Last updated: May 2026
These terms set out the basis on which Sears Melvin Ltd (trading as Sears Melvin Memorials, "we", "us", "our") supplies memorial masonry services to you. They form a legally binding contract between you and us once we accept your order. Please read them carefully and keep a copy for your records.
1. Who we are
Sears Melvin Ltd is a private limited company registered in England and Wales under company number 16191330, with our registered office at Unit 16, Dorewards Hall, Dorewards Chase, Braintree CM7 5LS, United Kingdom. Our trading website is searsmelvin.co.uk. You can contact us at info@searsmelvin.co.uk or on +44 20 3835 2548.
2. About these terms
These terms apply when you ask us for a quote, place an order, or use our website. By placing an order you confirm that you are at least 18 years old, are buying as a consumer (and not on behalf of a business), and have read and accepted these terms. If you do not agree, please do not place an order.
We may update these terms from time to time. The date at the top of this page shows when they were last revised. The version that applies to your order is the version in force when you placed it.
3. Quotes and how a contract is formed
- A quote we provide (in writing, by email, or via our website) is an invitation to treat — not a binding offer.
- Unless we say otherwise in writing, quotes are valid for 30 days from the date we issue them.
- You place an order by paying a deposit, signing our order form, or otherwise confirming the quote in writing.
- A binding contract is formed only when we send you a written order acknowledgement. If we cannot accept your order (for example, the cemetery refuses a permit, or stock has changed) we will tell you and refund any payment you have made.
4. The memorial
Each memorial is hand-finished, so small variations in colour, grain and texture are inherent to natural stone and are not defects. Photographs and renders on our website are illustrative — the finished memorial may differ in minor respects.
Inscriptions are produced exactly as set out in the order acknowledgement. It is your responsibility to check spellings, dates and wording carefully before signing off the proof. We cannot accept liability for inaccuracies you have approved.
5. Price and payment
- The price is the price quoted in your order acknowledgement and includes VAT where applicable. We reserve the right to correct obvious errors before you accept the quote.
- A 50% deposit is payable when you place the order. The balance is due before installation.
- Card payments are processed securely by Stripe. We do not see or store your full card details.
- If a price changes after you place the order (for example, because of a permit fee increase imposed by the cemetery), we will tell you, give you a written quote for the difference, and ask you to confirm in writing before we proceed.
6. Permits and cemetery rules
Most cemeteries require a permit before any memorial can be installed. As part of our service we will, at your request, prepare and submit the permit application on your behalf and liaise with the cemetery. You authorise us to do so on the strength of your order.
You are responsible for ensuring you hold the right of burial (the "grave deed") or have the deed-holder's written authority before instructing us. If the cemetery refuses a permit, we will refund any sums paid in respect of work that has not yet been done.
7. Lead times and installation
Typical lead times are 12–18 weeks from order to installation, but they depend on the design, stone availability, the inscription, and how quickly the cemetery issues a permit. The lead time we quote is an estimate, not a fixed delivery date, but we will keep you informed.
Installation is carried out by trained masons during the cemetery's working hours. Where ground or weather conditions make installation unsafe (for example, frozen or saturated ground), we may delay installation until conditions allow.
8. Your right to cancel (consumer cancellation rights)
Because most of our work is bespoke, the right to cancel under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 is limited as follows:
- Within 14 days of placing your order — you may cancel for any reason and receive a full refund of your deposit, provided we have not yet started bespoke work (for example, ordering or cutting stone, lettering, or submitting the permit). If bespoke work has started, you accept that we may withhold a reasonable charge for work already done and materials already ordered.
- After bespoke work has started — you may still cancel, but we may charge for stone, labour and third-party costs already committed (such as cemetery fees). We will give you a written breakdown.
- Once a memorial has been installed — the order is complete and the cancellation right no longer applies, except where the memorial is faulty (see the next section).
To cancel, please email info@searsmelvin.co.uk or call +44 20 3835 2548 and tell us your name, order reference, and the reason for cancellation.
9. Faulty work, our guarantee, and your statutory rights
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 the memorial must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. If something is wrong, please tell us as soon as you reasonably can and we will, at our option, repair, replace or refund the affected work without charge.
In addition to your statutory rights, we offer a 30-year guarantee against structural failure of the memorial caused by a defect in workmanship or materials, subject to fair-wear-and-tear, ordinary weathering, and proper care of the stone. The guarantee does not cover damage caused by vandalism, accidents, third-party works, ground subsidence outside our control, or failure to follow our care guide.
10. Care of the memorial
Our care guide sets out how to keep the memorial in good condition. Following it helps protect both the memorial and your guarantee.
11. Our liability
Nothing in these terms limits or excludes our liability for: death or personal injury caused by our negligence; fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; breach of your statutory rights as a consumer; or any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited.
Subject to that, our total liability to you under or in connection with each order is limited to the price you have paid us for that order. We are not liable for losses that are not a foreseeable consequence of our breach, or for any loss of profit, business or expected savings.
12. Events outside our control
We are not responsible for delays or failure to perform caused by events outside our reasonable control — for example, severe weather, supplier shortages, transport disruption, civil unrest, cemetery closure or industrial action. Where such an event affects your order we will contact you, do what we reasonably can to limit the impact, and (if the delay is substantial) offer you the option to cancel and receive a refund for work not yet done.
13. Personal data
How we handle your personal data is set out in our privacy policy.
14. Complaints
If something has gone wrong, please tell us first and give us a chance to put it right. Email info@searsmelvin.co.uk or write to: Sears Melvin Ltd, Unit 16, Dorewards Hall, Dorewards Chase, Braintree CM7 5LS, United Kingdom. We will acknowledge your complaint within 5 working days and aim to resolve it within 30 days.
If we cannot resolve a complaint to your satisfaction, you may also be able to refer the dispute to a Citizens Advice consumer service or to an alternative dispute resolution body. The European Commission's Online Dispute Resolution platform is at ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr.
15. Other important terms
- If any part of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining terms continue to apply.
- We may transfer our rights and obligations under a contract to another organisation; we will tell you in writing if that happens. You may only transfer your rights or obligations to someone else if we agree in writing.
- A person who is not party to these terms has no right to enforce them.
16. Governing law and jurisdiction
These terms, your order, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them (including non-contractual disputes or claims) are governed by the laws of England and Wales. You and we both agree that the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, except that if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland you may also bring proceedings in your local courts.
17. Contact
If you have any questions about these terms, please contact us:
- Email: info@searsmelvin.co.uk
- Phone: +44 20 3835 2548
- Post: Sears Melvin Ltd, Unit 16, Dorewards Hall, Dorewards Chase, Braintree CM7 5LS, United Kingdom