Terms and conditions

Use of this site is subject to the following Terms and Conditions

Your use constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions as at the date of your first use of the site.

AP reserves the rights to change these Terms and Conditions at any time by posting changes online. Your continued use of this site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of this agreement as modified.

You agree to use this site only for lawful purposes, and in a manner which does not infringe the rights, or restrict, or inhibit the use and enjoyment of the site by any third party. In no event will AP be liable for any damages including, without limitation, indirect or consequential damages, or any damages whatsoever arising from the use or in connection with such use or loss of use of the site, whether in contract or in negligence.

AP does not warrant that the functions contained in the material contained in this site will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected, or that this site or the server that makes it available are free of viruses or bugs or represents the full functionality, accuracy and reliability of the materials.

AP takes no responsibility for the content of external Internet Sites, and views expressed on these sites are not necessarily the views of the organsation.

Any communication or material that you transmit to, or post on, any public area of the site including any data, questions, comments, suggestions, or the like, is, and will be treated as, non-confidential and non-proprietary information.

If there is any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and rules and/or specific terms of use appearing on this site relating to specific material then the latter shall prevail. These terms and conditions shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.

If these Terms and Conditions are not accepted in full, the use of this site must be terminated immediately.

Viruses, hacking and other offences

You shall not (a) knowingly introduce any viruses into the Site or (b) attack (or instigate or facilitate the attack of) the Site or Services via a denial-of-service attack or a distributed denial-of-service attack, or (c) use the Site or Services for any purpose which is unlawful, abusive, libellous, obscene or threatening.

A breach of this clause may constitute a criminal offence. We may report any such breach (whether actual or suspected) to the relevant law enforcement authorities and you agree to co-operate with those authorities.

You shall be responsible for ensuring that you have in place on such systems appropriate Virus protection processes and software.

We will not be liable for any losses caused by any form of attack or viruses that may infect your computer equipment, computer programs, data or other proprietary material due to use of the Site or Services.

AP partners with PayPal, Stripe and Gocardless to facilitate card payments and other payments. If there are insufficient funds in your bank account when our provider processes the payment for your purchase, AP reserves the right to contact you directly and to seek payment.

By using a third-party service, you may also be subject to an agreement with the third-party. For example, Stripe is a third-party service with its own terms of service.

If the Addictions Professional (AP) receives notice that your activity violates a third party's service agreement, we may at our sole discretion take action against your account to comply with their policies. Such actions may include cancelling membership or removing certain payment methods.

AP reserves the right to decline transactions that we believe to be high risk, fraudulent, or in violation of AP’s Terms of Use.

Practitioner Membership Terms and Conditions for Individuals (includes advanced practitioner membership)

When you click to submit your application on line, or you fax, post, telephone or e mail us with details of your application, you are making an offer to subscribe to Practitioner Membership which, if accepted by us, will result in a legally binding contract.

At the point of renewal of your membership, your renewal payment is confirmation of the continued acceptance of this contract. You may not transfer any of your rights and obligations under these terms and conditions to another person.

For on-line applications you will receive an email. If you have supplied your email address, acknowledgement that your application has been received and is being processed does not yet mean that the contract between us is formed. A legally binding contract is formed on the date we send you and acceptance email or letter. This will be sent out when all your documents have been received and assessed.

For applications made verbally or via a written application form or e mail; the contract between us will be formed when we email or send you confirmation of membership acceptance. This will be sent out when all of your documents have been received and assessed. AP may decline any application for Practitioner membership and accreditation. Any decision so made shall be final and no reasons shall be required to be appended to that decision.

AP may decline any application for Practitioner Membership and accreditation. Any decision so made shall be final and no reasons shall be required to be appended to that decision.

We offer a seven working days’ cooling off period for new members, effective from the day your application is accepted. This will allow you to cancel your subscription without any penalty. If you wish to cancel your new member subscription, you must notify us within these seven working days in writing, by letter, fax or e-mail.

