Terms and conditions
1. TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1.1. What these terms cover.
These terms and conditions relating to the services to you.
1.2. Why you should read them.
We would advise that you read these terms meticulously before you submit your order to us. We explain within these terms who we are, how we will provide our service to you, if we or you need to change or end the contract and what to do if you experience a problem. If you
believe there is a mistake displayed in these terms, please contact us to discuss.
2. HOW TO CONTACT US AND COMPANY INFORMATION
2.1. Droplet …. Who we are?
Droplet Management Ltd registered in England and Wales. Registered office address
7th Floor, 100 Victoria Street, Cardinal Place, London, United Kingdom, SW1E 5JL. The company registration number is 11534878.
2.2. How to contact Droplet?
If you wish you can contact us by phoning our Team is available on 02081099132 or 07931870092. You can write to us @ info@dropletuk.com
2.3. If we need to contact you?
If we have the need to contact you, we will do so by telephone, writing to you at your postal address or emailing you. The details which we hold for you would be captured by us when you placed your initial order.
2.4. The word “writing” includes emails.
If or when we use the words “writing” or “written” in these terms and conditions, we include the use of email.
3. CLEANING SERVICES
3.1. DROPLET dry-cleaning methods.
You hereby acknowledge that we do not utilize perchloroethylene (perc) the solvent traditionally utilized by the dry-cleaning industry to clean delicate garments, and that we will utilize an alternative biodegradable detergent to clean your items.
3.2. Other cleaning methods.
On occasions, where we believe that other cleaning methods may be more opportune, we reserve the right to ask an external cleaning partner to clean your item/s using a specific method. Such method could include the utilization of perchloroethylene, hydrocarbon, or any other method that would provide the best outcome in the view of our partner in the particular instance. Whilst we endeavour and minimise these occurrences to the bare minimum, each method has its benefits and we feel that we have to be pragmatic to ascertain the best care is given to your items if compulsory.
3.3. Stain removal.
We inspect every item before returning it to you to ascertain that it meets our stringent quality standards. We will make every endeavour to abstract stains without damage to your item, but it should be noted, however, that we do not ensure the abstraction of any stains. In any case, the cleaning charge will apply regardless of whether the stain has been abstracted. Stain abstraction is often made more successful if the stain is identified prior to washing and our ability to remove it will depend on several factors (including but not limited to age of the stain, composition, previous attempts to clean, nature of the fabric and dye). It is imperative that you tell us if there are stains and any information which could avail us in cleaning them as we can treat them before cleaning your item.
3.4. Care labels.
It is the customer's responsibility to ensure that all items that you give us for cleaning have the appropriate care labels. We do not accept responsibility for items that have care labels that have been removed, missing or are unreadable and you accept that all
such items are cleaned “at owners’ risk” (together with all items listed at clause 12.6).
4. DROPLET CONTRACT WITH YOU
4.1. How we will accept your order?
Droplet acceptance of your order in store will take place when we provide you with a collection receipt from the till system. Droplet acceptance of your order online will take place when we provide you with a confirmation email stating that we are able to provide you with the services, at which point a contract will come into existence between you and us.
4.2. If we cannot accept your order.
If for any reason we are unable to accept your order, we will inform you and you will not be charged for the services. We may experience unexpected demands on our resources which we could not reasonably plan for. If we consider that your item may cause a risk to our machines, other items or be a risk to your items - we will not accept your order.
4.3. Your order numbers.
The system will generate an order number and assign it to you. The customer service staff will give you a collection note, with your number on, when we accept your order. It would benefit us greatly if you could communicate the order number whenever you contact us about your order.
5. YOUR RIGHT TO CHANGE THE ORDER
5.1. If you want to change something.
If, for any reason, you need to make a change to your order, please contact us as soon as possible. If we can accommodate your change, we will let you know. If, as a consequence of your request, there is a change in price of the service, its timing or anything else which would be necessary as a result of your requested change, we would ask you to confirm whether you wish to go ahead with the change.
6. DROPLET RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES
6.1. More significant changes to the services and these terms.
We may need to make changes to the services we offer. If we do so, we will notify you and you may then contact us to end the contract and receive a full refund before the changes take effect.
7. PROVIDING THE SERVICES
7.1. When we will provide the services?
We will supply the services to you from the date we accept your order until we have completed the services. The terms of service for completing work is estimated between 24 hours – 2 weeks.
