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Membership terms and conditions

Application of Conditions

The Supplier shall supply and the Customer shall purchase the Goods and Services in accordance with the specification schedule and/or accepted order which are subject to these Conditions.

The Contract shall be to the exclusion of any other terms and conditions subject to which any such quotation is accepted or purported to be accepted, or any such order is made or purported to be made, by the Customer.

Definitions and Interpretation

In these Conditions:-
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday;
“the Customer” means the person who accepts a quotation or offer of the Supplier for the sale of the Goods and supply of the Services, or whose order for the Goods and Services is accepted by the Supplier;
“Commencement Date” means the commencement date for this agreement as set out in the specification schedule and/or accepted order;
“the Contract” means the contract for the purchase and sale of the Goods and supply of the Services under these conditions;
“these Conditions” means the standard terms and conditions of sale set out in this document and (unless the context otherwise requires) includes any special terms and conditions agreed in writing between the Customer and the Supplier;
“the Delivery Date” means the date on which the Goods and Services are to be delivered as stipulated in the Customer’s order and accepted by the Supplier;
“the Goods” means the goods (including any instalment of the goods or any parts for them) which the Supplier is to supply in accordance with these Conditions;
“month” means a calendar month;
“the Services” means the Services to be provided to the Customer as set out in the specification schedule and/or accepted order;
“the Supplier” means Socitm, a company registered in England, Company number 04396808 or Socitm Commercial Limited, a company registered in England, Company number 14547420;
“writing” includes any communications effected by telex, facsimile transmission, electronic mail or any comparable means.

Any reference in these Conditions to a statute or a provision of a statute shall be construed as a reference to that statute or provision as amended, re-enacted or extended at the relevant time.

The headings in these Conditions are for convenience only and shall not affect their interpretation.

Basis of Sale and Service

The Supplier’s employees or agents are not authorised to make any representations concerning the Goods and Services unless confirmed by the Supplier in writing. In entering into the Contract the Customer acknowledges that it does not rely on, and waives any claim for breach of, any such representations which are not so confirmed. No variation to these Conditions shall be binding unless agreed in writing between the authorised representatives of the Customer and the Supplier.

Sales literature, price lists and other documents issued by the Supplier in relation to the Goods and Services are subject to alteration without notice and do not constitute offers to sell the Goods which are capable of acceptance. An order placed by the Customer may not be withdrawn cancelled or altered prior to acceptance by the Supplier and no contract for the sale of the Goods and Services shall be binding on the Supplier unless the Supplier has issued a quotation which is expressed to be an offer to sell the goods and services or has accepted an order placed by the Customer by whichever is the earlier of:-the Supplier’s written acceptance; delivery of the Goods; or the Supplier’s invoice.

Any typographical, clerical or other accidental errors or omissions in any sales literature, quotation, price list, acceptance of offer, invoice or other document or information issued by the Supplier shall be subject to correction without any liability on the part of the Supplier.

The Goods

No order submitted by the Customer shall be deemed to be accepted by the Supplier unless and until confirmed in writing by the Supplier’s authorised representative.

The specification for the Goods shall be those set out in the Supplier’s sales documentation unless varied expressly in the Customer’s order (if accepted by the Supplier). The Goods will only be supplied in the minimum units (or multiples) stated in the Supplier’s price list or in multiples of the sales outer as specified.

Orders received for quantities other than these will be adjusted accordingly, illustrations, photographs or descriptions whether in catalogues, brochures, price lists or other documents issued by the Supplier are intended as a guide only and shall not be binding on the Supplier.

The Supplier reserves the right to make any changes in the specification of the Goods which do not materially affect their quality or performance. No order which has been accepted by the Supplier may be cancelled by the Customer except with the agreement in writing of the Supplier on the terms that the Customer shall indemnify the Supplier in full against all loss (including loss of profit), costs (including the cost of all labour and materials used), damages, charges and expenses incurred by the Supplier as a result of cancellation.

The Services

With effect from the Commencement Date the Supplier shall, in consideration of the Fees being paid in accordance with the Terms of Payment will provide the services expressly identified in the quotation, specification schedule and/ or accepted order or otherwise agreed under this agreement. The Supplier will use reasonable care and skill to perform the services identified in the quotation, specification schedule and/ or accepted order or otherwise agreed under this agreement. The Supplier shall use all reasonable endeavours to complete its obligations under the Schedule, but time will not be of the essence in the performance of these obligations.

Price

The price of the Goods and Services shall be the price listed in the quotation, specification schedule and/ or accepted order current at the date of acceptance of the Customer’s order or such other price as may be agreed in writing by the Supplier and the Customer. The Supplier reserves the right, by giving notice to the Customer at any time before delivery, to increase the price of the Goods and Services to reflect any increase in the cost to the Supplier which is due to any factor beyond the control of the Supplier.

