Terms & Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Take it or leave it. By accessing and using this site, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provision of this agreement. In addition, when using this site, you shall be subject to any posted guidelines or rules applicable. Any participation on this site will constitute acceptance of this agreement. If you do not agree to abide by the above, please do not use this service.

Privacy Policy

No wilful stalking here. Your interactions with this site are recorded for marketing and may be shared with partners for analytical purposes. In addition, the website may use cookies to collect information about how the site is used. Aggregate, non-personal information about website usage may be shared with unaffiliated third parties. This aggregate information does not contain any personally identifiable information about users.

GA data. This site uses the services of Google Analytics and MailerLite, and may use other similar services, to collect and analyse statistical data about visitors to the website. These analytic and advertising services do not collect personally identifiable information. You may elect to opt out of the use of non-personally identifiable data by Google Analytics by downloading and installing an add-on to your web browser. You may find out more about how Google Analytics collects and processes data by visiting “How Google uses data when you use our partners’ sites or apps”.

Getting the goodies. This site collects your personal information online when you voluntarily provide it. We may use your personal information, such as email address, to provide you with services and products you request and contact you about future services and products that may be of interest. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Looking after you. Great care is taken to protect your personal information. This includes using industry standard techniques. However, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us or receive from us.

Liability

No backsies. This site and its components are offered for informational purposes only; this site shall not be responsible or liable for the accuracy, usefulness or availability of any information transmitted or made available via the site, and shall not be responsible or liable for any error or omissions in that information.

It’s good to share. Sometimes we may direct towards other site content or connect you with other websites, chock full of goodies you might enjoy. This site does not control and is not responsible for practices of any third-party websites.

Stealing is wrong

The site and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by PS Livingstone and are protected by international copyright and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws. I do not give consent for any of my written works to be used in the generation of AI material.                  © PS Livingstone 2015–2025.

Notification of changes

The owner reserves the right to change these conditions from time to time as it is seen fit and your continued use of the site will signify your acceptance of any adjustment to these terms. If there are any changes to the privacy policy, it will be announced on this page. If there are any changes in how the site uses customer’s personal information notification will be made on this page. You are therefore advised to re-read this statement on a regular basis.

Editing Services

A copy of these Terms and Conditions will be provided prior to starting a project so both parties understand what will be involved in the process of working together. Please read and get in touch if you have any questions. editing@pslivingstone.com

General

The Terms and Conditions apply to any work done on behalf of the Client (you) by the Editor (PS Livingstone) in their capacity as proofreader and/or copy-editor.

• The Editor will provide the agreed services in writing by the Editor and the Client.
• The work will be carried out unsupervised at a time and place determined by the Editor, using the Editor’s own equipment.
• The Editor will not subcontract out the agreed upon work to any third parties without written consent from the Client.
• The Editor confirms that they are self-employed, are responsible for their own income tax and National Insurance contributions.
• The Editor is not VAT registered.
• The contract of service requires that the Client acknowledge that they have understood and agree to these terms and conditions.

Project Terms

The Client and the Editor will agree in writing, prior to the commencement of the work, the following terms of the project:

• The format in which the project will be carried out.
• How the manuscript will be annotated.
• The length of time required to complete the project, as determined by the Editor.
• A cost for the project following the Editor’s assessment of the manuscript, in writing, to the Client.
• Any expenses that the Client will bear in addition to the costs of the proofreading/editing.
• The date by which the Client shall deliver the manuscript to the Editor.
• The date by which the completed project shall be returned to the Client by the Editor.

Please note that if, upon receipt of the manuscript on which the work is to be carried out, it becomes clear that there is a need for significantly more work than anticipated following the original sample assessment, the Editor may renegotiate the costs and/or deadline, or decline to complete the project.

Costs

• The Client will pay a fee based on the word count of the manuscript with the cost being worked out per 1000 words (rounded up or down to the nearest 1000).
• Once the cost has been agreed, in writing, between the Client and the Editor, it will be non-negotiable unless the Client extends the word count by more than 1000 words, or requests additional services. In these events, a revised quotation will be provided and a new deadline will be negotiated. A reduction in word count shall only be deducted from the cost if agreed in advance as in the cancellation terms.
• The Editor will supply the Client with their final invoice immediately upon return of the completed project.
• Final payment should be then be made by the Client within 14 days.

Deposit

• Upon agreement of the costs and services required, the Client shall pay a non-refundable deposit amounting to 50% of the agreed costs, unless a payment plan has been agreed.
• Should the client be unable to sign their acceptance of these terms the payment of the deposit shall act as their agreement.

Cancellation Policy

In the unlikely event that the Client cancels the project, the following terms apply:

• Cancellation prior to the agreed start date: if the cancellation occurs with less than one month’s (30 days) notice, the Editor reserves the right to invoice for 50% of the costs outstanding.
• Cancellation prior to the agreed start date: if the cancellation occurs with more than one month’s (30 days) notice but less than two months, the Editor reserves the right to invoice for 25% of the costs outstanding.
• If cancellation occurs with more than two months’ notice to the agreed start date, no further charges will apply.
• If cancellation occurs after the agreed start date, then the Editor reserves the right to charge 100% of the costs outstanding.
• Should the Client experience extraordinary or difficult circumstances (e.g. illness, crisis etc.), the Client should contact the Editor at their earliest convenience to discuss the terms set out here.
• In the unlikely event that the Editor experiences extraordinary or difficult circumstances, the Editor will contact the Client, in writing, at their earliest opportunity to renegotiate the time frame of the project or find an alternate provider of the services for the Client.

Confidentiality

• The content of the manuscript will be kept in the strictest confidence at all times and will not be discussed with anyone other than the Client, unless written permission is given to the Editor by the Client.
• Under no circumstances shall the Editor share the Client’s files to any external websites, nor distribute them to any third parties unless written permission is given to the Editor by the Client.
• As per the conditions of the Data Protection Act 1998, the Client and the Editor may and can keep personal records of each other (e.g. contact information, etc.) and either may view the records the other holds to ensure they are up-to-date.

Copyright

• The content of the manuscript provided to the Editor by the Client will remain the property of the Client.
• Any content created by the Editor during the editing/proofreading process will become the copyright property of the Client upon payment of the final invoice.

Limitations

No guarantees are made by the Editor as to the saleability or marketability of the finished manuscript and the Editor will not be held accountable if the published book is not successful. Nor does the Editor accept responsibility for any negative feedback relating to any of the content on which the Editor has suggested changes and/or suggestions to improve the manuscript and the Client has decided not to take the Editor’s advice.

Legal Jurisdiction

This agreement is subject to the laws of Scotland. Both the Client and the Editor agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts.