15. General
15.1 Force majeure:(a) For the purposes of this Contract, “Force Majeure Event” means an event beyond the reasonable control of the Seller including but not limited to strikes, lock-outs or other industrial disputes (whether involving the workforce of the party or any other party), failure of a utility service or transport network, act of God, war, riot, civil commotion, malicious damage, compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction, accident, breakdown of plant or machinery, fire, flood, storm or by any failure of the Seller’s subcontractors to supply the Seller.(b) The Seller shall not be liable to the Buyer as a result of any delay or failure to perform its obligations under this Contract as a result of a Force Majeure Event.(c) If the Force Majeure Event prevents the Seller from providing any of the Goods for more than 14 days, the Seller shall, without limiting its other rights or remedies, have the right to terminate this Contract immediately by giving written notice to the Buyer.
15.2 Assignment and subcontracting:(a) The Seller may at any time assign, transfer, charge, subcontract or deal in any other manner with all or any of its rights under the Contract and may subcontract or delegate in any manner any or all of its obligations under the Contract to any third party.(b) The Buyer shall not, without the prior written consent of the Seller, assign, transfer, charge, subcontract or deal in any other manner with all or any of its rights or obligations under the Contract.
15.3 Data and Data Protection:(a) The Seller may use any information that the Buyer has provided to the Seller to enable a search to be made with credit reference agencies to assess the creditworthiness of the Buyer and to search against any personal credit records of all directors and/or proprietors of the Buyer (in respect of which the Buyer confirms that all necessary consents from the individuals have been obtained) where the Buyer has sought or has entered into credit terms with the Seller. Such searches may include a search against current or previous addresses in the last three years.(b) For the purposes of credit referencing, fraud prevention and any money laundering regulations that may apply, the Seller may share the account information and trade history with other lenders and credit reference agencies. The Seller may from time to time review the account of the Buyer, and further searches of credit reference agencies and/or personal credit record searches may be undertaken by the Seller.(c) Under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data protection Regulations those individuals referred to at clause 15.3(a) above have the right to apply for a copy of the information about them held by the Sell and have the right to correct any inaccuracies in any such information held by contacting: dataprotection@sigplc.co.uk.
15.4 Waiver and cumulative remedies:(a) A waiver of any right under the Contract is only effective if it is in writing and shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any subsequent breach or default. No failure or delay by the Seller in exercising any right or remedy under the Contract or by law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor preclude or restrict its further exercise. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall preclude or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.(b) Unless specifically provided otherwise, rights arising under the Contract are cumulative and do not exclude rights provided by law.
15.5 Severance:(a) If a court or any other competent authority finds that any provision of the Contract (or part of any provision) is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that provision or part-provision shall, to the extent required, be deemed deleted, and the validity and enforceability of the other provisions of the Contract shall not be affected.(b) If any invalid, unenforceable or illegal provision of the Contract would be valid, enforceable and legal if some part of it were deleted, the provision shall apply with the minimum modification necessary to make it legal, valid and enforceable.
15.6 No partnership: Nothing in the Contract is intended to, or shall be deemed to, constitute a partnership or joint venture of any kind between any of the parties, nor constitute any party the agent of another party for any purpose. No party shall have authority to act as agent for, or to bind, the other party in any way.
15.7 Third parties: A person who is not a party to the Contract shall not have any rights under or in connection with it.
15.8 Variation: Except as set out in these Conditions, any variation, including the introduction of any additional terms and conditions, to the Contract shall only be binding when agreed in writing and signed by the Seller.
15.9 Disputes: where this Contract is a ‘construction contract’ for the purposes of section 104 of the Construction Act either party may refer any dispute or difference arising under this agreement to adjudication. The adjudication procedures and the agreement for the appointment of an adjudicator shall be as set out in the Scheme for Construction Contracts (England and Wales) Regulations 1998 (as amended). The nominating body shall be the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or any successor organisation.
15.10 Governing law and jurisdiction: This Contract, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law, and the parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.