CC VIRTUAL BOOKKEEPING
 
Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

1.1. The following pages set out the terms and conditions under which I agree to act. These terms and conditions (as updated from time to time) form part of the letter of engagement between us. They should be considered in conjunction with the following documents provided to you, to which you have also agreed.:
i. The scope
ii. The individual schedules of services
iii. The privacy notice
iv. The proposal
 
1.2. These terms and conditions shall remain in force unless and until they are replaced by updated terms and conditions.
 
2. Applicable Law

2.1. My engagement with you and the provision of the services provided are governed by the law and practice of England & Wales. Accepting the letter of engagement and these terms confirms both of our agreements that the courts of England & Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute over any matter in respect of the engagement.
 
3. Professional Body
 
3.1. I am subject to regulation by Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB),
3.2. The website of my professional body is www.bookkeepers.org.uk where you can find details of my firm in the register of members along with the code of ethics and the regulatory framework with which I am required to comply.
 
4. Client Money
 
4.1. Client money is money in any currency or form that I receive from a client or hold for a client which is not immediately due to me in accordance with our agreement. Fees paid in advance for agreed services to be provided are not client money and will not be required to offset these against my fees.
4.2. I will not hold assets belonging to you or any of our clients.
 
5. Investment Advice, Funding & Consumer Credit
 
5.1. Investment business is regulated under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
5.2. I don’t provide investment services neither do I refer.
 
6. Commissions Received Excluding Investment Business Commissions
 
6.1. From time to time I or another connected business may receive a commission or other benefit because of an introduction to another professional or a transaction arranged for you.
6.2. If this occurs, I shall account to you for the commission, which means you will be notified in writing of the terms and payment of the commission or benefit.
 
7. Data Protection
 
7.1. I will comply with the General Data Protection Regulations and the Data Protection Act 2018 as amended by the Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 which merge the previous requirements of the Data Protection Act with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679) when dealing with your personal data. 
7.2. GDPR provides that: Personal data only includes information relating to natural persons who: i. can be identified or who are identifiable, directly from the information in question; or ii. who can be indirectly identified from that information in combination with other information.
7.3. This will include but is not limited to a name, identification number, location data and an online identifier.
7.4. When providing accountancy services I will usually be acting as a controller under the regulations. I will be controllers as I will make decisions about processing activities when providing the agreed service to you.
7.5. I may act as a processor when providing certain services such as payroll. In this case you would be the controller and I would act on your instructions.
7.6. I ensure that I comply with the principles as set out in the GDPR (for more information see www.ico.org.uk) when collecting and processing data. These principles are:
i. Lawfulness, fairness and transparency
ii. Purpose limitation
iii. Data minimisation
iv. Accuracy v. Storage limitation
vi. Integrity and confidentiality
vii. Accountability
7.7. In order to comply with these principles I will:
7.8. Provide you with a privacy notice which should be read in conjunction with the letter of engagement, schedules of services and these terms and conditions
7.9. Ensure that the information that I collect and process is limited to that necessary for:
i. Providing the agreed services
ii. Complying with legal and regulatory obligations
iii. Contacting you with details of other services (where consent has been given)
iv. Other legitimate reasons necessary to protect against claims or disciplinary action.
7.10. In order to comply with the regulations of my professional body ICB my files may be subject to review by a professional body, regulator or another qualified third party to ensure my continued compliance with those regulations.
 
8. Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
 
8.1. I am supervised by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers for anti-money laundering compliance. I am required to obtain information to identify and verify my clients. This may be done by requesting the information from you and/or by making searches of appropriate databases designed for the purpose.
8.2. I will not usually be able to start working for you until such time as this information is received.
 
9. Bribery Act 2010
 
10. Conflicts of Interest
 
10.1. Where there is a conflict of interest in my relationship with you or in my relationship with you and another client I will notify all parties and where possible apply appropriate, agreed safeguards to protect the interests of all parties.
10.2. Where suitable safeguards cannot be applied I may be unable to provide further services.
10.3. I reserve the right to act for other clients whose interests are not the same as or are adverse to yours, subject, of course, to the obligations of confidentiality referred to below.
 
11. Professional Indemnity Insurance
 
11.1. I are required by my professional body ICB to have professional indemnity insurance.
11.2. My insurer is Qdos, The Grange, Grange Avenue, Rearsby, Leicester, LE7 4FY. The territorial coverage is UK. You can find further details at https://www.qdoscontractor.com/.
 
