Terms and Conditions
Please find detailed below our standard terms and conditions, which set out the basis upon which HELLIS tree consultants will carry out the work on your behalf.
General
HELLIS tree consultants are an arboricultural consultancy practice.
Our contact details are:
¼ HELLIS tree consultants, 4 Bangers, Oborne, Dorset. DT9 4JZ
¼ telephone: 01935 814110.
¼ email: admin@hellis.biz
If you have any queries or complaints about the way in which your work is being handled, please contact the fee earner dealing with your work.
We try to avoid changing the person dealing with your work mid-stream. If we have to do that, we will try to make sure you know as soon as possible, and let you know the reason for the change. We will only allocate someone to your work who is appropriately experienced and qualified to carry out that work.
The person dealing with your matter is Nicholas Hellis.
Nick’s contact details are:
¼ Nick Hellis, 4 Bangers, Oborne, Dorset. DT9 4JZ
¼ mobile: 07799 662950
¼ email: nick.hellis@hellis.biz
Costs
We charge on a time basis, this is based on an hourly fee of £60. Our charges include advice and information provided to you, attending meetings, dealing with documents, correspondence etc.
Sometimes we will deal with a matter for you on a fixed fee basis, and we will provide a quotation of the costs involved. We will let you know as the work progresses whether this quotation needs to be revised. This will happen if, for example, the scope of the initial work changes or any complications arise. You will of course be advised of any changes.
In addition to the above, we will also charge for expenses we incur on your behalf such as travel costs, overnight accommodation, experts’ fees, etc and will give you an estimate of these charges.
We do not ask for money on account. However, if the work becomes protracted, we may need to ask for such a payment.
Amendment of Rates
Our hourly fees are reviewed annually. We will let you know if there are any changes that affect you.
Time Recording
As arboricultural consultants we sell our time and expertise. Time is therefore very important to us and to you as the client. Time spent on your file is recorded in units of five minutes, and fractional units are rounded up or down to the nearest whole unit.
Please remember that we have to prepare for meetings by reading through relevant documents and background materials and that we make notes of telephone calls and meetings that we have with you. We also charge for travelling time and waiting time at the same rate (as detailed above).
Bills
We will usually issue bills on a monthly basis. Where a project has been going on for some time we may issue interim bills, which are payable as set out below.
We issue separate bills on separate pieces of work we are doing for you.
Payment of our bills is due on completion of a matter or within 28 days of us sending the bill to you, whichever is the earlier. We reserve the right to charge interest on late payment. This letter is written on the basis that you are our client and or its agent to whom we will look for payment of our fees.
How You Can Help Us
We prefer that you communicate with us via phone or e-mail.
We understand that (name and address of client) will be our primary contact for communication and that we can properly act on your instructions, whether oral or written. Please let us know if, in the interests of confidentiality, you have any specific requirements.
Disclosure
We are committed to providing a high quality service. Our performance, practices and procedures are monitored regularly and our files (which include yours) are audited. For your information the audit is privileged and confidential. We reserve the right to allow your file to be audited.
Data Protection
Any information that you provide to us is treated as confidential. We do not disclose your information to anyone else unless we have your express consent, unless of course we have a legitimate reason to do so.
Storage of Documents
We store your files after they have closed for a period of five years.
Termination of Instructions
You may terminate your instructions to us in writing at any time for any reason. We reserve the right to stop acting for you on giving you reasonable notice of such intention. Notwithstanding who decides to terminate the retainer, our charges will remain as outlined above or as stated in any separate correspondence.
Acceptance
Please acknowledge the receipt and acceptance of these terms by, in writing, either by email or by letter, if you wish to proceed.