1. Service Commitment and Complaints
I can only advise on the law of England and Wales. I cannot translate any documents. Unless I have prepared the documents, no legal advice is given in connection with them: you must rely on the lawyers representing you as to their use and effect outside England and Wales.
My notarial practice is regulated by the Regulated by the Master of the Faculties through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JT. Telephone 0207 222 5381
Email [email protected]
I am committed to provide a high quality Notarial. If you are unhappy about any aspect of the service you have received, or about a bill, please contact me. I will investigate and do my upmost to resolve your complaint swiftly and with minimal delay.
If I am unable to do so, you can complain to the Notaries Society who have a Complaints Procedure, approved by the Faculty Office. This Procedure is free and designed to provide a quick resolution. You should write with full details of your complaint to:
The Secretary of the Notaries Society, PO Box 7655 Milton Keynes MK11 9NR
Email [email protected]
Telephone 01604 758 908
If you are unhappy with the outcome of the Notaries’ complaints procedure, you can then ask the Legal Ombudsman to consider your complaint. You must raise the further complaint within 6 months of the Society’s decision. If you wish to do so please write, with full details, to Legal Ombudsman, Bakersville House, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2ND
Telephone 0300 555 0333
Email [email protected]
2. Money Laundering & Identity Checks
The law requires Notaries to obtain satisfactory evidence of the identity of their clients and sometimes people related to them. I will need to obtain evidence of your identity as soon as possible. I will also use an on-line identity verification service which includes a search with a credit reference company such as Equifax for the purposes of verifying your identity and address and, by signing these Terms, you agree to these checks. A credit check is not performed and your credit rating will be unaffected. If you cannot provide me with the specific identification requested, please contact me as soon as possible. .
3. Privacy and Your Data
I will only use your personal data to:
- provide legal services to you in accordance with your instructions
- manage my practice in such a way that does not materially impact your rights
- comply with the law e.g. to disclose information to a third party, including to prevent fraud or money laundering
- process your data where you have consented e.g. to send newsletters.
I will collect your data in connection with the service by email, telephone, post or encrypted service. I might need health and other sensitive information. I will collect your data from you, any party you authorise to disclose your data or from publicly available sources. I may also collect your data in connection with your marketing preferences.
. Please note that my work for you may require me to give information to third parties such as other professional advisers or professional indemnity insurers. The Faculty Office may audit my files and inspect your information. Any third party to whom I disclose information about you will be under an obligation to keep your information secure and not to use it for any purpose other than that for which it was disclosed.
You have rights under the General Data Protection Regulations 2016 (GDPR) including:
- to see what personal information I hold about you
- to object to how I use your personal information
- to ask me to correct inaccuracies, delete or restrict personal information
- to ask for some of your personal information to be provided to someone else
If you want me to provide a copy of your personal information or to take other actions in respect of your data, please contact me. You will not be charged for a copy of your personal information although I reserve the right to charge for further
Where you are acting as an agent or trustee, you agree to advise your principal or the beneficiary of the trust that their personal data will be dealt with on these Terms. By disclosing any personal data about the principal or beneficiary to me, I will assume that you have obtained such consent.
4. Financial Arrangements
All payments must be made to my bank account via a UK clearing bank. Cash payments will not be accepted.
Card payments: can (excluding American Express) be made when you visit too. The maximum sum accepted by card in relation to each matter is £1000.
Bank transfers: please always speak to me before paying any sums by bank transfer to verify the account details.
If I need to deal with payments to third parties on your behalf, you will need to pay the relevant amounts in advance. This might include the fee for legalisation or an apostille or an agents’ fee or special postage.
5. Storage of Documents
After completing the work, I will be entitled to keep all of your papers and documents whilst there is still money owed to me for fees and expenses. I may keep my file of your papers including a copy of the Notarial Act and a record of your identity for 12 years or indefinitely as the Notarial Rules require. At the end of this period, I shall destroy the stored papers. If you require your file to be retrieved from the archive I can charge you for my time spent in dealing with such.
6. Liability
Details of my professional indemnity insurance cover are available on request
My liability to you for a breach of your instructions shall be limited to £3 million unless I expressly agree a higher amount in writing. I will not be liable for documents lost in transit; any consequential or indirect losses; damages for lost profits or opportunities; any loss arising from identity fraud by any other party who is represented by solicitors or other lawyers. I can only limit my liability to the extent that the law allows. .
7. General Costs Information
My costs will be set out in my Letter of Engagement and in my initial discussion with you.
Hourly Rate Basis
My charges will be calculated mainly by reference to the time actually spent in carrying out work on your behalf. This will include meetings, working on papers, correspondence, and travelling time. Routine correspondence and telephone are charged as 6 minute units; will be charged for on a time basis.
The current hourly rate is £240 per hour (including VAT) with a minimum fee of £100 (including VAT).
Any work outside normal office hours will attract a higher fee of £260 per hour (including VAT) and a minimum fee of £110 (including VAT).
Fixed Price
In most cases, I may be able to agree a fixed price with you in which case I will make this clear in my Letter initial correspondence with you.
Payment is due within 14 days of the invoice date. Interest may be charged on any unpaid bills at the rate payable on judgment debts from one month after delivery of the bill.
8. Applicable Law
The law of England and Wales applies to these terms.
9. Cancellation Period for Consumers where the Contract Between Us is Made at a Distance or Off Business Premises
If my contract with you is made away from my office, or by telephone or email, the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 give you the right to cancel your instructions to me within 14 days of making the contract without giving any reason. By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions you confirm you wish me to start work immediately and confirm that you understand the right to cancel the instructions within 14 days by email, post or fax.
10. Your Agreement to these Terms and Conditions
I will have referred you to these Terms and Conditions after your initial enquiry. There is no need to sign and return them. If you have any queries or concerns, please let me know. If I do not hear otherwise from you I will take your continuing instructions to indicate your agreement to them though I confirm that there will be nothing to pay unless and until we proceed with your matter.