IFN Terms and conditions
Terms and Conditions
The IFN Terms and Conditions exist to provide clear legal and operational guidelines for all IFN members. All members must abide by the Terms and Conditions in order to safeguard their membership and protect the integrity of the IFN network. If you have any questions, please contact Head Office.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY
IFN serves solely as a networking platform. It does not guarantee, warrant, or insure the financial transactions, commercial agreements, or service quality among members. All dealings between IFN members are undertaken at their own risk.
LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
Indemnity Clause
IFN, its officers, employees, and representatives shall be indemnified and held harmless from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from disputes or obligations between IFN members. Members waive any right to bring legal action against IFN due to transactions between members.
No Third-Party Beneficiary Clause
Nothing in these terms creates a contractual relationship between IFN and any third party, including a member’s clients, subcontractors, or financial institutions.
Limitation of Liability
IFN’s liability is strictly limited. Under no circumstances will IFN be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages. If IFN is found liable for any reason, its total liability will not exceed the member’s annual membership fee.
Disclaimer of Warranties
IFN does not guarantee or make representations about the creditworthiness or reliability of its members. All transactions are conducted at members’ own risk.
PAYMENTS
- IFN cannot be held responsible and does not accept any financial liability for commercial or financial obligations not met by any IFN member(s).
- Payment terms must be mutually agreed between IFN members prior to the commencement of services.
- Members must conduct their own due diligence before entering into any financial or contractual agreements.
- IFN members will be made aware of defaulting members via the Credit Status System.
MEMBERSHIP CONDUCT
- Respond to all sales lead requests and communication within 24 hours.
- Make timely payments to IFN and other members as agreed.
- Promote only officially registered offices in the IFN network.
- Offer fresh business to fellow members wherever possible.
- Respect confidentiality and communicate professionally at all times.
- All communications (email, calls, messages, WhatsApp) must remain polite and appropriate.
- Discriminatory behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated.
- Members must not use IFN branding or imply association post-termination.
- All content provided by IFN is protected by copyright and may not be reused without permission.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
- Members should escalate unresolved disputes to IFN Head Office.
- Any arbitration facilitated by IFN must be accepted by both parties.
- IFN does not act as a legal arbitrator and is not liable for dispute outcomes.
- Arbitration conducted is non-binding and IFN will not enforce settlements.
MEMBER MEETINGS
- Members must attend at least every other annual meeting (every two years as a minimum).
- New members must attend the next upcoming meeting as a condition of joining the network (i.e. the meeting fee for the next event must be paid with their membership fees in order to join).
- If a member misses a meeting, they must pay for the next meeting as a condition of membership renewal (i.e. the meeting fee for the next event must be paid with their membership renewal fees in order to renew membership).
- IFN Head Office is not responsible for any related costs incurred by members attending Annual Meetings, including but not limited to: flight costs, hotel/accommodation costs, visa costs, transfers, tours or activities. Members must check cancellation policies/Ts&Cs related to any such bookings and are responsible for contacting the concerned parties directly for assistance, in the case of amendments or cancellations.
- Members requiring a visa to attend the event must apply in time in order to confirm their attendance and make payment once the visa is granted. Members take full responsibility for arranging their visa. Again, no refunds can be given after the cut-off date if payment is made and the visa is then not granted.
- Meeting fees are non-refundable and non-creditable, for any reason, after the published cut-off date (when all payments are sent to suppliers and venues). This cut-off date is made clear on the members’ website and in the email sent with the meeting invoice. It can also be confirmed by Head Office at any time. If notice is given on or before the cut-off date, meeting fees can be credited to the following year’s event. No refunds can be given. All refunds and credits are at the Managing Director’s discretion.
- No refunds or credits can be given after the cut-off, even due to events outside of the control of either the network or the member, e.g. denied visas or force majeure*.
Force Majeure:
The performance of this agreement in whole or in part is subject to events or occurrences beyond the control of either party, including acts of God, natural disasters (but not limited to earthquake, hurricane, flood, fire or other casualty taking), epidemic or pandemic warnings, strikes, lockouts or other labour or materials dispute, civil commotion, riot, mob violence, insurrection, malicious mischief, sabotage, rebellion, act of public enemy, war, terrorism, civil disorder, governmental regulations or advisories, curtailment of communications, economic conditions adversely affecting the industry or profession represented by the organization, curtailment of transportation service or facilities—any or all of which prevent or unreasonably delay the meeting attendees or make it inadvisable, commercially impractical, illegal or impossible to hold the meeting. Either party may terminate, suspend or partially perform its obligations under the agreement without liability for one or more of the foregoing reasons by written notice to the other.
Photography and Videography Notice:
By attending IFN events, members consent to being photographed or recorded and allow IFN to use such content for promotional or archival purposes without compensation. This includes photographs/video footage shared with us via email/WhatsApp.
TERMINATION
IFN membership will be terminated for the following reasons:
- A member is unable to provide a satisfactory standard of service.
- A member is shown to be unable to make payments on time, either to IFN Head Office or to other members.
- A member has been reported and listed on an industry blacklist/debtors’ list (e.g. Freight Dead Beats or FDRS) since joining the network and cannot provide sufficient evidence to be removed.
- IFN Head Office receives a notice of resignation.
- The IFN Terms and Conditions have not been adhered to (e.g. failure to attend at least one in two meetings).
- A member has sent any form of communication deemed by Head Office to be impolite, unprofessional, misleading, discriminatory, inflammatory or otherwise not in keeping with the spirit of the network. This includes emails, phone calls and WhatsApp messages, both direct, and in the dedicated IFN WhatsApp Group. IFN Head Office reserves the right to remove such members from mailing lists or the WhatsApp Group.
- A member is actively associated with a company, group or association that the IFN Managing Director believes is in direct competition with IFN.
- A member is deemed not to be working within the true spirit of IFN.
- A member and/or its employees or representatives are involved in arms embargoes or the movement of banned goods, per UN, EU, US and UK restrictions.
- A member opens an office or trading address in a sanctioned country, as listed under RBS policy.
The IFN Managing Director has the authority to terminate membership at her discretion. IFN Head Office will endeavour to resolve disputes where possible before termination. Where appropriate, notice of temporary suspension will be given before termination (e.g. if no response is received regarding a dispute or late payment). If resolved in a reasonable timeframe, suspension may be lifted. All decisions are at the Managing Director’s discretion.
No membership or meeting fees will be refunded upon termination or resignation.
Members must cease use of the IFN logo, event photos showing the logo, and any mention of IFN membership on websites, marketing materials, email signatures, and elsewhere once membership is discontinued or terminated.
CHANGES TO TERMS
The IFN Managing Director may amend the IFN Terms and Conditions at any time.
PRIVACY POLICY
Please click here to view our current: privacy policy. Note that if we are full in International Freight Network, should our sister networks have space, we will share your details with www.worldfreightnetwork.com and/or www.specialistfreightnetworks.com.
GOVERNING LAW
The Membership Rules, Terms and Conditions, your use of the website www.internationalfreightnetwork.com and any other associated information are governed by the Laws of England.
By using www.internationalfreightnetwork.com you submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.
You irrevocably agree that the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute which may arise out of, under, or in connection with the Membership Rules, Terms and Conditions, your use of the website www.internationalfreightnetwork.com and any other information.