Terms & Conditions

1. Company Information

Cobra Protection Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales.

• Company number: 14033901
• Registered address: Level One, Basecamp Liverpool, 49 Jamaica Street, Liverpool, L1 0AH
• Email: info@cobraprotection.co.uk
• Telephone: 0151 440 3211
• Industry regulation: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) regulates the private security industry and licenses individuals undertaking licensable work. Cobra Protection Ltd deploys operatives who hold the SIA licence appropriate to their role where required by law. The SIA's Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) is a separate, voluntary approval scheme for businesses. Cobra Protection Ltd does not currently hold ACS approval and does not claim to be an SIA-approved, SIA-registered or SIA-licensed company.

2. Definitions

In these Terms:

• "Agreement" means the quotation, proposal, statement of work or other service agreement accepted by the Client together with these Terms.
• "Services" means the security services described in the Agreement, which may include Close Protection, Residential Security, Asset Protection, Event Security and Media Backwatch.
• "Operative" means a security professional engaged by the Company to deliver the Services and holding the appropriate SIA licence where the work is licensable.
• "Confidential Information" means information identified as confidential or which a reasonable person would understand to be confidential in the circumstances.
• "Force Majeure Event" means an event outside a party's reasonable control, such as severe disruption, civil unrest, terrorism, pandemic or governmental action.

3. Engagement and Formation of Contract

3.1 Contract formation

A binding contract is formed when the Client accepts a written quotation or proposal issued by the Company, or when the Company confirms acceptance of the Client's engagement and receives any required booking payment. These Terms form part of every Agreement. If a specific Agreement conflicts with these Terms, the specific Agreement prevails to the extent of that conflict, except that it cannot remove rights which the law does not allow to be excluded.

3.2 Consumer information

Before a Consumer is bound, the quotation or Agreement will confirm the main characteristics of the Services, the total price or how it will be calculated, payment arrangements, the agreed performance date or period, the contract duration and the applicable cancellation arrangements. Where the contract is made at a distance or away from our business premises, we will provide confirmation in a form the Consumer can save, such as email.

4. Our Services

4.1 Scope

We provide professional security services including Close Protection, Residential Security, Asset Protection, Event Security and Media Backwatch. The specific scope, locations, dates and resources will be stated in the Agreement.

4.2 Operatives

Operatives deployed to licensable roles will hold a current SIA licence appropriate to that role. Operatives are screened in accordance with the Company's stated vetting requirements. We may deploy a suitable alternative operative where reasonably necessary, provided the substitute holds the appropriate licence and vetting for the assignment.

4.3 Threat and risk assessment

We may conduct a threat and risk assessment. The Client must provide accurate and complete information reasonably requested for that purpose and promptly disclose material changes. The quality of an assessment depends in part on the information available to us.

4.4 Limitations

Operatives are not police officers and have no powers beyond those available under applicable law. Security services reduce and manage risk but cannot guarantee that every incident, crime, loss or injury will be prevented.

4.5 Consumer service standard

Services supplied to a Consumer will be performed with reasonable care and skill. Information about the Services which a Consumer relies upon when entering the contract will form part of the contract where required by law. Statutory remedies, including repeat performance or an appropriate price reduction where applicable, are not restricted by these Terms.

5. Client Obligations

The Client agrees to:

• provide accurate, complete and timely information about the assignment, known threats, risks and relevant changes;
• co-operate with our Operatives and follow reasonable security instructions given in good faith;
• ensure that premises, locations and events under the Client's control comply with applicable law;
• not instruct an Operative to act unlawfully, outside the scope of an appropriate SIA licence or contrary to these Terms; and
• pay undisputed invoices in accordance with clause 7.

6. Confidentiality

Each party will keep the other's Confidential Information confidential and use it only for the Agreement. Disclosure is permitted to personnel, subcontractors and professional advisers who need the information and are subject to equivalent duties, or where required by law, regulation or court order. This obligation continues for five years after termination, without limiting any longer obligation applying to trade secrets or personal data.

7. Fees and Payment

7.1 Quotations

Quotations are valid for 14 days unless stated otherwise. Fees may be adjusted only where the Client agrees to a material change in scope, duration, resources or risk, or where the Agreement provides a clear method of adjustment.

7.2 Booking payment

Unless agreed otherwise, a booking payment of 25% of the quoted fee is required to secure the engagement and is credited against the total price. For a Business Client, the Agreement may describe this as a non-refundable deposit, subject to applicable law and any express refund terms. For a Consumer, any amount retained after cancellation is limited to our reasonable direct loss caused by the cancellation, taking account of costs saved and any ability to reallocate Operatives or rebook the engagement. This does not affect the statutory rights in clause 8.1.

7.3 Payment terms

Unless agreed otherwise, invoices are payable within 14 days. Longer engagements may be invoiced weekly or fortnightly as stated in the Agreement.

7.4 Late payment

If a Business Client pays late, we may claim statutory interest and recovery costs where the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 applies, or a different rate expressly agreed in the Agreement. That statutory commercial-interest regime does not apply to Consumer debts. We may suspend Services for a materially overdue, undisputed payment after reasonable written notice, except where immediate suspension is reasonably necessary for safety or legal compliance.

7.5 Expenses

Reasonable expenses not included in the quotation, such as agreed travel, accommodation and subsistence, will be charged only where stated in the Agreement or approved by the Client in advance.

