Terms & conditions

These general terms and conditions apply to all sales invoices issued by TOTAL CONCEPT NV (VAT BE 0463.234.980), TOTAL CONCEPT SIGNS BV (VAT BE 0478.117.651), TOTAL CONCEPT EXPO BV (VAT BE 0455.794.981), and TOTAL CONCEPT INVEST NV (VAT BE 0478.711.727), hereinafter referred to as TOTAL CONCEPT.

GENERAL:

The Dutch version of these general terms and conditions prevails over versions in other languages in case of discrepancies.

The customer is the party to whom the sales invoice is addressed. If a project is invoiced to multiple customers, all customers are jointly and severally liable for the full project price if one or more customers default; hereinafter referred to as CUSTOMER.

If the client and the customer are different entities, both are jointly and severally liable for the full project price if one or more parties default; hereinafter referred to as CUSTOMER.

If any provision of these General Terms and Conditions is null or void, TOTAL CONCEPT has the right to replace the invalid provision with a valid and enforceable one that retains the original intent and scope. The invalidity of a provision does not affect the other provisions of these General Terms and Conditions. If a situation arises that is not covered by these General Terms and Conditions, it should be assessed in the spirit of these General Terms and Conditions.

Invoicing and payment by the customer are conducted in Euros. If the customer pays in another currency, all costs, including exchange rate losses related to the conversion to Euros, are borne by the customer.

All stated prices are exclusive of VAT.

Any compensation is only claimable by the customer after fulfilling all payment obligations to TOTAL CONCEPT.

SPECIFIC:

1. Every quotation, order, delivery, sales invoice, and agreement is subject to these general terms and conditions, which always prevail over any conflicting terms of the customer. By placing an order (confirmation/approval by email, signing the quotation and/or order form, confirmation email from TOTAL CONCEPT following a verbal agreement), the customer accepts these general terms and conditions. The use of the customer’s own documents does not affect the aforementioned provisions. In case of discrepancies in form and/or content between the customer’s documents and those of TOTAL CONCEPT, only the documents prepared by TOTAL CONCEPT confirming the agreement shall apply.

2. Every quotation from TOTAL CONCEPT is non-binding and subject to changes or errors, and does not bind either the customer or TOTAL CONCEPT. The prices and special conditions stated in the quotation remain valid for 1 month from the date mentioned on the quotation, unless market conditions and cost prices on which the quotation is based increase by more than 5%. In the latter case, TOTAL CONCEPT is authorized to adjust the quotation to the new rates. The agreement is only concluded after written confirmation from TOTAL CONCEPT, following the customer’s acceptance of the quotation (confirmation/approval by email, signing the quotation and/or order form, confirmation email from TOTAL CONCEPT following a verbal agreement). TOTAL CONCEPT has the right to request a copy of the identity card of the person binding the customer to the agreement.

3. For each order, a deposit of 75% of the total invoice amount must be paid, unless otherwise agreed in writing. Each deposit invoice is payable no later than the 10th day following the invoice date. TOTAL CONCEPT has the right to immediately suspend the work or delivery as long as the deposit has not been paid in full. TOTAL CONCEPT can never be held liable for any damage, direct or indirect, resulting from the suspension of the work or delivery. If the deposit invoice has not been fully paid at the time of delivery or installation, the full invoice amount becomes immediately due upon delivery or installation. For goods orders, the full invoice amount is due when these goods are ready for collection or delivery. If goods cannot be delivered or installations cannot be placed due to circumstances beyond TOTAL CONCEPT’s control (e.g., construction site delays, permits not in order, cancellation or postponement of the event, practical circumstances at the delivery location, etc.), the total order amount becomes fully due.

4. Each invoice is payable no later than the 10th day following the invoice date, unless a different mention or payment date is stated on the invoice. The outstanding amount of any invoice not paid on the due date is automatically and without prior notice increased by a fixed compensation of 15%, with a minimum of €250.00. Additionally, from the due date of the invoice, default interest of 1.5% per month is due on the outstanding amount, automatically and without prior notice, with each commenced month considered as fully elapsed.

5. When TOTAL CONCEPT is unable to execute the agreement due to force majeure (e.g., total or partial unemployment at TOTAL CONCEPT itself or its suppliers, pandemic, natural disasters, fire, etc.), the customer or client cannot claim any compensation. Moreover, under these special circumstances, TOTAL CONCEPT has the right to immediately terminate the agreement without owing any compensation.

6. The customer has the right to dispute the delivery of goods, materials, and execution of works within 48 hours from the delivery or completion of the work. The entire or partial use of the goods, materials, or work is considered as definitive and irrevocable acceptance of the delivered goods, materials, and works. This dispute is only admissible if it is made in writing with a clear and unambiguous description of the reason for the dispute, supplemented with the necessary evidence to which the dispute relates. Not considered as a visible or hidden defect leading to a dispute are: slight differences in color or texture, insofar as these are technically unavoidable, generally accepted, or inherent to the used materials. A dispute does not suspend the customer’s payment obligation. If one or more of the aforementioned conditions for a valid dispute are not met, the delivered goods, services, and works are considered definitively and irrevocably accepted, both regarding visible and invisible defects. TOTAL CONCEPT is not obliged to respond if one or more of the aforementioned conditions for a valid dispute are not met. In such cases, the customer remains obligated to pay the full invoice amount, including any fees mentioned in Article 4. Additionally, the customer has the right to dispute the invoice within 8 days following the invoice date. A dispute of the invoice after 48 hours following delivery cannot concern a defective delivery. The same conditions for a valid dispute apply as for disputes regarding the delivery of goods, materials, and works. A dispute does not suspend the customer’s payment obligation. If no dispute is raised within the aforementioned period, the invoice, as well as the delivered goods and services, are considered definitively and irrevocably accepted, both for visible and invisible defects. The customer remains obligated to pay the full invoice amount, including any fees mentioned in Article 4. 

   7. The delivered goods or installations remain the legal property of TOTAL CONCEPT until full payment of the outstanding amounts, including damages, late payment interests, costs, taxes, and levies. If the delivered goods, materials, installations, or works are integrated into a larger whole, ownership extends to this larger whole, making it the legal property of TOTAL CONCEPT until full payment of all outstanding amounts. The retention of title is also extended to all claims and legal relationships between the customer and TOTAL CONCEPT.

   8. All delivery deadlines are provided for informational purposes only and are non-binding. Deadlines stated in any customer document do not affect this provision. Delays compared to the stated deadlines do not entitle the customer to any compensation or to terminate the agreement.

   9. Any technical inspections of the installations placed by TOTAL CONCEPT are at the customer’s expense.

   10. Any cancellation or termination of the agreement by the customer must be made in writing. In such cases, TOTAL CONCEPT is entitled to a fixed compensation of 25% of the total invoice amount, in addition to any costs already incurred and loss of profit.

   11. Any dispute concerning an agreement between the customer or client and TOTAL CONCEPT is governed by Belgian law and falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Antwerp.

   12. The following goods and/or services are never included in the agreement unless explicitly stated otherwise:
       a. All costs related to any type of utilities and their connections;
       b. Cleaning costs (rented materials must be returned by the customer in a clean state);
       c. Use of aerial work platforms, cranes, and scaffolding;
       d. Beverages and food, including any additional deliveries;
       e. Transportation costs;
       f. Permit applications and/or reservations for signage with the relevant authorities;
       g. Additional costs, levies, taxes, or charges imposed by any authority or entity;
       h. All possible costs related to research, application, and execution of legally or non-legally required inspections—neglect of these inspections falls under the customer’s or client’s sole responsibility;
       i. Storage costs.

   13. If visible or hidden utilities (both above and underground), as well as installations belonging to the customer/client or third parties, are present at the delivery location, and these may hinder or prevent the installation, or pose a risk of damage, the customer/client must inform TOTAL CONCEPT in writing of their precise location (e.g., gas, water, electricity, telephone, internet, and TV cables/lines, alarm systems, refrigeration installations, etc.). Underground lines must be at a minimum depth of 4 cm in the screed. In such cases, the customer/client must ensure the timely relocation of these utilities or installations. All responsibilities and costs are borne by the customer/client. Any damage caused to these utilities and/or installations is the customer’s/client’s responsibility, and the customer/client indemnifies TOTAL CONCEPT against any claims made regarding damages to these utilities and/or installations.

   14. The customer/client hereby declares compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and permits from any authority or entity. All costs, damages, and fines resulting from violations of these laws, regulations, and permits are borne by the customer/client. The customer/client indemnifies TOTAL CONCEPT against any claims in this regard. A violation can never be used as grounds for disputing an invoice. All associated costs for adjusting or dismantling installations will be additionally charged on a time and materials basis.

   15. TOTAL CONCEPT will only proceed with installation after receiving the required permits. If, at the customer’s request, installation occurs before receiving the necessary permits, it is done solely at the customer’s responsibility. All costs, fines, and/or damages resulting from this are the customer’s responsibility. The customer also indemnifies TOTAL CONCEPT against any claims arising from this.

   16. Only new goods produced by TOTAL CONCEPT are covered under the warranty terms stated in the agreement. These warranty terms apply only to materials and never to labor, transportation, or installation costs. Our warranties are limited to those obtained from our suppliers. The goods must not have been processed or treated. The warranty is limited to the replacement of defective parts. The warranty terms become void in cases of damage caused by force majeure and/or third parties (e.g., damage from fire, storms, snow, water, hail, natural disasters, war, riots, vandalism, etc.).

   17. The works must be executed according to good workmanship practices. These are defined in the agreement or technical specifications, and in their absence, in the technical regulations of the WTCB. The customer accepts these execution standards.

   18. Any damage to the installation or to third parties caused by repair, maintenance, removal, and replacement of existing installations due to aging or technical defects is always the customer’s responsibility.

Only upon the customer’s explicit written request and with TOTAL CONCEPT’s written acceptance will TOTAL CONCEPT deliver these goods and/or services. All materials used, incurred costs, and services will be additionally charged on a time and materials basis.