7.2. Delays beyond our control.
If there is a delay that is beyond our control and it affects the performance of the business in terms of the services it offers, we will contact you as soon as possible to let you know and we will take steps to minimise the effect of the delay. As long as we do this, we will not be liable for delays caused by the event. If there is a risk of substantial delay you may contact us to terminate the contract and receive a refund for any services, you have paid for but not received.
7.3. What will happen if you do not provide the required information to us?
We require certain information so that we can provide the services to you. If cleaning care label information is missing, unclear or removed from an item, we will contact you to ask for this information. If you do not provide us with this information, or you provide us with incomplete or incorrect information, you hereby accept that we will proceed with cleaning the property “at owners risk”.
7.4. Your rights if we suspend the services.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we may need to suspend the service, we will contact you in advance to tell you that we will be suspending the services. If we suspend the services for longer than one week, you may contact us to terminate the contract and we will refund any sums you have paid in advance for services not provided to you.
8. YOUR RIGHT TO END THE CONTRACT
8.1. You can always terminate the contract before the services have been supplied and paid for.
You may contact us at any time to terminate the contract for the services, but in some circumstances, we may charge you certain sums for doing so.
8.2. When are you allowed to terminate the contract early?
• If you are entitled to terminate the contract early for the reasons set out below. The contract will be terminated immediately, and we will provide you with a full refund for the services which have not been received or have not been properly provided.
The reasons are:
• You have been informed of an upcoming change to the services or these terms for which you do not agree to;
• A pricing or description error has been brought to light of the services you have ordered, and you no longer wish to proceed;
• Events beyond our control may cause serious delay;
• If we suspend the services for more than a week for technical reasons or notify you that it is our intention to suspend services;
• If we are at fault you have a legal right to end the contract.
8.3. What happens if you terminate the contract without a good reason?
If you terminate the contract and your item has already been cleaned, you will be charged the full sum for cleaning the item.
9. OUR RIGHTS TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT
9.1. We can terminate the contract if you don’t break it.
In certain circumstances, we may terminate the contract at any time by writing to you if:
• you have not, within a reasonable timescale of being asked, provided information that is necessary for us to provide the services, for example, cleaning information if the care label of an item has been removed. A refund may be available for any money you have paid in advance for the services for which you have not received. We may deduct or charge you reasonable compensation for the net costs we will incur as a result of your breaking the contract.
• you have not, within a reasonable timescale of being asked, provided authorisation to proceed “at owners risk” with the cleaning of particularly fragile items which we have identified as at risk of being damaged in the cleaning process. A refund may be available for any money you have paid in advance for the services which you have not received. We may deduct or charge you reasonable compensation for the net costs we will incur as a result of your breaking the contract.
• you have not, within 90 days from dropping off your items, collect your items. We will endeavour to contact the customer prior to 90 days deadline and explain our intention to dispose of their garments if not collected. This is subject to Droplet being provided with the correct personal contact details. We reserve the right to dispose of your items as we see fit and shall not be held liable for any loss that you may suffer in such an event. A refund may be available for any money you have paid in advance for the services for which you have not received. We may deduct or charge you reasonable compensation for the net costs we will incur as a result of your breaking the contract.
10. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
10.1. How to tell us about problems?
From time to time you may wish to contact us raising an issue or even complaining about our services. We require that you make the initial contact with us within 24 hours from receiving your cleaned, altered or tailored items from us. You may contact us by telephone on 07398 212050 or by writing to us at info@dropletuk.com. We are always available to help in-store.
10.2. If you have made a complaint.
If you have made a complaint and we have responded, you must follow up our response within two weeks or we will close the complaint and you will no longer have a valid claim.
10.3. Re-cleaning policy.
If you are not 100% satisfied with the quality of our services, we will re-clean and/or re-press your item free of change, if we are notified within 24 hours of collection. The item will need to be unworn, returned in the original packaging and with our tags still attached. If we suspect that the item has been worn, we reserve the right to refuse to re-clean or re-press the item. If an item is re-cleaned because a stain has not been removed in the first clean, the re-clean will be done “at owner’s risk” as we will have to use a stronger method to attempt to remove the stain, which could result in discolouration. Please note that in any case, we cannot guarantee that the stain will be removed.