Except as otherwise stated under the terms of any quotation, specification schedule and/ or accepted order or in any price list of the Supplier, and unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Customer and the Supplier, all prices are inclusive of the Supplier’s charges for packaging and transport as specified in the quotation, specification schedule and/ or accepted order. The price is exclusive of any applicable value added tax excise, sales or taxes or levies of a similar nature which are imposed or charged by any competent fiscal authority in respect of the Goods and Services, which the Customer shall be additionally liable to pay to the Supplier.

Payment

All payments required to be made pursuant to this Agreement by either party shall be made within 30 days of the date of the relevant invoice, without any set-off, withholding or deduction except such amount (if any) of tax as that party is required to deduct or withhold by law.
The time of payment shall be of the essence of these terms and conditions. If the Customer fails to make any payment on the due date in respect of the price or any other sum due under these terms and conditions then the Supplier shall, without prejudice to any right which the Supplier may have pursuant to any statutory provision in force from time to time, have the right to charge the Customer interest on a daily basis at an annual rate equal to the aggregate of 5 per cent and the base rate of the Bank of England from time to time on any sum due and not paid on the due date. All payments shall be made to the Supplier as indicated on the form of acceptance or invoice issued by the Supplier.

Delivery and Performance

Delivery of the Goods shall be made by the Supplier delivering the Goods to the place in the United Kingdom specified in the quotation, specification schedule and/ or accepted order. The Delivery Date is approximate only and time for delivery shall not be of the essence unless previously agreed by the Supplier in writing.

If the Customer fails to take delivery of the Goods or any part of them on the Delivery Date and/or fails to provide any instructions, documents, licences, consents or authorisations required to enable the Goods to be delivered on that date, the Supplier shall be entitled upon given written notice to the Customer to store or arrange for the storage of the Goods and then notwithstanding the provision of Condition 10.1 of these Conditions risk in the Goods shall pass to the Customer, delivery shall be deemed to have taken place and the Customer shall pay to the Supplier all costs and expenses including storage and insurance charges arising from such failure.

Non-Delivery of Goods and Services

If the Supplier fails to deliver the Goods or Services and any of them on the Delivery Date other than for reasons outside the Supplier’s reasonable control or the Customer’s or its carrier’s fault: -if the Supplier delivers the Goods and Services at any time thereafter the Supplier shall have no liability in respect of such late delivery;

Risk and Retention of Title

Risk of damage to or loss of the Goods shall pass to the Customer at: the time of delivery or, if the Customer wrongfully fails to take delivery of the Goods, the time when the Supplier has tendered delivery of the Goods; Notwithstanding delivery and the passing of risk in the Goods, or any other provision of these Conditions, legal and beneficial title of the Goods shall not pass to the Customer until the Supplier has received in cash or cleared funds payment in full of the price of the Goods.

Until payment has been made to the Supplier in accordance with these Conditions and title in the Goods has passed to the Customer, the Customer shall be in possession of the Goods as bailee for the Supplier and the Customer shall store the Goods separately and in an appropriate environment, shall ensure that they are identifiable as being supplied by the Supplier and shall insure the Goods against all reasonable risks.
The Supplier reserves the right to repossess any Goods in which the Supplier retains title without notice. The Customer irrevocably authorises the Supplier to enter the Customer’s premises during normal business hours for the purpose of repossessing the Goods in which the Supplier retains title and inspecting the Goods to ensure compliance with the storage and identification requirements of sub-clause 10.4. The Customer’s right to possession of the Goods in which the Supplier maintains legal and beneficial title shall terminate if the Customer commits or permits any material breach of his obligations under these Conditions;

Assignment

The Supplier may assign the Contract or any part of it to any person, firm or company. The Customer shall not be entitled to assign the Contract or any part of it without the prior written consent of the Supplier.

Defective Goods

If on delivery any of the Goods are defective in any material respect and either the Customer lawfully refuses delivery of the defective Goods or, if they are signed for on delivery “condition and contents unknown” the Customer gives written notice of such defect to the Supplier within three business days of such delivery, the Supplier shall at its option:-replace the defective Goods within 14 days of receiving the Customer’s notice; or refund to the Customer the price for the goods which are defective; but the Supplier shall have no further liability to the Customer in respect thereof and the Customer may not reject the Goods if delivery is not refused or notice give by the Customer as aforesaid. No Goods may be returned to the Supplier without the prior agreement in writing of the Supplier.

Subject thereto any Goods returned which the Supplier is satisfied were supplied subject to defects of quality or condition which would not be apparent on inspection shall either be replaced free of charge or, at the Supplier’s sole discretion the Supplier shall refund or credit to the Customer the price of such defective Goods but the Supplier shall have no further liability to the Customer. The Supplier shall be under no liability in respect of any defect arising from fair wear and tear, or any wilful damage, negligence, subjection to normal conditions, failure to follow the Supplier’s instructions (whether oral or in writing), misuse or alteration of the Goods without the Supplier’s approval, or any other act or omission on the part of the Customer, its employees or agents or any third party. Goods, other than defective Goods returned under Conditions 12.1 or 12.2, returned by the Customer and accepted by the Supplier may be credited to the Customer at the Supplier’s sole discretion and without any obligation on the part of the Supplier.

