​Horse Happy Veterinary Services
STANDARD TERMS OF BUSINESS
Horse Happy Veterinary Services is committed to providing the highest possible standard of care and attention to patients and their owners. To assist us in providing this service, our Practice Terms and Conditions are shown below. If any points are unclear feel free to ask a member of staff to explain.
FEES
All fees include VAT at the current rate and are determined by the time spent on a case as well as according to the drugs, materials and consumables used. Written estimates can be provided on request and remain valid for a period of one month, but please bear in mind that any estimate given can only be approximate as often a horse's illness may not follow a conventional course.
METHODS OF PAYMENT and SETTLEMENT TERMS
Any new client will be expected to pay in full at the time of treatment.
Treatment on account will only be available to established clients known to Horse Happy Veterinary Services and with a sound credit history.
You may settle your account using: CASH or BACS.
Payment by CHEQUE will only be accepted from established clients known to Horse Happy Veterinary Services and with a sound credit history.
Failure to pay the outstanding balance within 60 days of any treatment will result in referral to our debt collection agency. Further charges will be levied in respect of costs incurred in collecting the debt. We may also inform other local veterinary practices of the reasons for referral of the debt to the debt collection agency.
LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
If for any reason you are unable to settle your account as specified we ask that you discuss the matter as soon as possible with a member of staff. Please note that installments or part-payments of any account may only be sanctioned with the express permission of the Senior Veterinarian. If you fail to make any payment due to us under this agreement by the due date for payment, then you shall, if you do not have the express permission of the Senior Veterinarian to pay by installments or part-payments, pay late payment surcharges on the overdue amount. Such late payment surcharges shall accrue on a monthly basis from the due date until actual payment of the overdue amount, whether before or after judgment, is received. You shall pay the late payment surcharges together with the overdue amount. You are agreeing that the late payment surcharges amount for failure to pay is fair given that it costs us significantly more time and money to administer and monitor an overdue debt payment than if you had paid on time. We might also charge interest on the outstanding amount: with effect from 1 January 2020, the late payment interest rate is 8.00% per annum (that is based on the ECB rate as at 1 January 2020 of 0.00% plus the margin of 8%). This rate equates to a daily rate of 0.022%.
Where late payment interest falls due in respect of a payment, in addition to this amount, Horse Happy Veterinary Services is also automatically entitled to “compensation for recovery costs”, without the necessity of a reminder. A recovery cost of €40 for debts not exceeding €1000, €70 for debts exceeding €1000 but not exceeding €10,000 and €100 for debts exceeding €10,000 will be charged.
TERMINATION OF SERVICE
You may ask us to stop caring for your horse, pony or donkey at any time.
We may stop looking after your animals if you do not accept our advice; or fail to settle your account on time; or if we are prohibited by law from doing any further work on your matter; or if the relationship between you and us sadly breaks down; or if we no longer have the expertise. Under these circumstances we will serve notice in writing of imminent withdrawal of services.
We will then invoice you for any work already done. We reserve the right to hold your horse’s records until all outstanding invoices and expenses have been paid.
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COMPLAINTS AND STANDARDS
We always do our best to offer exceptional service, but if you do feel dissatisfied with any aspect, please direct your complaint to the Senior Veterinarian, who will try to offer a solution.
OWNERSHIP OF RECORDS
Case records and similar documents are the property of and retained by Horse Happy Veterinary Services. Copies, with a summary of the clinical history can be passed, on request, to another veterinary surgeon taking over the case. We will not pass your records on to any other organisation
without your permission. The care given to your pet may involve making some specific investigations, for example, taking x-rays or performing ultrasound scans. Although we make a charge for performing these investigations and interpreting their results, ownership of the resulting record, for example a radiograph, remains with the practice.
PASSPORTS
All horses, ponies and donkeys must have passports, which should be available for the vet to check and we strongly recommend that passports should be signed by the owner to confirm that the animal is not going for human consumption.
If you do not have a passport, we can help you obtain one. Where a passport is not available the detailed record of medicinal products must be retained. This information is available on your account documentation.
PRESCRIPTIONS
Prescriptions are available from this practice. You may obtain Prescription Only Medicines, (POM) from Horse Happy Veterinary Services OR ask for a prescription and obtain these medicines from another veterinary surgeon or a pharmacy. We can only prescribe POMs for animals under our care. A prescription may not be appropriate for an in-patient or where immediate treatment is necessary.
You will be informed, on request, of the price of any medicine that may be dispensed for your animal. The general policy of this practice is to re-assess an animal requiring repeat prescriptions every 6 to 12 months, but this may vary with individual circumstances.
No addition or variation of these conditions will bind the practice unless it is specifically agreed in writing and signed by the Senior Veterinarian. No agent or person employed by, or under contract with the practice has the authority to alter or vary these conditions in any way.
