Terms & Conditions

STANDARD CONDITIONS OF SALE

1. BASIS OF THIS CONTRACT
In these conditions the "Seller" means Don Ruffles Limited or any of its subsidiary companies of 26 West Street, Reigate, Surrey RH2 9BX and the "Buyer" means any person or corporate body placing an order with the Seller or making a payment toward the purchase of goods or the provision of services as from time to time agreed (together defined as "Goods"). The 'Buyer' refers to any individual or entity placing an order with the Seller or making a payment toward the purchase of goods or services, regardless of whether the individual or entity claims to represent a third party. Any person or entity making a payment shall be deemed a Buyer for the purposes of liability under this agreement. In relation to the provision of services, reference to Goods shall be construed as references to services, references to delivery as reference to the time for performance, and references to the quality of Goods as references to the quality of the services, the materials used to perform them and the quality of the finished item or work.

2. QUOTATIONS
A quotation is for information only and is binding on the Seller only if and when to the extent that it is incorporated in an order which the Seller has accepted in writing. Any such order will be subject to these conditions of sale.

3. TERMS
(a) All prices are subject to market fluctuations and the actual prices to be paid by the Buyer shall be the Seller's prices ruling at the date of despatch. The Seller shall be entitled to charge to the Buyer the amount of Value Added Tax for which the Seller shall be liable.
(b) Goods will be paid for prior to despatch or if agreed by the seller in writing goods will be invoiced and paid for within 30 days from receipt of the goods.
(c) The time of payment of the price shall be of the essence of the Contract.
(d) If the Buyer fails to make any payment on the due date then, without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to the Seller, the Seller shall be entitled to: (i) cancel the contract or suspend any further deliveries to the Buyer; and (ii) appropriate any payment made by the Buyer to such of the Goods (or the goods supplied under any other contract between the Buyer and the Seller) as the Seller may think fit (notwithstanding any purported appropriation by the Buyer): and (iii) charge the Buyer interest (both before and after any judgement) on the amount unpaid, at the rate of 4 (Four) per cent per annum above Bank of England base rate from time to time, until payment in full is made.
(e) Where payment for goods or services is made by a third party, the third party and the Buyer shall be jointly and severally liable for all obligations under this contract, including the payment of any remaining balances.
(f) Once production has commenced, the Buyer is liable for full payment of the agreed price, regardless of any change in circumstances, including but not limited to the Buyer ceasing to trade or any changes in the Buyer's employment or business structure. The Seller reserves the right to pursue payment from any individual or entity that has acted on behalf of the Buyer or has made any payments toward the order.
(g) Any individual placing an order or making a payment on behalf of a business or organisation represents and warrants that they have full authority to act on behalf of that entity. If such authority is later disputed, the individual shall be personally liable for the performance of the contract.

4. DELIVERY
(a) Unless otherwise agreed in writing the Buyer shall be bound to accept goods ordered by him on notification that they are ready for delivery. If the Buyer fails to take delivery the Seller shall have the exclusive option - (i) to re-sell the goods and charge the Buyer for any shortfall below the price under the Contract OR (ii) to invoice the goods whereupon payment in full shall become due forthwith. The Buyer shall be liable for the insurance of such goods from the date in which he is notified that the goods are ready for delivery onwards.
(b) Any dates quoted for delivery of the Goods are approximate only and the Seller shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of the Goods howsoever caused.
(c) The Buyer agrees to accept any substituted or upgraded items if previously notified by the Seller.
(d) A specific delivery time cannot be supplied. Delivery times are quoted in good faith but we accept no liability for late delivery.
(e) Claims in respect of short deliveries or damage to goods in transit must be notified by the Buyer to the Seller in writing within 3 days of receipt of the goods.
(f) Prices quoted included delivery to front door (over minimum order value)
(g) Prices do not include onward delivery to point of use, set up, installation and customer training, which is available at extra charge on request.
(h) Large units will require the completion of a site survey/form requesting installation and power requirement details.
(i) All additional installation costs do not include lifting gear and power connection to customers supply unless supplied in writing.
(j) The Seller is not responsible for the later removal of product.

