Terms & Conditions

1. Terms of Use

The information and services provided are subject to the terms of agreement between the Client and Design Direct. Design Direct may change these Terms and Conditions of Use, including the Privacy Policy, with or without notice. It is the Client's responsibility to review these Terms periodically. Continued use of the service constitutes acceptance of the changes.

2.1 Provide the Company with all necessary materials, including text, images, and other information, within a reasonable timescale.

2.2 Provide text and images in the format specified by the Company.

2.3 Review the Company’s work, provide feedback, and approve in a timely manner.

2.4 Adhere to agreed deadlines.

2.5 Follow the payment schedule outlined on the prices page or agreed separately for bespoke work.

2.6 Advise in advance of any confidential information and mark it as such in communications.

3.1 Carry out services professionally and in a timely manner.

3.2 Adhere to agreed deadlines.

3.3 Make reasonable revisions to the design, layout, and colors until the Client is satisfied (limited to 2 major revisions).

3.4 Charge separately for additional revisions or design work outside the project scope.

3.5 Complete requested website revisions or updates within 2 working days where possible.

3.6 Discuss website maintenance, support, and hosting options with the Client.

4.1 Design Direct requires the Client’s contact details (Name, Address, and Telephone Number) to start a project. Address proof is mandatory to make the website live.

4.2 Work begins only after the Client agrees to the terms and conditions and makes the initial payment.

4.3 Work is carried out only after a verbal or written agreement is reached between the Client and the Company.

4.4 Design Direct works only with Clients aged 18 or above.

4.5 Quotations remain valid for 15 days from the date of proposal unless otherwise specified.

4.6 The minimum period for ongoing website services is 12 months.

4.7 A 50% deposit is required to start work, with the final 50% payment due upon completion.

5.1 Design Direct ensures the website is free of errors but is not responsible for losses due to malfunctions.

5.2 Scripts, graphics, and software remain the property of Design Direct until full payment is made.

5.3 Design Direct is not responsible for copyright infringements caused by materials submitted by the Client.

5.4 The Client must provide proof of permission for any copyrighted material.

5.5 The Client guarantees that all materials provided are owned or permitted for use.

5.6 The Client agrees to indemnify Design Direct against claims arising from the use of provided materials.

5.7 Design Direct uses a maximum of 10 images (worth up to £18) from its database. Additional images must be provided by the Client.

5.8 The Client must approve all images before the site goes live.

5.9 The Client must provide all required materials within 10 days. Failure to do so may result in project cancellation.

6.1 Design Direct is not liable for disputes between the site owner and third parties.

6.2 Design Direct is not liable for costs incurred due to work carried out on behalf of the Client.

6.3 Design Direct is not liable for costs incurred due to the unavailability of the site or its servers.

6.4 The Client must supply all necessary materials, including third-party software and applications.

6.5 The Client is responsible for fees related to third-party software, applications, and advertising campaigns.

6.6 Design Direct provides integration with third-party software for an additional cost.

7.1 Design Direct is not responsible for losses incurred by the use of any software created for the Client.

7.2 The Client must provide a suitable testing environment for large applications.

7.3 The Client is expected to fully test any application or program before it goes live.

7.4 Design Direct will correct any bugs or errors found after the site goes live, as per the agreed standards.

8.1 The Client must pay 30% of the total project cost to obtain the source code or move hosting to another provider.

8.2 Design Direct does not provide support for third-party hosting platforms.

8.3 Once payment is made, Design Direct will provide a downloadable link for all files, including the database.

8.4 If Design Direct dissolves or stops trading, the source code will be provided free of charge.

Design Direct is not responsible for backups. The Client must arrange for backups, which can be provided by Design Direct for a nominal fee.

Design Direct provides free support for bug fixes for 3 months after the site goes live. After 3 months, all services are charged.

