Terms for document research

Initial Assessment and Research Plan

In response to your initial enquiry I may ask you for additional information in order to make an assessment of the research you require. I will then create a Research Plan based on your requirements and my assessment. There is no charge for this. The Research Plan will comprise of:

the steps I will take to conduct the research
the timescale for the research
a breakdown of my fees to carry out the research and any incidental expenses
the cost of scanning or purchasing documents
the likelihood of success.

At the same time as providing my Research Plan to you, I will provide my invoice for the total amount stated in the Research Plan. Payment must be made in full* by you, and the funds be cleared by my bank, before I undertake the requested research. This will constitute a contract between us

*In the case of a request expected to require a significant amount of research, it may be possible to breakdown the research and the associated payments into separate stages.

Research Practice

I will carry out all research on your behalf with due care and attention to details. In an ideal world the document(s) to fulfil your specific request will exist and be available for research. However, sometimes this may not be the case, with the result that not all research will be successful. Whilst I will make all reasonable efforts to access and/or obtain copies of the requested document(s) I cannot guarantee any particular outcome. Any document(s) that you request me transcribe will be done to the the best of my abilities and as far as the condition of the document(s) allow, for instance illegibility, stains, dirt, missing or damaged pieces may impact the outcome .

You can expect regular updates by email during the course of my researches, as appropriate, which may include a request for you to provide further information - if known - to help my research.

Within 5 working days following completion of the agreed research I will create a brief Research Report detailing the research I have undertaken, the document(s) accessed and/or obtained, and any document transcription(s) that you requested. The Research Report will be emailed to you with any document transcriptions and a scanned copy of the document(s) as appropriate, and forward by post any original documents that were purchased on your behalf.

Copyright

All Research Reports that I create and provide to you are copyright to myself and may not be reproduced without my permission.

Sharing of Information

Information provided by you, or that arises from my research, will not be shared by me with any third party unless requested by you or agreed with you beforehand.

Termination of Contract

You may terminate the research contract at any time by notifying me via the Contact Form. If the research has not been completed, I will calculate the amount of work undertaken by me up to the point of receipt of your notification to terminate the research contract, and will reimburse you at the agreed hourly rate for any unused hours and for any costs to obtain documents not yet incurred. On receipt of this payment I will send you any documentation created or obtained during the course of the research.

Complaint

In case you wish to raise a complaint you should write to me via the Contact Form detailing the specifics of your complaint. I will evaluate the complaint and if I agree that I am responsible for an error or omission, I will either refund an amount of your fee appropriate to the complaint, or seek to correct the issue and amend the Research Report or transcription(s), as appropriate, at no extra cost to you, subject to your agreement.