Terms & Conditions
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY - BY USING THE SERVICES OF CHICOCO DECORATING AND PROPERTY CARE YOU ARE ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH US AND AGREEING TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
'We', 'us' and 'our' means Chicoco Decorating and Property Care. 'You', 'the client', 'the customer', 'your' means the person who requested our services and enters into this contract.
SECTION 1 - FIXED RATES AND QUOTATIONS
1.1 Contract
The agreed final quote represents a written contract for the exact work to be completed at the price quoted. Any agreement made verbally is not covered by the contract unless it has been stated in writing or by email to the client. The agreement is made between Chicoco Decorating and Property Care and the client. The client is identified as the person who requested the quotation or agent acting on behalf of the client. Chicoco Decorating and Property Care will not enter into any dialogue, accept any requests or communicate in any way with anyone other than the client or their agent except where the client has provided written permission that allows them to do so. The acceptance of the quote, electronically or by any other means signifies a full acceptance and commitment to accept these terms and conditions. Please check your quotation carefully.
1.2 Scope of quoted work
The quote written by Chicoco Decorating and Property Care for the client or agent represents the requests of the client. It is not a builder’s survey and we will not be held liable for any task that is not included in the written quote.
1.2.1 Access to job site
The client agrees and understands that parking and access to the jobsite must be provided between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through to Friday and or additional days agreed, for the duration of the work quoted. If at any time access is not available to Chicoco Decorating and Property Care for any reason, the customer agrees to provide a minimum of 72 hours' notice. Failure to provide notice will result in the client being responsible to reimburse Chicoco Decorating and Property Care for expenses incurred for travel and lost works productivity time at the rate of £40 per man-hour, and £0.45p per mile per vehicle.
1.3 Electric and water
The client will be expected to provide electrical power, running water and toilet facilities, where reasonably possible.
1.4 Condition of existing walls and ceilings
Unless specifically mentioned, no provision is made for repair of plastering beneath papered walls or ceiling surfaces, as it is assumed that such plastering is in good condition, and is suitable to take treatment specified. Similarly, the costs of the repairs and renewals of any defects which are not visible at the time of estimating will be chargeable, unless allowance for such items is included.
1.5 Cancellation
In the event of cancellation by the client, the client agrees to notify Chicoco Decorating and Property Care in writing or by email 28 days before the project start date. In the event that Chicoco Decorating and Property Care are not notified of the cancellation, the client agrees to pay all of Chicoco Decorating and Property Care’s administration, lost work and scheduling costs amounting to no less than 15% of the total project cost.
If the customer elects to cancel our services after we have begun work, the customer agrees to pay all of Chicoco Decorating and Property Care’s administration, lost work, materials and scheduling costs amounting to no less than 50% of the total project cost. Postponement of scheduled works rather than cancellation is acceptable only if the rescheduled date is bona fide and within 5 weeks of the initial date scheduled. Should further postponement occur, you will be deemed to have cancelled our services and the cancellation levy will apply as above.
15.1 Exterior works
All exterior work is booked under assumption the weather conditions will be suitable upon the agreed date. Unfortunately, Chicoco Decorating and Property Care has no control over weather conditions and if unsuitable, work will not be carried out but will be started/resumed when best suitable or cancelled. Chicoco Decorating and Property Care assume no responsibility or liability for cancelling a job due to unforeseeable weather conditions and forward works diary commitments.
1.6 Materials
All necessary materials can and will be provided by us unless otherwise agreed and will always be of high quality and used in an appropriate manner as per the manufacturer's guidelines. Where it is necessary to match existing decor, our work will be carried out with this in mind, using appropriate materials that provide an exact match where possible. If an exact match will not be achievable, the client will be consulted. Chicoco Decorating and Property Care are not responsible for the performance or suitability of any materials, parts or products purchased directly by the client and allow Chicoco Decorating and Property Care to use these at their own risk.
1.7 Changes to your quote
Any quote or estimate is subject to revision, if a customer makes changes to their property or building after receiving a quote from Chicoco Decorating and Property Care, customers must let us know of all changes made as soon as possible, so that their quote can be revised. Any changes made without notifying us, may cause a delay in the work until a price has been agreed for any changes.
1.8 Completion timescales
Estimated completion times are guidelines and although we will endeavour to complete the work in the time frame intimated, we will not be held liable for failure to complete the scheduled works within the estimated time frame. Similarly, it may be that by employing extra resources we can finish a project more quickly than estimated. In which case the price of the quote will not change.
1.9 Storage of tools
We may on occasion request that tools be left on site overnight. The client reserves the right to decline such requests. Chicoco Decorating and Property Care will cover the insurance levy of all materials and tools left on site.
1.10 Validity period of quotations
Quotes are valid for 28 days from the date of issue.
1.11 Damages and sub-standard workmanship
It is the responsibility of the client to the following; Remove valuable and/or fragile items from the areas to be decorated. To remove pictures and other items hanging from the walls. To remove electrical goods from the areas where works will be carried out. To remove as much furniture as is practical or possible. Assistance can be provided with the repositioning and/or removal of bulky furniture items and goods. We reserve the right to decline to move goods if the condition is at risk of damage to the equipment or the property. We reserve the right to decline to move particularly heavy or bulky items if they present a higher than accepted health and safety risk. Where items cannot be covered or protected, but could easily have been removed, we will request that they are removed before work commences. We cannot be held liable for damage to such items if they are not removed.
Where any doubt exists as to the suitability and or structural soundness of any working platform such as balcony, flat roof etc. the client may be asked to provide professional evidence such as structural engineers report prior to works commencing. Where a roof of any type / style is to be used to gain access for external decoration works to Chicoco Decorating and Property Care accept no liability for any damage to have been caused as a result of utilising for access during the works.
Due to insurance regulations and safety procedures, the customer, other contractors, workers, children, pets, and individuals will not enter the quoted work area for prolonged periods of time unless agreed upon by both Chicoco Decorating and Property Care and the customer. If other contractors, workers, children, pets, or individuals are to be present during the duration of the scope of work, the customer shall not schedule or permit such activities that will interfere with or prevent the timely and successful completion of the work. Chicoco Decorating and Property Care shall not be held liable for any damage caused to its work by anyone other than Chicoco Decorating and Property Care and its employees. The customer agrees to compensate the contractor at the rate of £40 per man-hour plus materials to correct all such damage.
In the event of breakage or damage to the property, Chicoco Decorating and Property Care will notify the client immediately and set out steps to remedy the situation. Similarly, if at the end of the job the client is dissatisfied with any aspect of the service, they must inform us as soon as possible. Clients must allow Chicoco Decorating and Property Care to effect a remedy using our own tradespersons and under no circumstances will we be held liable for the costs of reparations by third parties that we have not expressly agreed to in writing. The client must notify Chicoco Decorating and Property Care, in writing within 24 hours of an alleged breakage or damage caused by our employees.
1.12 Additional work
We are in most cases happy to do small “favours” for our clients over and above our quotations however this is expressly done at your own risk and we will not accept any responsibility for any work undertaken that is not in your written quote, including loss or damage to persons or property.
1.13 Precautions
We will take every possible precaution to ensure that all vulnerable areas and any objects left in the work area are carefully and thoroughly covered and/or masked. However, there will always remain a very small risk of overspill or dust getting past these precautions. In the rare event of overspill, dust or other cosmetic damage, we will endeavour to ensure that it is satisfactorily cleaned.
1.14 Pre-existing damage
We may take photographs of your property or complete a pre-existing damage form prior to the start of the project. In the unlikely event that we do damage your property and this is a result of our negligence, you will be covered by our insurance for the full amount. However, claims that we can dispute with photo evidence or written agreement will incur a £50 charge per complaint to cover administration costs.
1.15 Payment of quoted and fixed price work
The client agrees to pay the invoice for completed work within 5 days after completion of the project. In the event that the client is unhappy with the standard of workmanship, the correct complaints procedure as shown in these terms and conditions must be followed. All materials purchased for, or on behalf of the client, remain the property of Chicoco Decorating and Property Care until payment of the final invoice by the client to Chicoco Decorating and Property Care. In the event of dispute, the client agrees to allow access to the property to a representative of Chicoco Decorating and Property Care to retrieve all materials that remain the property of the company. We are happy to provide invoices for businesses and individuals. However, payment is due within the time-scales as stated in the quotation and Terms and Conditions and the amount, unless amended by Chicoco Decorating and Property Care, is fixed in the quotation. Therefore, the client is liable for payment, regardless of whether an invoice has been received. A second copy of an invoice can be issued at a cost of £15 per invoice to cover administration costs.
1.16 Completion of the project
If Chicoco Decorating and Property Care deems it necessary, the client must be available on the last day of the project for consultation and final sign-off for the project. In the event that the client is unavailable, unless otherwise agreed in writing, the client accepts that the project has been completed to their satisfaction and payment in full is due.
