Web development
Terms and Conditions
Introduction
At our core, we believe every business is unique, and we thrive on bringing this uniqueness to life through custom functionalities and developments. We don't just build websites; we create comprehensive systems that encompass public-facing websites and backend functionalities designed to enhance sales processes, e-commerce, customer data management, and business operations.
We understand that our clients are experts in their fields, but when it comes to web and system development, it's our turn to lead. Requests based on limited knowledge in these areas might not always lead to the desired outcomes, not through any fault of our clients but due to the specialised nature of our work.
Ensuring success
To ensure success, we engage in an in-depth understanding of your business, tailor the content and communication strategies accordingly, and propose well-thought-through solutions. We provide professional solutions, custom features and designs, and professional hosting, tailored to your specific needs.
Client responsibilities and cooperation
Your involvement is critical. This encompasses:
- Cooperation: Your thoughtful consideration of content, willingness to learn the systems we develop, and timely responses to our queries are vital. Your active participation shapes the project's success.
- Prompt responses: To maintain momentum and adhere to the project timeline, we rely on your quick and meaningful feedback to our inquiries. A response or acknowledgment within two working days is essential.
- Openness to learning: The tools and systems we create are bespoke, necessitating a learning curve. While we offer comprehensive training, extra support might incur additional costs.
- Acceptance or discussion of our advice: Our recommendations are made with your best interest in mind, backed by years of expertise. We encourage open discussions to ensure you understand the rationale behind our advice.
- Commitment to the process: Detailed discussions and decision-making throughout the project are crucial for refining your vision into the final product. We need your input and dedication to the process.
- Testing: Given that the systems we develop are entirely bespoke, your involvement in the testing process is crucial. We will first present each unique system or any modifications, whether small or significant, in a test environment for your review. While we make every effort to deliver a bug-free and flawless final product, the final decision to publish and any responsibility for the outcome rest solely with you as the client. This remains true whether we are launching an entirely new system or simply making changes to an existing one.
Clear communication and information submission
We value clear and effective communication to ensure the success of your project. Please ensure all information and requests are well-thought-through and clearly articulated. Before submitting, we kindly ask that you review your communications, as this helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures that we can proceed efficiently and effectively. Thoughtful preparation and review of the information you provide are crucial for us to fully understand and meet your project's needs.
Client Responsibilities for Content Submission
Efficient content management is crucial for the timely and cost-effective completion of your project. To streamline our workflow and reduce excessive communication, we have set forth the following guidelines for content submission:
- Consolidated Submissions: We require that all content, including text, images, and other information, be sent in a well-organised manner. Instead of multiple emails, please consolidate your materials into as few batches as possible. This significantly reduces the time spent sorting and integrating content into your project.
- Structured Delivery: To avoid the dispersal of content across numerous emails, which can lead to a disorganised process, we request that all content for predetermined pages be sent together. This helps us maintain focus and efficiency in executing your vision.
- Limit on Revisions: While we understand the need for revisions, to keep the project on track and within scope, we allow a maximum of three revisions per delivered content batch. These revisions should focus on minor edits and clarifications rather than complete overhauls of the submitted materials.
Your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines is vital for a smooth and successful project completion. We appreciate your commitment to organising your content submissions as it helps us serve you better and faster.
Consequences of delays
If project timelines are affected due to delays in response or content submission from the client, the client agrees to accept an invoice for the work completed up to that point. This ensures that the resources allocated to the project are acknowledged and compensated fairly.
What we discourage
- Insisting on a solution against our advice: Our expertise guides us in recommending the best solutions. Ignoring our advice could lead to issues such as compatibility problems, security vulnerabilities, or future scalability concerns.
- "I want to edit everything myself": Web editing requires expertise. We can develop dedicated functionalities for content editing to ensure your website remains functional and error-free.
- DIY solutions: The professional skills required for web development mean that acting without our advice can lead to unexpected costs or low-quality results.
Our goal is to make your digital presence as impactful and efficient as possible. Adhering to these terms and conditions sets the stage for a successful partnership, ensuring your business not only stands out online but thrives.
Please take note of the following:
All systems and websites periodically require updates. The regularity of these updates depends on several factors.
Updates may be necessary in the following scenarios:
- Before the development of new features:
Particularly if integrating new features in the existing system would entail significantly more effort; - If the system utilises services from third-party providers:
Changes at these providers may necessitate adjustments to your own system to ensure it remains functional; - The overall condition of the system:
If a system has been operating for several years without fundamental updates, it might be time for a comprehensive system overhaul.
What are the consequences of not updating a website or system as frequently as recommended?
- The vulnerability of the system increases. Although this is not a significant issue for bespoke systems we build, a complete update is advisable every three years.
- Over time, content updates, the introduction of new features, and minor adjustments can become economically inefficient. Typically, updating a system means that new features can be developed more quickly than in an outdated system.
- Errors may emerge in the existing system or website. This is because servers continuously undergo updates in the background, and some solutions may become obsolete or phased out for security reasons. After several years, these factors can lead to compatibility issues. This is a natural outcome of the ever-evolving IT landscape. The errors that arise from these processes are not flaws in our system, but rather the result of ongoing IT developments.
