Terms and conditions

The MDU website (Website)

These terms and conditions ('Terms') govern your use of the websites located at themdu.com, theddu.com, mdujournal.themdu.com, ddujournal.theddu.com, studentnotes.themdu.com and any other website(s) we may operate (together, the 'Website'). Please read through the Terms. If you do not agree with the Terms do not use the Website. If you do use the Website your conduct indicates that you agree to be bound by the Terms, whether you are using the Website as a guest user or registered user.

Regulatory and legal information

1. The Website is operated by the Medical Defence Union Limited ('MDU', 'we' or 'us'). We are registered in England and Wales under company number 00021708 and have our registered address at One Canada Square, London, E14 5GS. Our VAT registration number is 696213416. You are entering into these Terms with the MDU.
2. For regulatory purposes (consumer credit and insurance mediation activities) the MDU is an introducer appointed representative for MDU Services Limited ('MDUSL').
3. MDUSL is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for insurance mediation and consumer credit activities only. MDUSL is entered in The Financial Services Register, register number 312054. You can check MDUSL's registration on the register or by contacting the FCA on 0845 606 1234.
4. MDUSL is an agent for the MDU.
5. MDU is not an insurance company. The benefits of membership of the MDU are all discretionary and are subject to the MDU's Memorandum and Articles of Association.
6. The Dental Defence Union ('DDU') is the specialist dental division of the MDU and references to the DDU and DDU membership mean MDU and membership of the MDU.

Copyright notices

1. Except as otherwise noted, all intellectual property rights in respect of the items and materials that appear within the Website ('Content') are owned and/or controlled by MDU and/or MDUSL (as applicable) including the design, text, graphics and arrangement of the Content.
2. You may retrieve and display the Content on a computer screen or other device and print individual pages on paper and/or store such pages in electronic form on a local hard disk or removable storage device for your personal non-commercial use, but not on any server or other storage device connected to a network.
3. Except as expressly set out in this 'Copyright notices' section you may not reproduce, modify, store, archive or in any way commercially exploit any of the Content. In particular you may not do any of the following without the prior written consent of the MDU:
   1. redistribute any Content; or
   2. remove the copyright or trademark notice from any copies of Content made in accordance with these Terms.
4. Requests to publish and distribute the Content should be addressed to marketing@themdu.com
5. 'The Medical Defence Union', 'The MDU' plus logo and the MDU logo on its own are trade marks of the MDU. Unauthorised use is prohibited. Requests for use of the logo should be sent to marketing@themdu.com

General disclaimer

1. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the high quality and accuracy of the Website, the MDU is providing the Website on an 'AS IS, AS AVAILABLE' 'WITH ALL FAULTS' basis to users. You use the Website at your own risk. The MDU does not give any warranties in respect of Website, the Content, and any software or services available through the Website. Save to the extent prohibited by law, we exclude all conditions, warranties, representations or other terms which may apply to the Website, the Content, and any software or services available through the Website, whether express or implied.
2. Additionally the MDU gives no warranty that the Website is free from infection by viruses or anything else that has contaminating or destructive properties and disclaims liability for any losses or damage arising from this.
3. The Content may contain technical inaccuracies and typographical errors. The Content may be updated from time to time and may at times be out of date. The MDU accepts no responsibility for keeping the Content up to date or liability for any failure to do so, though we will always try to ensure this is the case. 
4. The MDU does not endorse or make any statement about any of the general practitioners, dentists, hospitals, surgeries, companies, products or services of third parties found on the Website.
5. The medico or dento-legal and ethical information contained on the Website is for general information only. This does not constitute medico or dento-legal or ethical advice and you should take appropriate professional advice and not rely on it to make any decision or take any action (or refrain from doing either of these).
6. From time to time the Website, or parts of the Website, will be unavailable due to maintenance or system error. The MDU is not responsible for any actions that are not able to be carried out during this time, including making any subscription payment.

Website Statement

The following terms summarise our privacy practices regarding the Website. For full details about your rights, see our Privacy Policy.

This shortened Statement explains our data processing practices relating to your personal data collected through this Website. If you have any requests concerning your personal information (Personal Data), please contact our Data Protection Officer at dataprotectionofficer@themdu.com. If you have any queries about this Website, please contact us at marketing@themdu.com

