We are Local Approved Trades – a trading name of “Fylde Approved Trades Limited”, a Registered company in England and Wales no. 11109152 Registered address. Ingle Nook, Staynall Lane Hambleton. FY6 9DT. Where we refer to ourselves in this Agreement, this is also taken to include (where the context allows) our group companies, affiliates, and our and/or their employees, associated and contracted persons, and persons supplying services to us or them. You can contact us via our online contact form.

Where we refer to you in this Agreement, this also includes any person that accesses or uses our Service on your behalf. The “Agreement” includes the terms set out here and the Privacy Policy.

The Services

The “Service” consists of the Website, our Apps, any pages we operate on third party social media applications, and the content and services we make available through them via the internet, mobile devices including smart phones and tablets, and/or interactive television devices and services, together with the provision by us of associated information, products and services by e-mail, telephone, fax or mail.

Any person using the Service to promote their services (except us) shall be a “Trade Business“. As part of receiving the Service, you may from time to time upload information to the Service or otherwise provide us or other users of the Service with information relating to you or your subcontractors (including by communicating via the Communities) (“Homeowner Information“).

Service Content

The vast majority of the material on the Service originates from our users, and we rely on Homeowners to accurately describe their requirements for any projects for which they invite tenders from Trade Businesses through the Service. We have little or no editorial control over the material and we therefore cannot guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for any particular purpose of the material available through the Service. We cannot accept responsibility for errors, omissions, or inaccurate material available through the Service, and make no warranty that the Service will be uninterrupted or error free, or that any defects will be corrected.

Whilst we take steps to prevent misuse of our systems, we cannot warrant that the Service will be free of viruses or other malicious code and accept no liability for loss or damage caused from the transmission of such code. We recommend that you always use up-to-date firewalls and anti-virus software to protect your equipment and data.

The feedback and other information about Trade Businesses found on the Service are provided by users, not by us. We do not endorse or recommend any particular Trade Business. Any material you obtain from the Service is used at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with access or use of the Service (except to the extent that such liability cannot be excluded by law).

Local Approved Trades takes steps to verify the credentials and company status of its members (the “Vetting Process”).

Local Approved Trades collects and collates feedback from customers of its members by means of feedback (“Monitoring”).

Local Approved Trades collates recommendations from the public in relation to its members and the services they provide (“Recommendations”).

The results of the Recommendation, Vetting and Monitoring processes are published on the Website.

Local Approved Trades aims to:

  • Improve the accountability and credibility of its members through publishing impartial feedback on their work;
  • Promote quality service, workmanship and best practice among its members; and
  • Promote its members to the public, isolating rogue traders.

Arrangements with Trade Businesses

Should you have a dispute with a Trade Business, you must address such dispute directly to the Trade Business concerned. However, you agree to notify the details of the dispute to us as soon as reasonably practicable.

We may decide to investigate any grievances held by you or by Trade Businesses and may discuss any such investigation with all involved parties. We may take any lawful action we deem necessary in the event of a grievance, but likely outcomes of a grievance investigation include:

  • you and the Trade Business being allowed to continue using the Service;
  • your and/or the Trade Business’ access to the Service being suspended for a period of time;
  • your and/or the Trade Business’ access to the Service being terminated and banned for a definite or indefinite period.

Save as provided above, we cannot be involved in your dealings with Trade Businesses and, in the event that you have a dispute with one or more Trade Businesses, you hereby release us from any and all claims, demands and damages of every kind and nature, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way connected with such disputes.

Acceptance of Terms

Your access to and use of localapprovedtrades.com (“the Website”) and the Services (defined below) outlined in Clause 2, are subject exclusively to these Terms and Conditions.

You agree not to use the Website and/or Services for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these Terms and Conditions.

By using the Website and/or Services you are fully accepting the Terms and Conditions. If you do not accept these Terms and Conditions you must immediately stop using the Website and/or Services.

Local Approved Trades reserves the right to update or amend these Terms and Conditions at any time and your continued use of the Website and/or Services following any changes shall be deemed to be your acceptance of such change. It is therefore your responsibility to check the Terms and Conditions regularly for any changes.

Local Approved Trades  may update the Website from time to time, and may change the content at any time.

These Terms and conditions were last updated on 1 February 2018.

Other Applicable Terms

These Terms and Conditions refer to the following additional terms, which also apply to your use of the Website:

Local Approved Trades privacy notice which sets out the terms on which we process any personal data we collect from you or that you provide to The Company (“Privacy Notice”). The Privacy Notice also sets out who we share the content you upload or provide with;

If you are a member, Local Approved Trades Code of Conduct and Ethics will apply to the way in which you conduct your business.

