My Copywriting Terms and Conditions.

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These are my standard terms and conditions and will apply to all copywriting and copy-editing assignments.

They are written so that you'll know what you can expect from me, and also what I expect from you. Please have a read before commissioning me to write for you. I've tried to keep them as simple and easy to understand as possible. But if there is anything you're not sure about, please do let me know.

 
These Terms and Conditions replace all previous versions. Last amended: 1st November 2024

DEFINITIONS For the purposes of this agreement:

1:   “The Client” or “You” means the Company, Agency, Organisation, Charity, Sole Trader or Private Individual commissioning the copywriting services of me, Andrew Baskott.

2:    “I”, “Me” or "My" naturally, means Andrew Baskott.

3:   “We” or “Us” means you, The Client, and me, Andrew Baskott.

4:   “Material”, “Materials”, “Copy”, or “Draft” refers to the written item(s) produced by Andrew Baskott as stated in the written project brief confirmation received from you.

5:   "Project" or "Assignment(s)" means the work as a whole you are commissioning me to undertake on your behalf.

THE CONTRACT

1:   An assignment placed with Andrew Baskott is only accepted on the basis that the contract is between Me and the Client commissioning the project and not with any third party.

2:   All contracts are accepted on the basis that it is only the Terms and Conditions of Andrew Baskott that are applicable.

3:   It will be deemed that by asking me to proceed with producing the relevant materials requested for your project, you accept these Terms and Conditions in full. Any amendments proffered by the Client are specifically excluded. See also clause 15.

4:  It is also deemed that the person named on the confirmation requesting me to proceed with the project has the necessary authority or permission to make such a request.

5: To ensure the smooth running of your project, I will require a single point of contact - someone who has both decision-making and approval authority.

1: PROJECT BRIEF

I will require from you as much information as possible so that I can best produce the material(s) you require to meet your objectives. We will work together on forming the Project Brief. As part of this, I will ask you to send me a written brief with as much detail as you can provide. We can then discuss this further to fine-tune the details of exactly what you need, if necessary.

 
An important point to remember is that if you only provide me with a vague brief then this will inevitably make it much harder for me to produce the best work I can. A vague brief can mean it takes me much longer to write and/or research the copy you've asked for. And time is money - your money!

To help you write a detailed brief I've produced some Copywriting Project Briefing Notes you can download. Not every question will be appropriate, but the more information you can provide the better I can write what you need.

2: FEES

Most assignments are charged on a project fee basis. That way you'll know the exact cost of the job from the start. My fee will be based on (but not limited to): how detailed the brief is, how urgent the work is, the word count, the complexity and how much time it will take to research, create and write what you need. However, if you make changes to a project's scope once it is underway, then I reserve the right to amend the fee I have quoted.

My fee generally includes:

• Consultation and fine-tuning the brief

• Research - in-depth and from multiple sources

• Creative processes

• Writing and editing copy for a first draft

• Two sets of revisions (if needed)

• Final checks and proofreading

• Delivery of completed project

 
Any copywriting, copy-editing, or website refresh assignment costing £225 or less will be payable in full upfront.

 
Fees do not include in-person meetings with outsourced designers, web designers or any other person or agency connected with your project. Such meetings would be subject to additional charges for time and travel.

All quotations are valid for 28 days from when an email quote was sent.

 
I am not registered for VAT. I am, however, professionally insured with Policy Bee.

3: URGENT ASSIGNMENTS

I only take on projects that can be completed within a realistic timeframe. Therefore, if you have a 24- or 48-hour deadline for your copy I'm afraid I'm not the copywriter for you.

Writing copy in a rush to meet a very tight deadline isn't how I like to work. And it's not the best use of your budget either as you'll almost certainly end up with writing that's not what it could be with a longer timescale.

   
The size and nature of each project will determine a delivery schedule.

For example, a five-page website will normally take 10 to 12 working days to complete. That's why every project is carefully assessed and then scheduled to ensure I'm never overbooked.

4: BEFORE I CAN START WORK ON YOUR PROJECT...

I shall need a written confirmation from you (by email only) confirming your acceptance of my fee, any agreed deadline(s), details of the project brief we have created together and your acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. I will also require from you a 50% deposit of my fee. Payment is to be made by bank transfer (BACS).

Assignments undertaken for non-UK-based clients must be paid in full, in advance by bank transfer in GBP Sterling. All transaction costs incurred by the client are their responsibility.