5. CUSTOMER'S DEFAULT
The Seller may without prejudice to any of its other rights against the Buyer rescind the contract or suspend delivery under it if:-
(a) any sum is owing and overdue by the Buyer to the Seller;
(b) the Buyer is in breach of any term of the contract;
(c) the Buyer makes any voluntary arrangement with its creditors or becomes subject to an administration order or (being an individual or firm) becomes bankrupt or (being a company) goes into liquidation (otherwise than for the purpose of amalgamation or reconstruction); or
(d) an encumbrancer takes possession, or a receiver is appointed over any of the property or assets of the Buyer; or
(e) the Buyer ceases, or threatens to cease, to carry on business; or
(f) in cases where payment is made by an individual or entity other than the Buyer, the Seller reserves the right to recover the outstanding balance from the payer, the Buyer, or both, jointly and severally.

6. LIABILITY
(a) The Seller shall be under no liability:-
(i) in respect of any defect in the Goods arising from any drawing, design or specification supplied by the Buyer.
(ii) in respect of any defect arising from fair wear and tear, wilful damage, negligence, abnormal working conditions, failure to follow the Seller's or manufacturer's instructions (whether oral or in writing), misuse or alteration without the Seller's approval;
(iii) under any warranty, conditions or guarantee, or any duty at common law, if the total price for the Goods has not been paid by the due date for payment;
(iv) by any oral warranty or representation given or made on its behalf unless confirmed in writing.
(b) Where any valid claim in respect of any of the Goods which is based on any defect in the quality or condition of the Goods or their failure to meet specification is notified to the Seller in accordance with these Conditions, the Seller shall be entitled to replace the Goods (or the part in question) free of charge or, at the Seller's sole discretion, refund to the Buyer the price of the Goods (or a proportionate part of the price), provided a complaint is made in writing within 3 days after delivery and goods are returned within one week. The Seller shall have no further liability to the Buyer.
(c) Subject as expressly provided in these Conditions (and specifically without prejudice to(b) above, and except where the Goods are sold to a person dealing as a consumer (within the meaning of the Unfair Contract terms Act 1977)), all warranties, conditions or other terms implied by statute or common law are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(d) Except in respect of death or personal injury caused by the Seller's negligence, the Seller shall not be liable to the Buyer by reason of any representation, or any implied warranty, condition or other term, or any duty at common law, or under the express terms of the Contract, for any consequential or indirect loss or damage, costs, expenses or other claims for consequential compensation whatsoever (and whether caused by the negligence of the Seller, its employees or the agents or otherwise) which arise out of or in connection with the supply of the Goods or their use or resale by the Buyer, except as expressly provided in these Conditions. Non-exhaustive illustrations of consequential or indirect loss include: (i) loss of profit, (ii) loss of contracts, (iii) damage to the Buyer's property or property of another person or body,(iv) personal injury or death to the Buyer or any other person other than that caused by the Seller's negligence.

7. DESCRIPTION OF GOODS
All descriptions and illustrations contained in any catalogues, price lists, advertising matter and other literature of the Seller are intended merely to present a general idea of the goods described therein and none of them shall form part of the contract.

All Specifications stated are to be used as guidance only and are subject to change at any time. Throughput Capacities are sometimes only achievable in ideal situations, and in some cases are Theoretical as conditions vary and are dependent on operator usage, age and condition of machines, power supplies etc. In some cases realistic throughputs can be half that of the Theoretical Capacities quoted. Sound Levels quoted should be taken as a guide only with machines running in idle without material being processed. No responsibility will be taken by Don Ruffles Limited for any errors or omissions.

