Terms & Conditions
All Services provided by BLP Investigations Limited to the Client are subject to the following terms and conditions in this agreement. Clients of BLP Investigations Limited are deemed to be aware of the terms and conditions of this agreement and accept that they are binding in their entirety.
1. Appointment
Under this agreement BLP Investigations Limited may appoint its Approved Providers/Agents to carry out the services as and when we feel it is appropriate.
2. Price/Fee
All estimates and price arrangements with Clients may from time to time be subject to variation by notice in writing, email or by telephone. All disbursements shall be charged for services provided as appropriate. Preliminary work carried out, whether experimental or otherwise at the Client's request shall be chargeable at BLP Investigations Limited current rates agreed prior to instruction. A copy of our current price list is available upon request.
3. Terms of Payment
Solicitors, law firms and similar organisations agree to pay all invoices for services carried out by BLP Investigations Limited within 30 days of the date of the invoice, unless otherwise agreed in writing; BLP Investigations Limited withhold the right to change the above terms only on approval from the client, for example; where the total proposed invoice value exceeds £250.00, full payment may be required prior to instructions being carried out unless otherwise agreed in writing or that BLP Investigations Limited are confident the client has a good credit standing. Where LSC, Legal Aid or Publically Funded Cases are concerned BLP Investigations Limited must be informed prior to commencement of any instructions as this will undoubtedly cause a delay in payment. If no written agreement is provided/agreed with/by the client all invoices must be settled within 30 days as above.
3.1 Any instructions carried out by BLP Investigations Limited (either via private, commercial or corporate instruction) other than that defined in (3) will only proceed upon full payment of the proposed invoice value unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing or if the client has an account.
3.2 BLP Investigations Limited may charge the Client interest at the rate prescribed by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 on any overdue amount, payable by the Client immediately on demand, from the due date up to the date of actual payment, after as well as before judgment. Such interest shall accrue on a daily basis and be compounded quarterly. We also reserve the right to charge £50.00 administration fee for late payment of invoices
3.3 Private Clients must pay the full balance prior to any instruction carried out on their behalf. Any credit(s) due will be reimbursed within 28 days of completion and both parties are satisfied that the instruction is complete
3.4 If we have acted on your instructions in any way, we will not provide a refund due to the client cancelling the instructions. Our service provided to our Clients encumbers us with costs, disbursements and general running costs before, during and after instructions. Therefore, any instruction requires a full financial commitment to it by you (the Client).
3.5 In the event that you are unsatisfied in the way in which our service has been delivered, you must inform us verbally and then in writing and sent via recorded delivery of the exact nature of your dissatisfaction, we will then make enquiries into the matter and provide a response within 14 days. In the event that we find evidence that the service you were provided with was unsatisfactory, we will negotiate with you with respect to any refunds. A retainer is non- refundable, and is not treated as a deposit.
4. Liability
BLP Investigations Limited (and any of its associated companies) liability to the client arising by reason of or in connection with this agreement or however otherwise arising shall be limited to £250.00 in respect of any one claim or any series of claims. BLP Investigations Limited shall not be held responsible for the loss of a subject whilst conducting Surveillance or observation duties on behalf of the client. Should this scenario arise, the client shall still be held responsible for the remaining balance as per quoted and all fees must be settled in accordance with this agreement. In any case this shall be a minimum of 4 hours at any one time. Clients are responsible for any equipment provided to them for the purpose of hire, borrowing or lending for any length of time. In particular, this includes GPS Vehicle Tracking devices, where a £500.00 deposit (payable in advance) will be retained by BLP Investigations Limited to cover the cost of loss. In the event that the equipment is lost or irretrievable by our agents the deposit will not be refunded as this will cover replacement costs. Any deposits due for refund will be deposited into the clients account within 14 days following the last day of operations.
5. Client's Property
(a) The Client's property and all property supplied to BLP Investigations Limited or its Approved Provider(s) by or on behalf of the Client shall, while it is in the possession of BLP Investigations Limited or its Approved Provider(s)/Agents or in transit to or from the Client, be at the Client's own risk unless otherwise agreed and the client should insure accordingly.
(b) BLP Investigations Limited shall be entitled to make a reasonable charge for the storage of any Client's property and to dispose of any such property if unclaimed after 3 months.
6. Insolvency
If the Client ceases to pay its debts in the ordinary course of business or is unable to pay its debts as they become due or being a company is deemed to be unable to pay its debts or has a winding up petition issued against it or being a person becomes bankrupt or has a bankruptcy petition issued against him, BLP Investigations Limited without prejudice to other remedies, shall
(i) have the right not to proceed further with any contract or any other work for the Client and be entitled to charge for work already carried out and any costs incurred in so doing, such charge to be an immediate debt due by the Client and
(ii) in respect of all unpaid debts due from the Client have a general lien on all goods and property in its possession and shall be entitled to retain such goods or property until the Client pays BLP Investigations Limited all outstanding amounts due.
7. Law
This agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of England. Both parties shall submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts. The Client agrees to be solely responsible for complying with any laws, taxes, and tariffs applicable in any way to the services contemplated herein. The Client will hold harmless, protect, and defend BLP Investigations Limited, its subcontractors and agents from any claim, suit, penalty, tax, fine, or tariff or any failure to comply with any such laws, taxes and tariffs.