By proceeding with or renewing an application you are confirming that, as a member of AP, you will abide by the Standards of Conduct and Ethics. All AP members sign up to these standards on joining, and reaffirm their commitment on an annual basis. You will declare anything that may prejudice the public’s perception of AP or the profession, bring into disrepute or compromise the standards of good practice within the sector. You will immediately declare any issues relating to character and fitness to practise that may affect your practice as they occur, including any criminal charges and convictions or disciplinary procedures brought against you. You will also notify AP of civil claims arising from work in the addictions sector or if you have been declared bankrupt. Members must ensure that their personal details are kept up-to-date, including all employment information.

Once accepted you are welcome to use the AP logo and cite membership of AP in communications as long as you remain a member. Failure to adhere to the Standards of Conduct and Ethics, resulting in a formal complaint made against you, may result in a disciplinary procedure being implemented. In the course of your application for membership and for qualifications we may ask for provision of references and reports from your workplace manager and/or supervisor. We may also ask for evidence of qualifications and membership of other professional bodies and organisations during your membership with AP.

By proceeding with or renewing an application you are also agreeing to allow us to confirm with members of the public that you are a member of AP if an enquiry is made, including any accreditations you hold with us. We will include your details on the Directory of Practitioners on our website. At a minimum this will include your name, your membership number, and the region your work is based in. You can chose to include more information, for example the services you offer and your contact details and this will be agreed between you and AP, with your consent.

We reserve the right not to fulfil, or to cancel, your application if we are unable to obtain payment authorisation from the issuer of your card or from your bank in the case of direct debit payments.

By becoming a member you agree to follow AP’s policies. These are subject to review and can be amended. It is important that you regularly review these documents on our website.

If you are accepted into membership, but it subsequently turns out that any or all of the information provided by you was misleading or false, we reserve the right to revoke the membership with immediate effect, without the right of appeal.

We reserve the right to increase the price of the membership subscription on an annual basis. You will be informed of any fee increase within your renewal communication. If we discover an error in the price of your membership subscription, we will inform you as soon as is reasonably possible.

You agree that we will not be responsible for failure to deliver information to you if you have supplied us with an incorrect email or home address or have failed to notify us of an address change.

We reserve the right to dispose of incorrectly addressed envelopes/e-mail address and their contents without an obligation to refund your membership fee if they are returned to us.

We will not be liable to you for any delay in delivery or non-delivery of information relating to your membership in the following circumstances:

Where the issuer of your payment card refuses to authorise payment for your AP Membership to us.
Where such delay or failure is due to circumstances beyond our control (see Force Majeure below).

Neither party shall be liable to the other for any delay or non-performance of its obligations by reason of matters beyond its control including, but not limited to, any act of terrorism, war, riot, civil commotion, compliance with any law or government order, fire, flood or storm, strikes, or any other industrial dispute, delay in transit, power failure, postal delay, or any event that cannot be reasonably be planned for or avoided, in which case, we will deliver as soon as is reasonably possible.

Your AP Membership is a rolling agreement which will automatically renew upon the anniversary of your application. You will receive a renewal notice in advance of the anniversary of your application date, informing you of your entitlement to cancel and of any changes to Direct Debit/other payment agreements. Any payment arrangements that have been made by Direct Debit will automatically continue, unless you notify your bank/building society that you wish to cancel it.

If you wish to cancel your membership, you must inform us of your intention to cancel a minimum of ten working days prior to the anniversary of your application. This notice should be provided directly to us, in writing by letter, fax or e mail.

No refunds will be provided unless the notice requirements are complied with.

Once renewal of your membership has occurred, it will still be possible to cancel your membership, but we are not obliged to offer a refund, if notice has not been given.

Fees displayed on the website will prevail at all times in relation to orders placed online.

Fees displayed on an application form, or quoted by an AP representative, will prevail in relation to membership subscriptions placed verbally or by post. You may make a one-off payment for a one year membership subscription, new or renewal, by cheque, credit/debit card or bank transfer.

