Copyright © 2024 SMS Wales
SMS Wales
General Terms and Conditions
1. DEFINITIONS
In the conditions, ‘the Company’ shall mean SMS Wales and ‘the
Purchaser’ shall mean the person to whom the goods are invoiced or to
be invoiced and (unless the context otherwise admits) any person to
whom or for whose benefit the goods may be delivered. The ‘goods’
shall mean the articles or things or any other item or items service or
facilities described in the order.
2. FORMATION OF CONTRACT
This Contract shall only take effect when the Company dispatches an
Official Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Order to the Purchaser.
No Contract shall be deemed to have been concluded prior to that date.
Any Quotation or Price List given by the Company to the Purchaser (in
whatever form the same may be expressed) shall not be binding on the
Company and is given subject to these Conditions and does not
constitute an offer to sell any goods to the Purchaser.
3. GENERAL
These General Conditions are deemed to be included in every Contract
of Sale entered into by the Company unless expressly excluded or varied
in writing and signed on behalf of the Company. They shall prevail over
any other Conditions that the Purchaser may seek to impose.
GENERAL These General Conditions are deemed to be included in every
Contract of Sale entered into by the Company unless expressly excluded
or varied in writing and signed on behalf of the Company. They shall
prevail over any other Conditions that the Purchaser may seek to
impose.
4. PRICES
Every Endeavour will be made to maintain prices quoted by the
Company. However prices quoted by the Company are subject to
increase without further notice at any time unless an official Purchase
Order has been received from the Purchaser and confirmed by the
dispatch of an Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Order from the
Company in which case the price quoted on this will remain binding.
The price shall be that expressed on the face of the invoice together with
VAT and any other such duties or taxes that may be imposed from time
to time. All goods will be invoiced in Pounds Sterling. Unless otherwise
stated the cost of delivery will be invoiced directly by the Company to the
Purchaser at the Company’s rate ruling on the date of delivery.
5. DELIVERY AND DELIVERY DATE
Every effort will be made to adhere to the quoted delivery date but no
liability to the Purchaser or to any other person is accepted by the
Company. If, for any reason, delivery is delayed beyond that date
delivery shall be deemed to be completed at the place of and on the
date of signature of the Delivery Note. Mode of carriage will be at the
company’s discretion.
6. PACKING
Unless otherwise specified, goods are normally supplied in non-
returnable cases at no extra charge. Where special packing cases are
provided, these will still be considered non-returnable but a separate
charge will be made to cover the cost thereof.
7. BREAKAGES, SHORTAGES AND NON-DELIVERY
The Company shall not be liable for shortages of delivery or damage to
goods unless the Purchaser notifies the Company, such notice to be
received by the Company within seven days of delivery, specifying the
shortage or damage. In no case will the Purchaser be entitled to reject
goods on the grounds of shortage. If the Purchaser does not receive the
goods on the quoted delivery date the Purchaser must notify the
Company, such notice to be received within twenty one days of the
quoted delivery date. Every effort will be made by the Company to
deliver the goods as quickly as possible thereafter but the Company will
not be liable for non-delivery or late delivery. Where goods have been
consigned by outside carrier, the Purchaser must comply in all respects
with the Carrier’s Conditions for notifying claims.
8. Defects Apparent on Inspection
8.1 The Customer shall only be entitled to claim in relation to defects in
the Goods as supplied which are apparent on visual inspection if the
Customer inspects the Goods and a written complaint specifying the
defect is made to SMS Wales within seven (7) days of delivery, and SMS
Wales is given an opportunity to inspect the Goods and investigate any
complaint before any use of or alteration to or interference with the
Goods.
8.2 If a complaint is not made to SMS Wales in accordance with this
clause 8, the Goods shall be deemed to be in all respects in accordance
with the Agreement (subject only to clause 9) and the Customer shall be
bound to pay the Price for such Goods.
9. Defects not Apparent on Inspection
9.1 The Customer shall only be entitled to claim in respect of defects in
the Goods supplied which are not apparent on visual inspection at the
time of delivery if:
9.1.1 a written complaint is sent to SMS Wales as soon as reasonably
practicable after the defect is discovered and subsequently no use is
made of the Goods or alteration or interference made to or with the
Goods before SMS Wales is given the opportunity to inspect the Goods
in accordance with clause 9.4 below; and
9.1.2 The complaint is sent within 30 days of the date of delivery of the
Goods.
9.2 The Customer shall not be entitled to claim in respect of any defect
arising by reason of fair wear and tear or damage due to accident,
neglect or misuse, nor in respect of any Goods to which alterations have
been made without SMS Wales' consent.
9.3 SMS Wales shall not be liable for (and the Customer shall indemnify
and keep indemnified SMS Wales against) any and all claims whatsoever
arising from loss or damage suffered by reason of use of the Goods after
the Customer becomes aware of any defect or after circumstances have
occurred which should reasonably have indicated to the Customer the
existence of a defect.