8. Cancellation and Variation

8.1 Statutory cancellation rights for Consumers

Where a Consumer enters a service contract at a distance or away from our business premises, they will normally have 14 days from the day after the contract is entered into to cancel without giving a reason. The Consumer may cancel by a clear statement sent to info@cobraprotection.co.uk or by using the model form in clause 20.

We will not begin Services during that cancellation period unless the Consumer expressly requests this. If the Consumer cancels after requesting an early start, they must pay a proportionate amount for Services supplied up to cancellation. The cancellation right is lost once the Services have been fully performed where the Consumer expressly requested early performance and acknowledged in advance that full performance would end that right. Any refund due will be made within 14 days after we are informed of cancellation.

8.2 Other Consumer cancellations

After any statutory cancellation period, or where no statutory cancellation right applies, a Consumer may cancel in writing. Any cancellation charge will be a reasonable estimate of our direct loss caused by the cancellation, less costs saved and sums recovered by reallocating resources. It will not automatically equal all advance payments or the full contract price.

8.3 Business Client cancellations

Unless the Agreement states different charges, the following schedule applies to a Business Client:

• More than 14 days before commencement: the agreed deposit;
• 7–14 days before commencement: 50% of the agreed fee;
• Less than 7 days before commencement: up to 100% of the agreed fee.

Any charge is subject to applicable law and will not permit double recovery.

8.4 Cancellation by the Company

We may cancel or withdraw where continuing would be unlawful, unsafe, impossible or contrary to applicable licensing conditions. We will give as much notice as reasonably practicable and refund fees for Services not provided, except to the extent the cancellation results from the Client's material breach and the law permits us to recover resulting loss.

8.5 Variation

A material variation to the Services or price must be agreed in writing. Nothing in this clause permits us to impose a material unilateral change on a Consumer.

9. Liability

9.1 Consumers

We are responsible for loss or damage that is a foreseeable result of our breach of contract or failure to use reasonable care and skill. We are not responsible for business losses suffered by a Consumer. Nothing in these Terms restricts a Consumer's statutory rights or remedies.

9.2 Business Clients

Subject to clause 9.3 and to the extent permitted by law, our aggregate liability arising from the relevant Agreement will not exceed the fees paid or payable under that Agreement during the 12 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim. We are not liable to a Business Client for indirect or consequential loss or for loss of profit, revenue, anticipated savings, business opportunity, goodwill or reputation. Any limitation is subject to the reasonableness requirements of applicable law.

9.3 Liability that is not excluded

Nothing limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of obligations which cannot lawfully be restricted, or any other liability which cannot be limited or excluded by law.

9.4 Client information

We are not responsible for loss caused by materially inaccurate, incomplete or late information supplied by the Client to the extent that we reasonably relied on it. This does not exclude responsibility for our own failure to use reasonable care and skill.

9.5 Insurance

We maintain professional indemnity and public liability insurance appropriate to the Services. Details are available on request.

10. Force Majeure

Neither party is liable for delay or failure caused by a Force Majeure Event if it promptly informs the other and takes reasonable steps to reduce the effects. If the event continues for more than 30 consecutive days, either party may terminate on written notice. A Consumer will receive a refund for prepaid Services not supplied, subject to any lawful deduction for Services already provided at the Consumer's request.

11. Intellectual Property

Unless agreed otherwise, intellectual property rights in reports, risk assessments and other materials we create remain ours. We grant the Client a non-exclusive licence to use commissioned materials for the purpose for which they were supplied.

12. Data Protection

Each party will comply with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 when processing personal data under the Agreement. Details of our processing are in our Privacy Policy.

13. Safeguarding and Conduct

Our Operatives must follow our conduct requirements, including prohibitions on abuse, harassment, discrimination and unlawful conduct. Concerns should be reported promptly to info@cobraprotection.co.uk.

14. Complaints

Contact info@cobraprotection.co.uk if you are dissatisfied with the Services. We will acknowledge a complaint within two business days and aim to provide a substantive response within 14 business days.

The SIA does not operate a general complaints service for poor service or contractual disputes. Serious concerns about unlicensed activity, licence-holder misconduct, criminality or risks to the public may be reported through the SIA's official reporting service. Consumers may obtain independent guidance from the Citizens Advice consumer service or the relevant consumer body for their part of the UK. Nothing in this clause restricts either party's right to seek a legal remedy.

15. Termination

Either party may terminate immediately by written notice if the other commits a material breach and, where it can be remedied, fails to remedy it within 14 days after written notice; becomes insolvent; or ceases business. We may also terminate immediately where continuing would be unlawful or create a material safety risk. The Client must pay for Services properly supplied up to termination. Accrued rights and clauses intended to survive termination are unaffected.

16. Entire Agreement

These Terms and the Agreement constitute the entire agreement concerning the Services and replace prior discussions. Nothing in this clause excludes fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, prevents a Consumer from relying on information which forms part of the contract by law, or restricts any statutory right.

17. Waiver and Severability

A delay in exercising a right is not a waiver. If any provision is invalid or unenforceable, it will be treated as removed or adjusted only to the minimum extent necessary and the remaining provisions will continue.

18. Amendments

The version in force when an Agreement is entered into governs that Agreement. We may update the website version for future Agreements and will show a revised “Last reviewed” date. We will not impose a material retrospective change on an existing Consumer Agreement without the Consumer's agreement.

19. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and any Agreement are governed by the law of England and Wales. A Business Client submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. A Consumer may bring proceedings in the courts of the part of the United Kingdom in which they live, and this choice of law does not deprive a Consumer of mandatory protection which would otherwise apply.

20. Model Consumer Cancellation Form

21. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact: