TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR SUPPLY OF SERVICES & GOODS
1. APPLICATION, DEFINITIONS AND ENTIRE AGREEMENT
1. Definitions:
a. Company/Service Provider: Darren Bentley trading as Ashford Lasers of 10 Deyley Way, Ashford, Kent, TN23 5HX (we, us or our).
b. Client/Customer: The person, firm or business buying the Services/Goods (you or your).
c. Services/Goods: Laser cutting, laser engraving, metal marking, artwork preparation and materials provided by the Company.
d. Contract: The agreement between the Company and the Client formed by these Terms and Conditions and our formal quotation.
2. Application: These Terms apply strictly to all quotations, sales and the supply of Services and Goods by Ashford Lasers to business customers.
3. Entire Agreement: You are deemed to accept these Terms upon written confirmation of our quotation, payment of an invoice or performance of Services (whichever happens first). This Contract forms the entire agreement between us and excludes any terms you seek to impose, or which are implied by trade, custom, practice or course of dealing.
2. QUOTATIONS, INVOICING AND ADVANCE PAYMENT
1. Quick Estimates vs. Quotations:
Quick Estimates: Initial budget estimates provided prior to vector file review (via email or phone) are indicative parametric ranges (typically +10%) given for planning purposes only. Quick Estimates do not constitute a binding contract or formal offer.
Formal Quotations: A binding formal quote is issued only after technical review and verification of production-ready vector files (.AI, .SVG, .CDR, .DXF, .DWG, .EPS or vector .PDF). Formal quotations are valid for 30 calendar days from issue unless withdrawn earlier. Quotes cover only items explicitly listed; additional services (e.g., assembly, hand-finishing, custom packaging) will incur extra charges.
2. Minimum Order Value (MOV): All production jobs are subject to a Minimum Order Value (MOV) of £87.00 + VAT per job run (excluding delivery and artwork/design fees). If the calculated production costs fall below £87.00 + VAT, the MOV threshold will be applied to the formal quotation.
3. Artwork Design Fees:
Ready Vector Files: Where cut-ready vector files matching our technical guidelines are provided, final quotes and digital proofs are issued free of charge.
Artwork Fees: Where design creation, file conversion, vector repair, nesting or file preparation is required, an Artwork Design Fee of £27.00 + VAT per hour (1 hour minimum) applies.
100% Invoice Credit: Payment of this fee is required as an upfront deposit prior to design work commencing. Upon client approval of the digital proof and progression to full production, 100% of this fee is credited as an advance payment toward the final production invoice balance.
Cancellation/Non-Progression: If the client chooses not to proceed with production following receipt of vector work/proofs, the deposit is non-refundable and retained to cover the design labour hours spent.
4. Pricing & VAT: All prices and rates are quoted in GBP (British Pounds) and are EXCLUSIVE of VAT.
Standard rate VAT (20%) will be added to all goods, services, setup fees, artwork charges and carriage.
Official VAT Tax Invoices showing our VAT Registration Number will be issued for all transactions.
5. Automated Invoicing: Upon acceptance of a quotation or agreement to proceed with artwork preparation, an automated invoice is generated.
6. Advance Payment Requirement: Payment is due immediately upon receipt of invoice. Contracts are accepted on the strict understanding that no design work, material allocation or laser machine scheduling will commence until full cleared payment (or required Artwork Design Fee payment) has been received.
7. Payment Methods: Payments must be made by BACS bank transfer or secure card link free of any deduction or set-off. Time for payment is of the essence. Late payments accrue statutory interest under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, alongside reasonable recovery costs.
3. DRAWINGS, ARTWORK AND FILE SPECIFICATIONS
1. Digital Artwork Requirement: You are solely responsible for providing complete, accurate vector files scaled 1:1 in millimetres (mm) as specified in our Design File Preparation Policy.
2. Writing Only: Instructions, changes or revisions to artwork specifications must be submitted in writing. Verbal instructions will not be accepted.
3. File Corrections & Drawing Charges: If artwork provided is incorrect, non-vector, annotated or unscaled, we may adjust or vectorise the drawing at our standard hourly shop rate (£27.00 + VAT/hr). Drawing work is chargeable even if the main project does not proceed.
4. File Accuracy Liability: We cut, engrave and mark strictly to your supplied artwork. We accept no responsibility for scrap material, defects or incorrect dimensions resulting from errors in your design files (including unclosed paths, overlapping lines, scaling errors or missing font outlines).