8. RISK AND PROPERTY
(a) Risk of damage to or loss of the Goods shall pass to the Buyer: (i) in the case of Goods to be delivered at the Seller's premises, at the time when the Seller notifies the Buyer that the Goods are available for collection; or (ii) in the case of Goods to be delivered otherwise than at the Seller's premises, at the time of delivery or, if the Buyer wrongfully fails to take delivery of the Goods, the time when the Seller has tendered delivery of the Goods.
(b) Notwithstanding delivery and the passing of risk in the Goods, or any other provision of these Conditions, the property in the Goods shall not pass to the Buyer until the Seller has received in cash or cleared funds payment in full of the price of Goods and all other goods previously or subsequently supplied by the Seller to the Buyer for which payment is then due,
(c) Until such time as the property in the Goods passes to the Buyer, the Buyer shall hold the Goods as the Seller's fiduciary agent and bailee, and shall keep the Goods separate from those of the Buyer and third parties and properly stored, protected and insured and identified as the Seller's property. Until that time the Buyer shall be entitled to resell or use the Goods in the ordinary course of its business, but shall account to the Seller (but any warranties, conditions or representations given or made by the Buyer to any third party shall not be binding on the Seller who shall be indemnified by the Buyer with respect thereto) for the proceeds of sale or otherwise of the Goods, whether tangible or intangible, including insurance proceeds, and shall keep all such proceeds separate from any moneys or property of the Buyer and third parties and, in the case of tangible proceeds, properly stored, protected and insured.

9. FORBEARANCE BY SELLER
No forbearance or indulgence by the Seller shown or granted to the Buyer whether in respect of these general conditions or otherwise shall in any way affect or prejudice the rights of the Seller against the Buyer or be regarded as a waiver of any of these general conditions.

10. FORCE MAJEURE
No liability is accepted by the Seller for any direct or indirect loss arising from non-delivery or delay in delivery of any goods caused by Act of God, Riot or Civil Commotion, War, Strike, Lockout, Fire, Flood, Drought, Act of Government, failure to obtain or shortages of raw materials or any other cause whatsoever beyond its control.

11. RETURNS

Business to Business Sales
(a) The Seller is under no obligation to accept return of goods supplied and credit the Buyer accordingly except in the following circumstances:- (i) Goods received as being damaged in transit will be replaced with an undamaged item - goods must be signed for as damaged on receipt, and must be reported within 24 hours (ii) Goods returned pursuant to a request by the Seller following a complaint of quality of goods made under Clause 6 hereof - detailed information must be supplied in writing and the claim must be agreed in advance by the Manufacturers. (iii) Where in the Seller's opinion the goods delivered do not meet the description of the goods agreed between the Seller and the Buyer when the order was placed.

Goods generally not required after receipt cannot be returned for a credit unless agreed by the Seller, and in turn their Suppliers. The Seller must be notified in writing within 24 hours of receipt of the goods. All goods must be returned within 7 days, unused, in the original unopened packaging and in a re-saleable as new condition. In all circumstances the prior agreement of the Seller must be received by the Buyer prior to the return of goods. Goods deemed faulty from the date of delivery will either be replaced or repaired under normal warranty conditions.

(b) The Seller reserves the right to make a charge for the return of goods including a restocking fee.

(c) Goods are to be returned at the buyer's expense

(d) When the Seller issues a credit it will be to the original payment method.

Business to non Business (Consumer) Sales
You have a cancellation period of seven working days starting from the day after you receive the goods and a full refund (including standard delivery charges) will be paid (to the card you paid with) as soon as possible but at least within 30 days of cancellation subject to: (i) You have the right to open the packaging and inspect the product but NOT to use it. We will NOT accept any items back that have been used in any way. (ii) The item has to be returned to us within 14 days.

If the item is reported as faulty within the 7 days, you will have to arrange to have it sent back to us for inspection and if found to be faulty we will reimburse costs. If the item is not found to be faulty you will be a charged to have the item returned to you. We can organise collection, especially when it is a large item, but again if found not to be faulty you will incur the carriage cost for the goods to be returned.

12. Non-Cancellable Orders
Orders for goods manufactured or customised specifically for the Buyer are non-cancellable once production has commenced. The Buyer remains liable for the full contract value in such cases, regardless of any changes to their circumstances or the circumstances of any individual or entity acting on their behalf.

13. DEAD ON ARRIVAL
Any Items deemed to be dead on arrival must be reported to the seller in writing with 24 hours from the date of delivery. Please keep all original packing materials as goods would under normal circumstances need to be returned for inspection prior to replacements being supplied. Alternatively the goods may be repaired if suitable.

