Terms & Conditions

In these general conditions,
MSS means More Stage Services B.V.;
non-end-user means any client of MSS dealing by way of trade or profession;
purchaser does not mean the end-user.

1. These conditions apply to any offer or agreement between MSS and purchaser to which MSS states them to apply unless and to the extent that the parties agree otherwise expressly and in writing.
2. These conditions are likewise applicable to any agreement with MSS involving third parties in its carrying-out.

1. Offers made by MSS are non-binding and lapse 30 days at most after the date thereof.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 6:225, paragraph 2, of the Dutch Civil Code, MSS shall not be bound by any modifications of its offer that are attached to the potential purchaser's acceptance.
3. Such times for supply or for the performance of any other action by MSS as may be mentioned in its offers are given by way of general indication and if exceeded shall not constitute any ground for compensation or cancellation.
4. Prices mentioned by MSS are, unless otherwise stated, based on the fulfilment of orders during normal working-hours and are exclusive of transport, packing, delivery and installation costs, value added tax and any other levies imposed by the authorities.
5. In the case of an offer comprising several elements, MSS shall not be obliged to supply any portion thereof for a proportionate price, nor shall the terms of the offer apply automatically to any subsequent order.
6. MSS is bound by its offer only if the potential purchaser confirms acceptance within 30 days in writing. Unless otherwise stated, all prices are exclusive of value added tax.(See also sub 1 above)

1. Supply is ex-factory unless otherwise agreed. If one of the "Incoterms" is agreed upon as a condition of supply, the Incoterms in force at the time of the conclusion of the agreement shall apply.
2. Purchaser is obliged to take any purchased item from the moment of its delivery to him or from the moment when it is placed at his disposal under the terms of the agreement.
3. Should purchaser refuse to take delivery or neglect to furnish any information or instructions necessary therefor, the item will be stored at his risk and he shall be liable for any extra costs including, in any case, the costs of storage.

1. The delivery times stated by MSS are always approximate and never inexorable time-limits.
2. Consequently, should any stated time for delivery be exceeded, it shall be for the purchaser to warn MSS and fix a reasonable period for it to comply with its obligations.
3. The delivery time stated by MSS shall not begin to run until MSS is in possession of all requisite data.

MSS may fulfil orders in instalments, though this shall not apply where any item or items thus delivered would have no independent value. In the event of such partial delivery, MSS may invoice each delivered part separately.

1. If an item to be supplied in the Netherlands is to be used outside the Netherlands, MSS shall not be responsible for ensuring that that it complies with such technical requirements, standards or prescriptions as are laid down by the laws or regulations of the country where it is to be used. This shall not however apply if, at the time of conclusion of the agreement, mention is made of the intended use outside the Netherlands and MSS is provided by purchaser with all necessary data and specifications relevant thereto.
2. Any technical requirements demanded of an item to be supplied which differ from those which normally obtain must be expressly stipulated by purchaser at the time of conclusion of the agreement.

Any sample, model or illustration shown or provided by MSS is assumed to have been shown or provided solely by way of indication; the item to be supplied may vary in certain features from the sample, model or illustration in question in the absence of any express stipulation that said item must be supplied in conformity with the sample, model or illustration shown or provided.

1. An agreement between MSS and a purchaser may be dissolved with immediate effect in the following cases:
   • In the event that after the conclusion of the agreement circumstances come to the knowledge of MSS which give MSS good reason to fear that purchaser will not honour his commitments.
   • In the event that on the conclusion of the agreement MSS has asked purchaser for a guarantee that he will comply with its terms and that despite a formal reminder no or no adequate guarantee has been provided.
   • In the above cases MSS is entitled to suspend the further performance of the agreement, or to proceed to dissolve it, without in either event affecting the right of MSS to demand compensation.
2. If, owing to circumstances involving persons and/or materials employed or earmarked by MSS for the purpose of implementing the agreement, such implementation becomes either impossible or so fraught with difficulty and/or so disproportionately costly that fulfilment can no longer reasonably be required, MSS shall be entitled to dissolve the agreement.

