1. Definitions

In this Agreement, “Natalie Stone” and “me” shall be Natalie Stone and “the Client” or “you” shall be any person, company or entity who enters into a contract with Natalie Stone. Natalie Stone’s estimate and any subsequent contract entered into will be subject exclusively to the Terms and Conditions set out below.

2. Starting the job

By contracting with Natalie Stone to write for you, you acknowledge that you have been offered the opportunity to read these Terms and Conditions and agree to be bound by the version of these Terms and Conditions at the time of contracting.

A job is confirmed when Natalie Stone receives an email from you stating clearly that you are commissioning the work. If you are contracting with Natalie Stone on behalf of any group of individuals other than yourself alone, or on behalf of a company, you warrant that you are authorised to enter into a contract on behalf of that group of individuals or company.

3. Quotations

Projects are usually agreed on a price-per-project basis unless otherwise specified.

Natalie Stone will produce an estimate of charges to deliver copy based on the information supplied by you. Natalie Stone reserves the right to amend this fee if your requirements change.

Three drafts (the first one and two rounds of editing) are included in the price quoted. Additional revisions, changes, and extensions to the project are charged at an agreed rate, except if specified otherwise.

4. Payment

Natalie Stone reserves the right to levy a 20% deposit on any project undertaken.

Unless otherwise agreed, payment is due on receipt of delivery of the finished copy or project.

Payment is due within 14 days of receipt of invoice.

For projects lasting several months, Natalie Stone may require staged payments.

Natalie Stone will produce a first draft within the timescale agreed and will expect amendments/revisions on that draft within fourteen days of you receiving that draft.

Natalie Stone will write up to three drafts within the original estimate of charges and she expects to have reached the final version within 30 days of submitting the first draft. Unless a longer timescale has been agreed, Natalie Stone may charge the full cost of the job at the end of those 30 days. Subsequent amendments after the final draft is agreed will be charged at the normal hourly rate.

5. Rejection

There is no right to reject on the basis of Natalie Stone’s style, composition, editing or interpretation of your needs, amendments or circumstances. You commission her based on her style and previous work examples. If Natalie Stone is commissioned by you to write a first draft and thereafter you decide not to continue further draft stages or decide at any stage that you will finish the work yourself or use another agency, Natalie Stone reserves the right to charge you the full cost (100%) of the estimate and payment terms will apply.

6. Late Payment

Client accounts which are outstanding after 30 days will be put ‘on hold’. No further work will be carried out until full payment is received. Future work may require a 50% deposit or payment in advance.

Payments which are outstanding after 30 days will attract an interest surcharge to cover costs of recovery. Natalie Stone may exercise the right to claim interest and compensation for debt recovery costs under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. This includes the possibility of the Client being referred to a debt collection agency and being subject to a claim being made in the Small Claims Court.

Clients who are consistently late payers will be asked to pay an up-front deposit or full payment in advance before any new project can be started.

7. Ownership and intellectual property

You may ask Natalie Stone to use a copy draft that you have written yourself, or has been written for you. By doing this, you confirm that you are the holder of the copyright to this draft or that you are permitted by the copyright holder to use this material to form part of the work that Natalie Stone will create for you. In such a case, you indemnify Natalie Stone against any claim arising from claims that the new work breaches existing copyright.

If you supply Natalie Stone with research or samples taken from someone else’s printed media or site, you must specify whether you have obtained permission to use this material and you indemnify the Natalie Stone against any action arising as a result of using this content as reference material.

On completion of the project and after final payment is received, Natalie Stone will cede to the client all rights to the copy in the form for which it was originally intended. (For example: copy required for a web page may need further copyright negotiation if it is later sold as a book).

If the client defaults on payment, any copy written by Natalie Stone cannot be used until full payment is made.

All sample copy displayed on Natalie Stone’s website or any other promotional material are for information only. You may not adapt or copy any item, whole or in part, other than to demonstrate to a client or colleague the nature of Natalie Stone’s work with a view to commissioning.

9. Partnership

Natalie Stone expects to work in partnership with clients.

Both parties agree to work together to complete the project to the agreed timescale.

The client will provide Natalie Stone with the appropriate information to fulfil the brief.

11. Testimonials and Examples

Natalie Stone may approach a client after a project is complete for a testimonial to be included in her portfolio, marketing information, or website.

Natalie Stone may use all or part of a completed project in her portfolio, marketing information, or web site unless the client specifically declines.

12. Errors and literals

Natalie Stone shall make every effort to ensure copy is free from spelling and other mistakes. Early drafts may contain errors but she will endeavour to remove these before the final draft.

Any such errors that are overlooked by Natalie Stone at the time of the final submission will be corrected free of charge without acceptance of liability for any costs you incurred as a result of those errors.

17. Force Majeure

Neither Party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performing their obligations under the Contract where such failure or delay results from any cause that is beyond the reasonable control of that Party.

19. Applicable Law

The agreement and these terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales and both parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.