12. Complaints
 
12.1. I aim to provide an excellent service at all times. However should you be dissatisfied in any way please contact Caroline Cant. This may be done by writing to 11 West Way, Goring, Reading, RG8 0BX, or by telephoning this office, or by emailing Caroline Cant at caroline@ccvirtualbookkeeping.com.
12.2. I undertake to look into any complaint carefully and promptly and to take all reasonable measures to resolve the position to your satisfaction. If I do not deal with your complaint to your satisfaction you may take up the matter with my professional body ICB. At that point, if appropriate, I shall also provide you with details of an approved body that you may wish to contact with regard to a possible alternative dispute resolution process.
 
13. Confidentiality
 
13.1. In accordance with our code of ethics all communication between us is confidential. Information will not be disclosed unless authorised by you (for a specific item or generally via the privacy notice) or where required by law or regulation.
 
14. Disengagement
 
14.1. When I cease to act for you a disengagement letter may be issued. This will ensure that our respective responsibilities are clear and agreed.
14.2. Should I be unable to contact you I may issue a disengagement letter to your last known address and cease to act.
14.3. Each of us may terminate this engagement by giving not less than 30 days notice in writing to the other party, except where you fail to cooperate with me or I have reason to believe that you have provided me or HMRC with misleading information, in which case I may terminate this engagement immediately.
14.4. Termination shall be without prejudice to any rights that may have accrued to either party prior to termination.
14.5. I shall also have the right to terminate this engagement and cease to work for you in the event that you fail to pay my invoices or if you fail to provide me with complete timely or accurate information to enable me to carry out the services I have agreed to perform for you.
14.6. In the event of termination of this engagement I will endeavour to agree with you the arrangements for completion of the work in progress at the time, unless I are required for legal or regulatory purposes to cease work immediately. In that event, I shall not be required to carry out further work and shall not be responsible or liable for any consequences arising from termination.
14.7. At the time of termination of this engagement (for whatever reason) I will invoice you for all work carried out to the point of termination (in so far as not already invoiced) at our normal hourly rates.
14.8. My engagement with you will cease once I have completed all work that I have agreed to perform for you under this engagement.
14.9. Once my engagement with you has terminated or ceased (for whatever reason) I shall owe you no further duties to act for you or to advise beyond the date of termination or cessation of the engagement.
 
15. Communication
 
15.1. I will communicate with you and any agreed third party by a secure method as agreed. 
15.2. If you have provided me with your email address, I shall accept that as your authorisation to communicate with you by email, unless you withdraw that authorisation. Where you have agreed to receive electronic communications you acknowledge:
i. Although I take all reasonable care there is a risk of non-receipt, delays, misdirection or interception by a third party
ii. Although I use up to date virus protection software to reduce the risk you are responsible for virus checking any emails and attachments
iii. However careful parties are there is a risk associated with electronic communication which you accept in return for speed and efficiency.
15.3. In order to ensure that communication is effective you are required to notify me promptly of any change of postal or email address.
 
