,gBRAEMAR VETERINARY CLINIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS
These are the terms under which we offer Veterinary services to all of our clients. Please be aware that by requesting vet services you are agreeing to abide by these terms.
Thank you for entrusting the care and attention of your pet to Braemar Veterinary Clinic. This letter details our Practice Terms and Conditions. Some aspects of the Terms may not be relevant to you and we request that you ask for further explanation or clarification if required.
FEES
All fees, diets and drug charges are subject to VAT at the current rate. Fee levels are determined by the time spent on a case and according to the drugs, materials, consumables and diets used. You can receive a detailed fee note for every consultation, surgical procedure or transaction with us. In the event of a missed appointment or cancellation without 24hrs notice a fee may be charged.
METHODS OF PAYMENT
Accounts are due for settlement at the end of the consultation, the discharge of your pet or upon collection of medicines or diets. You may settle the account using: CASH, CHEQUE with current Banker card or CREDIT/DEBIT CARD - Switch, Solo, Mastercard, Visa, Delta
ESTIMATES 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. You may set a limit on our costs, but if you wish to do this you must let us know in writing.
WHEN PAYMENT IS REQUIRED
Payment for our services is required at the time we finish performing the service.
It is Practice Policy to accommodate and co-operate with our clients whenever possible. However, if payment is not made in accordance with our terms or if any special agreements are not honoured, then all bad debts will be referred to our Debt Collection Agency and/or the County Court for recovery. This will include an administration charge, court fees, expenses and interest on the unpaid amount from date of invoice. Your data may also be shared with Debt Collection Agencies. We may suspend our services for remaining non-emergency treatment until you make payment.
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 added in respect of bank charges and Administrative costs together with interest on the principal sum.
INABILITY TO PAY
If, for any reason, you are unable to settle your account as specified, we ask you to discuss this with the Veterinary Surgeon at the time of the consultation and prior to any treatment.
In exceptional circumstances we may allow treatment without immediate payment, however in this situation we would expect payment to be made within 30 days of date of invoice and adequate identification to be provided. This will be provided at the discretion of the proprietor Shane Murray and will require your signed agreement. Please note that instalments or part payments of any account may ONLY be sanctioned with the express permission of the proprietor Shane Murray.
PET HEALTH INSURANCE
Braemar Veterinary Clinic strongly supports the principle of insuring your pet against unexpected illness or accidents. Please ask for details about insurance from any member of staff. On occasion Braemar Veterinary Clinic will allow claims to be paid directly by your insurance company, however please be aware should all or any portion of your claim be declined or refused for any reason it remains your responsibility to settle our account.
COMPLAINTS & STANDARDS
We are confident that we will give you a high-quality service in all respects. However, if you have any queries or concerns about our work for you, please take them up with the proprietor Shane Murray. If you would prefer not to speak to that person, then please take it up with our Practice Manager Judith Evans.
OWNERSHIP OF RECORDS
Case records including and similar documents are the property of, and shall be retained by, Braemar Veterinary Clinic. Copies or a summary of the history will be passed on request to another veterinary surgeon taking over the case.
OWNERSHIP OF X-RAYS AND SIMILAR DOCUMENTS
The care given to your animal may involve making some specific investigations, for example taking x-rays or performing ultrasound scans. Even though we make a charge for carrying out these investigations and interpreting their results, ownership of the resulting record for example an x-ray film remains with the practice.
CANCELLATION & NON-ATTENDANCE OF APPOINTMENTS
Twenty-four hours notice of cancellation is required. We reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee which may be up to the value of a full consultation fee or up to 50% of the normal fee for the work booked where less than 24 hours notice is given or non attendance of the appointment.
DATA PROTECTION NOTICE
We are a registered Data Controller under the Data Protection 1998. We will use your personal data to inform you about our services and information which may be of benefit to you and your pet. We will only use your personal data for legitimate business interests. We will promptly comply with any client’s request or instruction requiring Braemar Vet Clinic to amend or delete the personal data. We will maintain the confidentiality of all personal data. If you do not wish us to use this data for these purposes then please notify us in writing at Braemar Vet Clinic, 29 Upper Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT10 0GX or through our website.
OUT OF HOURS SERVICE
In an emergency when Braemar Veterinary Clinic is closed we have made arrangements with the dedicated out of hours service provider Vets Now. They can be contacted by telephoning 02890 651 729. They are located at 193 Belmont Road in East Belfast and operate out of Earlswood Veterinary Hospital. The contact telephone number is also available on our website and on our answering machine when the Practice is closed.
VARIATIONS IN TERMS OF BUSINESS
No addition or variation of these conditions will bind Braemar Veterinary Clinic unless it is specifically agreed in writing and signed by the Director Shane Murray. No agent or person employed by, or under contract with, the practice has the authority to alter or vary these conditions in any way whether verbally or in writing.
There terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in all respects in accordance to the Northern Ireland Law and subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Northern Ireland.