You are required on application and then each year to disclose, and declare, anything that may prejudice the public’s perception of AP or the profession, bring into disrepute or compromise the standards of good practice within the profession. Disclosure of any information does not automatically exclude you from AP membership. However, failure to disclose such information may result in a refusal or withdrawal of membership.

You understand that if you are expelled from AP this information will be published and further that it may be appropriate in circumstances for the Disclosure and Barring Service and Disclosure Scotland and/or other relevant authorities and employers, if applicable, to be notified.

Withdrawal and/or suspension of membership as a result of disciplinary proceedings or failure to comply with membership requirements will result in the withdrawal or suspension of accreditation and the removal of your name from the practitioner directory. This may also result in the termination of your membership of AP.

Payment of the subscription does not constitute acceptance of your membership renewal.

If your membership has lapsed for a period of one year or more, you will be required to complete a new membership application form (ensuring you quote your lapsed membership number in the form to ensure a duplicate member record is not created). Please contact the AP team to arrange payment at admin@addictionprofessionals.org.uk

Fees are for individual membership only.

If you are not using your own credit/debit card to pay for the membership subscription, you must ask the permission of the credit/debit card holder before entering the payment details. When you offer to subscribe to AP either online, by post or verbally, you are confirming that you have obtained the express prior permission of the credit/debit card holder. Our liability to you will not extend to any membership related benefits, goods or services provided by an external provider. We specifically exclude liability for any loss or damage suffered by you as a result of your involvement in whatever manner with an external provider.

These Terms and Conditions do not and shall not affect your statutory rights as a consumer.

Diligence and care should be taken when using the information provided. All services are subject to copyright law. We use our best endeavours to ensure all information provided by us is as up to date as possible.

However, you should not rely on the information provided as the sole basis for making business, legal or other decisions. You should seek appropriate independent advice before making any such decisions.

The content of all publications on the website are the opinion of the author.

We may change these terms and conditions at any time upon giving you 14 days prior written notice. The most recent edition of these terms and conditions will be binding upon you. Members may exit the contract without penalty if they do not accept any proposed variation.

These terms and conditions are governed by English law. You hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts notwithstanding the jurisdiction where you are based.

If any court or competent authority decides that any of the provisions of these Terms are invalid, unlawful or unenforceable to any extent, the term will, to that extent only, be severed from the remaining terms, which will continue to be valid to the fullest extent permitted by law.

A person who is not party to these Terms shall not have any rights under or in connection with them under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

These terms and conditions override any contrary terms or conditions published by us in relation to any membership subscription between you and us.

We will respond to any complaint or query received within five working days. This may be an acknowledgement that we have received a complaint whilst further investigations are carried out.

Suspension and termination

Without affecting any other rights and remedies which we may have and without liability to you for any losses which may result, we may suspend or terminate these terms and conditions:

immediately and without notice if,
i. in our sole opinion, you materially breach any of these terms and conditions, or fail to adhere to the AP Standards of Conduct and Ethics;
ii. you fail to renew your membership;
iii. we are required by any applicable law to terminate these terms and conditions; or at any time by giving you 7 days' notice in writing.

On any suspension or termination of these terms and conditions your right to use AP Services including the use of the logo and citation of membership shall cease.

Complaints

We will respond to any complaint or query received within five working days. This may be an acknowledgement that we have received a complaint whilst further investigations are carried out.

Lapsed memberships

If your membership has lapsed for a period of one year or more, you will be required to complete a new membership application form (ensuring you quote your lapsed membership number in the form to ensure a duplicate member record is not created). Please contact the AP team to arrange payment at admin@addictionproessionals.org.uk.

These terms and conditions override any contrary terms or conditions published by us in relation to any membership subscription between you and us.

Termination

Without affecting any other rights and remedies which we may have and without liability to you for any losses which may result, we may terminate these terms and conditions:

immediately and without notice if,
i. in our sole opinion, you materially breach any of these terms and conditions, or fail to adhere to the AP Standards of Conduct and Ethics;
ii. you fail to renew your membership;
iii. we are required by any applicable law to terminate these terms and conditions; or
at any time by giving you 7 days' notice in writing.

