Legal
Terms of Service
The service
Famhisto is a trading name of Exmoor AI Labs Ltd (Reg. No. 17177556, registered in England & Wales, 71–75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ). Famhisto provides family history research, consultations, books and related services, delivered by Ian Andrews ("I", "me"). Research is carried out diligently from original sources, but history keeps its own records: no researcher can guarantee a particular discovery, and these terms describe what is promised instead.
Commissioning and payment
- Projects are confirmed by a 50% deposit (or full payment for consultations and the Roots package); the balance is due on completion, before delivery of final materials.
- Every project begins with a free viability assessment. If I conclude your research is unlikely to succeed, I will tell you and nothing is owed.
- Prices are fixed as published or quoted — there is no hourly billing and no surprise invoicing.
The guarantee
If a commissioned research project genuinely uncovers nothing material beyond the information your family supplied, 90% of the project fee is refunded. (The retained 10% reflects the work of checking.) This guarantee covers research packages; consultations, books produced from your existing research, and add-on services are deliverable as described.
Cancellation
You may cancel within 14 days of payment for a full refund, unless research has already begun with your agreement, in which case work completed to that point is charged at the package's pro-rata value and the remainder refunded. Consultations may be rebooked freely with 48 hours' notice.
Gift vouchers
Vouchers are valid for 12 months from purchase, redeemable against any Famhisto service, and not exchangeable for cash. If a recipient's research proves unviable at assessment, the voucher's full value is refunded to the purchaser.
Your materials and copyright
Photographs and documents you lend are treated with archival care and returned; all restoration work is digital. Copyright in reports, charts and books produced for you is assigned to you on final payment. I may describe projects in anonymised terms; identifiable details are only ever published as a case study with your written agreement.
Accuracy and sensitive discoveries
Findings are reported with their evidence, graded plainly as proven, probable or possible. Family history sometimes reveals the unexpected — unknown relatives, changed names, difficult events. I will always report truthfully and handle such discoveries with discretion and care.
Liability
My liability for any claim arising from a service is limited to the amount paid for that service. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot lawfully be limited.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.