The Danger With Emails

Email is an amazing invention but can give rise to significant legal difficulties. Once you push "Send" your email might in fact get stuck in your PC, your firm's server, your ISP, the recipient's ISP, their server or their desktop PC for a multitude of reasons. Even if it does get through to the intended recipient's desktop PC, there is no guarantee that the intended recipient is actually at work and has received your message.

If you are sending a mission critical message (for example an email to one of our property experts asking them to confirm an agreement) then make sure that you always ask to receive a (non-automated) acknowledgement from the human at the other end to confirm that they have received your message.

If you do not receive one, then assume your email has NOT been received and follow it up using the phone or fax. Our terms and conditions of business (which you can view at www.cavell.co.nz)
provide that this is the basis on which we accept email instructions from our clients.


This article has been prepared by Cavell Leitch Law  for general information purposes only and important exceptions and other relevant factors may not have been included.  If understanding the legal area covered by this article as it affects your specific circumstances is important to you then please contact us for a proper legal opinion.