Terms of service

These terms cover (1) your use of this website and (2) the general basis on whichClaimology provides expert evidence and reporting services. Every professional instruction is also governed by written terms of engagement issued before work begins — where these general terms and specific terms of engagement differ, the terms of engagement prevail.

1. About the practice

Claimology is an independent practice providing expert appraisal, scopes, quantum and reporting for property claims, led by Jarelle Mills AssocRICS MCIOB — Chartered Construction Manager (Claimology), based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Insurance details: professional indemnity details are supplied with each engagement where applicable.

2. Website use

• Website content, including knowledge base articles, is provided for general information only. It is not professional advice about any specific property, and no professional relationship is created by reading it.
• While reasonable care is taken to keep content accurate and current, no warranty is given that it is complete, correct or up to date, and building regulation, industry standards and best practice change over time.
• Decisions about a specific property should be based on a professional inspection of that property, not on general articles.
• Content on this site is © Claimology and may not be reproduced commercially without permission. Sharing links to articles is welcome.

3. Engagements and instructions

• All quotes are provided without obligation and remain open for 30 days unless stated otherwise.
• No instruction is accepted until written terms of engagement have been issued and agreed. Those terms define the scope, fee, timescales, limitations and complaint routes for the specific instruction.
• Fees are quoted per instruction — pricing varies with property size, age, complexity and location.
• Where you are a consumer, you may have a statutory 14-day cancellation right for contracts concluded at a distance; the terms of engagement explain this, including the effect of asking for work to begin within the cancellation period.

4. Nature and limits of the services

• Inspections are visual and non-invasive unless specifically agreed otherwise. Thermal imaging and moisture mapping may be used where appropriate. Any targeted opening-up, such as forming a small access hatch, must be necessary, safe and expressly agreed before work begins. Reports reflect what could reasonably be established at the time and distinguish findings from inference.
• Reports are professional opinions based on the evidence available. They are not guarantees of any claim outcome — decisions on cover, quantum and settlement rest with insurers and, where engaged, the courts or the Financial Ombudsman Service.
• THE CENTRAL LIMIT OF THE PRACTICE: services for policyholders are confined to independent expert appraisal, evidence and reports. Claimology does not notify claims, complete claim forms, communicate with insurers for a policyholder, or advise on whether a claim should be pursued. Clients decide how to use the reports and remain responsible for every claim decision. Fees are fixed and agreed before work starts.
• Work instructed by insurers and adjusters (fulfilment, validation) is contractor and consultancy work delivered to the instructing party; claims handling and policy decisions remain the instructing party's own.
• The practice does not provide legal advice, structural engineering design, or regulated financial services of any kind. Where such input is needed, the report will say so.
• Reports are prepared for the named client and the stated purpose only, and may not be relied upon by third parties without written agreement.

5. Your responsibilities

• Providing accurate information about the property and arranging lawful access for inspection.
• Making the property reasonably accessible — reports can only cover what access permitted.
• Paying fees in accordance with the agreed terms of engagement.

6. Liability

• Liability in respect of any instruction is as set out in the written terms for that instruction, backed by the practice's insurance arrangements once confirmed (see section 1).
• Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
• In respect of website use, the practice is not liable for loss arising from reliance on general website content in place of a professional inspection.

7. Complaints

A formal complaints procedure is published on this site and available on request — see the complaints procedure.

8. General

• These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction.
• If any provision of these terms is found unenforceable, the remainder continue in force.
• These terms may be updated from time to time; the version published at the date of your website use or enquiry applies.

Questions about these terms can be sent through the contact form on this site.