Terms and conditions changes - Do you have to notify everyone?

[sherbetdipdab]

We are used to the big companies emailing us to let us know their terms and conditions have changed, but I guess this isn't a legal requirement else we'd all be getting no end of emails from all the websites we log into.

So is it fine to tweak your terms and that be fine when the user goes to your site or logs in? We have a section in our terms already that says we can change them without notification.

 

[Newchodge]

What kind of terms and conditions?

 

[sherbetdipdab]

Terms for using our website.

 

[Newchodge]

Terms for using our website.

Very helpful.

 

[sherbetdipdab]

Very helpful.

Sorry, it's like the terms for a site like this for example. Is that ok?
https://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/help/terms-conditions/

 

[BuildAWebsite]

@sherbetdipdab

There's no law or rule that says you have to update your users about your terms and conditions change. Lots of websites treat this differently.

Some just date the new terms with todays date - Last Updated: DD/MM/YYYY

Others will send an email out to their users to update them.

I think its down to your business model really.

- Do these new terms affect your users day to day life?
- Do they it make a considerable change to the way they use your website.

If not, I think adding an "Updated" date to your terms and conditions page will be just fine : )

 

[sherbetdipdab]

Thanks a lot. Any other views on this? Any help, much appreciated. @Newchodge is @BuildAWebsite about right? I'm happy with that.

 

[StevePoster]

There will be no problem if there are some udpates on your site's terms and conditions but always remind your users for them to be aware in your site.

 

[Annoying Donkey]

There's a basic principle in contract law that one must know about a change to have deemed to have accepted the change. And an appropriate appeal court decision to back that up.
You should notify all users, if you expect to enforce in a court in the future...

 

[fisicx]

Terms for using our website.

What terms? Do you mean you have changed your cookies or something?

The UKBF terms are less to do with the use of the site but more to do with the content on the site, mainly because it's a public forum.

Most sites do not need terms of use for the website. If you are a shop you may need terms and condition covering pricing, payments, delivery and returns but that's not the same as the terms of use of the website.

Or do you mean the terms relating to your business?

 

[14Steve14]

If its your business terms and conditions we are talking about, I would say that it depends on when a customer agrees to those terms. If they agree to your terms when they create an account, they would not know of any change unless you notify them.

If they agree to your terms when they place an order or make an enquiry, they should be reading the updated ones.

 

[sherbetdipdab]

Or do you mean the terms relating to your business?

Yes. They tick a box when they create an account on our website to say they have read the terms. Within the terms it says these can change, and you should read them everytime you use the website.

 

[GURUCLOUD]

I'm not a lawyer but have been through many t&c versions with solicitors and really if you are changing parts of the document and have customers 'live' with those terms (in a service sense) then he general consensus is to inform them of a change and when it would be coming into force, eg, 28 days, 3 months, etc.. Really, you should have a provision in your t&c which states you can change them, notice period (if required) and how you would inform the change.

Of course I'm speaking of our business which is recurring. I imagine if its a shop or similar then you would simply ask for agreement for the new terms upon new purchase.