5. File Retention: Artwork files are stored for the duration of the current job only, unless a separate written archiving agreement is made.
4. MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING SPECIFICATIONS
1. Company-Supplied Materials: We source laser-grade materials in good faith. However, natural materials (wood, leather) and manufactured materials (e.g., Cast Perspex/Acrylic) carry inherent manufacturing tolerances (e.g., ISO 7823-1 permits acrylic thickness variations of +10% + 0.4mm). We are not responsible for pre-checking sheet variations unless specifically hired to perform tolerance testing.
2. Inherent Process Characteristics: Laser processing is a thermal process. Minor edge burn/heat-affected zones, protective film melting, smoke staining and minor kerf width taper are normal process characteristics. Protective backing tape is left intact for you to peel post-delivery unless finishing services are quoted.
3. Customer-Supplied Material (Free-Issue):
a. Safety Guarantee: You warrant that customer-supplied stock is safe for laser processing and strictly free from PVC, Vinyl or halogenated compounds which emit toxic chlorine gas.
b. Damage & Spoilage Liability: Laser processing carries setup risks. While we use reasonable care, we accept no financial liability for damage, distortion or scrap of Customer-Supplied Material during trial passes or production runs. You must supply a 10-15% extra scrap allowance.
c. Material Storage & Disposal: Customer-supplied material must be used within 30 days of arrival. After 90 days, we reserve the right to charge storage fees or dispose of uncollected material.
5. PACKING, DELIVERY AND PASSING OF RISK (EX WORKS)
1. Ex Works (EXW): Risk of accidental loss, damage or destruction of Goods passes to you the moment the Goods leave our premises (Incoterms EXW).
2. Transit Damage: If Goods arrive damaged in transit, claims must be made against the courier's insurance in the first instance. We will assist where possible, including offering priority re-cuts at reduced rates.
3. Collections: Collection from our premises is strictly by prior appointment only.
6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, COPYRIGHT & PROMOTIONAL USE
1. Client IP & Indemnity: You retain full ownership of any existing logos, designs or pre-made artwork supplied to us. You warrant that all provided files and designs do not infringe any third-party copyrights, patents, design rights or trademarks. You agree to fully indemnify Ashford Lasers against any third-party claims, costs or damages arising from IP infringement.
2. Company IP & Copyright in Created Artwork:
a. Ownership: Pursuant to the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA 1988), all copyright, intellectual property rights, original vector drawings, CAD files, DXF layout paths, laser toolpaths, custom jigs and digital files created or modified by Ashford Lasers remain the sole property of Ashford Lasers.
b. Non-Transfer: The payment of an Artwork Design Fee, or production invoice covers the service of creating the file for manufacturing purposes and/or grants a non-exclusive, single-use licence to manufacture the finished physical Goods for that specific order. It does NOT constitute an assignment or transfer of raw digital vector files, source CAD code or underlying copyright to the Client.
c. Vector Buy-Out/Transfer: Original source vector files (.AI, .SVG, .CDR, .DXF, .DWG, .EPS) created by Ashford Lasers will not be released or transferred to the Client unless an explicit written IP Buy-Out Agreement is executed, and a separate buyout fee is agreed and paid in full.
3. Promotional Photography: We reserve the right to photograph, or film finished parts, processing runs and custom work and use the imagery on our digital portfolio and social media accounts. If your project contains non-disclosure/confidential information, you must explicitly notify us in writing prior to production.
7. REPLACEMENTS, REFUNDS AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
1. Company Errors: If an error occurs due to machine fault, operator error or wrong material supplied by us, we will remake the affected parts or issue a full refund within 28 days.
2. Client/Artwork Errors: If processing issues stem from incorrect artwork, unexpected material behaviour or misinterpretation of laser guidelines, costs will be charged to the Client.
3. Consequential Loss Excluded: Our total maximum liability shall be strictly limited to the total Fees paid by you for the specific job. We are not liable for indirect, special or consequential losses, including loss of profit, loss of business, production downtime or third-party claims.
8. FORCE MAJEURE AND JURISDICTION
1. Force Majeure: Neither party is liable for delays or failures resulting from causes beyond reasonable control (including power outages, machine breakdowns, severe weather, material supply chain failures or government restrictions).
2. Law & Jurisdiction: This Contract shall be governed by and interpreted according to the law of England and Wales, and both parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
Updated: 5th October 2026