Legal

Service terms

These terms apply where Elliot Farrow trading as Mercian Digital (“Mercian Digital”) accepts a website project or hosting/support engagement. A proposal, quotation or written scope may add to or vary these terms.

1. Scope and proposals

The agreed project scope, deliverables, price and anticipated timing will be confirmed in writing before work starts. Work outside that scope requires a separate written agreement or quotation.

2. Website project payments

Unless agreed otherwise in writing, website projects use staged payments: 30% deposit to begin; 35% after approval of the design direction and content structure; and 35% after final approval and before launch. Invoices are due within 7 calendar days.

3. Deposit and cancellation

The 30% deposit becomes non-refundable once work has begun. If the client cancels after work starts, Mercian Digital will not charge for additional work already completed beyond the deposit unless a separate charge was expressly agreed in advance.

4. Client responsibilities

The client must provide accurate business information, service details, branding, project imagery and other materials reasonably required for the work. The client is responsible for ensuring it has the right to use supplied text, images, logos and other materials.

5. Content

Mercian Digital may structure, edit and write website copy as part of the agreed project. The client remains responsible for checking that factual claims, prices, qualifications, accreditations, service areas and other business information are accurate before launch.

6. Revisions and changes

Two rounds of revisions are included within the agreed scope. Further revisions, new functionality, additional pages or other change requests may be quoted separately.

7. Timelines and delays

Typical website delivery is 2–4 weeks, but this is an estimate rather than a guarantee. Delays in client content, feedback, approvals, third-party services or unusual technical requirements may affect the launch date.

8. Third-party services

Domains, hosting platforms, email providers, form services and other third-party products are subject to their own terms, availability and pricing. Mercian Digital is not responsible for outages or changes outside its reasonable control.

9. Domains

The client should register and remain the owner of its domain. The client will provide Mercian Digital with the access reasonably needed to configure the domain for the website.

10. Ownership and intellectual property

Once all project invoices are paid, the client owns the completed project-specific website design and code, together with content owned by the client or created specifically for the client under the agreed scope. Mercian Digital retains ownership of its pre-existing tools, reusable code, processes, methods, templates and know-how.

11. Portfolio rights

Mercian Digital may display completed client work in its website, portfolio, proposals, case studies and other marketing after launch, unless a different written arrangement is agreed.

12. Acceptance and launch

The client must review the website and raise material issues during the agreed review process. The final 35% project payment is due after final approval and before public launch.

13. Hosting and support

Where selected, hosting and support costs £99 per month and is billed monthly in advance. The service has a three-month minimum term and then continues monthly until cancelled with 30 days’ notice. It includes managed hosting, SSL, backups, uptime monitoring, technical maintenance, email support and up to 30 minutes of minor content changes per month. Unused change time does not roll over unless agreed otherwise.

14. Leaving hosting

After the minimum term, a client leaving Mercian Digital hosting will be provided with a copy of its completed website files once outstanding invoices are paid. Hands-on migration or configuration work for another provider is quoted separately.

15. Payment and suspension

Invoices are due within 7 calendar days. Mercian Digital may pause project work, support or hosting where an invoice is overdue, subject to reasonable notice and applicable law.

16. Warranties and maintenance

Mercian Digital will use reasonable care and skill in providing the agreed services. Unless hosting/support or another maintenance service is agreed, ongoing updates, future browser changes, third-party changes and new feature requests are not included after completion.

17. Liability

Nothing in these terms excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded. Any contractual limits on liability should be confirmed in the project proposal and professionally reviewed for suitability to the circumstances.

18. Termination

Either party may terminate ongoing services in accordance with the agreed minimum term and notice provisions. Mercian Digital may terminate or suspend services for serious breach, unlawful use, abuse or persistent non-payment, subject to applicable law.

19. Disputes

The parties should first try to resolve disputes through direct written communication. If that does not resolve the matter, either party may consider mediation or other appropriate dispute-resolution steps before litigation.

20. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory rights that apply.

21. Contact

Elliot Farrow trading as Mercian Digital, 20 Oxlip Row, Droitwich, WR9 7TS. Email: [email protected].

Last updated: 25 September 2026.