the Sun Communications has an Australian Business Number (ABN) of 44 526 076 425. Catch the Sun Communications pay income tax and will not claim benefits granted to the Client’s employees.
The Client will reimburse Catch the Sun Communications for agreed reasonable expenses over and above usual expenses incurred in the process of proofreading, copy editing or copywriting work.
A deposit in advance may be requested for larger jobs.
International clients are liable for any exchange rate and conversion fees, unless otherwise discussed.
An invoice will be sent following the completion of the job.
If the project is lengthy, Catch the Sun Communications may invoice periodically for completed stages.
Payment is via bank transfer or PayPal and unless agreed otherwise at the outset, payment must be made within 30 days of receipt of the invoice from Catch the Sun Communications, according to the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
Promotional material
Once work has been completed, Catch the Sun Communications may use the Client’s name in promotional material and on their website. Please advise in advance if you would prefer it to be omitted.
If Catch the Sun Communications has made a substantial contribution to the proofreading, copy editing or copywriting of the work, the business will be entitled to receive one free copy of the work, to be specified as either hard copy or PDF.
Data Protection
Under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998, the Client and Catch the Sun Communications may keep on record such information (e.g. contact details) as is necessary. Either may view the other’s records to ensure that they are relevant, correct and up to date.
Breach of contract
Either the Client or Catch the Sun Communications has the right to terminate a contract for services if there is a serious breach of its terms.
This agreement is subject to the laws of Australia, and both Catch the Sun Communications and the Client agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the Australian courts.