Duport Associates Limited – Terms & Conditions

About us

This website, www.duport.co.uk, is operated by Duport Associates Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 03479577) ("we", "us", "our").

These Terms and Conditions govern the supply of our services to customers in the UK and internationally.

Customer status: consumers and business customers

These Terms apply differently depending on whether you are a Consumer or a Business Customer. Your status is determined at the time you place your order

Consumer: an individual acting wholly or mainly outside their trade, business, craft or profession.

Business Customer: any customer acting for purposes relating to their trade, business, craft or profession, including companies, LLPs, partnerships, and individuals acting in a business capacity.

Where a clause applies only to Consumers or only to Business Customers, this is clearly stated.

Acceptance of these Terms

By placing an order through our website, by telephone, or by any other means we make available, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms.

We may update these Terms from time to time. The version in force at the time you place your order will apply to that order.

Our services

We provide business support services including (without limitation):

• company formation and related filings;
• compliance, registered office and statutory support services;
• business, registered office and service address services;
• domain registration, website hosting and website-building services;
• AI-enabled decision-support tools; and - ancillary business services provided directly by us or via third-party providers.

Some services are supplied by third parties for whom we act as agent

Orders and contract formation

1. Your order constitutes an offer to purchase the selected services.
2. A contract is formed only when we confirm acceptance of your order by email or other written confirmation. By placing an order (including by ticking the acceptance checkbox at checkout), you confirm that you have read and agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. Where you are a Consumer and you request that we begin providing the services immediately, you expressly request that we start performance during the cancellation period (where a statutory cancellation right applies) and you acknowledge that: (a) if you cancel within 14 days after we have started work, you may be required to pay for services provided up to the point of cancellation; (b) you may lose the right to cancel once the services have been fully performed in accordance with the Consumer Contracts Regulations; and (c) (c) third-party fees (such as Companies House fees, domain registration/renewal fees, hosting/email provider fees, and identity/AML check fees) may be non-refundable once incurred.
3. We reserve the right to refuse or decline any order for any lawful reason.
4. For Consumer distance contracts, we will provide confirmation of the contract in the customer portal, including any required information under applicable consumer protection law and (where applicable) cancellation information and a copy of (or a link to) the model cancellation form in Appendix 1.

Prices, payment and VAT

1. All prices are displayed on our website and are exclusive of VAT unless stated otherwise.
2. Payment is required in advance. Services will not begin until payment has been received in cleared funds.
3. Official fees, filing fees, identity verification costs and other third-party charges are pass-through costs and are payable in addition to our service fees.
4. If third-party or statutory fees change after you place an order but before submission, we will notify you of the revised amount. You may choose to:
   1. approve the increase and pay the difference so we can proceed; or
   2. not approve the increase, in which case we will cancel the affected service and refund any amounts paid for that service, less any non-refundable costs already incurred (for example, identity/AML check fees already incurred or filing fees already submitted).

Your responsibilities

You agree that:

• all information you provide is accurate, complete and up to date;
• you have authority to instruct us;
• you are responsible for compliance with all legal and regulatory obligations applicable to your business; and
• you are responsible for checking the availability and lawful use of company names, trading names and domain names.

We are not responsible for delays, rejections or losses arising from inaccurate or incomplete information you provide.

Identity verification and regulatory requirements

1. We are required to carry out identity verification checks to meet legal and regulatory obligations.
2. You must provide all information and documentation we reasonably request to complete these checks.
3. Where identity verification cannot be completed, we may cancel the service and refund fees paid, less reasonable costs incurred for checks already carried out.

Consumer cancellation rights (UK Consumers only)

This section applies only if you are a Consumer habitually resident in the UK.

1. You have the right to cancel your contract within 14 days from the day after the contract is entered into.
2. To cancel, you must inform us of your decision to cancel by a clear statement (for example by email or post). You may use the model cancellation form set out in Appendix 1, but you do not have to.
3. Where you have expressly requested that we begin providing the services immediately (for example, by ticking the acceptance checkbox at checkout or by confirming this request when ordering by telephone), if you cancel after we have started work within the 14-day cancellation period, you must pay an amount proportionate to the services provided up to the point of cancellation.
4. The following costs are non-refundable once incurred:
   • Companies House or other statutory filing fees once submitted;
   • identity verification or AML check fees once checks have been run or provider fees incurred;
   • domain registration or renewal fees once the domain has been registered/renewed or provider fees incurred; and
   • other third-party fees that cannot be recovered by us.
5. Where the services have been fully performed within the cancellation period, and you requested immediate performance and acknowledged that you may lose the right to cancel on full performance, you will lose your right to cancel.
6. Any refund due will be made within 14 days using the same payment method used for the original transaction.

Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights.

Business customers – cancellations and refunds

This section applies only to Business Customers.

1. Business Customers do not have a statutory right to cancel once an order has been accepted.
2. TRefunds are only available where no material work has begun.
3. Material work includes (without limitation): identity verification checks, preparation of documents, and submission of filings to Companies House or other third parties.
4. Third-party and statutory fees are non-refundable once incurred.

Third-party services and agency

1. Some services are supplied by third-party providers. In these cases, we act as your agent.
2. Contracts for third-party services are formed between you and the relevant provider, subject to their own terms and conditions.
3. We are responsible for arranging the service and providing first-line support; the third-party provider is responsible for technical delivery.
4. We may replace or change third-party suppliers at any time, provided this does not materially reduce the services purchased.