Malfunctions, system errors
There are instances when a system may malfunction. This could be due to an inherent bug that was initially overlooked or due to the scenarios mentioned earlier.
We would like to outline that if we need to address an issue not caused by our own error, but rather due to any update stemming from external factors that, if unaddressed, would impair the system’s proper functioning, we will charge a fee based on an hourly rate. The specific hourly rate will be determined by our individual agreement with the client.
We will, of course, rectify any software faults or bugs that occur due to our errors during development free of charge.
Client’s long-term responsibilities
Domain registration accounts
If the domain is registered by the client (i.e., not through our services), maintaining their domain registrar account is the client’s sole responsibility. It is vital for the client to keep up-to-date payment details and to actively monitor the email address associated with their domain registration account to avoid any interruptions in service. Failure to properly manage domain registration and renewal may result in the disruption of related services, for which we cannot be held responsible.
Compliance with legal changes
Clients are responsible for ensuring that their website remains compliant with all applicable laws and regulations. This includes adapting to legislative changes, such as updates to data protection laws like GDPR. Clients must inform us of any legal modifications requiring updates to their website. As we are not legal experts, we do not monitor ongoing legal changes. Updates needed due to legal compliance are the client's responsibility to identify. Upon notification, we will implement the necessary changes, which will be billed at our standard rates.
Email settings
If we are providing both hosting and email services to the client, the client must accept the following terms:
Since we grant the client full access to the hosting cPanel account, they will have the ability to create their own email addresses. However, as clients are typically less familiar with this process, we offer a courtesy service whereby we set up their initial email addresses and passwords. Please note that the passwords are generated by us to meet the security requirements enforced by the cPanel.
Clients can access their webmail via: https://yourdomain.com/webmail.
While we provide all necessary information for setting up email accounts on various devices, configuring emails on individual devices (e.g., laptops, phones) remains the client’s responsibility. We are unable to offer assistance with these configurations.
SEO (search engine optimisation)
While a website may be fully functional and visually appealing, this alone does not ensure that it will appear in search engine results. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a distinct and complex discipline involving various strategies aimed at improving a website’s visibility on search engines such as Google.
Moreover, SEO requires ongoing monitoring and regular adjustments to adapt to search engine algorithm updates and shifting industry trends. Simply launching a website without dedicated SEO work will often result in limited search visibility, meaning the site may not effectively reach its intended audience.
As a result, SEO is offered as a separate service, subject to a separate agreement and additional costs. For clients interested in improving their site’s search visibility, we can provide SEO services tailored to their needs. To develop an effective SEO strategy, we require additional information about the client’s target audience, objectives, and industry competition. This enables us to design a customised SEO plan that aligns with the client’s business goals.
Third-party email providers
If a client is using or wishes to switch to a third-party email provider (such as Microsoft or Google), they are responsible for completing the necessary DNS settings for integration. Should Addmonte be hosting the nameservers, the client has the option to make the required DNS adjustments directly within their cPanel account.
DNS management in cPanel
(when Addmonte is providing all DNS settings)
For clients who are not familiar with this process, we offer to perform the DNS configuration for a fee of £30. Please note that the client must provide all necessary details and settings from the third-party provider to ensure correct configuration.
DNS management through domain registrar account
(e.g., 123reg, GoDaddy, etc.)
If the client manages DNS settings within their domain registrar account (e.g., GoDaddy), Addmonte does not have direct access to this account. Therefore, we can only assist with DNS settings if the client provides access to their registrar account. In this case, the fee for performing the necessary DNS configurations is £30.
DNS management via CDN provider
(e.g., Cloudflare)
If the DNS records are managed by a CDN provider (e.g., Cloudflare) and the client does not have access to the account where DNS settings can be modified, we will handle these configurations at no extra charge.
However, if the DNS management is handled within a CDN provider account to which Addmonte does not have access, we can only assist with the settings if the client provides access to the relevant account. In this case, the fee for performing the necessary configurations is £30.
Right to terminate agreement due to impractical collaboration
We strive to provide a collaborative, client-focused approach that aligns with industry standards in web development. Our goal is to work with clients who share our commitment to clear, constructive communication and reasonable flexibility. However, we reserve the right to withdraw from the agreement, without consequence, if it becomes evident that collaborative progress is unfeasible due to persistent demands or behaviours that fall outside typical expectations in the industry.
In such cases, the client’s liability will be limited to payment for the work completed up to the point of termination. We accept no responsibility for any further claims or compensation arising from this decision.
While we fully understand that change requests are a natural part of the development process and welcome constructive feedback, this clause applies in exceptional cases. Examples include scenarios where the client raises an unusual number of objections or escalates minor, inconsequential details that disrupt workflow, requiring an inordinate amount of time and focus on non-essential aspects of the project. Such situations might also arise if the client’s expectations are significantly above industry norms—such as unrealistic demands for excessive revision or alteration—or if their preferences shift repeatedly, making consistent progress impractical.
This clause is intended solely to ensure that our team can deliver high-quality work efficiently and within reasonable boundaries of collaboration, as generally expected within the web development industry.
Last updated: 5 November 2024