Terms and Conditions
Last updated 19 July 2023
The following terms and conditions relate to your use of our social media, our website, our services and your rights as our customer. If you do not agree with our policies, please do not use our Services. If you still have any questions or concerns, please contact us at thehumblecakecompany@gmail.com.
1. Your order confirmation
1.1 Order processing
You may use our website to browse our work and to make an order for a cake when you use our contact form on www.thehumblecakecompany.co.uk. When making an order, it is your responsibility that all the details you provide to us for the purpose of contacting you, providing a quote, and where applicable delivering an order are correct. Read our Privacy Policy here for more information on how your personal data is stored.
We do not accept liability for lack of contact, lack of response or wrong delivery address if you enter this information incorrectly.
When you send your order through, you will receive a quote from us within 24 hours, at which point you can proceed with booking in your order if you wish. Receipt of a quote is not confirmation of your order. Your order is secured when a deposit is placed (see 1.3 Deposits). An order is considered confirmed only once a deposit has been received. Dates are not reserved until a deposit has been paid.
You may also order through our Instagram @humblecakeco. Please see 1.5 Instagram for more information.
We reserve the right to refuse any order.
1.1.1 Portion guide
The size of your cake is dependent on the number of guests to feed. Portion sizes provided are estimates and depend on the method used to cut the cake.
1.1.2 Design
All orders from us are bespoke and therefore we do not guarantee:
Exact colour matches; or
Exact replication of designs, whether this is by The Humble Cake Company or another baker/supplier.
You are welcome and encouraged to send through images of designs for inspiration but The Humble Cake Company will not replicate an exact copy of other cake designs. All cakes are bespoke and therefore artistic interpretation may vary slightly from inspiration images provided. We will ensure that all the elements you requested on your order are presented on your cake and in a way that is cohesive to the design we create. Exact colour matches are not guaranteed but we will endeavour to get as close as possible.
Design sketches are not available on celebration/birthday cakes but can be provided for an additional £25 payable upfront. All design details must be confirmed no later than 14 days prior to the event date. Changes requested after this time may not be possible and may incur additional charges.
Design sketches are included with all wedding cakes and revisions can be made up to one month before the wedding at which point, no further changes will be accepted.
We will be transparent about elements of your design that we can and cannot do. If we cannot achieve a particular element of your desired design, we will either offer you an alternative or we will say it is not something that we can provide. You are free to then choose a different design or source another supplier which can meet your requirements.
By proceeding with payment, you confirm you accept The Humble Cake Company’s interpretation of the agreed design.
1.1.3 Safety
Depending on your design and size of cake, some cakes contain internal supports such as dowels, rods or cake boards to ensure stability. These must be removed before serving.
1.1.4 Non-edible decorations
Depending on your design, cakes may include non-edible decorative elements including wires, cocktail sticks, artificial flowers, supports or decorative toppers. These must be removed before serving.
1.2 Allergens
It is your responsibility to inform us of any food allergens, dietary requirements or food preferences when making your order. We do not accept liability for lack of knowledge around your allergen preferences. You can read more information from our allergen FAQ here.
We reserve the right to refuse any order that concerns food allergens if we feel it poses a risk or a liability to us.
Our kitchen handles:
Gluten
Nuts, specifically peanuts, pistachios and almonds
Eggs
Dairy
Soya
If you have additional requirements outside of these allergens, please let us know.
Whilst every effort is amde to avoid cross-contamination, we cannot guarantee that our cakes are free from traces of allergens.
Our cakes are suitable for halal. Only some of our cakes are vegan. Please enquire first before placing your order.
1.3 Deposits
Deposits are required on all orders to secure your desired date and purchase materials in advance. For this reason, deposits are non-refundable.
For all cakes excluding wedding cakes, a 50% deposit is required within 3 days
For all wedding cakes, a 25% deposit is required within 7 days.
Failure to settle your deposit will result in
Your date not being secured
Potential late delivery of required materials, meaning not all of your elements on your design may be guaranteed (e.g. cake toppers, decorative spheres, edible figurines)
You will receive one reminder notice if your deposit is overdue but we reserve the right to cancel your cake at any time if your deposit is not received within the above time frames.
If you have not settled your deposit and another request for your chosen date comes in, you will be given right of first refusal if you’d like to proceed, at which point you will have 24 hours to settle your deposit. If your deposit is still not settled after this time, you lose your right of first refusal and your order will be cancelled.
Whilst deposits are non-refundable, The Humble Cake Company will endeavour to accommodate any change of date if given notice of more than two weeks before the original due date. Requests to accommodate new dates in less than two weeks of the original due date are subject to availability. See more under 2.2. Cancellations.
1.4 Final payment
Your remainder payment must be settled by the due date shown on your invoice.
For all cakes excluding wedding cakes, the final amount is due one week before the due date.
For all wedding cakes, the final amount is due one month before the wedding.
