Business terms
Business terms for Benjamin Phillips, trading as into BSL. These terms apply to all bookings, whether confirmed verbally, by email, or in writing. Unless otherwise stated in writing, it is assumed that all parties have accepted these terms.
The intention of this document is to outline the usual working practice for commissioning services from BSL interpreters and provide limited protection and general principles for all parties.
1. Services provided
a. The Interpreter’s services will be as agreed upon in writing at the time of booking or as specified in these Business Terms.
b. The Client is responsible for paying the Interpreter’s fees and expenses, regardless of whether the interpreting services are provided or not.
c. If an assignment requires interpreting for more than one hour, two Interpreters of equal skill and registration status must be hired.
d. A working day is no more than seven hours, with a reasonable lunch break.
e. If an Interpreter is working alone, they must be given adequate breaks, ideally 10 minutes every 25 to 30 minutes. No demands shall be made on the Interpreter’s skills during rest periods or breaks.
f. If interpreting services are required beyond the initial contracted period, the Interpreter may be invited, but not compelled, to continue working for an additional fee to be agreed upon at the time of the extension.
2. Fees
a. Quotations will be confirmed by email, outlining the full costs (interpreting fee, travel, and any other applicable costs) or expressed as an inclusive amount payable by the Client.
b. Interest at 8% over the base rate (or the prevailing rate determined by statute) will be automatically applied to all overdue sums from the due date until paid in full.
c. Invoices must be paid in full within 30 days of receipt by BACS or cheque.
3. Cancellation
a. If an accepted assignment is cancelled or curtailed, the Client is responsible for paying a cancellation fee.
b. Any expenses incurred as agreed in the contract and any additional expenses incurred due to the cancellation must also be reimbursed.
c. The cancellation fees are determined according to the notice period as follows:
• 7 calendar days or less notice – Full Fee
• 8 to 13 calendar days notice – Half Fee
• 14 or more calendar days notice – No Fee
4. Unavoidable Circumstances
- If the Interpreter is unable to undertake an assignment due to unavoidable circumstances, they will notify the Client as soon as possible. In such cases, the Interpreter will attempt to find a suitable substitute, and this will discharge them from any further liability.
5. Preparation Materials
a. The Client shall provide the Interpreter with relevant information and preparatory materials in the form of background documentation at least two weeks in advance of the assignment to ensure the provision of quality services.
6. Recordings
a. No recordings of an Interpreter’s work shall be made without their prior consent, except where such recordings are inherent within legal proceedings. Recordings intended for streaming (live or pre-recorded), sharing internally or externally, broadcast, or publication may incur an additional fee.
7. Complaints and Disputes
a. Any complaint or dispute relating to interpreting work must be made in writing to the Interpreter by the Client (or vice-versa) no later than five working days after the final day of the assignment.
b. If the parties are unable to reach an agreement, the matter may be referred to the NRCPD. For further information, please visit www.nrcpd.org.uk. Such referral must be made no later than four weeks from the date of the assignment.
c: If the parties involved are unable to resolve a dispute amicably or if either party refuses to accept the decision made by the Standards Panel, the parties will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales. Regardless, these Terms shall be interpreted by English law.
8: Responsibility and Liability
- The Interpreter shall perform their interpreting task with reasonable skill and care, adhering to the provisions and spirit of the NRCPD guidelines on professional practice and ethics.
b. The Interpreter will endeavour to interpret to the best of their ability, knowledge, and belief.
c. It should be noted that no guarantee can be given regarding the absolute accuracy of any interpretation.
d. In the case of a dispute or complaint about the Interpreter’s work, the Interpreter’s liability will be limited to the invoiced value.
e. Consequential damages and liability are expressly excluded.
9: GDPR and Privacy
We process the information provided by you to offer you and your clients interpreting services. All information provided to us is used solely on a legal and consensual basis. For more information on how we use data in compliance with GDPR, please visit our website at www.intobsl.co.uk/privacy/.
Definitions
•’Interpreter’ shall mean the person who performs the act of interpreting spoken or signed communication into another language.
•‘Speaker’ shall mean the person making the original spoken or signed communication.
•‘Client’ shall mean the party or
intermediary engaging the services of the Interpreter and having responsibility for his/her remuneration.
•‘Assignment’ shall mean any period or set of consecutive periods of interpreting for one specific purpose or event.
•‘Circumstances’ shall mean any circumstances deriving from any cause, which is beyond the control of the interpreter or client