On any termination of these terms and conditions your right to use AP Services including the use of the logo and citation of membership shall cease.

When you click to submit your application online, or you fax, post, telephone or e mail us with details of your application, you are making an offer to subscribe to AP which, if accepted by us, will result in a legally binding contract.

At the point of renewal of your membership, your renewal payment is confirmation of the continued acceptance of this contract. You may not transfer any of your rights and obligations under these terms and conditions to another person.

For online applications you will receive an email. If you have supplied your email address, acknowledgement that your application has been received and is being processed does not yet mean that the contract between us is formed. A legally binding contract is formed on the date we send you and acceptance email or letter. This will be sent out when all your documents have been received and assessed.

For applications made verbally or via a written application form or e mail; the contract between us will be formed when we email or send you confirmation of membership acceptance. This will be sent out when all of your documents have been received and assessed.

We offer a seven working days’ cooling off period for new members, effective from the day your application is accepted. This will allow you to cancel your subscription without any penalty. If you wish to cancel your new member subscription, you must notify us within these seven working days in writing, by letter, fax or e-mail.

By proceeding with or renewing an application you are confirming that, as a member of AP, you will abide by the AP’s Standards or Conduct and Ethics. All AP members sign up to these standards on joining, and reaffirm their commitment on an annual basis. Failure to adhere to the Standards, resulting in a formal complaint made against you, may result in your membership being revoked. If a formal complaint is made against one of your members of staff, following your own complaints procedures, AP may bring about disciplinary procedures against them. In the course of your application for membership and for qualifications we may ask for provision of references and reports from workplace managers and/or supervisors.

Once accepted you are welcome to use the AP logo and cite membership of AP in communications as long as you remain a member. You also agree to include your details on our website.

We reserve the right to increase the price of the membership subscription on an annual basis. You will be informed of any fee increase within your renewal communication. If we discover an error in the price of your membership subscription, we will inform you as soon as is reasonably possible.

By proceeding with or renewing an application you are also agreeing to allow us to confirm with members of the public that your organisation is a member of AP if an enquiry is made. We reserve the right not to fulfil, or to cancel, your application if we are unable to obtain payment authorisation from the issuer of your card or from your bank in the case of direct debit payments.

If you are accepted into membership, but it subsequently turns out that any or all of the information provided by you was misleading or false, we reserve the right to revoke the membership with immediate effect, without the right of appeal.

You agree that we will not be responsible for failure to deliver information to you if you have supplied us with an incorrect email or home address or have failed to notify us of an address change.

We reserve the right to dispose of incorrectly addressed envelopes/e-mail address and their contents without an obligation to refund your membership fee if they are returned to us.

We will not be liable to you for any delay in delivery or non-delivery of information relating to your membership in the following circumstances:

Where the issuer of your payment card refuses to authorise payment for your AP Membership to us.
Where such delay or failure is due to circumstances beyond our control (see Force Majeure below).

Neither party shall be liable to the other for any delay or non-performance of its obligations by reason of matters beyond its control including, but not limited to, any act of terrorism, war, riot, civil commotion, compliance with any law or government order, fire, flood or storm, strikes, or any other industrial dispute, delay in transit, power failure, postal delay, or any event that cannot be reasonably be planned for or avoided, in which case, we will deliver as soon as is reasonably possible.

Your AP Membership is a rolling agreement which will automatically renew upon the anniversary of your application. You will receive a renewal notice in advance of the anniversary of your application date, informing you of your entitlement to cancel and of any changes to Direct Debit/other payment agreements. Any payment arrangements that have been made by Direct Debit will automatically continue, unless you notify your bank/building society that you wish to cancel it. AP may decline any application for membership and accreditation. Any decision so made shall be final and no reasons shall be required to be appended to that decision.