1. MSS guarantees that the items it supplies are free of defects in design, material and manufacture for a period of 12 months from delivery.
   This guarantee does not apply to scenery or stands.
2. If an item supplied shows any defect in design, material or manufacture, purchaser has a right to its repair.
   MSS may choose to replace the item if repair would involve difficulties.
3. The guarantee is invalidated if damage results from incorrect handling or incorrect observance of instructions.
4. The expression incorrect handling is understood to cover inter alia inappropriate methods of transport, overloading, subjection to incorrect voltage, and non-observance of the instructions in manuals supplied.
5. Where the guarantee concerns a product made by a third party, it is limited to the guarantee provided by the producer in respect of the product concerned.

1. All items supplied by MSS remain the property of MSS until purchaser has complied with all the obligations arising out of all such purchase agreements as he has concluded with MSS.
2. Items supplied by MSS which by virtue of paragraph 1 remain subject to the reservation of ownership may be sold on only in the normal pursuance of purchaser's business or profession and may never be used as a means of payment.
3. Purchaser is not entitled to pledge or in any way encumber items that remain subject to the ownership reservation.
4. In all cases where MSS intends to exercise its rights of ownership, purchaser henceforth gives MSS, or such third party as MSS may designate, permission to enter any place or places where property of MSS may be located and to remove therefrom any items of such property.
5. Should any third party seek to distrain or otherwise claim or exercise a right over property supplied subject to reservation of ownership, purchaser must inform MSS accordingly as soon as may reasonably be expected.
6. Purchaser undertakes to insure and keep insured all items supplied under reservation of ownership against damage by fire, explosion and water and also against theft, and immediately upon request to produce the relevant policy for inspection.

1. Purchaser must examine purchased items, or have them examined on his behalf, as soon as possible after delivery.
   • In so doing, purchaser must check whether what has been delivered is in conformity with the agreement, i.e.:
   • whether the right items have been supplied;
   • whether the items correspond in quantity or number with the terms of the agreement;
   • whether they satisfy the agreed standards of quality or, should no such norms have been agreed, are of the quality required for normal use and/or the purposes of the trade.
2. Purchaser must within 3 days after delivery inform MSS in writing of any visible defects or deficiencies.
3. Purchaser must inform MSS in writing of any non-visible defect within 3 days after its being discovered, but at all events within 30 days after the delivery.
4. Purchaser's obligations to pay and take delivery remain notwithstanding his timely submission of a claim.
5. Items can only be returned with the explict written permission of MSS.

1. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the prices offered by MSS are understood to be
   • in Dutch currency
   • exclusive of value added tax
   • based on the minimum quantities that MSS is prepared to supply
   • exclusive of carriage costs
   • ex factory
2. Where MSS and purchaser agree upon a price, MSS shall nevertheless be entitled to raise it if able to demonstrate that between offer and delivery significant rises have taken place in the cost of raw materials, currencies and/or wages or out of otherwise unforeseen circumstances.
3. Purchaser shall have the right to cancel the agreement if the price agreed is raised by more than ten per cent.

1. Any packaging supplied on loan must be returned by purchaser empty and undamaged within 14 days. Should purchaser fail to meet his obligations in respect of packaging he shall be liable for all contingent costs.
   These include, for example, the costs arising out of the non-timely return of packaging, the costs due to degradation, the costs of repair and cleaning.
2. Should purchaser, after a warning, fail to return the loaned packaging within a time to be mentioned therein, MSS shall be entitled to proceed to a replacement and charge purchaser therefor, provided that the warning expressly so states.

1. Payment shall be due within the number of days specified on the invoice, and within 30 days at most after the invoice date, and is to be made in a manner to be indicated by MSS and in the currency as invoiced.
2. Once the number of days, thirty at most, specified by the invoice has elapsed without payment having been received, purchaser shall be legally in default; from the moment of his being in default he shall also be liable for interest on the sum due at the rate of one per cent per month unless the legal rate of interest stands higher, in which case the legal rate shall apply.
3. In the event of purchaser's liquidation, bankruptcy or suspension of payment, the fulfilment of all MSS's claims upon him and of all his obligations to MSS shall be immediately demandable.
4. Payment must be made without discount or offsetting.
5. Payments shall be applied in first instance to any outstanding interest or costs and in second instance to such unpaid invoices as have been outstanding longest, even if purchaser specifies that the payment in question relates to a later invoice.