1. Any Personal Data we collect from the Website will be used in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and other applicable laws.
2. Personal Data (name, address, email address, etc) is collected when you register on the Website and also when you complete one of our online forms.
3. The MDU uses Personal Data collected via the Website to update our membership records, for marketing purposes (such as providing you with medico-legal updates or details of products and services that we think will be of interest to you) and for the processing of any payments made by you through this Website. If you object to our processing your Personal Data in this way, you may at any time ask us to stop, either by emailing dataprotectionofficer@themdu.com or writing to: The MDU, One Canada Square, London E14 5GS. You have the right to apply for a copy of your Personal Data collected via the Website and to have any inaccuracies corrected. Further details about your information rights are contained in our Privacy Policy.
4. We will keep a record of any orders you make through the Website (eg booking a course). We will not retain any of your credit/debit card details however these details may be retained by third parties who we ask to process payments on our behalf.
5. Unless otherwise stated, we will NOT pass your Personal Data to any third party for marketing purposes.
6. Some services we may provide to you via the Website, such as e-learning, are hosted on third party sites. To provide those services, we may transfer Personal Data to those sites. Some third party sites may be hosted outside the EEA; see our Privacy Policy for how your data is protected in these circumstances.
7. Except as set out in paragraph 7 above, this Statement does not apply to any third party sites that you may access from the Website. Those sites may have their own policies which set out how they may collect and/or use your personal data.

Third parties and external websites

1. The Website contains material submitted and created by third parties. The MDU excludes all liability for any illegality arising from or error, omission or inaccuracy in such material.
2. You may access third party websites through links contained on the Website. These third party websites are not under the control of the MDU and the MDU is not responsible for the availability of these websites or their content. Any links provided on the Website are provided for your interest or convenience only and do not represent or imply any endorsement of such linked websites by the MDU. You acknowledge your use of these third party websites governed by the terms and conditions of use applicable to each website.
3. You may place a link from your website to the Website provided you follow the following guidelines:
   1. not to replicate the Content;
   2. not to create a frame or border environment around the Content;
   3. not to in any way imply that the MDU and/or MDUSL is endorsing your website or its products or services;
   4. not to present false information about the MDU;
   5. not to use any of the MDU's trademarks without prior written consent of the MDU;
   6. ensure your website does not include content which would be construed as distasteful, controversial or offensive;
   7. ensure your website does not infringe any intellectual property or other rights of any third parties;
4. The MDU expressly reserves the right to request that any link in breach of these Terms be removed and to take whatever other action it deems appropriate.

Advertising and sponsorship

Part of the Website may contain advertising and sponsorship. Advertisers and sponsors are responsible for ensuring that materials submitted for inclusion on the Website comply with international and national law. The MDU is not liable for any error or inaccuracy in advertising material.

Use of cookies on the Website

1. To find out about how cookies are used on the Website, and your choices regarding them, please see here.

Security

1. To use some parts of the Website you must choose a password. You must keep your password secure, not share it with anyone or let them access your Website account, nor do anything else that may jeopardise the security of your account. You should choose a secure password, such as a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters and avoid commonly guessed words or phrases. You should also change your password regularly although we will not prompt you to do so. If you know or suspect that anyone other than you knows your password you must promptly notify us at marketing@themdu.com. You are liable for any use or access to the Website undertaken using your password, except where we have been advised by you of any loss, misuse or disclosure of your password.
2. The Website uses 128bit encryption on certain pages where you may input Personal Data. You can check if you are in a secure environment by looking for either a locked padlock icon or https in the website address field.
3. We use a third party provider, Worldpay Limited (registered number 3424752) (Worldpay), for the processing of payments through the Website. Worldpay has its own systems in place to ensure the security of data received and processed by it.

Online purchase of courses

1. If you purchase a course, the credit or debit card details you provide are used for processing payment only. We use Worldpay for the processing of payments for courses through the Website. Please see the 'Security' section above for more details on Worldpay.
2. When you place an order with us you will receive an automatic confirmation email from Worldpay. Your order represents an offer to us to purchase which is not accepted by us until we send a separate email confirmation to you of the confirmation for the chosen course.
3. All prices include VAT (where applicable).
4. If you need to cancel a course booking, for whatever reason, you should first contact us. The MDU will provide a refund on course bookings that are cancelled up to 30 (thirty) days before the start date of the course (but not where they are cancelled less than 30 (thirty) days before the course start date).
5. Force Majeure: we cannot be held responsible for any cancellation or any associated losses resulting from Acts of God or any other circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to, diseases, epidemics or quarantines, necessitating the closure of our premises.
6. In the event of any force majeure cancellation of a course or event we shall use reasonable endeavours to give you notice of such cancellation and shall refund any course fees paid in advance by you but shall otherwise have no liability to you.
7. Any complaints about any courses should be directed to 020 7202 1606 or by email at compliance@themdu.com and will be handled in accordance with the MDU's complaint handling procedure.

