Our Terms & Conditions

Your most important read!
Well, almost. The outcome for you is of course the most important. Next thing is how much you will spend on getting the outcome. So, be aware that you understand our fee structures and terms & conditions. Read all of the very reasonable terms & conditions below.

Agreement:
You confirm to have read and agree to all the terms & conditions on this page, and any additional or other terms & conditions given to you by email or other means.

Competitive Fees:
… we are fair …
Let’s start with a bit of self promotion. It is our aim to help people. As we also need to eat and take care of our families we can’t beat any free advise. However, if you compare us to our competitors we are very competitive. So we are the cheaper choice but provide the right and specific knowledge. By all means ask and shop around, we would do the same. More on our fees here.

What we provide on this website:
Just a little of what is possible.
On this website we mainly offer hourly and some fixed fee services. If we do list some physical product in the future it will be exceptional and you better get it quick before it’s gone. Our services on offer on the website are often just an online start to a more personal approach through other communication channels. Meaning, let’s talk and adjust to your needs. We could also meet in person but since all our colleagues work from home or different offices you are more likely to email, call, video-meet with us. Until we accept you as a client, through our retainer agreement or by replying to you in writing that we accept your brief, we regard you as a potential client.

No need to buy services on this website or online!
… don’t move along, these are the legal advisers you are looking for!
This website is for your convenience and to explain what services we offer. You do not need to purchase our services online through this website. In fact, due to the often very specific and personal nature of your needs we prefer you not to buy online. We prefer you to contact us and discuss your needs and case. Then we can give you some initial rough indication on what time we need, and thus your estimated fees. Keep in mind these are merely estimations. Once we start it quickly becomes clear what else is going to be involved. Although in this line of work there can always be surprises.

Free advice elsewhere!
…or is it?
Yes it is. The knowledge we have you can learn yourself. You may even think you don’t need us. A lot of information can be found on the internet these days. As such we already help others such a volunteer and not for profit organisations with some free advice on the Dutch nationality law and self help resources for individuals. Read that first and if it is not clear to you, or if your situation has some real challenges, or you just feel more secure with us, or like the convenience of us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Be aware though, sometimes doing things yourself can backfire. So why not ask us to assess your situation with a consultation.

Free initial consultation:
Only if the wind is in the right direction!
We only offer this for some services, but no longer for immigration or nationality/citizenship services. Unfortunately we noticed that this was not ideal. Some people clearly abused the goodwill, while others thought to use the information and do things themselves only to get in trouble and making things worse. For those who lost their Dutch nationality we still do give some free consultations if you are financially not well off and are referred to us through volunteer and non-profit organisations. Any initial consultation is discuss your needs and situation. This could be a quick five minutes (we wish) to a more usual 30 minutes. Be prepared, where possible have your documents and details regarding your situation ready.

Hourly fees:
For a good outcome perhaps a necessary ev… GOOD!
A minimum of one non refundable hour is charged and the rest per hour for every part of the hour. Example, twenty four minutes in total time is charged as one hour.
And one hour and twenty four mintues is charged as one hour and twenty four mintues.
You can instruct us to set time/budget limits. For example you can instruct us not to work for more than 3 hours on your case,.. or 30 hours. We do give some initial indication on how much time could be involved but this is just an estimate and can change as we progress.

Fixed Fees:
Fixed within reason!
Where we have a fixed fee service, this is up to a reasonable allowance of time as described in our listing. If your situation is extraordinary and requiring more time we may need to ask you to pay for additional time. Obviously we try to avoid this. Discussing your needs in advance will help to avoid such situations.

Abuse or smart shopping?
Fixed fees are not to be used by (potential) clients as a way to reduce hourly fees where it was to be expected that much more time was needed. Intentionally purchasing a fixed fee service with a reasonable expectation to have had the knowledge of the need for further time we see as abuse. Abuse may result in fees not being refunded and the client supplier relationship being terminated. We will be reasonable and decide objectively if such issues arise or is suspected.

VAT (Value Added Tax):
Who likes taxes!?
No VAT is charged to private individuals normally resident outside of the UK (a rare Brexit benefit).
Individuals resident in the UK are charged VAT on the invoice. If you have plans to move soon, check with us if we can invoice you after your move.
No VAT is charged to companies registered outside the UK.
VAT registered companies in the UK can claim the invoiced VAT back.

Place of supply and applicable law:
Here… no here, not there!
In most cases the place of supply will be where we are located, therefore in England, the United Kingdom. Where we work with partners in other countries your specific agreement/contract will clarify this further and may thus be another country. Where the agreement or contract is with Habsburg Legal Services Ltd the applicable jurisdiction, law and court, is that of England, the United Kingdom.

How to Pay:
Please do and don’t hesitate!
We accept payment by bank transfer to our GBP account in the UK. And we use TransferWise (better) so you can pay in EUR (Belgium). Suggest and we will consider. Old fashioned cash is of course also appreciated but a bit more cumbersome and not usual. If you want to trade your own service, skills, a few chickens, a painting or other artwork, get in touch. Who knows.

When do you need to pay?
Not now! Hurray!
You can pay now or later but we will normally not start work until (a deposit) payment has been cleared. Different arrangements can be agreed to in your specific retainer agreement/contract with us. The standard practise is that the deposit is paid before the first consultation. Then for anything else you are invoiced at the end of each month. Invoices are standard due in 7 days.

Coupons, Gift Vouchers and Promotions
Great marketing tools, but less food on the table for the kids.
Where we are so very generous as to offer coupons, gift vouchers or promotional fees, they each may have specific conditions in addition to, or replacing, the terms and conditions here and may include expiry dates.

Refunds:
Who likes to refund? We don’t!
Where we did not have a signed agreement or contract with other terms and conditions, we will refund you when we are requested to do so and if we did not yet do actual work for you.

The first hour of fee based services is non refundable unless otherwise agreed to in writing. Any deposits are non refundable. Any remaining hours we will begrudgingly refund without unreasonable delays. Reasonable delays in refunding could for example be because of bank holidays, our office being closed or when we are away due to sickness, field trips, etc. We do not refund expenses made for your case, or for which we are or will be charged. For example bank transfer fees or government (filing/application) fees. We may charge you up to a £50 non-refundable admin fee.

Refunds follow the same route they arrived. Thus if you paid by bank, the refund will be by bank to the originating account. If you request us to refund in a different way, or to someone else, this can create delays and we may need to ask you for further approvals, documentation or actions. This to avoid you, or others, becoming the victim of money laundering, scams, etc.

So if you unilaterally decided to pay for a service we say thank you, and yes if you decide not to want to continue we will refund you but maybe not all. So, when in doubt maybe best not to pay until you are sure you want to go ahead.

Hardship:
We really like to help if we can.
Those individuals who are financially, or in other ways, struggling should not hesitate to contact us and ask for advice. Financial hardship may need to be evidenced. Don’t purchase anything online or otherwise unless you can afford it. Those we deem to be in hardship we may be able to give some pointers on how and where to find further help. We may even help you with some limited legal advice or may know others who can assist. If you don’t ask,.. you.. will never know.

Privacy:
Shssst!
All documents and information provided by you will be kept confidential. We will not divulge or pass on your information with/to any third parties without your explicit consent or unless required by law, by court order. See our privacy policy which is part of these terms and conditions.

Legal Disclaimer:
Where possible we are not responsible for ourselves.
You accept that Habsburg Legal Services ltd can’t be held liable for issues arising from incomplete information or unintentional errors. Our website contains general information based on several jurisdictions’ law and although Habsburg Legal Services ltd endeavours to ensure that the content is accurate and up to date, users should seek appropriate legal advice before taking or refraining from taking any action based on the content of the website or otherwise.

The contents of this website does not constitute legal advice and are provided for general information purposes only. If you require specific legal advice you should contact a legal adviser, solicitor or lawyer. We can only advise on the basis of specific client instructions and are unable to offer legal advice by email to people who are not our clients. To find out more about becoming a client of Habsburg Legal Services please contact us.

I repeat, making a payment for a service on this website does not mean you are our client. Until we accept you as a client, by replying to you in writing that we accept your instructions/brief, we regard you as a potential client.

Habsburg Legal Services ltd accepts no responsibility for any information contained within this website and disclaims and excludes any liability in respect of the contents or for action taken based on this information.

The contents of this website may be downloaded for personal use only. You may not reproduce, copy, distribute or publish – whether electronically or in hard copy – any information contained within this website without the prior written consent of Habsburg Legal Services ltd.

Your Envisioned Outcome:
…. versus reality …
We are very sorry if our actions or advice did not result in the outcome you, and us, envisioned. We will be very clear to you on what we think are reasonable and unreasonable expectations. Unfortunately law can be quite complex, just as people and their situation or background can be. This complexity may result in a different outcome than we all envisioned and wanted. Where your case did have some ambiguity we are often reliant on approvals from authorities and thus human decisions by a government official, case worker and/or judge. You accept that Habsburg Legal Services ltd has not made promises of definite outcomes but rather advise of likely outcomes and given its commitment to work for your best interest to the best of our abilities. Luckily we have a good success rate and you are likely to forget you ever read this.

Accepting these Terms & Conditions
These are the terms & conditions of any sale, purchase, on our website and its (online) shop/office. By checking out the service or product, or any other means of paying for a service or product, you confirm to accept these terms & conditions.

end of the not so small print….
Not to worry, we can get you more of that, just ask.