11. PRICE AND PAYMENT
11.1. Where to find the price for the services.
A price list is available on our website or paper price lists in-store. For certain items, however, we will agree on a final price with you when we have inspected your item and determined the complexity of the service required. We take all reasonable care to ensure that the prices of services advised to you are correct.
11.2. When you must pay and how you must pay.
You do not have to make an advance payment of the full price of the Services before we start providing them. Full payment will be expected on collection or delivery. We do not accept cheque payments or £50 notes. We accept cash, credit or debit payments or BACS money transfer.
12. OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE SUFFERED BY YOU
12.1. We are responsible to you for foreseeable loss and damage caused by us.
In the unlikely event of damage, please inform us within 24 hours of receipt of your cleaned item from us. If we fail to comply with these terms, we are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breaking this contract or our failing to use reasonable care and skill, but we are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable. Loss or damage is foreseeable if either it is obvious that it will happen or if, at the time the contract was made, both we and you knew it might happen, for example, if you discussed it with us during the sales process.
12.2. If we cannot agree who is responsible for loss and damage.
We will seek an independent analysis by a fabric care research laboratory.
The cost of obtaining the fabric care research laboratory’s analysis shall be borne on both parties and deducted from the final settlement.
12.3. We do not exclude or limit in any way our liability to you where it would be unlawful to do so.
This includes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or the negligence of our employees, agents or subcontractors; for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; for breach of your legal rights in relation to the services.
12.4. When we are liable for damage to your items.
Any item that you wish to complain about must be returned unworn or unused with the original packaging that the item was collected in; failure to do so will invalidate any potential complaint/claim. However, we are not responsible for the cost of repairing any pre-existing faults or damage to your item that we discover while providing the services. We are not responsible for inherent weaknesses or defects in materials (for example, sun fading on curtains or colour runs below armpits due to deodorant) which may result in tears or the development of small holes or stains in fabric that are not readily apparent prior to processing.
12.5. Maximum liability.
Subject to clause 12.2, our liability to you arising under or in connection with this agreement, whether arising in contract, tort (including negligence) or restitution, or for breach of statutory duty or misrepresentation shall be limited to the lesser of:
• 10x the price you have paid for dry cleaning that item 20x for shirt service items; or
• the depreciated value of the item as determined by the Fair Compensation Guidelines as provided by the Textile Services Association.
12.6. We are not liable for items cleaned at “owners’ risk”.
The following items shall be cleaned at “owners’ risk”:
• items with no care label;
• leather;
• suedes;
• furs;
• items containing any suede, leather or fur (e.g. elbow patches);
• suede and leather garments or accessories (including handbags and shoes);
• belts, buckles, buttons and hoods;
• any item that you have agreed to be handled “at owners’ risk”; and
• we will not be responsible for colour loss, colour bleeding, shrinkage or damage to weak and tender fabrics.
13. HOW WE MAY USE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
13.1. How we will use your personal information?
We will only use the personal information you provide to us to:
• provide the services;
• inform you about similar products that we provide, but you may stop receiving these communications at any time by contacting us;
We will only give your personal information to other third parties where the law either requires or allows us to do so.
14. ADDITIONAL TERMS
14.1. We may transfer this agreement to someone else.
We may transfer our rights and obligations under these terms to another organisation. We reserve the right to apply our best judgment and to transfer this agreement so that items can be cleaned using a different cleaning method.
14.2. Nobody else has any rights under this contract.
This contract is between you and us. No other person shall have any rights to enforce any of its terms.
14.3. If a court finds part of this contract illegal, the rest will continue in force.
Each of the paragraphs of these terms operates separately. If any court or relevant authority decides that any of them are unlawful, the remaining paragraphs will remain in full force and effect.
14.4. Even if we delay the enforcement of this contract, we can still enforce it later.
If we do not insist immediately that you do anything you are required to do under these terms, or if we delay in taking steps against you in respect of your breaking this contract, that will not mean that you do not have to do those things or prevent us taking steps against you at a later date. For example, if you miss a payment and we do not chase you, but we continue to provide the services, we can still require you to make the payment at a later date.
14.5. Which laws apply to this contract and where you may bring legal proceedings.
These terms are governed by English law and you can bring legal proceedings in respect of the services in the English courts.