9.4 SMS Wales may within fifteen (15) days of receiving a written
complaint in accordance with clauses 8.1 or 9.1 (or twenty-eight (28)
days where the Goods are situated outside the UK) inspect the Goods
and the Customer if so required by SMS Wales shall take all reasonable
steps necessary to enable it to do so (including delivery of such Goods to
SMS Wales at SMS Wales' request at the Customer's cost). For the
avoidance of doubt, no Goods should be returned to SMS Wales without
SMS Wales' prior consent.
10. RISK AND TITLE
a. The risk in the goods shall pass to the Purchaser on completion of
delivery or (if delivery is delayed by reason of any act or omission on the
part of the Purchaser) at the time when delivery would otherwise have
been completed and immediately such risk has passed the Purchaser
shall keep the gods insured in their full replacement value (such value to
include liability to duty and other taxes) until full payment in respect
thereof has been made to the Company.
b. Until full payment has been made of all sums outstanding from the
Purchaser to the Company in respect of the relevant goods.
. property in the goods shall remain in the Company;
. the purchaser shall hold the goods as bailee on behalf of and in a
fiduciary capacity for the Company and shall store the goods safely and
in such a way as will not allow them to deteriorate and in such a way as
to be identifiable as the property of the Company;
if any sum due to the Company by the Purchaser is outstanding or if the
Company reasonably believes that any sum will not be paid in full when
it becomes due to the Company may repossess the goods and the
Purchaser hereby grants the Company an irrevocable license to enter
upon any premises of the Purchaser for the purpose of so doing and the
Purchaser shall be liable to the Company for any shortfall between the
value of the goods when recovered by the Company and the amount
due to the Company
if, in breach of the previous provisions of this sub-clause, the goods are
sold the benefit of any contract for sale of the goods or the proceeds of
any sale shall be held on trust for the Company absolutely and shall be
placed in a separate account of the Purchaser and shall be identified as
being in the beneficial ownership of the Company and the Purchaser
shall be liable to the Company for any shortfall between the amount in
the account and the amount due to the Company. This sub-clause shall
not be deemed to be an authority to the Purchaser to sell the goods
whilst the property therein remains with the Company.
11. PAYMENT
Payment must be received and cleared within 30 days of the date of the
invoice by cheque or bank transfer drawn in a U.K. bank. Interest will be
chargeable by the Company against the Purchaser on any payment
overdue at a daily rate equivalent to the annual rate of 8% above the
base rate of the Bank of England from time to time applicable until the
sum due is paid in full. As long as any sums due (whether under this
contract or not) from the Purchaser are outstanding the Company shall
be entitled to withhold delivery of any goods. An amount becomes
"overdue" when it is unpaid on the first day following the day upon
which it is due and payable, until the day prior to the date of payment
12 TERMINATIONS OR SUSPENSION
The Company reserves the right to cancel or to suspend delivery or any
goods to the Purchaser. a. If compelled to do so by reasons beyond its
control or b. in the event of failure by the Purchaser to pay an
outstanding sum due to the Company within one month after the due
date of payment or c. if there is any default or breach of any of the
Purchaser’s obligations hereunder or d. if any distress, execution or
other legal process shall be levied upon or served out against the
Purchaser’s property or assets or if the Purchaser shall make an offer to
make any arrangement or composition with its creditors or commit any
act of bankruptcy or if any petition or receiving or manager on behalf of
a creditor of all or any of its assets shall be appointed, then (without
prejudice to any right of action or remedy which shall be accrued or shall
accrue thereafter to the Company) in each and every case the Company
shall have the right at any time to determine the contract and to cancel
any outstanding delivery and to stop any goods in transit without any
liability to compensate the Purchaser and, notwithstanding any other
provisions, payment in respect of any delivery already made shall be
immediately due.
13. CANCELLATION
The company reserves the right from the date hereof to refuse
purported cancellation of any order and to demand payment of the full
price for the same, although the Company may accept any cancellation
upon receiving full indemnification from the Purchaser for actual costs
and losses incurred.
14. LIABILITY
If any materials and equipment supplied by the Company under the
Contract is found to be defective due to faulty manufacture but not due
to installation during a period of not exceeding twelve months after the
date of delivery to the Purchaser in the case of materials and equipment,
then subject to the proviso hereto, the Company will (free of charge to
the Purchaser) replace and reinstate such faulty materials and
equipment as the case may be provided that
The Purchaser is vigilant in checking for faults and immediately ceases to
use the faulty materials and equipment if there is any likelihood
whatsoever of further deterioration.
Written notice giving full details of such alleged defective materials and
equipment is given by the Purchaser to the Company immediately on
the discovery thereof by the Purchaser and before the expiration of
twelve months after the date of delivery.