16. Fees, Payment Terms & Timetable
 
16.1. I will usually provide you with a fixed fee or hourly rate based quotation for each specified piece of work, such quotation will be set out in [proposal_type] [proposal_number] in respect of that work. I shall never provide a fixed fee quotation in respect of professional work to be undertaken more than one year ahead of the date of the quotation.
16.2. Unless agreed to the contrary, any estimate of my fees or a fixed fee quotation does not include any disbursements, or the costs of any third party, which shall be added to my invoices.
16.3. Where information is provided later than agreed in the key dates schedule an additional fee may be charged to ensure that the deadline for completion and submission of the information is met.
16.4. Any work to be carried out beyond that in a fixed fee quotation will be charged at my normal hourly rates, details of these are available on request. I reserve the right to increase our hourly rates at reasonable intervals, without notice. Please contact me at any time if you would like the current list of hourly rates.
16.5. Where the quote for the work is dependent on the volume of transactions, for example employee numbers or number of invoices, a regular review will be undertaken for any changes and the fee will be updated accordingly.
16.6. Any fees quoted or estimated are stated exclusive of VAT, which shall be added to my invoices if and when VAT is chargeable.
16.7. I may request from you one or more payments on account of my fees and disbursements.
16.8. Invoices for my fees will be issued to you at appropriate intervals in accordance with the agreement and payment plan.
16.9. My fees are due for payment within 7 days of the date of issue of the relevant invoice.
16.10. I may agree to spread payment of your fees by way of monthly payments – by standing order or direct debit – over a period of up to one year. Any monthly standing order or direct debit agreed between us will be calculated with the expectation that your payments will be sufficient to settle the invoiced amount upon completion of the assignment to which the standing order or direct debit relates. Where, during the course of an assignment, it becomes necessary to revise the estimate of fees, I shall explain the revised estimate to you in writing, and require you to amend the monthly standing order or direct debit accordingly.
16.11. In any situation where my fees are expected to be paid by a third party (eg by an insurance provider in relation to an HMRC investigation), until those fees have been paid in full, you shall remain liable for my fees.
16.12. I reserve the right to stop work on your affairs entirely where any fees due from you remain outstanding 7 days after the issue of the relevant invoice.
16.13. I reserve the right to charge interest on all late payments. Where applicable this will be charged under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
16.14. I also reserve the right to suspend my services or cease to act for you on giving written notice if payment of any fee is unduly delayed. I intend to exercise these rights only where it is reasonable and fair to do so.
16.15. In respect of a client that is not a natural person, where that client is unable or unwilling to settle my fees, or where fees are overdue (as described above), I shall seek payment from the natural person (or parent entity) who gave me instructions on the client’s behalf, and I shall be entitled to enforce any fees due against them.
16.16. If you do not accept that an invoiced fee is fair and reasonable you must notify me within 30 days of receipt, failing which you will be deemed to have accepted that payment is due.
 
17. Lien
 
17.1. In so far as permitted to do so by law and professional guidelines, I reserve the right to exercise a lien over all funds, documents and records in my possession relating to all assignments undertaken for you until all outstanding fees and disbursements are paid in full.
 
18. Advice
 
18.1. I will assist in implementing advice only where this has been agreed in writing.
18.2. Advice given is valid at the time it is given. If you are implementing plans yourself at a later date you need to confirm that there have been no changes in any relevant facts or to laws and regulations that will impact on the validity of the advice.
18.3. Advice given orally should not be relied upon unless confirmed in writing.
18.4. Advice given by a non-principal should not be relied upon unless confirmed in writing by a principal.
18.5. Any advice given is for the use of the addressee of the engagement letter only. I accept no responsibility to any party who is not a party to this agreement.
18.6. Any advice given to you should not be passed to a third party without my express permission.
18.7. Any advice can only be used for the purpose for which it is given.
 
19. Delivery of My Services
 
19.1. You agree to provide full and accurate information necessary for me to advise in relation to your affairs. I will rely on the information and documentation true, correct and complete, and will not, (unless agreed otherwise in writing) audit the information or those documents. I am not responsible for any inaccuracies in the information provided to me by you or third parties, and my advice is based on that information.
19.2. If I ask for information to be provided to me by a specific date, I shall not be responsible for any losses arising if you provide information after that date, for example, in relation to the completion of tax returns, even if you provide the information prior to the filing deadline for the return.
19.3. I strongly recommend that you instruct me sufficiently in advance so that I have time to give properly considered advice prior to any deadline.
19.4. If you delay in providing information to me, such that I are unable to provide the agreed services, I may seek to resign from the engagement.
19.5. You authorise me to approach such third parties as may be appropriate for information that I consider necessary to perform the engagement
19.6. You confirm that I may contact HMRC to advise them of any errors that I consider to be material that we identify in your reported tax affairs without your prior written consent (although I will, of course, advise you of such action).
 
20. Intellectual Property Rights
 
20.1. I will retain all copyright in any document I prepare for you unless the law specifically provides otherwise. 21. Internal Disputes
21.1. My client is the business. If there is a dispute between the owners and/or managers of the business I will continue to communicate with the Nominated Individual, but will copy in all persons whose email details have been provided to me.
21.2. If conflicting advice, instructions or information are received from different individuals at the client, I will refer all matters to the board of directors/partnership/LLP/spouses (as appropriate)and will take no further action until the client has confirmed the course of action to be taken as an entity.
 
22. Limitation of Liability
 
22.1. I will provide our services with reasonable care and skill. My liability to you arising from the services, whether arising in contract, tort, breach of statutory duty or otherwise is limited to £45,000. I shall not be liable to you for any indirect or consequential loss, including, loss of profit, loss of goodwill, loss of business opportunity or loss of anticipated saving.
22.2. We will provide our services with reasonable care and skill. Our liability to you is limited to losses, damages, costs and expenses directly caused by our negligence or wilful default.
 
23. Exclusion of Liability Relating to Non Disclosure or Misrepresentation Etc.
 
23.1. I will not be responsible or liable for any loss, damage or expense incurred or sustained if information material to the service we are providing is withheld or concealed from me or misrepresented to me. This applies equally to fraudulent acts, misrepresentation or wilful default on the part of any party to the transaction and their directors, officers, employees, agents or advisers.
23.2. This exclusion shall not apply where such misrepresentation, withholding or concealment is or should (in carrying out the procedures which I have agreed to perform with reasonable care and skill) have been evident to me without further enquiry beyond that which it would have been reasonable for me to have carried out in the circumstances.
 
24. Limitation of Third Party Rights
 
24.1. The advice and information I provide to you as part of my service is for your sole use and not for any third party to whom you may communicate it unless I have expressly agreed in the engagement letter that a specified third party may rely on our work. I accept no responsibility to third parties, including any group company to whom the engagement letter is not addressed, for any advice, information or material produced as part of my work for you which you make available to them. A party to this agreement is the only person who has the right to enforce any of its terms and no rights or benefits are conferred on any third party under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
 
25. Exclusion of Liability for Loss Caused by Others
 
25.1. I will not be liable if losses, penalties, interest or additional tax liabilities are caused by the acts or omissions of any other person or due to the provision to me of incomplete, misleading or false information or if they are caused by a failure to act on my advice or a failure to provide me with relevant information.
25.2. In particular, where I refer you to another firm for advice on matters outside the remit of my engagement, even if connected or related to the engagement, who you then instruct directly, I accept no responsibility in relation to the work carried out by that firm and will not be liable for any losses caused by them. 
 
26. Indemnity for Unauthorised Disclosure
 
26.1. You agree to indemnify me and my agents in respect of any claim, including but not limited to any claim for negligence, (such indemnity to extend to all liabilities, costs, expenses, damages and losses, including but not limited to any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of reputation and all interest, penalties and legal costs (calculated on a full indemnity basis) and including payment at our usual rates for the time spent by me in defending it, and all and other reasonable professional and management costs and expenses) arising out of any unauthorised disclosure of my advice and opinions, whether in writing or otherwise.

27. Limitation of Aggregate Liability

27.1. The Engagement Letter specifies an aggregate limit of liability, and that sum shall be the maximum aggregate liability of this firm, company or LLP, its principals, partners, directors, members, subcontractors or members, agents, consultants and employees (and of any former principals, partners, directors, members, subcontractors agents, consultants and employees) to all persons to whom the Engagement Letter is addressed and also to any other person that I have agreed with you may rely on my work.
27.2. You have agreed that you will not bring any claim of a kind that is included within the subject of the limit against any of my principals, partners, directors, members, subcontractors, agents, consultants, subcontractors or employees on a personal basis, or any former principals, partners, directors, members, agents, consultants, subcontractors or employees.

28. Period of Engagement & Termination

28.1. The start date my responsibility for assignments commences will be set out in the key dates table within the engagement letter.
28.2. Where no start date has been added in the key dates table or agreed in any other way, then the service will commence from the start date stated in the engagement letter ([start_date]) or the date you sign and return it to me, whichever is the later. Except as stated in the engagement letter, I will not be responsible for periods prior to the start date. 28.3.
When notice is given by either party the date that my responsibility for the service ends will be set out in the disengagement letter. (Please see ‘Disengagement’ above for more details).

29. Retention of Papers

29.1. I will return documents that belong to you when the assignment is complete unless specifically agreed with you. If I continue to hold records for you I will agree how they should be treated when I cease to act.

30. Agreed Further Services

30.1. I will carry out such further additional services beyond those listed in the Schedules as I may agree with you in writing. Such additional services will be subject to my usual hourly rates and the terms of this Engagement letter and terms and conditions. Any advice given under this clause may only be relied upon if confirmed by me in writing.