1 Fees
1.1 All fees, diets and drug charges are subject to VAT at the current rate. 

• Fee levels are determined according to the drugs, materials, consumables and diets used, together with the type of work undertaken.
• You will receive a detailed fee note for every consultation, surgical procedure or transaction with us.

1.3 Prices are available on request.

2 Methods of payment

• Companion Animal accounts are due for settlement at the end of consultation, the discharge of your pet or upon collection of drugs/diets. Equine and Farm animal accounts are due by 25th day of the month following the treatment or invoice.
• You may settle you account using the following: -
• Cash
• Cheque (supported by current bank card)
• Credit/Debit Card – Switch, Solo, Mastercard, Visa, Delta
• Bank Automated Clearing Payment BACS

2.3 Accounts are only available by prior agreement.

3       Estimate of treatment costs

• We will happily provide a written estimate as to the probable costs of a course of treatment. 
• Please bear in mind that any estimate given can only be approximate, often a pet’s illness will not follow a conventional course.

4 Settlement terms

• Should an account not be settled within the set times (as above), a reminder may be sent with an additional fee in respect of administrative costs incurred.
• Interest will be added to overdue accounts at the rate of 2.5% per month.
• Should it be necessary for further reminders to be sent, further charges will be incurred. 
• After due notice to you the client, overdue accounts will be referred to our debt collection agency and further charges will be levied in respect of costs incurred in collecting the debt, such as: -
• Production of reports
• Calls
• Home visits etc.
• Any cheque returned by our bank as unpaid, any credit card payment not honoured and any cash tendered that is found to be counterfeit will result in the original account being restored to the original sum, with further charges being added in respect of bank charges and administrative costs together with interest on the principle sum.

5 Inability to pay
5.1 If for any reason you are unable to settle your account as specified, we ask you to discuss the matter as soon as possible with a member of staff.
5.2 Please note that installments or part payments of accounts may only be sanctioned with the express written permission of the Practice Principal, Accounts Manager, or the Practice Manager.

6 Pet health insurance
6.1 We strongly support the principle of insuring your pet against unexpected illness or accidents.  Please ask for details about insurance from any member of staff.

• Please note it is your responsibility to settle our account and then reclaim the fees from your insurance company.
• We do not conduct any treatment or procedure subject to the costs being covered by your insurance company.

7 Complaints and standards
7.1 We hope you never feel the need to complain about the standards of our service.  However, if you feel that there is something you wish to complain about, please direct your comments in the first instance to the practice manager.

8 Ownership of records
8.1 Case records and similar documents are the property of, and shall be retained by the practice.
8.2 Copies with a summary of the history will be passed on request to another veterinary surgeon taking over the case.

9 Ownership of radiographs and similar records
9.1 The care given to your animal may involve making some specific investigations, for example, taking radiographs or performing ultrasound scans.
9.2 Even though we make a charge for carrying out these investigations and interpreting the results, ownership of the resulting record, for example, a radiograph remains the property of the practice.

10 Out of hours service
10.1 The practice operates an out of hours service for emergencies.

• The out of hours service can be accessed by telephoning any branch and the call will be diverted to a telephonist, who can contact the duty veterinarian in necessary.
• Out of hours small animal emergency cases are seen at a nominated branch, which varies depending on the veterinarian on duty.
• You will be expected to transport your animal to the nominated surgery for treatment, which may not be the usual branch your animal attends.

11 Variations in terms of trading

• No addition or variation of these conditions will bind the practice unless it is specifically agreed in writing and signed by one of the practice principals.
• No agent or person employed by, or under contract with the practice has the authority to alter or vary these conditions in anyway.
  
  
• Applicable law
• These terms are governed by, and constructed in accordance with English law.  The Courts of England will have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any claim, dispute or difference concerning these terms and any matter arising from it.  Each party irrevocably waives any right it may have to object to any action being brought in these courts, to claim that the action has been bought in an inappropriate forum, or to claim that those courts do not have jurisdiction.
• If any provision in these standard terms of business, or it’s application, are found to be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

13 Data protection act

13.1 We may obtain, use, process and disclose personal data about you in order that we may discharge our duties as your veterinary surgeon under these standard terms of business, and for other related purposes including updating and enhancing client records, analysis for management purposes and statutory returns, crime prevention and legal and regulatory compliance.  You have a right of access, under data protection legislation, to the personal data that we hold about you.  We confirm that when processing data on your behalf we will comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, the Data Controller in relation to personal data supplied about you is the practice manager.