Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions

Payment for website creation is divided into two phases:

Initial Deposit (50%)
- Due within 30 days of invoice issuance.
- Covers hosting, domain registration, software setup, and initial design.
- Non-refundable once payment is made.
- Includes a reasonable number of design alterations at Matlock Web Design’s discretion.
Final Payment (50%)
- Due upon website launch or 6 weeks from initial invoice date, whichever comes first.
- Failure to pay may result in project suspension or termination.

Contracts & Written Agreements:

A contract exists upon invoice issuance and agreement on the design.
Clients requiring a formal, written contract must request one before work begins. Matlock Web Design reserves the right to charge for this service.

We use third-party hosting services and reserve the right to change providers at our discretion.
Hosting fees are paid in advance and may fluctuate based on provider pricing.
SmartBuilder Websites:
- Cannot be transferred while retaining the SmartBuilder software.
- Clients may export certain content but will need to rebuild their website elsewhere.
Domains and hosting can be transferred, but clients will need to set up a new website on the new provider.

Clients may choose to update their website independently or request Matlock Web Design to manage updates:

Self-Managed Updates:
- Clients assume responsibility for any issues arising from incorrect changes.
- Assistance or repairs may incur a charge at £50 per hour.
Professional Updates by Matlock Web Design:
- Updates are charged at £50 per hour.
- Standard update completion time: 5 business days (unless stated otherwise).

Matlock Web Design provides basic SEO setup, but no guarantees are made regarding search rankings.
Clients may hire an external SEO specialist for further optimisation.
Google Analytics or other tracking tools will only be installed upon client request.

Client-Initiated Cancellation:
- Any unpaid fees or unbilled work must be settled within 14 days.
- The initial 50% deposit is non-refundable.
- Refunds for partially completed work (beyond the initial deposit) will be reviewed case by case.
Matlock Web Design-Initiated Cancellation:
- At least 30 days' notice will be given.
- Prepaid hosting beyond this period will be refunded on a prorated basis.
- Service may be suspended or terminated due to non-payment, misuse, or policy violations.

Client Ownership:
- Custom designs and client-provided content remain the intellectual property of the client after full payment.
- Domain names remain the client’s property as long as payments are maintained.
Matlock Web Design Ownership:
- Templates, databases, and scripting remain the property of Matlock Web Design.
- Cannot be modified or transferred without written consent.
Client Responsibility:
- Clients must ensure all supplied content (e.g., images, text, logos) complies with copyright laws.
- Matlock Web Design assumes no responsibility for legal issues arising from client-provided content.

Clients are responsible for safeguarding their login credentials.
Lost passwords may take up to 48 hours to reset, subject to third-party hosting policies.
Matlock Web Design is not liable for security breaches due to compromised client credentials.
Clients should regularly update passwords for enhanced security.

Client data is stored securely and only used for service provision.
We do not sell or share client data with third parties unless required by law.
Clients can request data deletion by contacting us directly.

Matlock Web Design reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or delete any website found to be:

Hosting illegal, offensive, or defamatory content.
Failing to comply with data protection laws.
Using server space for file sharing or storage unrelated to website functionality.
Hosting pornographic or unlawful material.
Non-payment of hosting/domain fees.

Clients are responsible for providing Cookie Policy and Terms & Conditions content.
Matlock Web Design does not automatically generate these pages unless instructed.
Clients are solely responsible for compliance with data protection and website policies.

Matlock Web Design reserves the right to modify these Terms & Conditions at any time.
Clients using our services agree to these terms by default.
Any disputes will be governed under UK law.