Terms & Conditions

Aidmark Immigration website is maintained for your personal use and viewing. Access and use by you of this site constitutes acceptance by you of these Terms and Conditions which take effect from the date of first use.

Throughout this document the terms 'we', 'us' and 'our' refer to Aidmark Immigration and the terms 'you' and 'your' refer to you the user.

Intellectual property
The names, images and logos identifying Aidmark Immigration and UK-LTC Management Services are proprietary marks of those organisations. Copying our logos and/or any other third party logos accessed via this website is not permitted without prior approval from the relevant copyright owner.

Requests for permission to use our graphics should be sent via our Enquiries page. Tell us how and why your wish to use our logo(s). Please include your contact details.

Copyright
Material featured on this site is subject to Crown copyright protection unless otherwise indicated. The Crown copyright protected material may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context, except the designs, graphics, logos of Aidmark Immigration and UK-LTC Management Services. You should be aware, however, that much of the material on this site is subject to change at short notice and at any time. You are therefore strongly advised to link to pages hosted on this site, rather than reproduce material from it. Where any of the Crown copyright items on this site are republished or copied to others, the source of the material must be identified and the copyright status acknowledged.

The permission to reproduce Crown protected material does not extend to any material on this site which is identified as being the copyright of a third party. Authorisation to reproduce such material must be obtained from the copyright holders concerned.

For further information on Crown copyright policy and licensing arrangements, see HMSO's Crown Copyright policy.

Hyperlinking to us at Aidmark Immigration
You do not have to ask permission to link directly to pages hosted on this site. However, we do not permit our pages to be loaded into frames on your site. Aidmark Immigration pages must load into the user's entire window.

Hyperlinking by us at Aidmark Immigration
We are not responsible for the content or reliability of websites to which we link, nor should listing be taken as endorsement of any kind. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over the availability of linked pages.

Virus protection
We make every effort to check and test material at all stages of production. It is always wise for you to run an anti-virus program on all material downloaded from the Internet. We cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, disruption or damage to your data or your computer system which may occur whilst using material derived from this website.

Disclaimer
Aidmark Immigrations website and material relating to Government information, products and services (or to third party information, products and services), is provided 'as is', 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.

We do not warrant that the functions contained in the material contained in this site will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected, or that this site or the server that makes it available are free of viruses or represent the full functionality, accuracy, reliability of the materials. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damages whatsoever arising from use or loss of use of, data or profits arising out of or in connection with the use of Aidmark Immigrations website.

General
These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising under these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. Please direct any queries to info@aidmark.co.uk.

Terms of Business
1. Place and hours of business

Aidmark Immigration, a company registered in England and Wales, Registration number 6472537. We are a regulated business by Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner. Our trading address is Aidmark Immigration 44 Oakdale Drive, Wrose, Shipley, West Yorkshire, BD18 1PD. Our office hours are generally between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday, although we may make appointments outside of these hours when essential to the interest of our clients. However, this is subject to the discretion of your Caseworker.

2. People responsible for your work

The Caseworker responsible for your work be listed on the Client Care Letter we will send to you, together with names of any other members of our team who may assist. We try hard not to change the persons acting for you but should this become necessary we will notify you of the change in writing, explaining why the change was necessary.

3. Charges, Expenses and Payments

We require you to settle the required fees with cleared funds before we commence, and undoubtedly, before we complete, your application. We reserve the right not to do any work on your matter without the payment of your full agreed fee.
Please also note that once you have agreed and paid our fees and had your initial consultation regarding your matter, under no circumstances can these fees be refunded. We work strictly on a fixed fee basis which will have been agreed with you before we commence any work on your matter. Your agreement will be sought on these matters as part of our initial Client Care Letter that will be sent to you of which you will sign and agree to.

3.1 Disbursements

From time to time, we may need to incur out of pocket expenses on your behalf, such as for photocopying of large volumes of documents, interpreters fees, and translation of documents, agent fees, travel and accommodation expenses, document preparation expenses, and international telephone charges.
We may also from time to time if necessary have to obtain additional advice or opinions on your matter.
We state herein that any fees likely to be incurred for the obtaining of additional advice will be notified to you in writing in advance and your consent will be sought. Your consent to paying these additional fees will be placed on your file and a copy of the same will be sent to you for your records.
All UK postage is included in our quoted legal fees; however, any out of country postage and out of country courier costs are not included, and any such costs will have to be borne by the client.

3.2 Public funding

We do not have a franchise for undertaking work on your behalf via the Legal Services Commission (“LSC”). We are unable to assess your eligibility for public funding via the LSC. If you believe that you may be eligible for public funding in respect of the matter upon which you have consulted us then we recommend that you contact the LSC or Community Legal Advice for guidance. Alternatively, we shall be happy to refer you to a firm which does have an LSC franchise. If you instruct us to act on your behalf, you will be responsible for the payment of our fees as detailed within our correspondence. If you subsequently become eligible for public funding in respect of the matter upon which you have consulted us and we have undertaken work on your behalf then we shall be happy for you to transfer your file of papers to another firm which does have an LSC franchise subject to the payment of any outstanding fees and expenses due to us to the date of such file transfer.

3.3 Unforeseen work

We shall inform you if any unforeseen work becomes necessary, for example, due to unexpected difficulties or if your requirements or the circumstances change significantly during the course of your case. We will advise you in writing of the estimated cost of the extra work before such work is carried out. We will aim to agree an amended charge with you. If we cannot reach agreement, we will do no further work until the matter of costs is settled or you find alternative immigration assistance, which we may assist you to find.

4. Payments on Account for Disbursements

It is normal practice to ask clients to make payments on account from time to time. These payments help to meet this firm’s expected charges for disbursements and to help avoid delaying progress in the matter. We will then pay expenses for disbursements as they become due. We may request further payments on account of expenses for disbursements as the matter progresses. These amounts will be shown as paid on the Disbursement final bill. Please note that disbursements may be payable to third parties. Please also note that in the event that the matter does not proceed to conclusion you will still need to pay for the disbursements that have arisen. Your consent for the payment of disbursements will be sought before such fees are incurred.

5. Service Levels and Your Responsibilities

Our responsibilities to you:
Our cost for the work undertaken is based on the assumptions that it is carried out within defined levels of service being made to you. We will update you on a regular basis as the matter proceeds, this may be via letter, email, SMS, or phone conversation as and when it is appropriate to do so. We will review your matter regularly and advise you of any changes in the law or of any circumstances or risks of which we are aware or consider being reasonably foreseeable or relevant to your situation. We will contact you as and when it becomes necessary.
We require you to provide us with:
• Clear, timely and accurate instructions
• All documentation required to complete the transaction in a timely manner

6. Referrals

As a regulated adviser we cannot accept any referral fee from any person for recommending or referring a client.
As a regulated adviser we cannot offer or accept an inducement for taking on a client.
However, in the event that we are acting both for you and a third party and where a conflict of interests arises, we may have to stop acting for both of you.

7. General

• We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in all of its dealings with clients, third parties and employees. Please contact us if you would like a copy of our equality and diversity policy.
• Our offices are open between 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday though we will make appointments outside of these hours when essential to the interest of our clients. We have been, where possible made accessible for people with mobility difficulties or disabilities. However, should you require an appointment, please contact us so that we can ensure adequate provision is made.

8. Data Protection

We use the information you provide primarily for the provision of legal services to you and for related purposes including:
• Updating and enhancing client records
• Analysis to help us manage our practice
• Statutory returns
• Legal and regulatory compliance
Our use of that information is subject to your instructions, the Data Protection Act 1998 and our duty of confidentiality. Please note that our work for you may require us to give information to third parties such as expert witnesses and other professional advisers. You have a right of access under data protection legislation to the personal data that we hold about you and you may contact us at tim@aidmark.co.uk to request the data we hold about you. We may make a small nominal charge for this access.
Additionally, all data that you submit to us via this website will be held in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
We may from time to time send you information which we think might be of interest to you. If you do not wish to receive that information please notify our office in writing.

9. Privacy Policy

We do not store financial information nor do we share any financial information with third parties.

