TERMS
The Written Counsel — pilot terms
1. What this is
The Written Counsel is a piece of writing, about 1,200 to 1,800 words, written in response to a voice note you send me. It is not therapy, counselling, coaching, or advice of any kind, including medical, legal, financial or psychological advice. If you are in crisis, please contact your GP, call NHS 111, or call Samaritans free on 116 123.
2. The pilot
I am offering three places while I refine the work. The fee is £50.
3. Payment
You pay nothing up front. When your piece is ready, I'll email you a private link, and the fee is due then. The link shows the opening of your piece. You pay £50 there by card, and the whole piece opens straight away. It stays at the link for twelve months so you can go back to it, or less if you ask. Payments are handled by Stripe, and I never see your card details.
4. Your voice note
Please record around ten to fifteen minutes. If it runs much longer, I'll work mainly from the first fifteen minutes. While I work, I may send you up to three short questions by email. Answering them is up to you.
5. Timing
Pieces are usually returned within four weeks. This is not a guaranteed date.
6. Withdrawing
You can withdraw at any time before your piece is ready, and you will owe nothing. By booking, you ask me to begin work straight away, and you agree that once your piece is ready and sent to you, the work is complete and you can no longer cancel.
7. If something is wrong
If something has gone wrong with your piece, for example it doesn't address what you asked about, or it falls well short of what these terms describe, tell me within 14 days of receiving it. I'll put it right or refund your fee. A refund isn't given simply because a piece wasn't to your taste. None of this affects your legal rights.
8. If I need to pause or close
I may pause or close the pilot at any time, for example through illness. If I do, I'll let you know. You owe nothing for work you have not received.
9. How I work, and your privacy
I listen to every voice note myself, and I write every piece. Your recording and details are kept private, and are not used to train AI systems. I use AI tools as an assistant in my practice: for admin and enquiries, and to transcribe voice notes. Your recording, the transcript and our emails are used only for your work with me. They are held with the website's storage provider and the transcription software I use, and are not shared with anyone else. I delete your recording within 30 days of delivering your piece. I keep the transcript and a copy of your piece as confidential notes, filed under a reference rather than your name, so that I can build on them if we work together again. I keep these notes for six years after we last worked together, and I will delete them sooner if you ask.
10. Your rights
Giles Cartwright, Hastings, East Sussex, is responsible for your information. You can ask to see it, correct it, or have it deleted at any time. If you are unhappy with how it has been handled, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).
11. Quoting you
After your piece, I'll ask whether I may quote what you say about it. I will only quote you with your permission, and never by your full name unless you agree.
12. Contact
giles@gilescartwright.co.uk