If you are a member, our Terms and Conditions for members will also apply to your use of the Website. In the event of a conflict between these Terms and Conditions and the Terms and Conditions for members, the contents of those additional terms shall prevail.

Access to the Website

Local Approved Trades do not guarantee that the Website or any content contained on the Website will always be available or be uninterrupted.

You are responsible for making all arrangements necessary for you to have access to the Website.

Your access to the Website is permitted on a temporary basis only.

Local Approved Trades may suspend, withdraw, discontinue or change all or any part of the Website without notice to you.

Local Approved Trades will not be liable to you for any reason if the Website is unavailable at any time or for any period.

Intellectual Property Rights

The Website and its content (including without limitation the Website design, text, graphics and all software and source codes connected with the Website and the Services) are protected by copyright, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights and laws. In accessing the Website you agree that you will access the contents solely for your personal, non-commercial use.

None of the content contained on the Website may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, transmitted, stored, sold or distributed without the prior written consent of Local Approved Trades. This excludes the downloading, copying and/or printing of pages of the Website for personal, non-commercial use only or for use by Local Approved Trades members in promoting their business.

When you upload any content (including text or photographs) to the Website, you assign all rights in such content to Local Approved Trades.

You agree to Local Approved Trades using the name you submit in connection with the content you upload.

You agree that once you have submitted content, the content will become the property of Local Approved Trades and you cannot recall any part of such content.

No reliance on information

The content contained on the Website is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely.  It is your responsibility to select a suitable Trade Business and to negotiate the terms of any Project to be performed by the Trade Business selected. We do not guarantee any specific Trade Business’s information, accreditation, or registration. We make no warranty regarding any goods or services purchased or obtained through listing a Project on the Service or any transactions entered into through the Service, and you should in all cases make your own enquiries. In particular, it is your responsibility to carry out appropriate checks (including, where relevant, DBS checks) on any Trade Business that you are considering engaging and to request evidence of relevant trade or industry accreditations, and to satisfy yourself that the Trade Business is solvent and has appropriately qualified and certified personnel to complete the Project prior to contracting. You should not engage any Trade Business or make any deposit or other payment to them without having conducted such checks to your full satisfaction. While our hope is that you will be happy with every Trade Business you find through the Service, you should not engage any Trade Business if you have any doubts or concerns about it.

We will not be a party to any contract made between you and any Trade Business and therefore we shall not be liable for any loss or damage that results from any dealings between you and any Trade Business including but not limited to any direct, indirect or consequential or inconsequential loss of any kind.

Although Local Approved Trades makes reasonable efforts to update the information on the Website, please note that the content contained on the Website may be out of date at any given time and Local Approved Trades are under no obligation to update it.

Prohibited use

You agree to use the Website for lawful purposes only and not:

In any way that breaches any applicable local, national or international law or regulation;

In a way that is unlawful or fraudulent, or has any unlawful or fraudulent purpose or effect;

For the purposes of harming or attempting to harm any person, business or entity in anyway;

To undermine the purpose and provision of Services;

To gain a competitive advantage over any businesses in your sector;

To act in competition with the Services;

To violate the privacy of others;

To transmit, or procure the sending of, any unsolicited or unauthorised advertising or promotional material or any other form of solicitation;

To reverse engineer, decompile, dissemble, decipher or otherwise derive the code used on the Website;

To use any robot, spider, scraper, or other automated means to access the Website; or

To reproduce, duplicate, copy, sub-licence, broadcast, distribute, sell, re-brand or re-sell any part of the Website (without Local Approved Trades express consent).

Links to third party websites and linking to the Website

The Website/Services may include links to third party websites that are controlled and maintained by others. Any link to other websites is not an endorsement of such websites and you acknowledge and agree that Local Approved Trades has no control over such websites and is not responsible for the content or availability of any such websites.

You may link to the Website’s homepage, provided you do so in a way that is fair and legal and does not damage our reputation or take advantage of it.

You must not establish a link in such a way as to suggest any form of association, approval or endorsement by Local Approved Trades where none exists.

Local Approved Trades reserves the right to withdraw linking permission without notice.

Viruses

Local Approved Trades cannot guarantee that the Website will be secure or free from bugs or viruses.

Local Approved Trades will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by a virus, or any other technologically harmful material that may infect your computer equipment, data, computer programs or other proprietary material due to your use of the Website or to your downloading of any content on the Website, or linked to the Website, where Local Approved Trades have taken reasonable security to prevent this.

International Use

You agree to comply with all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the United Kingdom or the country in which you reside (if different) and with all local laws and rules regarding acceptable use of and conduct on the Internet.

Indemnity

You agree to comply with all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the United Kingdom or the country in which you reside (if different) and with all local laws and rules regarding acceptable use of and conduct on the Internet.

