Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using the services of Hare and Tortoise ("we", "our", or "us"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you disagree with any part of these Terms, you may not access or use our services.

These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and clients who access or use our website, services, or engage with us for web development projects.

2. Services

Hare and Tortoise provides web development, design, and related technology services including but not limited to:

• Website and web application development
• E-commerce solutions
• Legacy system modernization
• Performance optimisation
• Ongoing maintenance and support (retainer services)
• Consulting and technical advisory services

Specific services, deliverables, timelines, and pricing will be detailed in individual project agreements, statements of work, or service contracts.

3. Project Agreements

Each project will be governed by a separate agreement that includes:

• Project scope and deliverables
• Timeline and milestones
• Pricing and payment terms
• Intellectual property rights
• Change control procedures
• Acceptance criteria

In the event of any conflict between these Terms and a specific project agreement, the project agreement shall prevail.

4. Payment Terms

Payment terms will be specified in your project agreement. Generally:

• Fixed-price projects may require a deposit before work begins
• Payment milestones will be agreed upon before project commencement
• Retainer services are billed monthly in advance
• All prices are in GBP (£) unless otherwise stated
• Late payments may incur interest charges as permitted by law

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate services for non-payment.

5. Scope Changes

Any changes to the agreed project scope, deliverables, or requirements may result in additional time and cost. We will provide written estimates for scope changes before proceeding. Changes must be approved by both parties before implementation.

6. Intellectual Property

Upon full payment for services, you will own the intellectual property rights to custom code, designs, and deliverables created specifically for your project, subject to:

• Our right to use the work in our portfolio and marketing materials (with your permission)
• Third-party licenses and open-source components used in the project
• Pre-existing intellectual property owned by either party
• Our methodologies, processes, and proprietary tools

You grant us a license to use your name, logo, and project details for marketing and portfolio purposes unless otherwise agreed in writing.

7. Client Responsibilities

You agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and timely information necessary for project completion
• Review and provide feedback on deliverables within agreed timeframes
• Obtain necessary licenses, permissions, and approvals for content and materials you provide
• Ensure you have rights to any third-party content, images, or materials used in the project
• Make timely payments as agreed
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations

8. Warranties and Disclaimers

We warrant that:

• Services will be performed with reasonable skill and care
• Deliverables will substantially conform to agreed specifications
• We have the right to provide the services

We do not warrant that:

• Services will be uninterrupted or error-free
• All defects will be corrected
• Third-party services or integrations will function perfectly

Except as expressly stated, all warranties are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• Our total liability for any claim shall not exceed the total fees paid by you for the specific project or service giving rise to the claim
• We shall not be liable for indirect, consequential, or special damages, including lost profits or data
• We are not responsible for delays caused by factors outside our reasonable control

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

10. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to keep confidential all proprietary and confidential information disclosed during the course of the project. This obligation survives termination of the project agreement. Confidential information does not include information that is publicly available or independently developed.

11. Termination

Either party may terminate a project agreement:

• For material breach by the other party, if not cured within 30 days of written notice
• Immediately for non-payment of fees
• By mutual written agreement

Upon termination, you will pay for all work completed and expenses incurred up to the termination date. We will deliver completed work and return your materials, subject to payment of outstanding fees.

12. Website Use

When using our website, you agree not to:

• Use the website for any unlawful purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the website
• Introduce viruses, malware, or harmful code
• Interfere with or disrupt the website or servers
• Copy, modify, or distribute website content without permission

13. Third-Party Services

Our services may integrate with or use third-party services, platforms, or APIs. We are not responsible for the availability, functionality, or terms of third-party services. Your use of third-party services is subject to their respective terms and conditions.

14. Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, war, terrorism, labor disputes, or failures of third-party services.

15. Dispute Resolution

In the event of any dispute:

• Both parties agree to attempt to resolve disputes through good faith negotiation
• If negotiation fails, disputes may be referred to mediation
• These Terms are governed by English law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts

16. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to this page. Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. For existing projects, the Terms in effect at the time of project agreement will continue to apply.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

18. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

These Terms of Service are effective as of January 29, 2026 and are governed by English law.