Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions of National Craft Butchers Membership 

The National Craft Butchers (NCB) is the trading name of National Federation of Meat and Food Traders (NFMFT). All commercial transactions are carried out by NFMFT. By completing the membership form you are agreeing to the terms and conditions of membership as detailed below. 

These terms and conditions can be read in conjunction with the Articles of Association which contain provisions relevant to the operation of the NCB and your membership. 

These terms and conditions and the content of membership packages are subject to variation from time to time. 

Articles of Association 

Membership 

Membership packages 

The NCB has different levels of membership to meet the differing needs of its members. The current membership packages are listed in ‘membership’ section along with a description of the services and benefits available in each package (these may be amended from time to time). 

Inclusion of all branches in membership
At the time of taking out membership, it is compulsory for all branches and shops within the business to be included in membership. This ensures full support for all branches within the business. Each branch will be charged at the applicable membership fee. Failure to include all branches and shops may result in lack of protections under Primary Authority and services being limited to a section of the business. In severe cases it may result in full or partial suspension or termination of membership benefits.

Refusal of membership 

NCB may refuse membership at their discretion without giving reason and will refund any amounts paid in respect of subscriptions or any other fees. 

Your membership year 

Your membership year starts on the date your first payment is taken, or on 1st of Month closest. The membership year lasts for a period of 12 months (Minimum Membership Period) and becomes due for renewal on the yearly anniversary of the Membership Start Date (the ‘Membership Anniversary’). In accordance with our T&C’s, your membership will be continued unless a written cancellation (via letter or email) is received by Head Office or payment is not received. 

Renewing membership 

We will contact you up to 20 days prior to the expiry of your membership, explaining the membership cost and renewal procedure. For members who chose to pay monthly or set up an automatic annual payment (AAP) option, your membership will run for a rolling period of 12 months at a time and your membership will automatically continue to renew every 12 months on the anniversary of your membership. To prevent the contract renewing for a further period of twelve months the member must inform us in writing either by recorded post or email a minimum of 14 days before the renewal date. NCB reserves the right to charge for the full twelve-month period should the membership be cancelled after the renewal date. 

Membership Term 

Membership is for a twelve-month period and will expire at 12am one year from your anniversary date. 

Right to Cancel – “Cooling Off Period” 

Our cooling off period is valid for 14 days from the date you join or upgrade your membership. You will only be allowed to cancel if you have not accessed or made use of any of the services which are available to NCB members. 

Moving from one membership package to another 

Members may move from their current membership package to a more extensive membership package (if such a package exists) at any time. Your new package will be available from the date of your move. Members may move from their current membership package to a lesser package only at time of renewal. Changes to your membership package can be by contacting Head Office. 

Transfer of Membership 

In the event of a business being sold NCB membership is transferable from Business to Business only with the express permission on NCB Head Office and with both parties written agreement. 

Payment 

Annual Subscription 

Members shall pay an annual subscription as is deemed fit by NCB for that period. Annual subscriptions can be paid in several ways: 

• By credit/debit card in full 
• By Direct Debit annually or monthly 
• By BACS 

Subscription fees 

Subscription fees for all NCB membership categories apply. Membership fees vary depending on the membership package selected and payment method, that may be made available from time to time. 

The subscription fees will be subject to annual review and the website updated accordingly. The amount due from you in respect of the next membership year will be included in your renewals notice prior to your Membership Anniversary. If you pay by Direct Debit, fees will be taken at the new rate unless we receive notice of change of membership or termination. 

Changes to your payment method can be made by contacting Head Office. 

Future subscription fees 

Subscription fees will be determined in accordance with the Articles of Association and prior to the Membership Anniversary we will write to you to inform you of the subscription fees for your membership package for the forthcoming year, which will be the fees in force at the time of the Membership Anniversary. 

Payment for renewed membership 

It is essential that your payment reaches the NCB by the day of your Membership Anniversary, to ensure that your membership is not cancelled by us due to default. For your convenience, you will be offered the option to pay by Direct Debit. This has the advantage that your membership can be renewed automatically each year without the need for you to contact the Head Office. 

Unpaid subscription fees 

The NCB is a Trade Association, and membership subscriptions form the majority of our income. Unpaid subscription fees therefore impact directly on our ability to plan and provide services for members. Consequently, NCB reserves the right take necessary steps to recover unpaid subscription fees, including legal action where necessary. 

In any circumstance where the subscription fees remain unpaid following the due date for payment, the Association specifically reserves the following rights: 

1. a) to demand immediate payment of any outstanding sums due 
2. b) to withdraw the facility to make subsequent payments by instalment 
3. c) to charge an administration fee of £25 plus any costs of recovery 
4. d) to add interest to any outstanding amounts at 4% above Bank of England base rate. 

If you anticipate any problems with the payment of your subscription, please contact the Head Office at the earliest opportunity to discuss. In particular, please ensure that you contact the Head Office if you intend to cancel your Direct Debit instruction and/or use another form of payment, otherwise the NCB will incur bank charges for seeking a Direct Debit payment without an active mandate. 

