Glossary

C · D · E · F · G · I · K · L · M · O · P · R · S · T · U

C

Cancellation form

A short model form from the law that a customer may use to change their mind. Seedlark’s one form serves both the subscription and a Garden Plan. It is optional, because any clear statement, such as an email, works too. Screens and Messages, S10 · Chapter 6 · see Right to cancel

Consent

A clear yes, given by an act such as a click, which the customer can take back at any time. Seedlark asks for it only for the pixel. The customer gives it by choosing Accept all on the cookie banner. Cookie Notice, paragraph 4.1 · Chapter 8 · see Express consent, Lawful basis, Pixel

Consumer

A person who buys for their own use, not for a business. Seedlark’s customers buy the app for their own gardens, so consumer law protects them. Chapter 1 · see Trader

Cookie

A small file that an app stores in the customer’s browser. Some keep the app working, and others count visits or measure adverts. The Cookie Notice lists each of Seedlark’s cookies, what it does and how long it lasts. Cookie Notice, paragraph 1.1 · Chapter 1 · see Pixel, Statistics exception, Strictly necessary

D

Digital content

Data made and supplied in digital form, such as a page on a screen. The plans and pages the app produces are digital content, and running the app is also a service. So the Terms give the customer the remedies for both. Terms, clause 8.1 · Chapter 4 · see Price reduction, Repair or replacement

Drip pricing

Showing a low price first, then adding fees as the customer goes on. Reuben’s first sign-up screen showed £5 a month and added a £1 service fee to every payment. The screen now shows £6 a month, including VAT. Chapter 2 · see Total price

E

Express consent

A clear yes that the customer gives themselves, such as ticking an empty box. Seedlark needs it before a Garden Plan’s right to cancel can end early. A box ticked in advance does not count. Screens and Messages, S5.2 · Chapter 6 · see Consent, Right to cancel

F

Fake review

A review that claims to come from a real customer’s use when it does not. The law bans writing or posting one, or paying someone else to. A review agency that offered Seedlark 200 five-star reviews for £400 broke the law just by making the offer. Reviews Policy, paragraph 4.1 · Chapter 10 · see Incentivised review

Free trial

The first 7 days after the customer opens an account, when they may use the app and pay nothing. Then £6 a month starts, unless they end the subscription first. A trial that turns into payment already counts as a subscription contract. Terms, clause 1.2, “Free Trial” · Chapter 5 · see Reminder, Subscription contract

G

Garden Plan

A design for one garden bed, made by the app for the customer and bought on its own for £10. It is digital content, with a contract of its own outside the subscription. So it has its own screen and its own right to cancel. Terms, clause 1.2, “Garden Plan” · Chapter 4 · see Digital content, Right to cancel

Grey list

The list of terms that may be unfair, in Schedule 2 of the Consumer Rights Act. A term on it is not unfair by itself, but it needs a good answer. Hester’s draft let Seedlark change its terms and prices just by posting them online, which the list warns against. Chapter 3 · see Unfair term

I

Incentivised review

A review the writer was paid or rewarded for. Posting one without saying it was rewarded is banned. Hester’s idea of a free month for every five-star review was banned too, because it rewarded only praise and the reviews would not show it. Reviews Policy, paragraph 2 · Chapter 10 · see Fake review

Initial cooling-off period

The 14 days after sign-up, when a customer may end the subscription and get back everything they paid. Using the app during the trial does not end this right, so the sign-up screen has no box for giving it up. Terms, clause 4.2 · Chapter 5 · see Renewal cooling-off period

K

Key information

The block of main terms on the sign-up screen, just above the start button. The law lists ten items, and Seedlark’s block gives all ten. They must sit together, apart from other text, with no extra step such as opening a link. Screens and Messages, S1.1 · Chapter 2 · see Pay button, Pre-contract information

L

Lawful basis

The reason in law that makes a use of personal data allowed. Each use in the Privacy Notice has one. Seedlark relies on four: the contract, a legal duty, legitimate interests and, only for the pixel, consent. Privacy Notice, paragraph 3.1 · Chapter 7 · see Consent, Legitimate interests

Legitimate interests

A business’s own good reasons for using data, as a lawful basis. They fit a use that is small, expected and easy to stop. Seedlark relies on them for its analytics cookie and for emails about its own plans. Privacy Notice, paragraph 3.2 · Chapter 7 · see Lawful basis, Right to object

M

Main subject matter

What the customer buys: for Seedlark, the app and what it does. With the price, it escapes the fairness test, but only if both are in plain words and easy to see. A clause that lets the price change later can still be tested. Chapter 3 · see Unfair term

