Terms & Conditions

Here lie the bone dry necessities of our contractual relationship. I’ve tried to keep them brief and clear so that we can avoid any misunderstandings in the unlikely event of dispute.

In order for me to start working on your project, I need you to confirm that you have read, and agree to these terms. I’ll send you a link to this document before we start work.

The Contract

The relationship between Nathan Portlock (trading as The Musical Copywriter) and the client will be that of ‘independent contractor’, which means that I’m not the client’s employee, worker, agent or partner, and I will not give the impression to anyone that I am. Our time will therefore be limited to the project at hand.

Fees

My fees are €75.00 per hour, or €600.00 per day (plus VAT). My EU clients do not pay VAT.

Within the EU, I reverse charge the VAT according to Article 194, 196 of Council Directive 2006/112/EEC.

The VAT liability rests with the service recipient.

On your VAT return you can claim the VAT back from my invoice.

The end result is nil. Hooray!

My Quote

Before each project, I’ll provide a free quote so that you know exactly how much the work will cost. Any changes to the original brief initiated by the client may require me to adjust the cost.

The total price of your project will include:

  • A free, informal consultation call to discuss your project (up to 45 minutes).

  • Free support to complete the project brief (up to 45 minutes via phone, email or video).

  • A free quote based on your needs as outlined in the project brief.

  • Any minor amendments to your project.

  • Further advice and consultation as necessary via phone, video or email.

NB - Extensive revisions are not included in this total unless previously arranged and explicitly stated.

Any additional work requested that isn’t covered in the original brief will be quoted for separately at the hourly rate, and added to the original invoice.

The Copywriting Brief

The brief will be supplied by the client and must clearly outline the project requirements.

I will send you the briefing form after our first discovery meeting. This way, we both have all the information we need prior to beginning the work.

If you already have a brief, I will complete this independently and ask you if I need further clarification.

Commencement of Work

Before your project is undertaken, I require a confirmation email, stating:

  • You have read and agree to these terms and conditions

  • You agree to my fees

  • You are authorised to commission the project

Timescale and Deadlines

I’ll make every effort to ensure that your project is delivered on time. In the unlikely event that I can’t meet the agreed deadline, I’ll let you know as soon as possible.

I will not be held liable for any loss or damages to any party as a result of missing a deadline. 

Payment Terms for Direct Clients and Agencies

For new clients, I normally require a 50% non-refundable deposit of the total fee before commencing work.

I then invoice for the remaining 50% at the end point. For larger projects, we’ll arrange staggered payments, to be paid when we meet project milestones.

For projects under €1,00.00, I normally require the project to be paid in full, before starting work.

All invoices are sent electronically, unless agreed otherwise, and are payable within seven (7) working days of receipt.

I accept payments through SWIFT/ BIC & IBAN only.

I understand that with agencies, copywriting usually forms part of a bigger project and can often take several months to complete.

However, when working with agencies, I still require a 50% non-refundable deposit to be made before we start work.

When the copywriting part of the project is complete, I ask that the remaining payment be paid within seven (7) working days of receiving the invoice, whether the client has signed off on the project or not.

Termination of Contract and Pause Clause

If a client fails to respond to communication within 14 days of paying the non-refundable deposit, the project will be terminated automatically.

In the event that a client fails to provide feedback as per the scheduled project milestones, the project will be considered ‘on hold’ and will be rescheduled dependent on my current workload and availability.

Late Payment Terms

If I am are not paid according to the agreed credit terms, I understand and will exercise my statutory right to interest and compensation for debt recovery costs under late payment legislation.

International Payment Fees

NB I am based and registered in The Netherlands.

International clients are expected to cover any additional currency conversion charges.

Please note that international clients may also be subject to their own transaction fees for sending money overseas.

Subcontracted Work

I sometimes work alongside other copywriters. In such cases, all work produced will be under the banner of Nathan Portlock (The Musical Copywriter).

Nathan Portlock will be the sole point of contact and will agree and oversee the scope of the project, while acting as chief editor and proofreader.

All work sent to the client will be approved by Nathan Portlock.

Intellectual Property Rights

Once I have received payment and completed the project, all copyrights are automatically transferred to you the client.

NB Where appropriate, I reserve the right to use any extracts of my work in my portfolio.

Similarly, if I’ve worked alongside a sub-contracted copywriter, they will also have the right to use any extracts of their work In their portfolio and marketing materials, unless otherwise agreed beforehand.

Whilst I make every effort not to breach any copyright, you agree to indemnify me against action that may arise as a result of using my services.

Errors and Omissions

I make every effort to ensure that the project is thoroughly proofread, grammatically accurate and factually referenced where applicable.

However, I cannot guarantee that every project is completely free from typographical, grammatical or factual errors.

Indemnity

By using my services, you agree to indemnify me against any claim, including that of a third party, for compensation or damages resulting from the use of my written material or from unsought permissions to use my material.

Although every piece of written content I produce is original, the client accepts full responsibility for checking the authenticity of the project, including research materials and citations supplied and to indemnify me of any compensation for loss or damages.

If you have any questions about these terms and conditions, please just ask.