1. I act only on the basis of these Terms of Business.
2. I charge fees based on the time taken for the whole matter. This includes making the
appointment, any travelling or waiting time if I attend at your business premises, and the time
needed to prepare official records. My practice is not registered for VAT and will not be
charged. In the normal course of events fees are agreed between us prior to an appointment
being made. In addition, third party expenses and fees will be added eg. the fees of the
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, foreign embassies and consulates, any agents handling
legalisation of documents, and any special postage or courier charges. My charges are
payable normally at the time of our meeting, and documents may not be released until all
charges have been paid. Invoices are to be settled within 7 days or interest on the amount
outstanding will be payable at 4% per annum above the Bank Base rate for the time being of
Santander UK plc.
3. Part of the notary's role is to check the facts in the documents I notarise. Sometimes this
requires the notary to seek independent verification from other sources. With regards to this
I will need your full cooperation. If it is necessary to add qualifications to my certificate to
make it clear that there are facts which I have been unable to verify, the notarial certificate
may be of less benefit and no liability is accepted if this is the case.
4. You agree that the details of your identification and the transaction shall be stored
electronically by me.
5 Very occasionally I may decline to act or cease to act eg. if I consider that the matter may
involve fraud or violence, or if I do not receive clear or proper instructions, or take the view
that the purpose of the document is not bona fide.
6. Except so far as excluded by the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, my liability for any loss,
injury or damage of any nature whatever, whether direct or consequential, including
(without limitation) in respect of negligence or breach of duty of care is limited to £750,000 in
respect of any one claim or series of related claims.
7. My notarial practice is regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury:
The Faculty Office
1, The Sanctuary
Westminster
London
SW1P 3JT
Tel: 020 7222 5381
Email: faculty.office@1thesanctuary.com
Website: www.facultyoffice.org.uk
8. I aim to provide a good and efficient service. If you are dissatisfied about the service you
have received please do not hesitate to contact me.
9. If we are unable to resolve the matter you may then complain to The Notaries Society of
which I am a member, who have a Complaints Procedure which is approved by the Faculty
Office. This procedure is free to use and is designed to provide a quick resolution to any
dispute.
10. In that case please write (but do not enclose any original documents) with full details of your
complaint to:
The Secretary of The Notaries Society
Old Church Chambers
23 Sandhill Road
St James
Northampton
NN5 5LH
Tel: 01604 758908
Email: secretary@thenotariessociety.org.uk
Finally, even if you have your complaint considered under the Notaries Society Approved
Complaints Procedure, you may at the end of that procedure, or after a period of eight
weeks from the date you first notified me that you were dissatisfied, make your complaint to
the Legal Ombudsman, if you are not happy with the result:
Legal Ombudsman
Baskerville House, Centenary Square,
Broad Street
Birmingham
B1 2ND
Tel: 0300 555 0333
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk
If you have any difficulty in making a complaint in writing, please do not hesitate to call The
Notaries Society/the Faculty Office for assistance.
11. If you decide to make a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman you must refer your matter to the
Legal Ombudsman within six months from the conclusion of the complaint process.
12. The contract between us is governed by English law.