1.17 Termination of the contract by Chicoco Decorating and Property Care
Chicoco Decorating and Property Care will not tolerate aggressive or rude behaviour, racism, nationalism; sexism, homophobia or ageism directed towards any of its staff or tradespersons from the client, associates or other tradesmen at the job site, by verbal, via email or telephone and reserves the right to terminate the project at any time in this event. This will be deemed a cancellation and the terms of clause 1.15 in these terms and conditions will apply.
SECTION 2 - PAYMENT
2.1 Payment methods
We accept Bank transfers or Cash for settlement of your account.
2.2 Payments to tradespersons
Our staff are not permitted to accept payment - to pay for your deposit or completed job, you must pay Chicoco Decorating and Property Care directly unless you have been given permission from one of our owners in the office through email or our contact number otherwise your account will remain outstanding until such time as Chicoco Decorating and Property Care receives payment directly.
If you pay any member of staff for either a deposit or completion of work, you will be in breach of your terms and conditions and an administrative charge of £50.00 will be charged.
2.3 Payment time scales
The client agrees to pay the invoice a maximum of 5 Days after submission of the project invoice. Chicoco Decorating and Property Care reserves the right to re-issue the invoice and request payment within 2 days of re-issue. Should the outstanding balance not be settled within the additional 2 days, Chicoco Decorating and Property Care reserve the right to apply an administration charge of £80.00 for each re-issue of invoices thereafter.
2.4 Unpaid accounts
In the event that Chicoco Decorating and Property Care cannot recover any outstanding amounts after a reasonable amount of time, we will employ the services of a debt collection agency. The client accepts that the debt collection agency will increase the outstanding amount to cover their costs - this fee is applied as soon as the debt is passed from Chicoco Decorating and Property Care to the debt collection agency and usually amounts to 33% of the cost of the invoice - it is therefore strongly in your interests to settle your invoice as soon as possible to avoid these extra costs. Once the debt passes from Chicoco Decorating and Property Care to the debt collection agency, we have no further involvement in the account and cannot reverse the process or any associated fees.
SECTION 3 - PRIVACY POLICY
3.1 We will never sell or otherwise pass on your contact details to any other company or third party, unless required to do so by law. When you contact us, your details may be retained to assist with your enquiry. Your details will be used for correspondence and may also for marketing purposes by Chicoco Decorating and Property Care. If you do not wish for your details to be used for marketing purposes, please contact us.
Chicoco Decorating and Property Care collects details about you from your use of our service and your visits to our web site and other sites accessible from them.
We may collect additional information in connection with your participation in any promotions or competitions offered by us and information you provide when giving us feedback. We also monitor customer traffic patterns and site use which enables us to improve the service we provide.
Access rights - To obtain a copy of the personal information Chicoco Decorating and Property Care holds about you, please write with full details to us at: Data Protection Officer, Chicoco Decorating and Property Care, Raleigh Barns & Stables, Mitchell, Newquay, TR8 5AT enclosing your cheque or postal order for £10 payable to Chicoco Decorating and Property Care.
3.1 Promotion and advertising
The customer hopefully authorises the Chicoco Decorating and Property Care to display a sign for the duration of the job, and to use photographs taken at the jobsite for display, promotion, and advertising, without compensation to the customer. This section will be void if not allowed by covenants, restrictions or customer discretion.
SECTION 4 - DISCOUNTS AND PROMOTIONS
4.1 From time-to-time Chicoco Decorating and Property Care run promotions and offers - these promotions and offers come with the following conditions:
Discount is limited to labour costs only on hourly rate jobs, half-daily rate jobs and daily rate jobs.
Materials costs are not included in the promotion.
Offer periods are limited - refer to the specific promotion for validity period.
Chicoco Decorating and Property Care reserves the right to withdraw any offer at any time
SECTION 5 – MATERIALS AND WARRANTY
5.1Manufacturers specifications
All materials will be applied and/or in installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
5.2 Warranty
Chicoco Decorating and Property Care warrants that all materials will be of industry standard or above. All product warranties will be extended to customer upon payment in full for work completed at the client's request. Chicoco Decorating and Property Care liability under a warranty claim shall not exceed the total price charged for the work performed. The client shall make warranty claims immediately upon discovering defect or performance problem. In the event that the substrate or any prior coating fails beneath what the contractor has installed and/or applied, the contractor will not be held liable for the failure of the substrate or any coating. Failure to comply with the terms, conditions, and payment schedule of this agreement will void all warranties.