8. Confidential Information and data protection
The Client may not disclose any confidential information provided to it by BLP Investigations Limited unless expressly permitted to do so by BLP Investigations Limited in writing. Both parties shall comply with the data protection principles set out in the Data Protection Act 1998 in respect of any personal data disclosed in connection with the provision of the Services. The Client acknowledges that breach of this clause could cause injury to BLP Investigations Limited and damages would not be an adequate remedy. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Client, BLP Investigations Limited shall be entitled to apply for injunctive relief and/or any other remedy available to it and the Client shall indemnify BLP Investigations Limited against all costs, claims, demands and liabilities arising directly or indirectly out of such breach.
9. Sources
BLP Investigations Limited (and any of its associated companies) shall not be required to divulge either its sources of information or its procedures for obtaining it.
10. Re-checks
Re-checking information at BLP Investigations Limited expense will be undertaken only if BLP Investigations Limited is notified in writing within 28 days of BLP Investigations Limited dated report including full itemised proof that BLP Investigations Limited information was incorrect at the date of the report. Failure to do so will constitute acceptance of the report by the Client and the invoice charge will stand.
11. Cancellation
Cancellation of instructions will only be accepted upon receipt of a written cancellation. BLP Investigations Limited reserves the right to charge for any work done or any costs incurred at BLP Investigations Limited current rates in force from time to time. BLP Investigations Limited reserve the right to cease carrying out any instruction immediately if it is believed, or suspected to be unlawful, or it jeopardises the safety of its staff. Any payments made will be deemed as nonreturnable.
12. Force Majeure
BLP Investigations Limited (and any of its associated companies) shall be under no liability for any delay or failure to perform its obligations under this agreement if it is unable to carry out any Services for any reason beyond its control, including; without limitation, changes in legislation, war, fire, flood, drought, sickness, injuries, mechanical failure, public transport delays/cancellations, failure of power supply, lock-out strike or other action taken by employees in contemplation of furtherance of a dispute, or owing to any liability to produce materials required to perform the Services. If these matters continue for more than one (1) month, the Client shall be entitled to terminate this agreement by notice in writing, provided the Client pays all outstanding invoices for work done and costs incurred prior to the force majeure event.
13. Assignment
The client may not assign or transfer any rights and/or obligations under this agreement without BLP Investigations Limited prior written consent. BLP Investigations Limited may assign and/or sub-contract its obligations without written notice to the Client.
14. Process Serving
14.1. In all matters where documents are accepted by BLP Investigations Limited for Serving, attempts to serve the documents will be conducted at the discretion of BLP Investigations Limited and/or its Agents.
14.2 When service of the documents has been effected on the first attempt, the service to the client will be complete and the full amount including any disbursements and taxes quoted to the Client when BLP Investigations Limited accepted the 'commission', will be payable to BLP Investigations Limited by the Client.
14.3 When for any reason, service of the documents could not be effected on the first attempt and BLP Investigations Limited and/or its Agents are of the opinion that to make further attempts will not be necessary or not be advantageous, then no further attempts to effect service of the documents will be made, the service to the Client shall be complete and the full amount including any disbursements and taxes quoted to the Client when BLP Investigations Limited accepted the 'commission', will be payable to BLP Investigations Limited by the Client.
15. Agreement
These terms and conditions contain the entire agreement between the parties in relation to its subject matter and supersede all previous conditions understandings commitments, agreements or representations whatsoever whether oral or written ("Pre- Contractual Statement"). The Client acknowledges that they have not agreed to these terms in reliance on any Pre-Contractual Statement made by BLP Investigations Limited not expressly set out in this agreement. The Client also agrees that the only remedy available to it for breach of this agreement shall be for breach of contract and it shall have no right of action against BLP Investigations Limited in respect of any Pre-Contractual Statement (other than for fraudulent misrepresentation). This agreement may not be modified or amended except in writing signed by a duly authorised representative of both parties.
DEFINITIONS
BLP Investigations Limited means BLP Investigations Limited and any associated company of the BLP Investigations Ltd group of companies, registered in England & Wales, company registration number 06845588 and whose registered office is: 81, Teme St, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire WR15 8AE
Approved Providers/Agents means, any professional agents/associates acting or contracted on our behalf, or such other party as BLP Investigations Limited may use.
Client means the person, firm, individual or organisation from whom instructions have been given to BLP Investigations Limited whose details are set out on this form.
Commission means our authority to undertake or perform certain duties or functions. Process Serving means 'Service of Process', which means when attempts are made to serve or service is effected of legal documents on the individual/ organisation/company/firm/entity to whom the document(s) is/are directed.
Services means such of BLP Investigations Limited Tracing, Process Serving, Investigative Service, Surveillance, Reporting, Investigations, Witness Statement Taking, Personal Security Services Collision Investigation and any such services of a similar nature requested by the Client.
The Principal of BLP Investigations is a Full Member of the Association of British Investigators. The Association of British Investigators is endorsed by The Law Society of England & Wales and the Service Provider scheme of The Law Society of Scotland