TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS
Thank you for entrusting the care and attention of your animals to Stable Close Equine Practice, the trading name of Stable Close Equine Ltd. This page details our terms and conditions, some of the terms may not be relevant to you and we request that you ask for further clarification if required.
Our full conditions for consumers can be found here and for businesses here.
FEES
All fees 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, equipment and consumables used. There is a charge for travelling and this relates to the distance you are from our practice. The travelling charge is increased outside normal working hours. Our written fee list is available on request. You will receive a detailed fee note for every consultation, surgical procedure or transaction with us.
PAYMENT
Accounts are due for settlement upon receipt of any invoice. You may settle the account using cash, cheque (with a current bank card) or a credit/debit card (excepting American Express). In giving instructions to treat your animal, whether in person, by your agent or by another person with responsibility for your animal, you will be responsible for our charges.
New Clients – Routine Visits
We accept new clients on a payment at the time basis for the first three visits and/or until an acceptable credit rating has been established.
New Clients – Emergency Visits
We understand that emergencies are stressful and unexpected. For this reason, we do not ask new clients to pay in full at the time of treatment. Instead we ask new clients to provide us with a deposit of £100 at the time of the emergency visit. This amount can be paid by cash, cheque or credit/debit card. The balance of the account must be settled within 7 days of invoice.
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 an animal’s illness will not follow a conventional course.
PAYMENT TERMS
Should an account not be settled within 30 days, then a reminder will be sent with an additional accounting fee in respect of administrative costs incurred. Should it be necessary for further reminders to be sent, further charges will be incurred. These however, may be deducted if payment is made promptly. Non-payment after 90 days may result in court action and further charges will be levied in respect of costs incurred in collecting the debt: such as production of reports, correspondence, court fees, attendance at court, phone 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 added in respect of bank charges and administrative costs together with interest on the principal sum.
Failure to comply with payment terms may result in our insisting that further treatment be paid at the time.
INABILITY TO PAY
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. Please note that instalments or part payments of any account may only be sanctioned by a partner or office manager.
LATE CANCELLATION OF APPOINTMENTS
We require 24 hours notice for the cancellation of appointments. Otherwise, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee equal to the cost of the visit.
EQUINE INSURANCE
Stable Close Equine Practice strongly supports the principle of insuring your animal against unexpected illness or accidents. We reserve the right to ask you to settle your account before reclaiming the fees from your insurance company.
COMPLAINTS & STANDARDS
We hope that you never have recourse to complain about the standards of service received from the Stable Close Equine Practice. However, if you feel that there is something you wish to discuss, please direct your comments in the first instance to one of the partners or the office manager. Any complaint about veterinary treatment should be made within 30 days of a problem being noted.
OWNERSHIP OF RECORDS
Case records including radiographs and similar documents are the property of, and will be retained by Stable Close Equine Practice. Copies with a summary of the history will be passed on request to another veterinary surgeon taking over the case.
HORSE PASSPORTS
All equine animals kept in the UK must have a recognised equine passport. We are best able to treat your animal if they are signed out of the human food chain. Please notify us in writing if you do not wish to sign your animals out of the human food chain as we believe their treatment may be significantly compromised.
DISPENSING DRUGS
Due to the limited range of licensed drugs available in equine practice, we may use drugs which are not licensed for horses or may be licenced for an alternative use.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES OF COMPETITIONS
Stable Close Equine Practice cannot be held responsible for compliance with the rules of any competition or event. Owners and trainers of horses should satisfy themselves that any treatment the horse receives complies with such rules.
VARIATION OF THESE CONDITIONS
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 partners. No agent or person employed by, or under contract with, the practice has the authority to alter or vary these conditions in any way.