11.1 The Client retains copyright to data files and graphic logos provided by them.

11.2 Design Direct retains copyright to markup, CSS files, and other code until full payment is made.

11.3 The Client is responsible for granting Design Direct permission to use provided materials.

11.4 The Client must provide evidence of permissions for any copyrighted materials.

11.5 The Client is responsible for obtaining all necessary intellectual property rights.

11.6 Design Direct will not copy or duplicate the business model or software created for any Client.

12.1 Design Direct offers hosting services but cannot guarantee uninterrupted service.

12.2 Design Direct is not liable for losses caused by the unavailability or malfunction of hosting services.

13.1 Hosting renewal includes domain renewal if necessary.

13.2 If the domain is not renewed, it becomes available for public purchase.

13.3 Hosting renewal is due annually from the date of purchase.

13.4 Hosting will not be renewed if the Client does not request renewal or cannot be contacted.

14.1 Hosting renewal charges must be paid within 30 days of the expiry date. Failure to pay may result in website deactivation.

14.2 The Client can set up to 5 free emails during the first year of hosting. Additional emails are charged at £5 each.

14.3 Disk space beyond 2GB is charged at £18/GB.

14.4 Design Direct reserves the right to refuse to handle offensive, illegal, or controversial material.

Design Direct charges £80 + VAT (minimum 4 hours) for setting up the site on a third-party server and 30% of the total quote for providing the source code. No technical support is provided for third-party servers.

16.1 The Client must cooperate with Design Direct and provide necessary resources.

16.2 The Client must provide a qualified staff member to act on their behalf.

16.3 The Client must provide information, data, and access to facilities as required.

16.4 The Client must provide proof of address and a landline number to verify UK postal address.

17.1 Design Direct provides 30 days of testing for resolving human errors. After this period, the contract is considered fulfilled.

17.2 Any changes after the testing stage are charged separately.

17.3 Design Direct offers a hosting and maintenance package for basic changes.

17.4 Free support and maintenance (excluding changes) are provided for 1 year if the Client allows Design Direct’s logo/link on the website.

18.1 Design Direct will notify the Client of any major or minor software upgrades.

18.2 Urgent upgrades affecting website functionality will be charged extra.

18.3 Minor upgrades are left to the Client’s discretion and are charged extra.

Design Direct ensures that the website functions correctly on the server and is compatible with major web browsers.

20.1 Design Direct provides regular website testing for one month after the site goes live. After this period, testing is the Client’s responsibility.

20.2 Continued testing by Design Direct is available at an additional cost.

21.1 Design Direct cannot guarantee specific search engine rankings due to external factors.

21.2 Design Direct uses ‘white hat techniques’ for SEO but does not guarantee top rankings within six months.

21.3 SEO services require payment in advance and are non-refundable.

21.4 Performance and analytics reports are provided fortnightly.

21.5 Basic SEO is included, but advanced SEO may be required for competitive keywords.

21.6 SEO results may take up to six months to show significant improvements.

21.7 Design Direct has a dedicated SEO team with extensive experience.

22.1 Design Direct can perform data entry work for an additional cost.

22.2 Data entry on CMS websites is done only if mutually agreed upon.

23.1 Full refunds are available only if initial designs are not accepted. Once designs are approved, only 50% of the initial payment is refundable before programming begins. No refunds are provided in the final stages unless there are unresolved technical issues.

23.2 Additional costs apply for changes outside the agreed development scope.

The Client agrees to indemnify Design Direct against all losses, costs, claims, damages, or liabilities arising from third-party legal actions related to intellectual property rights infringement.

25.1 Design Direct charges for content editing requested more than 30 days after the site goes live.

25.2 Payments can be made by cheque, cash, electronic transfer, or third-party payment gateways like PayPal.

25.3 Late payments incur interest as per the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

25.4 A deposit is required before work begins. Outstanding payments must be settled within 30 days of the invoice.

25.5 Failure to pay may result in website access denial and legal action.

25.6 Design Direct requires a 50% deposit to start work, with the final 50% due upon completion.

25.7 Deposits are non-refundable after 14 days of project commencement.

25.8 Late payment fees apply to final invoices not paid within 30 days.

Design Direct does not share or sell Client details with third parties without permission. Communications are limited to work-related matters.

27.1 Informal complaints should be raised via the online contact form, providing sufficient details.

27.2 Formal complaints must be submitted in writing. Design Direct will acknowledge receipt and respond within 30 days.

28.1 Design Direct may terminate the agreement for non-payment or breach of terms.

28.2 The Client may terminate the account if technical issues are unresolved within a reasonable time, with a refund for unused services.

28.3 On termination, Design Direct may block the website and remove all data after 7 days.

28.4 Design Direct may suspend websites causing disruptive service to other Clients.