5: CHANGES IN THE SCOPE OF A PROJECT

If the project scope is changed by you at any point after confirmation, that may mean I'll need more time to undertake the work; whether that's in terms of researching or writing. I, therefore, reserve the right to amend the project fee I have quoted accordingly.

6: DRAFT CHANGES

My project fee includes a first draft and two rounds of revisions if needed.

 
From your receipt of the first draft, you have 5 working days to let me know of any changes you wish me to make. Feedback should be provided by email only. If I don't receive feedback within that timeframe, I will assume you're happy with what I've written and no changes to the copy are required. My final invoice will then be issued accordingly.

7: DEADLINES

Projects are allocated a slot within a carefully planned work schedule. However, sometimes things don't go according to plan and agreed deadlines can be put under pressure. And so, unfortunately, I cannot be held responsible for delays caused by circumstances outside of my overall effective control. I will, however, always inform you of any potential delay and minimise its effect as much as possible. See also clause 3 above.

My meeting of any deadline is also dependent upon you answering any questions, supplying requested research information, and/or feedback to draft revisions to me as speedily as possible. I, therefore, cannot be held responsible for any delays or missed deadlines caused by your failure to provide such information or feedback in the time asked for. 

8: PAYMENT TERMS

All payments are to be made by bank transfer (BACS). As already stated, I require payment of a 50% deposit before work can commence. The balance is then payable within 14 days of the final invoice date.

Assignments undertaken for non-UK-based clients must be paid for in full, in advance, by bank transfer in GBP Sterling. All transaction charges are to be met by the client.

 
Copywriting/Refresh projects costing £225 or less will be payable in full in advance unless you are a trusted regular client.

For ongoing or large-scale projects payment stages can be agreed upon in advance.

 
PLEASE NOTE: A late payment surcharge of £45 will be made on any invoice remaining unpaid after 14 days under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 or any amendment or re-enactment thereof (see payontime). In recovering all outstanding fees owed, you may also incur other additional costs such as interest, court fees etc.

9: CANCELLATION

Should you cancel the project after the start date, I reserve the right to charge you for all work undertaken up to that point. This will be charged at £60 per hour (pro-rata).

 
However, if you cancel after receiving the first draft, you will be immediately liable for the whole project fee. This will still be payable even if you have no intention of using the materials supplied.

10: COPYRIGHT & PROMOTING MY SERVICES

A: You confirm that you own the copyright or have the right or consent to use any previously commissioned marketing literature or any other written information that you supply to me that may then be incorporated within the material(s) I produce for your project. You also confirm that should a dispute arise between you and a third party regarding the use of any such literature or information, you will fully indemnify me against any claim (legal or otherwise) for a breach of copyright, trademark, design or other intellectual property rights.

B: All the written material(s) I supply for your project are the copyright © of Andrew Baskott. This copyright will only pass to you upon your full payment of my final invoice. Included within this assignment of copyright to you is my right to show the copy I've produced for you, either as a whole or in part, on my website or other online portfolios. Or as a link to a website on which the copy features. This is solely for the promotion of my services and will apply unless you specifically request me not to do so in writing at the time of commissioning the project.

11: ACCURACY & LEGALITIES

A: You are responsible for ensuring that all statistics, quotations, references and any other supporting information you supply to me and used within the copy I write for you are accurate and lawful. And as such you will fully indemnify me against any claim (legal or otherwise) should any statistics, quotations, references or other supporting information supplied by you subsequently prove not to be accurate or lawful.

B: I will make every effort to ensure that all material(s) supplied to you shall, where appropriate and relevant, comply with any necessary UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) rules and regulations. However, it is entirely the responsibility of the Client to submit all copy for legal review should they wish.

12: ERRORS

I shall make every effort to ensure there are no errors, omissions, misrepresentations or any other inaccuracies in the materials I supply to you. However, the final responsibility for checking such matters rests entirely with you. No responsibility can be accepted for any errors, omissions etc. subsequently found in the copy written for your project once you have accepted and signed off on the material(s) supplied.

13: CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY

I will not disclose to any third party any confidential or commercially sensitive information supplied relating to your organisation or the copywriting project you have commissioned me to undertake.

14: APPLICABLE LAW This agreement shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales.

15: VARIATION These Terms and Conditions shall not be varied in any way except by the written agreement of Andrew Baskott.