The main purpose of this policy is to provide a friendly, supportive and considerate environment where advisers can share experience and expertise, and to allow us to take action if anyone breaches these terms.
Although areas of the rightsnet website may be viewed simply by visiting (and non-registered users can view the forums and the posts therein) in order to post a message in the discussion forum you first need to register.
The forums are only for the use of advisers and it is a condition of registration that you provide your full name, details of your job and the organisation you work for, and a valid work email address.
rightsnet is designed to support the work of those working in social welfare law organisations on behalf of people with social welfare law problems. Those registering with the forum need to be able to satisfy the administrators that their work is undertaken in an organisation with policies, procedures and mechanisms in place that ensure that their clients can rely on receiving a quality assured service.
NB - Whilst we will consider applications for registration from those not working in an advice organisation - for example benefit administrators, freelance trainers and consultants, and non-social welfare law organisations - we request that you contact us in the first instance for details of the further information we will need to support your application for registration. Failure to contact us before registration will result in your registration being deleted. If your application for registration is approved, your continued use of the forum is on the understanding that contributions you make further the aims of the site - to support the work of advice workers working on behalf of claimants.
However, please note that we are not in a position to offer the service to self-help or volunteer-led organisations, or ‘independent’ welfare rights advisers or similar, including those offering 'no win, no fee' services. Neither are we under any circumstances able to accept registrations from individuals seeking advice about their own situations.
The rightsnet service is provided in furtherance of our vision - we want to see a society where access to information and expert advice on how to use it is available to all; where everyone, regardless of ability to pay, has access to the law to challenge discrimination, bad practice and disadvantage. Registrations will only be accepted from advisers / organisations providing services to this end.
We reserve the right to terminate your registration if we learn that you have provided false or misleading registration information. Registrations without valid details will be automatically deleted.
If you register, this policy will govern your use of rightsnet. By completing the registration process, you are indicating your agreement to be bound by this policy.
The views expressed in the posts you will find in the discussion forums belong solely to their respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of rightsnet and/or our funders.
Please remember that the open and real-time nature of the forums makes it impossible for us to vouch for the validity of any content posted. As such, we are not responsible for any messages posted or the consequences of following any advice offered within posts. It is solely your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of all opinions, advice, and other information provided. We reserve the right to edit any message posted in the discussion forum if we decide it is in breach of/conflicts with the main purpose of this policy.
By using the site, you agree to the following –
You will not post any material that is knowingly false, misleading, inaccurate or cannot be substantiated.
You will not post any material that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, or otherwise objectionable.
You will not behave in an abusive manner, and will not harass, threaten, nor attack anyone. If you disagree with someone's posting or comment, don't attack that person ... agree to disagree, respectfully.
You will not post material that is clearly outside of the stated topic nor disrupt others’ use of the site by, for example, deliberately posting repeated or irrelevant material or copies of identical material.
You will not use the site in a manner that adversely affects the availability of its resources to other users.
You will, if asked by a rightsnet representative, cease posting any content deemed to breach these terms by the site’s moderators.
You should remember that you are legally responsible for what you write. By participating in a discussion you undertake to indemnify us against any liability arising from any obscene, defamatory, seditious, blasphemous or other actionable statement published by you, or any breach of confidentiality, copyright or other intellectual property rights, and against all damages, losses, claims and costs (including without limitation fines and expenses arising out of or incurred in conducting or defending any proceedings) arising from any such actionable statements.
We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to immediately, without notice, suspend or terminate your registration with, or ability to access, the site upon any breach by you of the terms of use.
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your username and password. You shall be responsible for all uses of your registration, whether or not authorised by you. You agree to immediately notify us of any unauthorised use of your registration or password.
If you find any material published to the forums to be offensive or objectionable, please contact us. If we determine that removal of material is necessary, we will make reasonable efforts to do so in a timely manner.
We may modify this policy at any time, and such modifications shall be effective immediately upon posting of the modified policy on the site. You agree to review this policy periodically to be aware of such modifications and your continued access or use of the site shall be deemed your conclusive acceptance of the modified policy.
If you do not agree to changes in this policy as they may occur, please arrange to terminate your registration by notifying rightsnet of your unwillingness to accept the changes and by discontinuing your use of the site.
Last modified: 28 July 2020.
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