If final payment is not received by the stated deadline, The Humble Cake Company reserves the right to cancel the order and retain the deposit which is non-refundable. We reserve the right to cancel your cake 24 hours after your reminder notice has been issued. Please get in touch as soon as possible to discuss payment options if needed. Please refer back to 1.3 Deposits for more information.
1.5 Instagram
You may send a DM to our Instagram @humblecakeco to proceed with an order. Please note, you will be referred back to these full Terms and Conditions when your invoice is issued. These Terms and Conditions still apply to any orders made via our social media platforms.
1.6 Order confirmation and acceptance of Terms & Conditions
The Humble Cake Company’s Terns & Conditions are provided via a link on all invoices and found any time at www.thehumblecakecompany.co.uk/terms-conditions.
Clients are responsible for reviewing these Terms & Conditions prior to making payment.
By paying a deposit or your invoice in full, you confirm that you have read, understood and accepted these Terms & Conditions in full.
2. Notices and cancellations
2.1 Notice period for cakes
For all cakes excluding wedding cakes, 2 weeks notice is required.
For all wedding cakes, 1 month's notice is required.
Last minute/short notice cakes are very subject to availability. Please contact us in the first instance to see if we have capacity to take on your order.
For cakes due within one week of their due date, there is no deposit and full payment is required within 24 hours. We will not accept orders with anything less than 48 hours notice. We will not accept wedding cake orders with less than one month’s notice.
2.2 Cancellations
If you need to cancel your cake, and you have already paid your deposit, the deposit is non-refundable. However, as a gesture of goodwill, we can use your deposit to put forward to a future order.
If you need to change the date of your order, please get in touch in the first instance as date changes are subject to our availability and are not guaranteed.
Whilst deposits are non-refundable, if you need to cancel your order, the following will apply
- Deposit paid but final payment not paid: no refund
- Deposit paid and final payment paid: a refund of 50% of the total order value
While date changes are not guaranteed, The Humble Cake Company will endeavour to accommodate any change of date if given notice of more than two weeks before the original due date. Requests to accommodate new dates in less than two weeks of the original due date are subject to availability.
2.3 Force majeure
For circumstances outside of our control, including power cuts and equipment failure, baker ill health, and transportation issues, we will endeavour to notify you as soon as possible if this affects your order. In the instance that it will impact you, we will contact you and offer a full refund of any deposits or final payments made if an alternative solution is not available.
In the unlikely event that The Humble Cake Company is unable to fulfil the order due to serious illness, emergency or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control, liability will be limited to a full refund of payments made.
3. Collection and delivery
3.1 Collection
When a cake is collected by the client or their representative, responsibility for the cake transfers at the point of collection. The Humble Cake Company cannot accept responsibility for cakes damaged in transit which are not delivered by us.
When travelling with your cake, run the AC for as long as possible before arriving for collection and for as long as possible when leaving after collection. Do not run any heating in the vehicle. The cake must travel flat - either in the passenger footwell or in the boot, supported by non-slip items to hold the cake box in place. Do not transport the cake on car seats or on passenger laps - these surfaces are not flat and/or stable. Do not take corners or road humps at speed and do not brake sharply. Always carry the cake box with both hands at the bottom. Never hold the sides of the cake box or in one hand.
3.1.1 Collection late fees
When collecting, please adhere to your collection time. Cakes which are collected 15 minutes later than their collection time will incur an initial £10 late fee which is payable on arrival and increases by £5 for every 15 minutes that the customer is late. Cakes will not be released before the late payment fee is settled.
3.2 Delivery
If you require delivery, a quote will be provided to you based on the postcode for your venue. The delivery charge is payable at the same time of your deposit or payment in full.
Any cakes delivered by us will be boxed up accordingly, set up (if applicable) and left with a key contact at your venue, where appropriate. We will hand over any relevant information in regards to allergen information, cake packaging and boxes, storage and serving information to that key contact, at which point we no longer assume any responsibility for the cake once it has been delivered and/or set up safely.
Two tier cakes receive free delivery within the M25. It is recommended that we deliver these cakes for you.
Wedding cakes have delivery and setup included in any quotes given and delivery outside of the M25 is possible.
Delivery times will be agreed in advance with you. The Humble Cake Company cannot be held responsible for delays caused by venue access restrictions, late access to the venue, traffic conditions or other circumstances outside of our control.
3.2.1 Responsibility after delivery
Once a cake has been delivered and set up at the venue, responsibility for the cake transfers to the client/venue. The Humble Cake Company cannot be held responsible for damage caused by venue staff, guests, environmental conditions or mishandling after delivery.
4 Cake care and storage
Your cake will be finished in American buttercream or white chocolate ganache. In both cases, do not leave the cake out in direct sunlight or in hot rooms/venues. This will affect the stability of the cake as well as its quality, and it can also run the risk of melting and ruining the aesthetic of your cake. In the case of birthday and celebration cakes, your cake should remain in the fridge until 1 hour before serving so it comes back to room temperature. If a cake’s quality has been compromised due to non-adherence of this guidance, we do not accept any liability for the final product.