MSS shall be entitled to apply a two per cent credit-limitation surcharge, which however shall not be payable if payment is received within the specified number of days from the date of the invoice.

1. In the event of purchaser's breach or default in respect of any one or more of his obligations, he shall be liable for all judicial or extrajudicial costs incurred for the purpose of obtaining satisfaction. Purchaser shall in any case be liable for:
   

   balances up to	€	6.500,00	15%
   for a greater balance up to	€	13.000,00	10%
   for a greater balance up to	€	32.500,00	8%
   for a greater balance up to	€	130.000,00	5%
   for a greater balance			3%

2. If MSS can show that it incurred further expenses which may reasonably be viewed as having been necessary, these may also be considered as subject to reimbursement.

MSS shall be liable to purchaser solely in the following manner:

• In respect of damage as a result of defects in items supplied, liability shall be strictly confined to what is provided in Article 10 (Guarantee) of these Conditions.
• MSS is liable for damage solely if it is caused by MSS or its employees deliberately or through serious fault on their part.
• The liability of MSS is limited to the amount to be paid by its insurer in the given case.
• If, in any given case where liability lies with MSS, the insurer offers no cover or makes no payment, the liability of MSS shall be limited to twice the invoice-value of that part of the transaction in respect of which it is liable.

1. In these General Conditions, the term force majeure comprises, in addition to its connotations in statute and case law, all foreseen or unforeseen external factors, including strike action at its workplace, over which MSS can exert no influence but which nevertheless render it unable to honour its undertakings.
2. MSS's obligations to supply and other commitments shall remain suspended for so long as a situation of force majeure prevails. Should the period wherein force majeure prevents MSS from honouring its undertakings exceed two months, either party shall be entitled to dissolve the agreement without giving rise thereby to any duty of compensation.
3. If at the moment when force majeure takes effect MSS has already been able to perform part of its undertakings, or can perform them only in part, MSS shall be entitled to invoice the delivered or still deliverable part separately and purchaser shall be under obligation to settle the invoice as if it related to a separate contract. This shall not however apply if the delivered or deliverable part has no independent value.

Sole authority to determine disputes lies with the rechter of the town wherein MSS has its premises, unless the kantonrechter is so empowered. MSS shall nevertheless have the right to sue the other party in such court as the law provides.

In the event of a dispute as to the meaning of these Conditions, the Dutch text shall be authoritative.

The law of the Netherlands shall be applicable to every agreement between MSS and purchaser. The Vienna Convention on Sale is expressly excluded.

These Conditions have been deposited at the Chamber of Commerce, The Hague.

The applicable terms shall always be those of the last deposited version or, as the case may be, those of the version in force at the time of conclusion of the individual contract.

1. These conditions apply to any offer or agreement between MSS and purchaser to which MSS states them to apply unless and to the extent that the parties agree otherwise expressly and in writing.
2. These conditions are likewise applicable to any agreement with MSS involving third parties in its carrying-out.

1. Any offer made by MSS is non-binding unless it contains a written time-limit for acceptance by client.
2. The validity of any offer made by MSS lapses after 30 days in the absence of a statement to the contrary. MSS is bound by its offer only if client's acceptance of it is confirmed in writing within 30 days.
3. MSS reserves the right to substitute comparable material for any material specified in the hire agreement.
4. Prices and charges mentioned in MSS offers are to be understood as exclusive of value-added tax (VAT/BTW) unless otherwise stated.

1. MSS shall perform agreements to the full extent of its skills and abilities, in accordance with the requirements of good craftsmanship and the known state of the art.
2. Should due performance so require, MSS reserves the right to engage third persons to carry out part or parts of the work.
3. Client shall inform MSS in good time of all details, data and circumstances which are needed to be known for due performance of the agreement in client's opinion or which client may reasonably be expected to realize as so needed. Should client fail to provide such timely information before the agreement comes to be performed, MSS shall have the right to cancel the agreement and/or charge client for expenses thereby incurred in accordance with the usual tariffs.
4. MSS shall not be liable for any kind of loss or damage due to its having relied on incorrect and/or deficient data supplied by client, unless it ought to have realized their incorrect or deficient character.
5. Where it is agreed that the agreement shall be performed in stages, MSS may suspend work on a given stage until client has given written approval of the results of the preceding stage.

1. Agreements between the parties are entered into for an indefinite time unless the parties expressly agree otherwise in writing.
2. Where it is agreed that during the validity of the agreement certain works should be accomplished within a given time, failure to meet the deadline shall not of itself put an end to the whole agreement. In such event, client must send MSS in writing a notice of default.

1. Should it become apparent during the carrying-out of the agreement that it is necessary to alter or supplement the works concerned in order to do a proper job, both parties shall in good time consult together with a view to modifying the agreement appropriately.
2. Should the parties decide to alter or supplement their agreement, this may influence the time at which the works can be completed. MSS shall inform client accordingly as soon as possible.
3. Should financial and/or qualitative consequences result from such variation or addition, MSS shall inform client accordingly.
4. Where a fixed fee has been agreed, MSS shall indicate what supplemental amount may be due as a result of such variation of or addition to the agreement.
5. Notwithstanding paragraph 3 above, MSS shall not charge client any extra amount if the variation of or addition to the agreement resulted from circumstances for which MSS may be held responsible.

Both parties have a duty fully to respect the character of any confidential information they receive within the framework of their agreement either from each other or from any other source. Information shall be regarded as confidential if it is so described by the other party or if it is of such a nature as to be so deemed.

1. Without prejudice to the terms of Article 7 above, MSS shall retain all rights and authorizations accruing to it under the Auteurswet [Dutch intellectual property Act].
2. Any documents provided by MSS, such as reports, opinions, recommendations, projects, sketches, drawings, software and the like, are intended solely for client's own use and may not without the previous express permission of MSS be duplicated, copied or made public by client, nor brought by client to the knowledge of any third party.
3. At the same time, MSS reserves the right to make use for other purposes of any knowledge acquired during the carrying-out of the works, so long as no confidential information is divulged to third persons.

1. Annulering van een Overeenkomst door opdrachtgever is uitsluitend mogelijk, indien zulks schriftelijk geschiedt vóór het begin het verrichten van de Prestatie(s). Met inachtneming van het hierna bepaalde zullen in geval van annulering te allen tijde alle gemaakte voorbereidingskosten door Gebruiker aan Wederpartij in rekening worden gebracht.
2. In the event of a sales cancellation MSS shall charge client a cancellation fee according to the following shedule
   Longer than 12 weeks: 15%
   12 to 8 weeks: 50%
   8 to 4 weeks: 75%
   Less than 4 weeks: 100%
3. In the event of a rental cancellation MSS shall charge client a cancellation fee according to the following shedule
   Longer than 2 weeks: 15%
   9 to 14 working days: 50%
   From 5 to 8 working days: 75 %
   Less than 4 working days: 100%

1. Immediate payment by client of amounts due to MSS shall be demanded in the following instances:
   • if after conclusion of the agreement circumstances come to the attention of MSS which give good reason for fearing that client is unlikely to meet his obligations;
   • if at the time of conclusion of the agreement MSS has requested surety for the fulfilment of client's obligations and such surety has not been forthcoming or has proved inadequate.

1. Client must submit to MSS in writing any complaint regarding the work done within eight days of the discovery of the cause for complaint and in any case within 14 days of the completion of the works concerned.
2. Should the complaint be justified, MSS shall redo the work as agreed, unless it would meanwhile appear pointless to do so from client's point of view, in which event client shall inform MSS to that effect in writing.
3. Should it no longer appear possible or sensible to proceed further with the services undertaken in accordance with the agreement, the liability of MSS shall be limited to what is provided for by the terms of Article 15 below.

1. Offers and agreements specifying a fixed fee shall be governed by paragraphs 2, 5 and 6 of this Article. If no fixed fee is agreed upon, paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6 shall apply.
2. MSS and client may agree upon a fixed fee as part of their agreement. The amount fixed is always understood as exclusive of value-added tax (VAT/BTW).
3. Should no fixed fee be agreed upon, the fee shall be established on the basis of the hours actually worked. The amount shall be calculated in accordance with MSS's usual hour-tariffs valid for the period during which the work is to be done unless a different tariff is agreed upon.
4. Any cost-estimates provided by MSS are to be understood as exclusive of VAT.
5. Where the period for carrying out the work exceeds one month, MSS may bill for costs due periodically.
6. MSS reserves the right to increase any fixed fee or hourly tariff agreed upon. MSS may pass price-rises on to client if it can show that significant increases have taken place, e.g. in labour-costs, between the time of the offer and the time of performance of the agreement.

1. Client or hirer shall bear responsibility for any damage (even caused by third persons), loss or theft of apparatus hired from MSS. Such apparatus must be returned in the same outward condition and working-order as when supplied.
2. Unless otherwise agreed, client or hirer shall bear responsibility for providing the hired apparatus with adequate insurance cover.

1. Payment shall be due within the number of days specified on the invoice, and within 30 days at most after the invoice date, and is to be made in a manner to be indicated by MSS and in the currency as invoiced. (See also the various provisions of the explanatory note under 4.)
2. Once the number of days, thirty at most, specified by the invoice has elapsed without payment having been received, client shall be legally in default; from the moment of his being in default he shall also be liable for interest on the sum due at the rate of one per cent per month unless the legal rate of interest stands higher, in which case the legal rate shall apply.
3. In the event of client's liquidation, bankruptcy or suspension of payment, the fulfilment of all MSS's claims upon him and of all his obligations to MSS shall be immediately demandable.
4. Payments shall be applied in first instance to any outstanding interest or costs and in second instance to such unpaid invoices as have been outstanding longest, even if client specifies that the payment in question relates to a later invoice.

MSS shall be entitled to apply a two per cent credit-limitation surcharge, which however shall not be payable if payment is received within the specified number of days from the date of the invoice.

1. In the event of client's breach or default in respect of any one or more of his obligations, he shall be liable for all judicial or extrajudicial costs incurred for the purpose of obtaining satisfaction. Client shall in any case be liable for:
   

   balances up to	€	6.500,00	15%
   for a greater balance up to	€	13.000,00	10%
   for a greater balance up to	€	32.500,00	8%
   for a greater balance up to	€	130.000,00	5%
   for a greater balance			3%

2. If MSS can show that it incurred further expenses which may reasonably be viewed as having been necessary, these may also be considered as subject to reimbursement.

MSS shall be liable to client solely in the following manner:

• Where the liability is covered by the insurer of MSS, it shall be limited to the amount paid out by the insurer.
• Should the insurer make no payment, or should the prejudice not be covered by the insurance, the liability shall be limited to twice the invoice value of the transaction or, as the case may be, of that part of it in respect of which the liability is borne.
• Notwithstanding paragraph 2, should the transaction concern a period exceeding six months, the liability of MSS shall further be limited to the amount of the fee applicable for the last six months thereof.
• The above limitations of liability shall not apply in cases of prejudice resulting from deliberate action or serious negligence on the part of MSS or persons in its employment.
• MSS may in no circumstances be held responsible for consequential prejudice. (See also the various provisions of the explanatory note under 6.)

1. In these General Conditions, the term force majeure comprises, in addition to its connotations in statute and case law, all foreseen or unforeseen external factors, including strike action at its workplace, over which MSS can exert no influence but which nevertheless render it unable to honour its undertakings.
2. MSS reserves the right to invoke force majeure even if the event preventing (further) performance occurred after the time at which it should have met its obligation.
3. The obligations of MSS shall be suspended for so long as force majeure prevails. Should the period wherein force majeure prevents MSS from honouring its undertakings exceed two months, either party shall be entitled to dissolve the agreement without giving rise thereby to any duty of compensation.
4. If at the moment when force majeure takes effect MSS has already been able to perform part of its undertakings, or can perform them only in part, MSS shall be entitled to invoice the part performed or still performable separately and client shall be under obligation to settle the invoice as if it related to a separate contract. This shall not however apply if the part performed or still performable part has no independent value.

In the event of a dispute as to the meaning of these Conditions, the Dutch text shall be authoritative.

The law of the Netherlands shall be applicable to every agreement between MSS and client.

These Conditions have been deposited at the Chamber of Commerce, The Hague.

The applicable terms shall always be those of the last deposited version or, as the case may be, those of the version in force at the time of conclusion of the individual contract.