10. Your right to cancel your contract with us

After you have made payment, by signing and returning our client care letter you waive your right to cancel the contract before the expiry of seven days. In other circumstances, the contract cannot be cancelled after the expiry of seven days from payment date.
You have already verbally agreed that should you decide to terminate the contract before you formally instruct us, we reserve the right to charge you £300 for our administration costs. This is to cover the cost of providing advice to you on the telephone, opening your file and processing any refund that may be due to you. Terminating this contract by you at any other time will result in the whole of the fees to be payable by you.

11. Vetting of Files and Confidentiality

The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) may conduct audit or quality checks on our practice. The OISC are required to maintain confidentiality in relation to your files.

12. Money Laundering

12.1 Proof of Identity
• The law now requires professionals, as well as banks, building societies and others, to obtain satisfactory evidence of the identity of their Clients. This is because those who deal with money and property on behalf of their Clients can be used by criminals wishing to launder money.
• If you ask us to hold any money on account for you in our client account, and in order to comply with the law on money laundering, we will need to obtain evidence of your identity. Where you are asked for this, we would be grateful if you would provide us with documents to verify your identity and address, for example a certified copy of your passport, driving licence or birth certificate along with certified copies of receipted utility bills no more than 3 months old. Please note that we do not accept photocopies of identification unless the same has been certified by a Solicitor and we do not accept scanned copies sent by email. Please also note that we will not carry out any work for you unless you have supplied your identification and we have approved the same.

12.2 Confidentiality

• As professionals we are under an obligation to keep the affairs of clients confidential. This obligation however, is subject to a statutory exception. Recent legislation on money laundering and terrorist financing has placed professionals under a legal duty in certain circumstances to disclose information to the Serious Organised Crime Agency. Where a professional knows or suspects that a transaction on behalf of a client involves money laundering, the professional may be required to make a money laundering disclosure. If, while we are acting for you, it becomes necessary to make a money laundering disclosure, we may not be able to inform you that a disclosure has been made or of the reasons for it. Where the law permits us to do, we will tell you about any potential money laundering problem and explain what action we may need to take.

12.3 Cash

• We reserve the right to charge for any additional checks we deem necessary regarding the source of your funds. In the event of high value transactions, bank statements or confirmation of savings must be produced to confirm source of funds. It is your responsibility to supply us with the information we have requested.

13. Complaints Procedure
13.1 Our complaints policy

We are committed to providing a high-quality service to all our clients. When something goes wrong, we need you to tell us about it. This will help us to improve our standards.

13.2 Our complaints procedure

AIDMARK IMMIGRATION wants to give you the best service possible and welcome any comments, ideas and suggestions that you may have.
We try to make sure that our service is the best it can be, but sometimes despite our best efforts, things can go wrong. We welcome complaints, comments and suggestions. If we know what we are doing wrong, we can put it right and learn from the mistake. So, if you have a problem or are dissatisfied with any part of our service please tell us.

13.3 What will happen next?

We will do our best to sort out any problem or complaint quickly. Wherever possible we hope to put things right at the point that they went wrong. We will work closely with all involved to ensure that complaints are dealt with speedily and all views are represented.
If you have a complaint, the first thing you should do is:
• Speak to a member of staff in the area where the problem took place. Tell them what has happened and they will do their best to put it right as soon as possible. Most complaints are resolved in this way.
• If the problem is not resolved at this stage please contact the Branch Manager or Director of AIDMARK IMMIGRATION at the following address
AIDMARK IMMIGRATION
42 OAKDALE DRIVE
WROSE
SHIPLEY
BD18 1PD
What if I don’t want to talk about my complaint to someone working for the Consultancy?
If you would prefer to talk to someone unconnected with the Consultancy, you can contact the local Care Standards Commission at the following address:

Leeds Care Standards Commission
Aire House
Town Street
Rodley
Leeds
LS13 1HP

Tele: 0113 201 1075
Email: Leeds@ncsc.qsi.gov.uk
They can help you understand the complaints system and investigate and support you in any issues that you may have.
How long will it take to deal with my complaint?
AIDMARK IMMIGRATION will endeavour to resolve any complaint within 5 working days. If this is not possible, we will respond within 5 working days or acknowledge your complaint within 2 working days and respond fully within 20 working days.
You have a right to a full written reply to any complaint from the company Director. We will try to get this to you within the 20 working days deadline. However, sometimes there are good reasons why we won’t be able to do this. If this is the case for you we will tell you why there is a delay, where we have got to in the complaints procedure and give you a new date when you will receive your written reply.
What if I am not happy about how you deal with my complaint?
If you’re not happy with the result of your complaint you can contact the
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner on:
0845 000 0046: General Helpline.
Should any part of this procedure not be fully understood or require clarification, please contact a member of staff.

14. Termination

We may reserve the right at any time to terminate instructions if we feel that you have made false representations or provided any false documents. We must give you reasonable notice that we will stop acting for you. If we decide that we should stop acting for you, we will notify you in writing within 3 working days of termination. We will also, upon termination, notify any other involved party or deciding body that we have withdrawn from your matter.
You have verbally agreed that should you decide to terminate the contract before you formally instruct us, we reserve the right to charge you £300 for our administration costs. This is to cover the cost of providing advice to you on the telephone, opening your file and processing any refund that may be due to you. Terminating this contract by you at any other time will result in the whole of the fees to be payable by you.

15. Storage of papers and documents

After completing the work, we are entitled to keep all your papers and documents while there is money owing to us for our charges and expenses. In addition, we will keep your file of papers for you in storage for six years. After that, storage is on the clear understanding that we have the right to destroy it after such period, as we consider reasonable or to make a charge for storage if we ask you to collect your papers and you fail to do so. No charge will be made to you for such storage unless prior notice in writing is given to you of a charge to be made from a future date, which may be specified in that notice.
You also authorise us, if we wish, to store the file in electronic form, such that the original papers can thereafter be destroyed save for any original deeds and/or documents that you may have provided which will be returned to you at the conclusion of the matter in respect of which we are instructed.
If we retrieve papers or documents from storage in relation to continuing or new instructions to act in connection with your affairs, we will not normally charge for such retrieval. However, we will make a charge based on time spent for producing stored papers or documents to you or another professional at your request at £30.00. We may also charge for reading, correspondence or other work necessary to comply with your instructions. There may also be a further charge if we feel that there is a large amount of photocopying required or postage charges to be incurred.

16. Change in Immigration Law

Please note that we shall not be held liable for advice if the law on immigration regarding your matter changes subsequently. We will endeavour to advise you of any law changes as soon as we are made aware of the same, however, a change in the law brought into force once your application has been completed will not render us liable for any refusal which you may receive as a result.

17. Limitation of liability

Our liability to you is limited in every case to the amount of the fees paid to us for performing our service. We will not be liable for any consequential, special, indirect or exemplary damages, costs or losses or any damages, costs or losses attributable to lost profits or opportunities.
As soon as we have concluded our initial consultation and completed your application we will not be held responsible for any delays caused by you in providing us with the necessary documents to support your application.
As soon as we have concluded our initial consultation and completed your application, we will not be held liable if a refusal arises from the Home Office or other adjudicating body. Our matter will be completed upon lodging the application to the adjudicating body.

18. Professional Indemnity Insurance

Aidmark Immigration has full professional indemnity insurance provided by HISCOX INSURERS. This insurance has worldwide coverage, excluding USA and Canada.

19. Acceptance

Your continuing instructions will amount to your acceptance of these terms of business, but please sign and date the enclosed copy of this letter and return it to us immediately. Then we can be confident that you understand the basis on which we act for you.
We hope that by sending this letter to you, we have addressed your immediate queries about the day-to-day handling of your work and our terms of business. However, if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. This is an important document, which we would urge you to keep in a safe place for future reference. Please sign both copies, returning one to our offices.

20. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England & Wales and you hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales accordingly.
We aim to continuously review the service we offer to our clients. We would therefore appreciate any comments and suggestions on how we could improve our service to you. Thank you.

August 2011 – Aidmark Immigration