If you have asked us to collect from a specific account and our request is returned by your bank as ‘unpaid’, we will ask you for details of another bank account from which the NCB can successfully collect your payment and reserve the right to pass on any administration charges that may have been incurred as a result. 

You agree that any outstanding amounts on your membership account must be cleared on termination (and for the avoidance of doubt) before you can be re-admitted to membership of the NCB. 

Refunds 

NCB unfortunately is not in a position to offer refunds for Membership fees outside of the 14-day cooling off period. 

Membership benefits and offers 

Membership Benefits 

As a member of NCB, you are entitled to benefits as set out from time to time on the NCB website and the information leaflets including products and services offered by partners as and when they are made available and subject to their individual terms and conditions. NCB reserves the right to add, modify or delete membership benefits as it sees fit without prior notification to its members. If the membership expires, access to all member benefits will cease. 

Use of Membership or its Benefits 

Membership benefits are for the explicit use of the member only, you must notify us if you become aware of any unauthorised use of your membership, or the benefits provided. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of your membership and us seeking to recoup lost membership fees from yourself. 

Cancellation of membership 

Termination of Membership 

The Executive Council have sole discretion to terminate membership or to refuse to renew membership in the case of conduct deemed by the Executive Council to be prejudicial to the reputation of the Association or of the butchery and/or meat industry. A notice of termination shall be served in writing upon the member. 

If membership is terminated by expulsion no refund of membership subscriptions will be made and any balance due for the Minimum Membership Period shall remain due and payable. 

Automatic Termination of Membership 

Membership will terminate immediately in the following circumstances: 

• Failure for a period of two months to pay any subscription 
• If the member shall be wound up or shall become insolvent 

Any member whose membership is terminated automatically shall notwithstanding the termination of their membership remain liable for any outstanding subscription due up to the time of termination of membership during that membership period. 

Cancellation of Membership 

To cancel a membership, please confirm in writing via email or recorded delivery by post to the Head Office. Cancellation requests are to be made by the main contact stored on the system. If a membership is cancelled within the first 60 days, but after the first 14 an administration charge of £50 will be levied. 

In an instance of a membership being cancelled the customer agrees to immediately cease any use of the NCB registered trademark, logo and branding. 

On cancellation taking effect or on other termination the benefits of the membership package will cease and you will not be entitled to the benefit of any part of the package to be provided or fulfilled after the date of cancellation/termination. 

Within the Minimum Membership Period of 12 months cancellations are not permitted. To the extent payment has not been received at the relevant anniversary, any outstanding balances must be paid on cancellation. 

Please note that if you cancel your Direct Debit instruction this will not automatically cancel your membership. It is therefore important that you contact the Head Office as soon as possible if you wish to resign from membership. 

If you decide to leave NCB, we would appreciate it if you would tell us why. Head Office may ask you to complete a short survey, which will help us improve our services and better meet your needs in the future. 

Primary Authority Partnership 

After joining Full members will be automatically enrolled in a Primary Authority Partnership. 

Membership preferences 

How we communicate with you 

By becoming a member of NCB, you agree to receive communications in writing, by post, electronically or by text message from NCB, its Corporate members, and Partners with information related to services, products, and events. If you do not wish to receive these communications, you can advise NCB in writing. 

You may, at any time, opt out of receiving communications from the Association, change your contact details or set your email preferences, by emailing info@nationalcraftbuthers.co.uk. Please note this will not affect communication vital to your membership. 

Privacy 

We take your privacy very seriously. Occasionally, in order to enhance your membership, we may provide selected information to other organisations. 

If you do not wish other organisations to receive any information about you, please email: info@nationalcraftbutchers.co.uk. 

Please note this will not affect partners which are essential to your membership benefits. 

Your personal/ company details will be held by NCB and used for membership administration and marketing purposes if such purposes are deemed by the Providers to be in the interest of our members. By becoming a member, you expressly consent to this. You also agree that information on your business gathered by enforcement teams can be shared with NCB for supporting your business and helping with compliance. 

Disclaimer of Liability 

The member agrees that we are not responsible or liable for any benefits provided by participating suppliers and if a member has any claims relating to any of these benefits, they will only claim directly against the suppliers providing the benefit. 

NCB make no warranties express or implied, including but not limited to, warranty of satisfactory quality or fitness for a particular purchase, with respect to any of the membership benefits or related information provided to the member. Under no circumstances shall our liability to a member exceed the current membership fee for that membership period and under no circumstances shall we be liable for any incidental or consequential loss or damages. 

The Providers reserve the right to eliminate, add, change and substitute benefits and participating suppliers without notice to members. We assume no responsibility for the payment of or contribution to any use or sales tax, which taxing authorities may impose and such taxes, to the extent, imposed shall remain the member’s sole responsibility or that of the supplier of the benefits, as the case may be. 

Entire Agreement 

This agreement contains all the Terms of Membership and representations, promises or agreements concerning the membership not included in this agreement, shall not be enforceable. If any of the terms of this agreement shall become invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms shall not be affected. 

Any dispute between the parties shall be issued in and dealt with under the exclusive jurisdiction of an English court