14. SPECIFICATIONS
All specifications stated are to be used as guidance only and are subject to change at any time. Shredder sheet capacities for example are provided by manufacturers and are based on 70 gram paper, and are normally only achievable in ideal situations, so heavier duty paper will shred less sheets. In many cases the capacities quoted are theoretical as conditions vary and are dependent on operator usage, age and condition of machines, how regularly cutters are oiled, type and quality of paper etc. so realistic throughputs can be as low as half that of the theoretical capacities quoted. Sound Levels quoted should be taken as a guide only with machines running in idle without material being processed. No responsibility will be taken by Don Ruffles Limited for any errors or omissions.

15. WARRANTY & EXTENDED BREAKDOWN COVER

The Extended Breakdown Cover extends the standard manufacturer's product warranty by an additional 1 year, effective from the date of delivery of the goods. To claim cover, you must provide proof that less than an additional 1 year has elapsed since the product was last covered by the original manufacturer's warranty. Goods will be required to undergo assessment prior to replacement or repair at the full cost of the user. The goods must have been purchased new by their first user, and a dated receipt, email confirmation, or invoice must be provided as proof of purchase. If the fault cannot be economically repaired, the product will be replaced with an equivalent or similar product. Repairs or replacements will ensure that your product provides satisfactory performance consistent with its age and usage. Replacement products will be equivalent or similar to the product being replaced and may not be new. The unexpired term of the extended breakdown cover will be transferred to the replacement product. If deemed appropriate, we will arrange for a replacement product to be delivered to your specified address. The original product may or may not be collected at the discretion of Don Ruffles Limited for recycling or reuse. If a fault develops, the assessment of goods to determine legitimate faults will be done in the most cost-effective method, solely at the discretion of Don Ruffles Limited on a case-by-case basis. We will advise you on which of the following services will be provided:

Customer Return to Base: In most cases, unless agreed in writing, goods must be returned to our base by the user for assessment prior to possible replacement or repair. The full cost of return to our premises will be at the user's expense. A returns procedure document will be provided and must be agreed and signed prior to the return. Goods must be properly packaged, and any in-transit damage will be the responsibility of the user.

Collection to Base: We will arrange to collect the faulty product from your specified address for assessment prior to possible replacement or repair. The full cost of collection to our premises will be at the user's expense. A returns procedure document will be provided and must be agreed and signed prior to the return. Goods must be properly packaged, and any in-transit damage will be the responsibility of the user.

Engineer Call-out: We may arrange for a technician to visit your specified address to carry out assessment checks prior to possible replacement or repair. There may be an additional charge to be paid for this and if the fault is deemed to be excluded from the breakdown cover, the full cost of the engineer and collection to our premises of the goods will be chargeable at the user's expense.

The product must be located within the GB mainland unless otherwise agreed in writing. Repair or replacement will not be provided if, in the view of Don Ruffles Limited, the failure or problem has occurred as a result of general misuse. This may include, but is not limited to: wear and tear, non-replacement of parts, excessive overfeeding, feeding of non-approved materials, non-oiling, greasing, or lubrication, non-adjustment of belts, sensors, or other parts, non-use of suitable preventative maintenance contracts, modification to the product, unauthorized or inexpert repair or attempted repair, misuse outside the product's specification, excessive or inappropriate use, or use in an adverse or abnormal environment, and the use of non-approved manufacturer's parts or consumables, and non-following of manufacturer's guidance and recommendations, recommended interim regular preventative maintenance.

1. Any territories outside the United Kingdom mainland.
2. Damage caused by paper jams, general wear, including motors, misuse, abuse, carelessness, accidental damage, alteration, and electrical current fluctuations.
3. Mechanical damage caused by drops, lack of lubrication or overloads, and abuse causing damage to driving gears, as damage to driving gears is not considered a manufacturing defect.
4. Clearing of paper jams.
5. Exceeding the recommended feed capacity of the product.
6. Passing materials/substances through the shredder for which it was not designed.
7. Alteration, defacement, or removal of the original model and serial number plate.
8. Repairs performed by non-qualified engineers.
9. Evidence that the product has not been maintained according to the product user manual.
10. Operating the shredder above maximum capacity with continuous jamming, which may shorten the shredder's lifetime and cause mechanical failure not covered by the warranty.
11. Cleaning of electronic eyes.
12. All costs associated with repairs or when no fault is found, including parts, labour, call-out charges, or transportation from the service centre, will be chargeable under any Extended Breakdown exclusions.

