Terms of Service
These Terms of Service (the “Terms”) are between you (the “Customer”) and USAVE Utility Contracts Limited Trading as USAVE Utility Contracts Ltd Registered in Scotland (company number SC578572
Any services provided to the Customer by USAVE Utility Contracts Ltd relating to the provision of utilities to the Customer by third parties are subject to the following provisions
1. Definitions and Interpretation
1.1 In these Terms, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the following meanings:
“Commencement Date” means the date on which USAVE takes instruction from the Customer to provide the Services; “Confidential Information” means, in relation to either party, information which is disclosed to that party by the other party pursuant to or in connection with these Terms (whether orally or in writing) or any other medium, and whether or not the information is expressly stated to be confidential or marked as such.
“Services” means the Utility Energy’s Consultants services provided by USAVE Utility Contracts Ltd to the Customer as set out in the Specification.
“Specification” means the description of the Services agreed in writing or orally by USAVE with the Customer, as confirmed by USAVE to the Customer by email.
“Supplier” means each utility provider with which the Customer contracts directly for the supply of gas, electricity, water, services, or such other utility as shall be agreed between the Supplier and the Customer; and
“Terms and Conditions” means the terms on which the Supplier supplies the utilities to the Customer.
2. Supply of Services
2.1 These terms shall:
(I) apply to and be incorporated in these Terms; and
(II) prevail over any inconsistent terms or conditions contained in, or referred to in, the Customer's purchase order, confirmation of order, or specification, or implied by law, trade custom, practice, or course of dealing.
2.2 No addition to, variation of, exclusion or attempted exclusion of any term of these Terms shall be binding on the Supplier unless in writing and signed by a duly authorised representative of the Supplier.
2.3 The Customer's instruction to USAVE to provide the Services (whether orally or in writing) constitutes an offer by the Customer to purchase the Services specified in it on these Terms; accordingly, the provision to the Customer of a copy of the Specification or instruction by the Supplier, or the Supplier's commencement or execution of the Services, shall establish a contract for the supply and purchase of those Services on these Terms (the "Contract"). Any terms and conditions supplied by the Customer shall not govern the Contract unless and to the extent they are specifically agreed by USAVE in writing prior to the provision of the Services.
2.4 USAVE acts as a third-party intermediary (the “TPI”) between the Customer and the Suppliers to supply the Services to the Customer in accordance with the Specification. As such, USAVE shall not be a party to any contract between the Customer and the Suppliers for the provision of all or any utilities.
2.5 USAVE from a selection of supplier’s research, analyse and evaluate the energy sector as part of the Services and shall provide the Services as set out in these Terms and Specification. Usave does not advise on whole of market suppliers
2.6 USAVE shall provide the Services with reasonable care and skill and in accordance with the professional standards observed by companies offering utility brokerage and market intelligence services.
2.7 USAVE does not warrant that the Supplier shall provide services and utilities of satisfactory quality or with reasonable care and skill, nor is USAVE liable for the Suppliers’ failure to provide services and utilities of satisfactory quality, consistency or with reasonable care and skill or at all.
2.8 USAVE shall use reasonable endeavours to meet any performance dates specified in the Specification, but any such dates shall be estimates only and time shall not be of the essence for performance of the Services.
3. Customer’s Obligations
3.1 The Customer shall:
(I) ensure that the terms of the Specification and any information it provides in it are correctly complete and accurate in all material respects.
(II) provide USAVE with a letter of authority permitting USAVE to act on the Customer’s behalf in carrying out the Services and liaising with the Suppliers.
(III) co-operate with USAVE in all matters relating to the Services.
(IV) provide USAVE with such information and materials as USAVE may reasonably require in order to supply the Services; and
(V) ensure that it complies with the Supplier’s Terms and Conditions applicable to the provisions of utilities, and in particular pays all the Supplier’s invoices in full without deduction, counter claim or set-off.
3.2 The Customer acknowledges that:
(I) USAVE shall not be a party to the contract between the Customer and the Supplier and therefore has no responsibility to either the Customer or Supplier in relation to the provision of utilities.
(II) any contract entered into between the Customer and the Supplier shall be subject to the Supplier’s Terms and Conditions; and
(III) it is not the responsibility of USAVE to provide to the Customer with such Terms and Conditions although the Customer may request USAVE to obtain a copy of such Terms and Conditions on behalf of the Customer, which USAVE shall use its reasonable endeavour to do. It shall be the Customer’s responsibility to ensure it has received and reviewed the Supplier’s up to date Terms and Conditions applicable to the provision of the utilities.
3.3 If USAVE performance of any of its obligations under the Contract is prevented or delayed by any act or omission by the Customer or failure by the Customer to perform any relevant obligation (the “Customer Default”):
(I) USAVE shall without limiting its other rights or remedies have the right to suspend performance of the Services until the Customer remedies the Customer Default, and to reply on the Customer Default to relieve it from the performance of any of its obligations to the extent the Customer Default prevents or delays USAVE performance of any of its obligations.
(II) USAVE shall not be liable for any costs or losses sustained or incurred by the Customer arising directly or indirectly from USAVES failure or delay to perform any of its obligations as set out in this clause 3.3; and
(III) the Customer shall reimburse USAVE on written demand for all unpaid fees and any costs or losses sustained or incurred by USAVE arising directly or indirectly from the Customer Default.
4.1 USAVE shall communicate to the Customer the prices offered by Suppliers and unless stated otherwise, such prices shall be exclusive of VAT and Climate Change Levy (the “CCL”) at the applicable rates. In addition, the supplier may incorporate a Target Charging Review. (Details of how Target Charging Review charges could potentially affect the cost of business energy can be supplied on request).
4.2 The Contract price agreed between the Supplier and Customer may, at the Suppliers’ discretion, be subject to change at short notice in accordance with the applicable Terms and Conditions referred to a clause 4.6 with reasons including (but not limited to) a change in applicable tax or third-party charge levied on the Supplier, or market fluctuation in price.
4.3 USAVE does not warrant or undertake that the prices initially communicated to the Customer will remain fixed or valid for any period of time prior to any potential contract being entered into between the Customer and Supplier or for the duration of the contract period.
4.4 It is not within USAVE’s control to influence Suppliers and as such USAVE is unable to guarantee that the Supplier will enter into a contract with the Customer at all or enter into a contract upon the terms initially communicated to the Customer from USAVE.
4.5 The Services offered to the Customer by USAVE are not free of charge unless otherwise stated in writing. However, a consultancy fee maybe payable to USAVE if the Customer enters into a contract with the Supplier. The fee known as commission will be included in the price offered by the Supplier to the Customer and the Supplier shall pay the fee directly to USAVE. Unless otherwise stated USAVE will receive from the appointed supplier a payment fee known as commission. The payment will be incorporated into the energy supply rate as a cost per kWh price uplift or an uplift in the Standing Charge or a combination of both for the duration of the energy supply contract. Details of the applicable uplift(s), including how they are calculated will be confirmed to the customer verbally and in writing before contracts are concluded. Usave Utility Contracts Ltd (usavecontracts.com)
4.6 In the event the Customer does not proceed with or cancels a Contract agreed with a Supplier using USAVES Services a fee shall be payable by the Customer by way of compensation to USAVE. Details of the fee payable to USAVE will be calculated on a case per case basis
4.7 In the event that the Customer is not satisfied with Services provided by USAVE, the Customer may request a copy of the USAVE Formal Complaints Procedure by e-mail from client services info@usavecontracts.com stating their name, supply address and a brief outline of the nature of their complaint.
5 Confidentiality
5.1 Each party undertakes to keep in strict confidence all Confidential Information of the other party received by it. The receiving party shall only disclose such Confidential Information to employees, agents, subcontractors, or Suppliers who need such information for the purpose of discharging the receiving party’s obligations under these Terms or the agreement with the Supplier. Each party shall ensure that such employees, agents, subcontractors, and Suppliers comply with the obligations set out in this clause as though they were a party to the Contract. The receiving party may also disclose such of the disclosing party’s Confidential Information to the extent as is required to be disclosed by law, any governmental or regulatory authority or by a court of competent jurisdiction.
5.2 USAVE warrants and undertakes to hold the Customer’s personal data on a secure server and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. USAVE shall not disclose any of the Customer’s personal data to third parties except as necessary for the performance of the Services or as required by law.
5.3 USAVE will not collect any unnecessary personal data. Any personal data collected should only be used in the performance of a contract or provision of a service. The Customer reserves the right to access any personal data USAVE hold and to have this data removed.
5.4 This clause 5 shall survive the termination of the Contract.
6. Warranties
6.1 The Customer warrants and undertakes that all information provided to USAVE by the Customer or its agents (including those acting outside the scope of their authority) is correct, accurate, complete, and not misleading. The Customer hereby indemnifies in full and on demand from and against any and all actions, losses, liabilities, fines, damages, claims, settlements, costs (including legal costs on an indemnity basis) and expenses based on or arising directly from any breach of this clause.
7. Limitation of Liability
7.1 Nothing in these Terms shall limit or exclude USAVE’s liability for:
(I) death or personal injury caused by its negligence, or the negligence of its employees, agents, or subcontractors.
(II) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
(III) any matter for which, according to applicable law, liability cannot be so excluded or limited.
7.2 Subject to clause 7.1:
(I) USAVE shall under no circumstances whatsoever be liable to the Customer, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, for:
(a) any loss of profit, or any direct or indirect or consequential loss arising under or in connection with the Services; and
(b) innocent or negligent misrepresentation.
(II) USAVE’s total liability to the Customer in respect of all other losses arising under or in connection with these Terms, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall in no circumstances exceed the greater of:
(a) the commission paid or payable to USAVE in the preceding 12-month period (or which would be payable if USAVE had performed its obligations in accordance with this Contract)
7.3 This clause 7 shall survive termination or expiry of the Contract.
8. Termination
8.1 These Terms shall commence on the Commencement Date and shall continue until USAVE makes a recommendation of Supplier(s) to the Customer, although the Customer is under no obligation to accept such recommendation. At this time, whether or not the Customer accepts the recommendation provided by USAVE, USAVE is deemed to have carried out their Services under the Contract.
8.2 The Customer may request, and USAVE may from time to time provide further services, including assisting with Contract Termination Notices and/or managing the relationship and accounts between the Customer and Supplier, but any such further services provided by USAVE shall be provided without obligation or liability of USAVE to the Customer in carrying out these further services, and they shall be provided without any representation or warranty by USAVE.
9. Force Majeure
Neither Party to the Contract shall be liable for any failure or delay in performing their obligations where such failure or delay results from any cause that is beyond the reasonable control of that party. Such causes include, but are not limited to, power failure, internet service provider failure, industrial action, civil unrest, fire, flood, storms, earthquakes, acts of terrorism, acts of war, governmental action or any other event that is beyond the control of the party in default.
10. Assignment
10.1 USAVE may at any time assign, transfer, mortgage, charge, subcontract, or deal in any other manner with all or any of its rights under the Contract and may subcontract or delegate in any manner any or all of its obligations under the Contract to any third party or agent, provided that the Customer is informed of such assignment or transfer.
10.2 The Customer shall not, without prior written consent of USAVE, assign, transfer, mortgage, charge, subcontract, declare a trust over or deal in any other manner with any or all of its rights or obligations under the Contract.
11. Severance
Each provision in these Terms is fully severable. If any provision or part-provision of this Contract becomes invalid, illegal, or unenforceable then these Terms shall not be invalidated, and all remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
12. Entire Contract
(I) The Contract constitutes the whole Contract between the parties and supersedes any previous arrangement, understanding, or contract between them relating to the subject matter of the Contract.
(II) Each party acknowledges that, in entering into the Contract it does not rely on any statement, representation, assurance or warranty ("Representation") of any person (whether a party to the Contract or not) other than expressly set out in the Contract.
(III) Each party agrees that the only rights and remedies available to it arising out of or in connection with a Representation shall be for breach of contract.
(IV) If the Customer has entered, or in future enters, a service agreement for the provisions of utility energy consultancy services, in the event of any inconsistency, the provisions of the service agreement shall prevail.
13. Relationship of the Parties
Nothing in these Terms is intended to, or shall be deemed to, establish any partnership or joint venture between the parties, nor constitute either party the agent of the other for any purpose. Neither party shall have authority to act as agent for, or to bind, the other party in any way.
14. Third Parties
A person who is not a party to the Contract shall not have any rights to enforce these terms.
15. Variation
Except as set out in these Terms, no variation, including the introduction of any additional terms and conditions, shall be effective unless it is agreed in writing and signed by USAVE.
16. Governing Law
The Contract shall be governed by the law of Scotland. Each party irrevocably agrees that the courts of Scotland shall have non-exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with this Contract or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims).
17. Data Protection / GDPR Most information given to us by you or your business to do our work is covered by The General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679. You agree to us storing such information about you or your business electronically. Such information will of course be treated confidentially. We are bound to protect that confidence, but, inevitably, we may have to disclose such information to third parties such as utility companies for pricing and contract information. You can view the full USAVE Privacy Policy by accessing our website www.usavecontracts.com and selecting the service tab
16. Complaint
You can make a complaint to USAVE in writing, by email or telephone. Full details of how you can make a complaint are available on our website under Our Services. USAVE is a member of the Energy Ombudsman Alternative Dispute Resolution Scheme Registered No.C35USAV01