Subject as expressly provided in these Conditions, and except where the Goods are sold under a consumer sale, all warranties, conditions or other terms implied by statute or common law are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Customer shall be responsible to ensure that, except to the extent that instructions as to the use or sale of the Goods are contained in the packaging or labelling of the Goods, any use or sale of the Goods by the Customer is in compliance with all applicable statutory handling and sale of the Goods by the Customer is carried out in accordance with directions given by the Supplier or any competent governmental or regulatory authority and the Customer will indemnify the Supplier against any liability loss or damage which the Supplier might suffer as a result of the Customer’s failure to comply with this condition.

Customer’s Default

If the Customer fails to make any payment on the due date then, without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to the Supplier, the Supplier shall be entitled to:- cancel the order or suspend any further deliveries of Goods and Services to the Customer; appropriate any payment made by the Customer to such of the Goods and Services (or the goods supplied under any other contract between the Customer and the Supplier) as the Supplier may think fit (notwithstanding any purported appropriation by the Customer); and

This condition applies if:- the Customer fails to perform or observe any of its obligations hereunder or is otherwise in breach of the Contract; or the Customer becomes subject to an administration order or makes any voluntary arrangement with its creditors (within the meaning of the Insolvency Act 1986) or (being an individual or firm) becomes bankrupt or (being a company) goes into liquidation; or an encumbrancer takes possession, or a receiver is appointed, of any of the property or assets of the Customer; or the Customer ceases, or threatens to cease, to carry on business; or the Supplier reasonably apprehends that any of the events mentioned above is about to occur in relation to the Customer and notifies the Customer accordingly. If Condition 13.2 applies then, without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to the Supplier, the Supplier shall be entitled
to cancel the Contract or suspend any further deliveries under the Contract without any liability to the Customer, and if the Goods have been delivered but not paid for the price shall become immediately due and payable notwithstanding any previous agreement or arrangement to the contrary.

Liability

Except in respect of death or personal injury caused by the Company’s negligence, the Company will not by reason of any representation, implied warranty, condition or other term, or any duty at common law or under express terms of this contract, be liable for any loss of profit or any indirect, special or consequential loss, damage, costs, expenses or other claims (whether caused by the Company’s servants or agents or otherwise) which arise out of or in connection with the supply of the Goods and Services.

The Customer shall indemnify the Supplier against all damages, costs, claims and expenses suffered by arising from loss or damage to any equipment (including that of third parties) caused by the Customer, or its agent or employees. Where the Customer consists of two or more persons such expression throughout shall mean and include such two or more persons and each or any of them.

All obligations on the part of such a Customer shall be joint and several obligations of such persons. The Supplier shall not be liable to the Customer or be deemed to be in breach of these terms and conditions by reason of any delay in performing, or any failure to perform, any of the Supplier’s obligations if the delay or failure was due to any cause beyond the Supplier’s reasonable control.

Communications

All communications between the parties about the Contract shall be in writing and delivered by hand or sent by pre-paid first class post or sent by fax or sent by electronic mail: (in the case of communications to the Supplier) to its registered office or such changed address as shall be notified to the Customer by the Supplier; or (in the case of the communications to the Customer) to the registered office of the addressee (if it is a company) or (in any other case) to any address of the Customer set out in any document which forms part of the Contract or such other address as shall be notified to the Supplier by the Customer. Communications shall be deemed to have been received: if sent by pre-paid first class post, two Business Days after posting (exclusive of the day of posting); or if delivered by hand, on the day of delivery; or if sent by fax or electronic mail on a Business Day prior to 4.00 pm, at the time of transmission and otherwise on the next Business Day.

Force Majeure

In the event that either party is prevented from fulfilling its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any supervening event beyond its control including but not limited to war, national emergency, flood, earthquake, strike or lockout (subject to Sub-clause 16.2) the party shall not be deemed to be in breach of its obligations under this Agreement. The party shall immediately give notice of this to the other party and must take all reasonable steps to resume performance of its obligations. Sub-clause 16.1 shall not apply with respect to strikes and lockouts where such action has been induced by the party so incapacitated. Each party shall be liable to pay to the other damages for any breach of this Agreement and all expenses and costs incurred by that party in enforcing its rights under this Agreement. If and when the period of such incapacity exceeds 6 months then this Agreement shall automatically terminate unless the parties first agree otherwise in writing.

Waiver

No waiver by the Supplier of any breach of the Contract by the Customer shall be considered as a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other provision.

Severance

If any provision of these Conditions is held by any competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part the validity of the other provisions of these Conditions and the remainder of the provision in question shall not be affected thereby.

Third Party Rights

A person who is not a party to the Contract shall have no rights under the Contract pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales and the parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English and Welsh courts.