In all cases, to avoid voiding cover, it is recommended to contact Don Ruffles Limited prior to initial use of the product for specific usage and maintenance advice.

Transfer of Ownership: The Extended Breakdown Cover is only valid for the original purchaser and is non-transferable to new owners, unless explicitly agreed upon in writing by Don Ruffles Limited. If the product is sold or transferred, the new owner will need to purchase a separate Extended Breakdown Cover for continued protection.

Product Modifications: Any modifications made to the product, whether by the user or third parties, without the prior written consent of Don Ruffles Limited will void the Extended Breakdown Cover. This includes but is not limited to any alterations to the product's structure, functionality, or components.

Maintenance Requirements: The Extended Breakdown Cover is contingent on the user adhering to all maintenance and operational guidelines specified in the user manual and other documentation provided by Don Ruffles Limited. Failure to perform recommended maintenance, including cleaning and servicing at specified intervals, will result in the cover being void.

Fault Reporting: Any faults must be reported to Don Ruffles Limited within a reasonable timeframe after they occur. Failure to report faults promptly may limit the extent of cover provided, especially if the product is further damaged due to delayed reporting.

Proof of Fault: Don Ruffles Limited reserves the right to request a video, photograph, or other visual evidence of the fault or defect prior to approving a repair or replacement. This will assist in assessing the nature of the fault and determining the most suitable solution.

Geographical Limitations: Service will not be provided for products located outside of the geographical limits of the United Kingdom mainland. If the product is located abroad, the user may be required to bear the full cost of shipping and handling, including any customs duties and taxes.

Exclusion of Consumable Parts: Consumable parts such as shredding blades, motors, belts, and rollers are not covered under the Extended Breakdown Cover.

Force Majeure: Don Ruffles Limited will not be liable for any delays in the provision of the Extended Breakdown Cover due to circumstances beyond our control, including but not limited to strikes, natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, or government restrictions.

Liability Limitation: In no event shall Don Ruffles Limited be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including loss of profits, business interruption, or damage to other equipment, resulting from the use or failure of the product covered under this Extended Breakdown Cover.

Termination of Cover (No Refund): Don Ruffles Limited reserves the right to terminate the Extended Breakdown Cover immediately if the user breaches these terms and conditions or if any claim is found to be invalid. This includes (but is not limited to) where: the product is not made available for inspection, testing, collection, engineer attendance, or return to base at the agreed time and place, access is refused, or the site is unsafe or not ready; the product has been written off (by the user, insurer, or any third party), scrapped, disposed of, lost, stolen, sold, transferred, or otherwise is not available for assessment and repair; the product has been modified or tampered with (including removal or alteration of serial number plates); repairs have been attempted by non-qualified persons or without our prior written consent; there is evidence of misuse, operation outside specification, or failure to maintain the product in line with the user manual; the user fails to follow our returns procedure, packaging requirements, or reasonable diagnostic requests (including photos or videos); any charges due are not paid when requested; or the user attempts to reclaim, reverse, set-off, or charge back any Extended Breakdown Cover fee or related charges without valid grounds. In all such cases, no refund (in whole or part) of any premiums, fees, or charges paid will be provided. If any repair, replacement, credit, or other benefit has already been provided, Don Ruffles Limited reserves the right to recover all associated costs where it later becomes evident that the claim was invalid or material information was withheld or misrepresented. Nothing in this clause affects your statutory rights.

Dispute Resolution: Any disputes arising from the Extended Breakdown Cover shall be resolved in accordance with UK law. In the event of a dispute, both parties agree to attempt to resolve the issue through mediation before pursuing legal action.

Claims Process and Time Limits: Claims for repair, replacement, or service under the Extended Breakdown Cover must be submitted within 7 days from the date of the fault occurrence. Any claims submitted after this period may not be processed.

Warranty Period: Please check if you need to register your warranty with the manufacturer at the time of purchase. In some cases (such as Fellowes), an additional year is granted by registering the product with them. If you do not register the product, your extended warranty will be valid for an additional year beyond the manufacturer's warranty.

16. PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS & SERVICE VISITS
Please note that the prices quoted do not include any spare parts, additional congestion and parking charges incurred during the visit which will be invoiced separately. Prices quoted and charged for, orders received by Don Ruffles Limited directly from the www.ShreddingMachines.co.uk website are 'base' prices for machines situated in England Mainland only and outlying areas (including but not limited to Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and all International locations) will incur additional charges which will be quoted and agreed prior to acceptance. You will be contacted prior to the engineers visit to organise an appropriate time and date so it is the responsibility of the user to report any changes of machine locations, and machines moved to a different address will incur additional charges or not be visited and no refunds will be available. If machines have been moved from the original location, or are not available, and subsequent visits will be chargeable. *Whilst the engineer's will endeavour to repair any faults found, if additional parts are required and/or a return visit is required, this will be chargeable extra. On the annual renewal date of your initial purchase you will be re-invoiced for the following year at the appropriate rate. If you wish to cancel the following year's visits please notify us within 2 weeks of receipt of the renewal notice/invoice. Please note that the prices quoted for are discounted to allow for several planned local visits at the same time so as to reduce costs, and therefore are not available for one off service call outs. Special prices and quantity discounts are available for more than 1 machine situated in the same location.

Termination of Cover (No Refund): Don Ruffles Limited reserves the right to terminate the Maintenance Contract immediately if the user breaches these terms and conditions. This includes (but is not limited to) where: the product is not made available for inspection, testing, collection, engineer attendance, or return to base at the agreed time and place, access is refused, or the site is unsafe or not ready; the product has been written off (by the user, insurer, or any third party), scrapped, disposed of, lost, stolen, sold, transferred, or otherwise is not available for assessment and repair; the product has been modified or tampered with (including removal or alteration of serial number plates); repairs have been attempted by non-qualified persons or without our prior written consent; there is evidence of misuse, operation outside specification, or failure to maintain the product in line with the user manual; the user fails to follow our returns procedure, packaging requirements, or reasonable diagnostic requests (including photos or videos); any charges due are not paid when requested; or the user attempts to reclaim, reverse, set-off, or charge back any Maintenance or Service fees or related charges without valid grounds. In all such cases, no refund (in whole or part) of any premiums, fees, or charges paid will be provided. If any repair, replacement, credit, or other benefit has already been provided, Don Ruffles Limited reserves the right to recover all associated costs where it later becomes evident that the claim was invalid or material information was withheld or misrepresented. Nothing in this clause affects your statutory rights.

17. LAW
These Conditions and all contracts with the Seller shall be governed by English law.

18. FREE GOODS & SPECIAL OFFERS
All manufacturers' offers are subject to their terms & conditions and whilst stocks last. If a free item is out of stock then Don Ruffles Ltd reserves the right to substitute the free item for one of a similar value. Certain free goods are too heavy to ship anywhere other than the GB Mainland. If you return an item that included a free gift or your item was part of a bundle or package then you will receive a full refund by returning all of the items purchased. However, if you choose to keep the free item and/or the bundled/packaged item(s), the value of those items will be subtracted from your return.

19. COOKIES
By using this site with a browser that accepts cookies you are give our consent to use cookies as described in our Cookies Policy. If you choose to disable cookies then certain parts of the site may not work as intended.

20. PRIVACY
Don Ruffles Limited understands that your privacy is important to you and that you care about how your personal data is used. We respect and value the privacy of all of our customers, and will only collect and use personal data in ways that are described here, and in a way that is consistent with our obligations and your rights under the law. More information can be found in our Privacy Policy.

21. DATA PROTECTION
Respecting and protecting the privacy rights of those whose data we hold in the course of our business is very important to us at Don Ruffles Limited. To ensure we are effective in delivering this policy, we have been guided by advice from the Information Commissioner’s Office and used compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations as a framework. More information can be found in our Data Protection Policy.

NB All prices EXCLUDE VAT. VAT No: 703 0017 06