Renewals and subscription services

1. Some services we provide are renewable. Renewable services are provided either on:
   1. a manual renewal basis (“Manual Renewal Services”); or
   2. an automatically renewing subscription basis (“Subscription Services”).
   Which model applies to your service will be stated on the relevant order page, in your order confirmation, and/or in the relevant service schedule.
2. Manual Renewal Services
   1. Manual Renewal Services will expire at the end of the term unless you actively renew and pay the applicable fee.
   2. We may issue renewal reminders, but you remain responsible for renewing before expiry.
   3. If a Manual Renewal Service expires, we may suspend or cease the service and/or remove related features (for example, access to an address service or website hosting) until renewal is completed.
3. Subscription Services (automatic renewal)
   1. Where you purchase a Subscription Service, you authorise us (or our payment processor) to take recurring payments in advance at the price and frequency stated at checkout (for example monthly or annually) until you cancel. Manual Renewal Services will expire at the end of the term unless you actively renew and pay the applicable fee.
   2. Subscription Services renew automatically at the end of each billing period unless cancelled before the renewal date.
   3. Unless stated otherwise on the order page, cancellation takes effect at the end of the current paid billing period (and the service remains available until then).
4. How to cancel a Subscription Service
   1. You can cancel a Subscription Service at any time by contacting us by email, telephone or in writing (using the contact details shown in Section 1 / Section 18). Where we make an account/portal cancellation option available, you may also cancel through your account.
   2. We may ask for reasonable information to verify the request (for example, the account email address and order reference), but we will not require steps that are unnecessary to process cancellation.
   3. Unless stated otherwise on the relevant order page, cancellation takes effect at the end of the current paid billing period. You remain responsible for any fees due up to that date and any non-refundable third-party charges already incurred. We will confirm cancellation by email (or other written confirmation).
5. Renewal reminders and notices
   We may send reminders or notices about upcoming renewals and changes to your Subscription Services. Where the law requires specific notices or reminders for subscription renewals, we will provide them.
6. Changes to subscription pricing or scope
   1. We may change the price of Subscription Services on renewal by giving you reasonable notice before the next renewal date.
   2. If you do not wish to continue at the new price, you may cancel before the renewal date and the service will end at the end of the current billing period.
   3. We may make minor changes to the service at any time. If a change would materially reduce the service, we will provide reasonable notice and, where appropriate, offer you the option to cancel.
7. Failed payments
   If a subscription payment fails, we may retry the payment and/or suspend the service until payment is received. If payment remains unpaid, we may treat the subscription as cancelled and/or terminate access.
8. Consumer cancellation rights
   If you are a UK Consumer and a statutory cancellation right applies, Section 9 applies to your initial purchase. This includes where you request that we start providing services immediately during the cancellation period and the rules on proportionate charges, loss of the right to cancel once services are fully performed, and non-refundable third-party fees once incurred.

Limitation of liability

1. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any liability that cannot be excluded by law.
2. Subject to clause 13.1, we are not liable for loss of profits, revenue, business, goodwill or anticipated savings, or for indirect or consequential loss.
3. For Business Customers, our total liability is limited to the fees paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim.
4. For Consumers, we are responsible for foreseeable loss and damage caused by our failure to exercise reasonable care and skill.

Intellectual property

All intellectual property rights in our website and services remain our property or that of our licensors.

Website use and acceptable use

You must not misuse our website or services, introduce viruses, attempt unauthorised access, or use our services for unlawful purposes. We may suspend or terminate access for breach of this section.

Data protection

We process personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.

Force majeure

We are not liable for delay or failure to perform obligations due to events beyond our reasonable control.

Complaints and ADR

1. If you have a complaint, please contact us at:
   Email: enquiries@duport.co.uk
   Post: 2nd Floor, 5 High St, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, United Kingdom, BS9 3BY
   Tel: 0117 950 2667
2. We will respond to complaints as quickly as possible and use our best efforts to find a satisfactory solution.
3. If you are a Consumer and we cannot resolve your complaint, we will provide you with the name and website address of an approved ADR provider that could deal with the complaint and tell you whether we are obliged or willing to use ADR.

Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by English law. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, subject to mandatory consumer protections.

General

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remainder will continue in force. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and us.

AI-enabled services (decision-support basis)

1. Some services incorporate artificial intelligence or automated tools ("AI Tools") provided on a decision-support basis only.
2. AI Tools do not constitute legal, tax, financial, regulatory or professional advice. You must not rely solely on AI outputs.
3. AI outputs may be inaccurate, incomplete or inappropriate. You are responsible for verifying outputs before acting on them.
4. You must not input sensitive personal data, special category data, confidential information, trade secrets or third-party data without a lawful basis.
5. AI Tools may rely on third-party providers. We do not control and are not responsible for their internal data processing practices.
6. We may modify, replace or withdraw AI Tools at any time.

Director responsibility and regulatory status

1. Directors and officers remain fully responsible for complying with statutory duties, including under the Companies Act 2006.
2. Our services do not remove, reduce or transfer your legal responsibilities.
3. We are not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, or any other professional regulatory body.

Group calls and recordings

1. Group calls or webinars are provided for general information only.
2. Do not share confidential or sensitive information during group sessions.
3. Group calls may be recorded for training or customer access purposes.

Website building services

1. Website services are provided as a standardised one-page website build using a prompt-led build process and a standard one-page structure, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
2. Timelines are estimates only and may be affected by third-party providers
3. You are responsible for the legality and compliance of content you provide.
4. We do not review or verify customer-provided content for legal or regulatory compliance.