O

Online exit

A way to end a subscription online, as easily as the customer joined. A subscription made online must have one. Seedlark’s takes two taps in Account, and an end email follows within 24 hours. Terms, clause 4.1 · Chapter 5 · see Reminder

P

Pay button

The button that makes the deal. Its words must say that pressing it means paying, or the customer is not bound to pay. Seedlark’s reads “Start free trial, then £6 a month”, because Reuben’s “Start for free” said nothing about paying. Screens and Messages, S1.1 · Chapter 2 · see Key information

Pixel

A small piece of code from a social network that stores a cookie and reports on adverts. It does nothing to improve the app, so it needs consent. Seedlark sets it only after the customer chooses Accept all. Cookie Notice, paragraph 4.1 · Chapter 8 · see Consent

Pre-contract information

The facts a trader must show before the customer agrees to pay, such as the price and how to end. On Seedlark’s sign-up screen they sit in one block, the key information. A Garden Plan’s screen has its own shorter list. Screens and Messages, S1.1 · Chapter 1 · see Key information, Trader

Price reduction

Money back for the part of the price a fault took away. The customer gets it if repair or replacement is impossible, too slow or too much trouble. It may be the whole price, paid within 14 days of agreeing it. Terms, clause 8.1 · Chapter 4 · see Repair or replacement

Privacy notice

A notice that tells customers what a business does with their data, and why the law allows it. It is not part of the contract and asks for no agreement. Seedlark’s asks for consent only for the pixel. Privacy Notice, paragraph 1.1 · Chapter 1 · see Lawful basis

R

Reminder

An email that warns the customer a payment is coming and says how to stop it. Seedlark sends one 3 days before the free trial ends, then one every six months. Each gives the price, the date of the payment and how to end. Terms, clause 3.3 · Chapter 5 · see Free trial

Renewal cooling-off period

The 14 days after the first monthly payment, when a customer may end the subscription and get back the days not used. Say a customer ends after 10 days. Those 10 days of a 30-day month cost £2 of the £6, so £4 comes back. Terms, clause 4.3 · Chapter 5 · see Initial cooling-off period

Repair or replacement

The first remedy for a faulty app or Garden Plan: Seedlark fixes the fault, or gives a new copy that works. It must do so in a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience. If that fails, a price reduction follows. Terms, clause 8.1 · Chapter 4 · see Digital content, Price reduction

Right to cancel

The customer’s right to cancel a Garden Plan within 14 days, with no reason, for a full refund. It ends early only if the customer asks for the plan at once, confirms they will lose the right, and Seedlark confirms both by email. Terms, clause 5.2 · Chapter 6 · see Cancellation form, Express consent

Right to object

A customer’s right to tell a business to stop using their data for its legitimate interests. For marketing emails an objection always wins, by any route, and Seedlark never asks why. Privacy Notice, paragraph 7.2 · Chapter 9 · see Legitimate interests, Soft opt-in

S

Soft opt-in

The exception that lets a business email its own customers about its own similar products without a yes. They must be able to refuse when the address is collected and in every email. A free-trial sign-up counts, but a bought list never does. Screens and Messages, S1.2 · Chapter 9 · see Consent, Right to object

Statistics exception

A rule that lets an app set a cookie to count how people use it, without asking first. The data may be used only to improve the app, and the customer must be told and able to switch it off free. Seedlark’s analytics cookie relies on it. Cookie Notice, paragraph 3.1 · Chapter 8 · see Strictly necessary

Strictly necessary

Said of a cookie the app cannot work without, or cannot keep accounts safe without. It needs no yes, so Cookie settings has no switch for it. Seedlark has three: sign-in, security, and one that remembers the customer’s choice on the banner. Cookie Notice, paragraph 2.1 · Chapter 8 · see Cookie, Statistics exception

Subscription contract

A contract that renews again and again, with a payment each time, until the customer ends it. The subscription rules in the DMCC Act cover it. Seedlark’s runs from the start of the free trial until it ends. Terms, clause 1.2, “Subscription” · Chapter 5 · see Free trial, Online exit

T

Total price

Every sum the customer must pay, such as a booking fee or a service fee. Since April 2025 a business that invites customers to buy must give it from the start. Seedlark’s is £6 a month, including VAT, and nothing else. Terms, clause 3.1 · Chapter 2 · see Drip pricing

Trader

The law’s word for a business that sells to the public. It must show the pre-contract information before the customer agrees to pay. Seedlark is the trader in this case. Terms, clause 1.1 · Chapter 1 · see Consumer, Pre-contract information

U

Unfair term

A term that tips the deal against the customer in a way a fair business would not ask for. It does not bind the customer. So Seedlark may change its terms or price only for a listed reason, after 30 days’ notice and with a free way out. Terms, clause 6.1 · Chapter 3 · see Grey list, Main subject matter