Terms and Conditions

Contents: 1. About these terms · 2. Our service · 3. Timescales · 4. Prices and payment · 5. Cancellations and refunds · 6. Your documents and information · 7. Third parties · 8. Our liability · 9. Complaints · 10. Website · 11. Changes and law

1. About these terms

1.1 These terms form a legally binding agreement between Apostille and Certification Services Ltd (“we”, “us”, “the Company”) and the person placing the order (“you”, “the Client”), whether for yourself, for a business or organisation, or for someone else.

1.2 You accept these terms when you place an order with us online, by email, by phone, by post or in person. Our online order and application forms ask you to confirm this before you submit.

1.3 You must be 18 or over to place an order and to provide payment details, or have the permission and supervision of an adult.

2. Our service

2.1 We arrange apostilles, embassy and consular legalisation, solicitor certification, notarial services, translations and related visa services on your behalf, in line with your instructions and our quote.

2.2 We are not the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), an embassy or a government body. The FCDO, embassies, consulates and other authorities issue apostilles, stamps and decisions, and they decide whether to accept a document.

2.3 We check documents before we submit them, but we can’t guarantee that an authority will accept a document, or that a document will be accepted by the organisation abroad that asked for it. Please confirm the exact requirements with that organisation.

2.4 Information and advice we give is general guidance about the legalisation process. It isn’t legal advice.

2.5 You’re responsible for making sure the information you give us is accurate and complete, and that you have the right to give us the documents and information you send.

3. Timescales

3.1 Timescales run from when we have received your documents, your completed order and full payment. They are in working days and don’t include delivery time back to you.

3.2 We complete orders within our published timescales wherever possible. Delays can happen for reasons outside our control, for example if the FCDO can’t verify a signature, or an embassy is closed for a local holiday. If this happens we’ll tell you by email as soon as we know.

3.3 The same day apostille service is only available in emergencies, and the FCDO decides whether to accept each request.

4. Prices and payment

4.1 Prices are shown on our website or in our quote, per document unless stated otherwise. We are not registered for VAT, so no VAT is added.

4.2 Payment is required in advance, by card through our secure online payment provider or by bank transfer (BACS). Card payments appear on your statement as Apostille and Certification Services Limited. We don’t see or store your full card details.

4.3 If the FCDO or an embassy increases its fees, we may pass the increase on. We won’t charge any additional fee without first getting your confirmation by email or in writing.

4.4 Where we have agreed credit terms with a business client, our invoices are due within 30 days of the invoice date.

4.5 If we can’t accept your order for any reason, we’ll refund what you’ve paid for it within 20 working days.

5. Cancellations and refunds

5.1 If you are a consumer and you order online, by phone or by email, you have the right to cancel within 14 days of placing your order. By asking us to start work straight away, you agree that if you cancel within those 14 days you’ll pay for the work already done, and that once the service is complete you lose the right to cancel.

5.2 If you cancel after we have started work, we may charge £20 plus any costs already incurred, such as FCDO, embassy, solicitor or notary fees that have been paid. If you cancel after the legalisation is complete, the full fee is payable.

5.3 Fees paid to the FCDO, embassies, notaries and other third parties can’t usually be recovered once paid.

5.4 If something we have done doesn’t match your order, please tell us as soon as you notice it. We’ll correct our mistake at no extra cost.

5.5 To cancel, email info@apostilleandcertification.com or call +44 20 7856 0115.

6. Your documents and information

6.1 We keep your documents and information confidential. We share them only as needed to provide the service, for example with the FCDO, embassies, solicitors, notaries, translators and couriers, or where the law requires it.

6.2 We don’t keep full copies of your processed documents unless you ask us to in writing. Scans are deleted once your order is complete.

6.3 We recommend you send documents to us by a tracked service such as Royal Mail Special Delivery. Return delivery options and prices are shown when you order.

6.4 How we collect, use and protect your personal data is explained in our Privacy Policy.

7. Third parties

7.1 To provide the service we may use other providers, such as solicitors, notaries, translators and couriers. We choose and instruct them with reasonable care, and their charges are included in our price unless we tell you otherwise.

7.2 We aren’t responsible for the decisions, errors or delays of the FCDO, embassies, consulates or any other government authority.

8. Our liability

8.1 We provide our services with reasonable care and skill.

8.2 If we are responsible for a loss, our total liability is limited to the fees you paid us for the order concerned.

8.3 We aren’t liable for indirect or consequential losses, or for loss of profit, business, revenue or opportunity, arising from our services.

8.4 We aren’t liable for failure or delay caused by events beyond our reasonable control, such as strikes, extreme weather, power or communications failures, or the closure of a government office.

8.5 Nothing in these terms limits liability that can’t be limited by law, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or your statutory rights as a consumer.

8.6 If you provide documents or information you weren’t entitled to share, you are responsible for any resulting claims against us.

9. Complaints

9.1 If you’re unhappy with any part of our service, please email info@apostilleandcertification.com with your order details. We’ll acknowledge your complaint and work with you to put things right.

10. Website

10.1 The content of this website, including text, images, logos and design, belongs to Apostille and Certification Services Ltd unless stated otherwise. You may not copy or reuse it without our written permission.

10.2 We work to keep the information on this website accurate and up to date, but government requirements, fees and timescales change. Please confirm details with us before relying on them.

10.3 Links to other websites are provided for convenience. We don’t control or endorse those websites and aren’t responsible for their content.

11. Changes and governing law

11.1 We may update these terms from time to time. The version on this page when you place your order applies to that order.

11.2 These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction. If you live elsewhere in the UK as a consumer, you may also bring proceedings in your local courts.