If collecting your cake, ensure your cake transfers to a refrigerated space as soon as possible to help the cake’s stability after travel. You can then follow the above guidance to bring the cake back to room temperature.
Once cut, refrigerate your cake with cling film or an airtight container and consume your cake within 2-3 days. Although all cakes are made fresh, we do cannot acceptliability for adverse effects when eating a cake for longer than 2 days.
4.1 Damages
The Humble Cake Company guarantees that no damage will occur on cakes delivered by us. This does not apply in circumstances outside of our control such as traffic accidents. When we arrive at your venue, if any damage has been noted to your cake, we will fix on site wherever possible. This may not always be possible because of the design of your cake, especially in the case of lustre dust painted cakes, but we will do what we can to fix the damage while still remaining true to the original design. Depending on the severity of the damage, and if we cannot fix it, a 10% discount off a future order will be offered.
4.2 Liability
We do not accept responsibility or liability for cakes which are collected by the customer, or a representative of the customer, and which arrive at its final destination damaged. We do not guarantee that we have the availability or capacity to fix any orders that have been damaged en route by the customer or their representative. You are welcome to contact us to see if we can help amend the damage but this is subject to availability and the intricacy of your design. If we can fix the damage, it is the customer or their representative’s responsibility to return the cake to us. Depending on the severity of the damage, an additional fee may apply. We will advise on any fees in this instance, at which point payment must be made first before repair can begin.
4.3 Environmental conditions and display
Cakes are delicate products and are affected by environmental conditions and external factors, including temperature, humidity, direct sunlight and handling by guests, venue staff or other suppliers.
Cakes become increasingly fragile and more susceptible to movement, melting, shifting or damage the longer they remain on display.
Once a cake has been delivered and set up at the venue, The Humble Cake Company cannot accept responsibility for any damage or deterioration caused by environmental or external factors, including but not limited to venue conditions, extended display time, handling or interference by guests, venue staff or other suppliers, nor for damage caused by the cake being moved, repositioned or adjusted by anyone after delivery.
4.3.1 Display time
The Humble Cake Company cannot guarantee how long a cake will remain stable or unaffected when left on display. This applies to both wedding cakes and celebration cakes.
The condition and stability of a cake over time will depend on environmental and external factors (see 4.3 Environmental conditions and display). For this reason, The Humble Cake Company makes no guarantees regarding how long a cake can remain on display once delivered. Clients are encouraged to arrange for the cake to be cut within a reasonable timeframe after delivery to ensure best presentation and structural stability.
5. Intellectual property
All cake designs created by The Humble Cake Company remain the intellectual property of The Humble Cake Company. We reserve the right to photograph cakes and use these images for marketing, portfolio and social media purposes unless the client requests otherwise in writing prior to the event.
Clients may provide inspiration images, however the final design remains the creative work of The Humble Cake Company and may not be reproduced commercially by third parties without permission.
For wedding orders only, The Humble Cake Company may also use photographs of the cake taken at the wedding venue by the venue itself, the wedding photographer or other wedding suppliers for marketing and promotional purposes. This may include images featuring the couple as it relates to the cake display or cake cutting.
5.1 Privacy safeguard
Clients who prefer that photographs of themselves are not used for marketing purposes should notify The Humble Cake Company in writing prior to the wedding date.
6 Complaints
If you would like to make a complaint, please address your complaint in writing to thehumblecakecompany(at)gmail.com. We will endeavour to answer your complaint within 24 hours. Please send pictures and any other information that you feel is relevant to your complaint. Please do not throw away the cake as we may need this returned (at the cost of the customer) to evaluate the issue. The Humble Cake Company must be given the opportunity to inspect any cake that is the subject of a complaint. If a cake has been consumed, disposed of, or substantially altered before inspection, it will not be possible to assess the complaint and no refunds or compensation will be offered.
In cases where your cake does not match your order e.g. wrong colour, wrong name, wrong flavour, depending on the severity of the issue and what has been noted on your order form, we will offer a partial refund of up to 25% or a discount off a future order, whichever is the greater.
As taste is subjective, complaints regarding the flavour or the texture do not qualify for a refund or money off. You can read our most up-to-date testimonials on our website or our Instagram page.
Under no circumstances shall we be liable to you in respect of any complaint concerning any aspect of any order which is not raised by you within 48 hours of delivery or collection. After this time, no refunds or compensation will be offered.
7 Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the liability of Alicia Sprott trading as The Humble Cake Company for any claim, loss or damage arising out of or in connection with an order shall be limited to the total value of the order placed.
The Humble Cake Company shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential or incidental loss, including but not limited to loss relating to the event itself or other associated costs.
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes or limits liability where it cannot legally be excluded under applicable law.
8 Agreement to Terms & Conditions
These Terms & Conditions form the basis of the agreement between the client and The Humble Cake Company. By placing an order and making payment, the client confirms they have read, understood and accepted these Terms & Conditions in full.
These Terms & Conditions apply to all orders placed with The Humble Cake Company unless otherwise agreed in writing.
We reserve the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time.