Terms & Conditions

Applicable to all free and paid advice and guidance appointments. Please read these terms before booking. By completing a booking and accepting these terms, you agree to the general conditions and those applicable to your appointment type.

1. Nature of Our Services

1.1 Unity Family Services is a charitable organisation providing Islamic advice, guidance and support on personal, family, marital and community matters.

1.2 Our services are not medical, psychiatric, psychological, legal or financial advice. Seek appropriately qualified professional assistance where required.

1.3 Guidance is provided in good faith. Clients are responsible for their decisions and need not follow any recommendation. No particular outcome can be guaranteed.

1.4 Our services do not replace professional counselling, statutory services or emergency assistance.

2. General Booking and Attendance

2.1 Appointments must be booked through the authorised Unity Family Services booking system using accurate contact details.

2.2 Confirmation emails contain appointment information, Zoom links, and cancellation/rescheduling links. Clients must check their inbox and junk folders.

2.3 Cancel or reschedule using the links in the booking confirmation email. If a link fails, email info@unityfamily.co.uk before the relevant deadline. Retain evidence of any request.

2.4 Notice periods run backwards from the appointment start time in UK local time. A change is completed when confirmed by the booking system or Unity Family Services.

2.5 Appointments are generally online via Zoom; cameras are optional. Clients must join promptly. Late arrival does not entitle them to additional time or another appointment.

2.6 An appointment is not transferable without approval, and booking does not guarantee ongoing or unlimited support.

3. Free Advice & Guidance Appointments

3.1 Standard appointments are free. Donations are voluntary and are not required to access the service.

3.2 Clients can cancel or reschedule without charge with at least 48 hours’ notice.

3.3 Cancellation, rescheduling or non-attendance with less than 48 hours’ notice will incur a £30 charge under our booking policy, irrespective of the reason given, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Unity Family Services will consider any circumstances that the law requires it to consider.

3.4 The charge is intended to reflect reasonable administration and lost appointment capacity and will not exceed recoverable losses permitted by law.

3.5 For bookings made within 48 hours of the appointment, the late cancellation conditions must be disclosed clearly before booking is confirmed.

3.6 Repeated missed appointments, misuse or unpaid valid charges may result in reasonable restrictions on future bookings.

3.7 Anyone booking on behalf of another person must have their permission. Payment liability must be expressly accepted by the legally responsible person.

4. Paid Urgent Advice & Guidance Appointments

4.1 An urgent appointment with Sheikh Amer Jamil costs £50, payable in full to Unity Family Services at booking. The payment is received by Unity Family Services to support its charitable services; it is not a personal payment to Sheikh Amer Jamil.

4.2 A booking is confirmed only after successful payment and issuance of confirmation.

4.3 The £50 booking fee is normally non-refundable, subject to statutory consumer rights and the requirements of fairness under applicable law.

4.4 One free reschedule is allowed with at least 48 hours’ notice, subject to availability. Further rescheduling may be refused or permitted at Unity Family Services’ discretion.

4.5 Cancellation, a rescheduling request within 48 hours, or failure to attend will normally result in retention of the fee insofar as lawful and justified by reasonable losses and the circumstances.

4.6 Exceptional circumstances may be considered for a refund or alternative appointment; Unity Family Services may request reasonable supporting information.

4.7 If Unity Family Services cancels and cannot provide a suitable alternative, a refund will be made where required by law.

4.8 Where an urgent appointment takes place within 14 days of online booking, statutory cancellation rules may apply. Any necessary express request to begin the service early, acknowledgement of consequences, refund or lawful deduction will be handled in accordance with applicable consumer legislation. Statutory rights are unaffected.

5. Changes by Unity Family Services

5.1 We may reasonably postpone, rearrange or cancel appointments because of adviser unavailability, emergencies, technical problems or safeguarding concerns, notifying clients as soon as practicable.

5.2 For paid appointments we will offer an appropriate alternative or refund where required by law. A different adviser may be offered subject to client agreement.

6. Confidentiality, Safeguarding and Emergency Situations

6.1 Unity Family Services is committed to confidentiality and safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. Information is handled under our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.

6.2 Confidentiality is not absolute. Where lawful and necessary, relevant information may be shared with safeguarding authorities, police, social services or other appropriate agencies where there is a risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or serious harm.

6.3 Where immediate danger to life or serious harm is reasonably suspected, Unity Family Services may contact emergency services without prior consent where legally justified.

6.4 Unity Family Services is not an emergency or crisis intervention service and does not provide emergency medical, psychiatric or mental health treatment.

6.5 In an immediate emergency, including violence, serious self-harm or imminent danger, call 999 or attend Accident & Emergency. In Scotland, urgent non-life-threatening medical assistance is available through NHS 24 on 111.

6.6 Our appointments are not substitutes for emergency services, safeguarding services or specialist treatment. We may direct clients to their GP, NHS services, police, social work or appropriate specialists.

6.7 We may decline, suspend or end an appointment where the matter is outside our remit or continuing would present a significant risk.

6.8 Any safeguarding disclosure will be limited to what is necessary and lawful. Clients must not record or publish appointment discussions without appropriate permission except where legally entitled.

7. Conduct and Misuse

7.1 Respectful conduct is required. Threatening, abusive, discriminatory or harassing behaviour will not be tolerated.

7.2 We may reasonably restrict access for safety, repeated deliberately false bookings, misuse of booking links or knowingly false information, taking individual circumstances and legal duties into account.

8. Technical Difficulties and Non-Attendance

8.1 Clients should have a suitable device, internet connection and Zoom access. Contact info@unityfamily.co.uk promptly if unable to join.

8.2 Technical difficulties will be considered individually. Where a failure attributable to Unity Family Services prevents delivery, an alternative or refund will be offered as required by law.

9. Communications and Reminders

9.1 Clients may receive confirmations and reminders by email, SMS or WhatsApp in accordance with applicable communication and privacy requirements.

9.2 Automated SMS and WhatsApp messages are not monitored for replies. Use the links in the confirmation email or contact info@unityfamily.co.uk.

9.3 Not receiving a reminder does not automatically cancel a booking. We will consider any failure in our systems when reviewing a disputed charge.

10. Complaints and Disputes

10.1 To dispute a charge, request an exceptional refund or raise a complaint, email info@unityfamily.co.uk with booking details and an explanation.

10.2 We will consider booking records, relevant evidence, individual circumstances and legal rights fairly. An exception granted in one case does not automatically apply to another.

11. General Legal Provisions

11.1 These terms are governed by Scots law, subject to mandatory consumer protections.

11.2 Nothing excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence or fraud.

11.3 If one provision is unenforceable, the remainder will continue insofar as lawful.

11.4 Terms may be updated; the version accepted at booking ordinarily applies unless a lawful variation is agreed.

12. Acceptance

By booking, you confirm that you have read and accepted these terms and the provisions applicable to your appointment type.

For free appointments: at least 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel or reschedule without charge; otherwise a £30 charge applies subject to applicable law.

For urgent appointments: the fee is £50 paid to Unity Family Services, normally non-refundable subject to statutory rights; one free reschedule is available with at least 48 hours’ notice.

Contact: info@unityfamily.co.uk