Course material

1. For any courses, neither the course lecturer ('Lecturer') nor the MDU make or give any claims, promises, guarantees or statements about the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or adequacy of any information, data, wording or graphics, whether written, oral or visual used in connection with any course (Material).
2. All persons using the Material do so at their own risk. Neither the MDU nor the Lecturer will be liable for loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the use of the Material. This exclusion of liability covers all indirect and consequential damages of any kind, and also all loss of data, income or profit and loss of or damage to property (whether direct, indirect or consequential), and also claims from third parties. However, nothing in this paragraph 2 limits the MDU's or the Lecturer's liability to a delegate for death or personal injury resulting from the MDU's or the Lecturer's negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.
3. All trademarks, logos, brand names and service marks of the MDU contained in the Materials, whether registered or unregistered, remain the property of the MDU. Any separate use of these marks, logos or names is prohibited without the express prior written consent of the MDU.
4. The Material has been designed as an integral part of the course but solely for the benefit of the delegates attending the course. No part of the Material may be reproduced in any form or for any purposes without the prior permission of the MDU. Any copyright in the Material remains the property of the MDU and/or the Lecturer, as applicable.

Get a quote

1. You can request an indicative quote for the cost of MDU or DDU membership on the Website without the need to complete an application for membership. Any quote is indicative only and is not a binding offer and subject to change. As such, it may also change when more information about you and the nature and extent of your practice is received during the application process. It is also important that you check that the work details on any quote we send you are correct.

My Membership

1. We try to ensure that all details inputted or updated via 'My Membership' are subsequently accurately reflected in your membership details that we hold. Whilst we use our best endeavours to ensure this, we cannot rule out entirely that there may be a system or process error, so please check your membership details once you have inputted or updated information via 'My Membership'.

Third party offers and promotions

1. The MDU always seeks to offer attractive third party benefits as part of membership and, as such, from time to time, may add, withdraw or amend these benefits at its discretion.

Online subscription payments

1. Online renewals and online outstanding balance payments may be requested by existing UK members only via the Website. Such renewals or outstanding balance payments, if accepted, will be made on the terms set out in the member's invitation to renew and other documentation included in the renewal pack which will be sent before the renewal date.
2. UK members may only use the online renewal or online outstanding balance payment services if there has been no change to their work details as shown in the invitation to renew or letter setting out the outstanding balance. Any failure by a member to report changes of work details to the MDU may affect his/her entitlement to the benefits of membership. Any changes in work details can be notified to us by calling our free phone helpline on 0800 716 376.
3. The online credit/debit card service offered by the MDU may only be used by members to pay the entirety of their outstanding balance owing. No part payments can be made online.
4. When a UK member uses an online subscription payment service on the Website (whether to request an online renewal or payment online of an outstanding balance), if his/her request is successful he/she will arrive at a 'Thank you' web page and completion of the online payment process will be treated as an offer to the MDU to renew and/or make payment (referred to on the Website as 'a request for renewal' or a 'request to make payment'). This will only be accepted by the MDU and become effective at such time as we confirm the same in writing to the applying member. The receipt of an automatic confirmation email or arrival at a "Thank you" web page does not constitute valid acceptance by the MDU.
5. Where a member uses an online subscription payment service on the Website (whether to request an online renewal or payment online of an outstanding balance payment), if his/her request is not successful any money that has been taken will be refunded within 30 (thirty) days of the request not being accepted.

User generated content

1. The Website offers users the facility to post comments, reviews and ratings, which will be visible on the Website to other users. The MDU is not responsible for the content of these posts, and some of them may also include comments that do not reflect the MDU's views. If you post content to the Website, then you must abide by our Social Media Policy (theddu.com/terms-and-conditions/social-media-policy). If you see content that you feel is not in keeping with our Social Media Policy, then please use the Report comment function or email marketing@themdu.com. We do not monitor posts, and also reserve the right to remove any post without explanation.

Jurisdiction

1. These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

General

1. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury arising from our negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law. You agree that the disclaimers, exclusions and limitations on our liability set out in these Terms are reasonable in light of the nature of the Website and the technology used to provide the Website.
2. If any part of these Terms is disallowed or found to be ineffective by any court or regulator, the other provisions shall continue to apply.
3. If you breach these Terms and we take no action against you, we will still be entitled to use our rights and remedies in any other situation where you breach these Terms.
4. We may transfer our rights or obligations or sub-contract our obligations under these Terms to another other legal entity. These Terms are personal to you. You may not transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms to anyone else.
5. These Terms constitute the entire agreement and understanding of you and us relating to these Terms and supersedes any previous agreement or understanding between you and us in relation to the same. Neither you nor we have relied on any statement, representation, warranty, understanding, undertaking, promise or assurance (whether negligently or innocently made) of any person that is not set out in these Terms.
6. No provision of these Terms shall be modified or varied without the written consent of you and us.
7. These Terms are not intended to give rights to anyone except you and us.

Changes to these Terms

1. We may revise these Terms at any time by amending this page and posting about such change on the Website. Please check this page from time to time to take notice of any changes we made, as they are binding on you if you continue to access the Website after the date of the change.
   
   

These Terms were last updated on 19 June 2018.