. The alleged defect is proved to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Company to be due to faulty manufacture and
At no time after the date of delivery has any employee of the Purchaser
or any third party (with the knowledge and approval of the Purchaser or
otherwise) interfered with, tampered, altered or attempted to interfere
with, tamper or alter the said materials and equipment.
15 ADDITIONAL WORKS
Where it is necessary for the Company’s engineers to attend on site
other than in the normal course of events or for those engineers to
perform duties outside normal requirements then such time will be
charged by the Company to the Purchaser at the Company’s daily rate
for commissioning applicable at the time the work is undertaken plus
expenses. Where it is necessary for the Company to provide additional
materials equipment for spares then these will be charged to the
Purchaser at the Company’s standard list prices for such items at the
time the materials are supplied. Such additional work will not be
executed by the Company unless it is the subject of a written order from
the Purchaser or agreed on one of the Company’s Site Purchaser Order
Forms and signed by an authorized official of the Purchaser. For such
additional work the Purchaser shall provide the Company free of charge
with such utilities and facilities as are required for the work to be
undertaken.
16 MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT ON TRIAL
Where materials or equipment are provided on a trial basis or
equipment shall remain the property of the Company at all times. The
Purchaser of such items shall ensure they are adequately insured and
protected at all times. The Purchaser shall ensure that all items received
are ready for collection by the Company at the end of the agreed trial
period unless an extension has been granted by the Company in writing
prior to the end of the original agreed trial period, or the Purchaser has
agreed to purchase the equipment or materials and issued their official
purchase order which has been confirmed by the Company’s
Acknowledgement of Order and Acceptance of Order. In this case the
Company shall invoice in the normal way including delivery charge
except that the invoice shall be payable immediately on receipt and no
credit shall be allowed. If after receiving an item back from the trial the
Company finds that parts are missing or that the item is damaged then
the Company will arrange for cleaning and invoice the Purchaser at its
full list price for those parts or items concerned. If an item is not ready
for collection on the due date then the Company reserves the right to
invoice the Purchaser at a daily rental for each day beyond the agreed
trial period. If as a result of any delay the Company incurs additional
collection, telephone, administration or other charges then the Company
reserves the right to invoice for all additional charges incurred. If an
item is not ready for collection after an agreed trial period within 30 days
of the completion of that trial period then the Purchaser will be deemed
to have become the Purchaser of that item and will be invoiced for it at
the list price on the date of the invoice. If any delay occurs in the
Company collecting the item after the end of an agreed trial period then
the Purchaser will hold the item for the Company in a safe and secure
place at no charge pending collection by the Company.
17 RENTALS
Rental will be covered by a separate agreement.
18. PURCHASERS’ INDEMNITY
The Purchaser undertakes and agreed to indemnify and save harmless
the Company against any and all damages, losses, costs, expenses and
claims of any nature whatsoever incurred, or suffered by the Company
as a direct or indirect result of any act or omission or breach of any duty
imposed whether by Statute, Order, Regulation, By-Law or Common Law
upon the Purchaser, his servants or agents and/or the owner of the
contract site or the employer of any labour working on contract site.
19. INSURANCE
The Purchaser shall effect and keep in force from delivery policies of
insurance against the Purchaser’s liability under Common Law or any
Statute in force for the time being in respect of injuries to persons or
property arising out of and in the course of the execution of the Contract
by the Company.
20. IMPLIED CONDITIONS AND WARRANTIES
These Conditions contain all the terms under which contracts are
entered into by the Company and any express or implied statement,
condition or warranty, statutory or otherwise not stated herein is
expressly excluded except insofar as such exclusion is prevented by law,
as are any conditions of the Purchaser purports to impose.
21. WAIVER AND SEVERANCE
. No failure, delay or indulgence on the part of the Company in exercising
any power or right conferred upon them herein or in any specific
agreement shall operate as a waiver of such power or right.
. Further, a single or partial exercise of any such power or right shall not
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other such power or right hereunder or any specific agreement.
. If any provision hereof or any specific agreement shall be held by a
Court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or void able such provision
shall be struck out and the remainder thereof shall stand in full force
and effect.
22. FORCE MAJEURE
The Company shall not be liable for any delay in performing obligations
or for failure to perform obligations if the delay or failure results from
circumstances beyond its control including but not limited to force
majeure, act of God or governmental act, fire, explosion, accident, civil
commotion, industrial dispute or impossibility of obtaining materials.
23. NOTICES
Any notice to be given hereunder shall be in writing and be sufficiently
served by being hand delivered or sent by registered post or recorded
delivery addressed to the registered office of the relevant party and any
such notice if so hand delivered shall be served when deposited at the
address in question. If so posted shall be deemed served 48 hours after
the day on which it was posted.
24. GOVERNING LAW
The Contract shall be construed in accordance with English Law. Any
dispute arising out of or in connection with it shall be subject to the
jurisdiction of the English Courts of Law.