Whitefield Legal Services Ltd Terms and Conditions

Acceptance of orders

We are not obliged to accept any order and we may refuse to provide the services requested at any time without giving reason. There is no contract for services to be provided until the order has been accepted.Each order accepted is a new and separate contract.

Accuracy

We will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that the information contained within any report is accurate at the date of its publication. You (the client) accept, however, that information on which the report is based may be subject to change from the date of its publication and we cannot be held liable for failing to include or omit information in the report, which becomes publicly available after the date of the publication.

Timescale

Any indication that we may give as to the time in which we will deliver the report will be a good faith estimate only. We will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver the reports within the time-scale that we have estimated.

Charges

Unless stated otherwise, all charges will include VAT at the appropriate rate

Payment

You will receive a VAT invoice as soon as is practicable after the completion of the report. You will pay the invoice in full within 30 days of its issue date. Failure to pay will result in reporting the matter to the appropriate trade bodies and accreditation authority. Failure may also result in our refusal to accept any further orders from you.

Your Obligations

You are obliged to provide full, accurate and up to date information with your order. Your order should also be accompanied by a recent, legible and accurate plan of the property being the subject of the report. You agree that the report supplied is only for your use. Any client of yours receiving one of our reports is also bound by these conditions.

Cancellation

Should you wish to cancel or re-schedule an order, you must give as much notice as possible. If an appointment has already been made, we will endeavour to cancel the appointment at no cost to either party. We may have to pay the disbursement, which will be passed onto you. If the request to cancel is not received until the same working day as the appointment, the search will be carried out in full, and invoiced as such.

Intellectual Property Rights

All Intellectual Property Rights in the reports remain our property

Limitation of Liability

We will not accept liability for errors in reports where that error is caused by the inaccuracy of information held in a public register or public domain. We will not be responsible for errors in the registration of information. We will not be held liable for errors caused by inaccurate information of documentation supplied by you at any time in the report process. We will not be held liable for delays caused by unforeseen circumstances. Our entire liability for negligence will not exceed £2 million. However, insurance provided with WLS Ltd searches provides cover for errors and omissions in local authority data and records.

Force Majeure

We will not be held liable for any failure to perform the service due to an event beyond our reasonable control, we will notify you promptly of the reason for any delay, and you agree to allow us an extension to perform the service as is reasonably practicable.

Quality of Service

We agree to ensure that all services provided by WLS Searches Ltd are carried out in professional manner. All sta involved in the services we provided shall be competent and fully trained. All sta of WLS shall deal with you in a polite and helpful manner.

Independant Dispute Resolution

If you make a complaint and we are unable to resolve it to your satisfaction you may refer the complaint to The Property Ombudsman scheme (web site www.tpos.co.uk , email: admin@tpos.co.uk ). We will co-operate fully with the Ombudsman during an investigation and comply with the Ombudsman’s final decision.

Consumer Information with Complaints Procedure

This search has been produced by WHITEFIELD LEGAL SERVICES, Argyle House, Joel Street, Northwood Hills, Middx, HA6 1NW. Tel: 01923 620240, Email: admin@whitefieldlegal.com, which is registered with the Property Codes Compliance Board (PCCB) as a subscriber to the Search Code. The PCCB independently monitors how registered search firms maintain compliance with the Code.

The Search Code

• Provides protection for homebuyers, sellers, estate agents, conveyancers and mortgage lenders who rely on the information included in property search reports undertaken by subscribers on residential and commercial property within the United Kingdom
• Sets out minimum standards which firms compiling and selling search reports have to meet
• Promotes best practice and quality standards within the industry for the benefit of consumers and property professionals
• Enables consumers and property professionals to have confidence in firms which subscribe to the code, their products and services

By giving you this information, the search firm is confirming that they keep to the principles of the Code. This provides important protection for you.

The Code’s Core Principles

• Display the Search Code logo prominently on their search reports
• Act with integrity and carry out work with due skill, care and diligence
• At all times maintain adequate and appropriate insurance to protect consumers
• Conduct business in an honest, fair and professional manner
• Handle complaints speedily and fairly
• Ensure that products and services comply with industry registration rules and standards and relevant laws
• Monitor their compliance with the Code

Complaints

If you have a query or complaint about your search, you should raise it directly with the search firm, and if appropriate ask for any complaint to be considered under their formal internal complaints procedure.

Independent Dispute Resolution

If you make a complaint and we are unable to resolve it to your satisfaction you may refer the complaint to The Property Ombudsman scheme (website: www.tpos.co.uk, email: admin@tpos.co.uk). We will co-operate fully with the Ombudsman during an investigation and comply with the Ombudsman’s final decision. The Ombudsman can award up to £5,000 to you if the Ombudsman finds that you have suffered actual financial loss and/or aggravation, distress or inconvenience as a result of your search provider failing to keep to the Code.

Please note that all queries or complaints regarding your search should be directed to your search provider in the first instance, not to TPOs or to the PCCB.

TPO Contact Details

The Property Ombudsman scheme
Milford House, 43-55 Milford Street
Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 2BP
Tel: 01722 333306
Fax: 01722 332296
Website: www.tpos.co.uk
Email: admin@tpos.co.uk

You can get more information about the PCCB from www.propertycodes.org.uk.

Request a Copy of the Search Code

Please ask your search provider if you would like a copy of the Search Code.

Whitefield Legal Services Complaints Procedure

Whitefield Legal Services is registered with the Property Codes Compliance Board as a subscriber to the Search Code. A key commitment under the Code is that firms will handle any complaints both speedily and fairly. If you want to make a complaint, we will:

• Contact us by email or telephone to discuss your complaint.
• Acknowledge it within 5 working days of receipt.
• Normally deal with it fully and provide a final response, in writing, within 20 working days of receipt.
• Keep you informed by letter, telephone or e-mail, as you prefer, if we need more time.
• Provide a final response, in writing, at the latest within 40 working days of receipt.
• Liaise, at your request, with anyone acting formally on your behalf.

If you are not satisfied with our final response, or if we exceed the response timescales, you may refer the complaint to The Property Ombudsman scheme (TPOs): Tel: 01722 333306, Website: www.tpos.co.uk, Email: admin@tpos.co.uk. We will co-operate fully with the Ombudsman during an investigation and comply with his final decision.