You agree to indemnify and hold Local Approved Trades and its employees and agents harmless from and against any breach by you of these Terms and Conditions and any claim or demand brought against Local Approved Trades by any third party arising out of your use of the Services and/or any Content submitted, posted or transmitted through the Services, including without limitation, all claims, actions, proceedings, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, expenses (including reasonable legal costs and expenses) howsoever suffered or incurred by Local Approved Trades in consequence of your breach of these Terms and Conditions.

Disclaimers and limitation of liability

Use of the Website/Services is at your own risk. The Website/Services are provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis without any representation or endorsement made and without warranty of any kind whether express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy.

To the extent permitted by law, Local Approved Trades will not be liable for any indirect or consequential loss or damage whatsoever (including without limitation loss of business, opportunity, data, profits) arising out of or in connection with the use of the Website/Services.

Whilst Local Approved Trades makes reasonable efforts to ensure that all information it provides is accurate, Local Approved Trades makes no warranty that the Website/Services will meet your requirements, that the Content will be accurate or reliable, that the functionality of the Website/Services will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected or that the Website/Services or the server that makes them available are free of viruses or anything else that may be harmful or destructive.

Local Approved Trades will not be liable to you for any loss suffered (even if such loss is foreseeable) in relation to your use or inability to use the Website, any inaccuracies or delays on the Website or any reliance by you on content contained on the Website.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall be construed so as to exclude or limit the liability of Local Approved Trades for death or personal injury as a result of the negligence of Local Approved Trades or that of its employees or agents.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall affect your statutory rights as a consumer.

Whilst every effort is made to verify statements and information submitted by the public and Local Approved Trades members, the information compiled by Local Approved Trades is based on information supplied by various individuals and businesses, it does not represent the views of Local Approved Trades and Local Approved Trades cannot be held responsible for any omissions or inaccurate claims that may appear.

Users of the service do hereby represent, understand and expressly agree that Local Approved Trades does not make any warranty or guarantee over the quality, timing, integrity, responsibility, legality or any other aspect whatsoever of the materials or services offered or delivered by its members to their customers.

You hereby expressly agree not to hold Local Approved Trades (or Local Approved Trades agents, representatives, advertisers or employees) liable for any instruction, advice or services delivered which originated through the website or associated Services and Local Approved Trades expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any damage, suits, claims, and/or controversies that have arisen or may arise, whether known or unknown therefrom.

Uploading content to the Website

If you are over the age of 18 you are permitted to upload content. Where you upload content to the Website you must ensure that all content uploaded:

Is accurate, true, up to date, genuine and not misleading;

Is relevant and appropriate;

Complies with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which the content is posted or viewed and does not promote illegal activity;

Complies with the Privacy Notice and does not disclose any personal or confidential information;

Does not contain material which is or potentially could be defamatory, obscene, aggressive, offensive, hateful, inflammatory or rude;

Does not infringe the copyright or any intellectual property rights of any person and where such content relates to an image, you must ensure that all necessary consents and authorisations have been obtained;

Does not promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age;

Does not relate to the services provided by Local Approved Trades

Does not have the purpose or effect of advertising, discussing or commenting on third party businesses who are not a Member;

Is not threatening, abusive or invades others privacy or causes annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety;

Does not impersonate any person or misrepresent identities or affiliations; or

Does not give the impression that it emanates from Local Approved Trades (if this is not the case).

(“Content Standards”)

Where content you upload does not comply with the Content Standards or requires clarification, Local Approved Trades may contact you for further information, before publishing such content.

You warrant that all content you upload shall comply with the Content Standards, and you agree to indemnify Local Approved Trades for any loss Local Approved Trades suffers as a result of your failure to comply with the Content Standards.

Local Approved Trades will not be responsible, or liable to any third party, for the content or accuracy of any content uploaded by you to the Website.

Local Approved Trades reserves the right to remove or withhold any content at any time which it considers fails to adhere with the Content Standards set out in clause 13.1.

Local Approved Trades reserves the right to edit content you upload to amend spelling, grammar, punctuation, length, for the purposes of clarity and to ensure that the content can comply with the Content Standards.

Local Approved Trades rights

Local Approved Trades will determine at its discretion, whether you have failed to comply with these Terms and Conditions. Failure to comply with these Terms and Conditions constitutes a material breach and may result in Local Approved Trades:

Temporarily or permanently withdraw your access to the Website;

Commence legal proceedings against you for your actions;

Disclose necessary information to law enforcement authorities.

Severance

If any of these Terms and Conditions should be determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction then such Term or Condition shall be severed and the remaining Terms and Conditions shall survive and remain in full force and effect and continue to be binding and enforceable.

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales and you hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction to the courts of England and Wales.