using the term, "FREE"

[mr fab]

Hi there!

I run my own computer services business for local Home and Business Users.

At the moment, I am sending a letter with a special offer leaflet to my Customer base.

The offers consist of offering FREE 128Mb MP3 players if a particular customer recommends me to his or her friend or family.

Also, I have put this in the letter:

"If you recommend us to a Business User and your recommendation leads to a successful support contract, we will provide you, as a Home User with FREE support for up 6 months! (Terms and conditions apply)."

Now, this is the meat and veg of it! How do I construct my Terms and Conditions? Is it simply a case of conditions I set myself? Is what I said above in the letter, ok, or is it mis leading?

Thanks for all your time in reading my thread, any help wpuld be much appreciated.

[BIZAL]

T’s and C's are/ can be a good sales tool.

Everyone needs them because only a fly by night tin pot company would not have them and they need to be v simple and short where possible i.e. do not put people off by going to a lawyer and getting protected for everything on the of chance 1 in a million it will happen.

T's C's should cover things like

Office hours
Increased charges out with these hours i.e. 50% more
Response times
V basic copywriter
IP rights if applicable
add any promotional T['s & C's and off you go.

Oh it is handy if you take them on your first meeting and them ask them to sign it. This shows if they are serious!

[GeorgeChoy]

I am forwarding a link to the ASA on Free Offers and Free Trials. It provides their rules on what should be included:

http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/codes/cap_...clause_id=1591

The general aim of the T&Cs is to offer you some protection. I'm not a lawyer, but here are a few additional items which you may wish to consider:

- The validity date of your promotion (I imagine you don't want to offer it for ever. You can always repeat it again).
- Any age restrictions? eg do Entrants need to be aged 18 or over?
- Is any one able to enter?...or does it exclude employees of your company?
- Is this the only gift or is there a cash alternative? ie The gift is as stated and there will be no cash alternative.
- Is the home support gift transferable or can it be resold? eg can I give the home service to a friend or sell it on ebay?
- Are there any additional charges for the home support (ie does it include all parts, labour, etc,.)