This is a translation of the original Dutch version of the General Conditions of Veritable Translations. In the case of a dispute due to errors in translation or interpretation, the original Dutch-language version shall prevail.

1. Applicability of the terms and conditions
1. These terms of business shall apply to all transactions and agreements between Veritable Translations and the Principal, in respect of which Veritable Translations has declared these terms and conditions to be applicable.
2. Quotations; entering into an agreement
1. All quotations and cost estimates shall be without obligation.
2. The contract shall take effect on acceptance in writing by the principal of the quotation submitted by Veritable Translations, or - should no quotation have been submitted - by the confirmation in writing by Veritable Translations of a commission granted him by the Principal. In the event when Veritable Translations is unable to examine the complete text before submitting their quotation, it may retract the cost estimate and time of delivery quoted after the Principal has accepted the quotation. All quotations and fees shall exclude VAT unless otherwise stated.
3. Veritable Translations may consider their Principal to be the person/company who/which has commissioned the work, unless said person/company has clearly stated that he or she or it is acting on behalf of, on the orders of, or on the account of a third party and provides the name and address of said third party.
3. Alteration or withdrawal of commission
1. If, after the contract has been concluded, the Principal makes any alteration other than minor changes to the original version, Veritable Translations shall be entitled to adjust the delivery time and/or remuneration or to reject the commission altogether.
2. In the event of a commission being withdrawn by the Principal he shall be liable for payment of that part of the commission that has already been executed.
4. Execution of commissions, confidentiality
1. Veritable Translations shall commit itself to executing the commission to the best of its ability, employing solid professional knowledge and skills, with due regard to the purpose specified by the Principal.
2. Veritable Translations shall treat all information entrusted to it by the Principal with the strictest confidence.
3. On request, the Principal shall provide Veritable Translations with information regarding the contents of the text to be translated, including documentation, reference material and terminology. Dispatch of the documents concerned shall be at the Principal's expense.
4. Veritable Translations shall not be held responsible for the accuracy of information supplied to him by the Principal and shall on no account accept liability for damage of any kind if Veritable Translations has operated from inaccurate or incomplete information supplied to it by the Principal, even when such information was supplied to it in good faith.
5. Intellectual Property
1. The principal shall indemnify Veritable Translations from any claim by a third party regarding alleged breach of rights of ownership, patent, author’s copyright or other language intellectual property in connection with the execution of the commission.
6. Fees and payment
1. The standard fees for written translations are based on a rate per word, and they are calculated by multiplying the number of words in the translated text (target text) by the rate per word, unless Veritable Translations has agreed otherwise with the Principal. Click here to see the approximate rates.
2. Veritable Translations adds surcharges to the aforesaid standard fees if the text to be translated is particularly difficult, if it is of a particular type, if it deals with specialist subject matter, if the translation is very urgent, or if it otherwise leads to higher costs than Veritable Translations could reasonably have foreseen.
3. Unless otherwise stated, editing and proofreading are invoiced according to an hourly rate.
4. Interpreting rates may be quoted per minute, of per hour, of per day (in cases when interpretation lasts more than 5 hours), unless otherwise agreed.
5. The fees shall be stated excluding VAT, unless expressly stated to the contrary.
6. All rates and prices are subject to change.
7. A minimum amount of 23 EUR applies to all orders.
8. Accounts should be settled at the latest 30 days after the date of the invoice, unless otherwise agreed. Should the payment not be made within the period specified, the Principal shall immediately, without further notification, be in default, in which case the Principal shall be liable for the statutory interest from the date of default to the moment of full settlement.
   
7. Liability and indemnity
1. Veritable Translations shall be responsible only for damage that is the direct and demonstrable result of a shortcoming for which it can be held accountable. Veritable Translations shall never be liable for any form of damage such as consequential loss, loss due to delay or loss of income or profits. The liability shall in every case be limited to a sum equal to the invoice value excluding VAT on the commission concerned.
2. Ambiguity in the text to be translated indemnifies Veritable Translations from any liability.
3. Veritable Translations shall not be held responsible for damage to or the loss of documents, information or information carriers placed at his disposal for the purpose of executing the commission. Nor shall Veritable Translations be held liable for damage arising from the use of information technology or modern means of telecommunication.
4. The Principal shall be bound to indemnify Veritable Translations from all claims from third parties arising from the utilization of the work delivered, excepting the liability of Veritable Translations that may exist on the grounds of the provisions of this article.
8. Rescission
1. In the event of the Principal failing to honour its commitments, or in the case of bankruptcy, moratorium, receivership or liquidation of the principal's business, Veritable Translations shall be entitled wholly or partially to rescind the contract or to delay the execution of the commission, such action never rendering it liable for any claim for damages. Veritable Translations may then demand immediate payment of remuneration due to it.
9. Complaints and disputes
1. The Principal shall report complaints concerning the work delivered by Veritable Translations as soon as possible and inform, in writing, its dissatisfaction within five days after delivery. The reporting of a complaint shall in no way relieve the Principal of its obligation to pay for the work delivered.
2. Should the complaint be well founded, Veritable Translations will try to improve or replace the delivered work within a reasonable period of time, or if Veritable Translations cannot reasonably comply with the request for improvement - it may agree to a reduction in the fee. This is not to be construed as obligatory, however.
3. The Principal's right to make a claim shall cease if it has revised - or has caused to be revised - the work as delivered and has subsequently passed it on to a third party.
10. Delivery time and deadline
1. The agreed delivery time shall be an estimated time, unless expressly stipulated. As soon as it becomes apparent to Veritable Translations that the agreed delivery time is not feasible, it shall be bound to inform the principal immediately.
2. Should Veritable Translations be accountable for the delay in delivery, the Principal shall be entitled - if it is unreasonable for him to wait any longer - to rescind the contract unilaterally. In this event, the Principal remains obligated for payment of the invoice of the delivered translations up to that time.
3. Delivery shall be considered to have taken place at the moment of delivery by e-mail, courier, or by normal postal service.
4. Delivery of documents via electronic post shall be considered to have taken place when the medium has confirmed the dispatch.
11. Force Majeure
1. In the present terms and conditions, force majeure shall be understood, in addition to the legal definition and interpretation of the term, to include all exterior causes, whether anticipated or not, over which Veritable Translations cannot exercise any control, but which prevent Veritable Translations from being able to meet his commitments. Such circumstances shall in any case include - but not exclusively - fire, accident, illness, industrial action, rebellion, war, governmental measures or hindrance or restriction of transport.
2. During the period covered by force majeure, Veritable Translations’ commitments shall be suspended. Should the period within which force majeure prevents Veritable Translations from meeting their commitments exceed two months, either party shall be empowered to rescind the agreement; no obligation of indemnity shall in such case arise. If the Principal is the consumer, the empowerment to rescind shall only apply in so far as such empowerment is enforceable by law.
3. If, at the time of the commencement of force majeure Veritable Translations has partially met its commitments, or can only partially meet its commitments, Veritable Translations shall be entitled to edit a separate invoice covering the work executed and the principal shall be bound to pay the said invoice as though it applied to a separate agreement.
12. Legal system applicable
1. The law of Belgium shall be applicable to all legally binding transactions between the Principal and Veritable Translations.
2. Any dispute shall be subject to the judgment of the officially appointed Belgium judge.