Terms & Conditions

Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice Terms and Conditions of Business

This document outlines the terms and conditions of Business of Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice (Advantage Equine Pty Ltd).  Please contact us should you have any queries.

About us

Our practice consists of qualified veterinary surgeons and administrative support staff who are devoted to the wellbeing of all patients.

Opening Hours

Our usual working hours and appointment times (which may be varied by us) are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).  Additional fees apply outside these times and fee estimates can be provided if out of hours services are required.

Fees

We always undertake to achieve the best outcome when diagnosing and treating patients, however it is never possible to guarantee a successful result.  All fees incurred during diagnosis and treatment will be charged and are payable regardless of the outcome of the service provided. 

Fees are charged for all Services carried out and Goods supplied by us and are based on the procedure(s) undertaken and the Goods supplied. “Services” include but are not limited to consultations, diagnostics, certification, medical care, professional opinions and advice, treatment and surgery.  “Goods” include but are not limited to the provision of prescription and non-prescription medication, nutritional supplies, materials and other products intended to maintain and enhance your horse’s wellbeing. All Services and Goods provided are subject to Goods and Services Tax (“GST”) in accordance with A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth). 

Costs Estimates

A copy of our current Fee Schedule is available upon request.  We are happy to provide costs estimates if requested.  Costs estimates are not binding upon us as the work required may change, but is our best advice at the point in time given.  The estimate is based on our understanding of the present circumstances. Itemised Tax Invoices will be provided at payment intervals.

Please note that the final amount for costs is subject to variation to take into account any extraordinary factors.  Examples of extraordinary factors include (a) complex & novel diagnosis and treatment; (b) the skill, specialised knowledge and responsibility involved and (c) the labour involved and the time spent on the care.

Payment Intervals

Tax Invoices are issued monthly on the 27th day of each month.  We reserve the right to require funds in advance.  These funds are necessary to cover the disbursements which may be incurred on your behalf from time to time (such as pre-purchase examinations).   Late payment is only possible under exceptional circumstances, which must have prior written agreement of the Directors of Advantage Equine Pty Ltd.

Syndicate Accounts

Advantage Equine Veterinary practice will syndicate accounts, where multiple account holders exist in a single horse.  Each syndicate member must provide complete contact details, including telephone, email, and a residential address. A syndication fee of $2.20 per month will be added to all syndicated accounts.  The syndication fee will only be charged once if that account has multiple horses.  Syndication fees will be omitted if the account holder has authorised monthly direct debit payment.

Charging and Methods of Payment

A fee will be incurred as soon as a trainer and/or owner requests our professional opinion either verbally or in writing.  All accounts will be emailed to the clients nominated email address. A fee of $1.50 will be charged to all printed and mailed monthly account statements.  Payments can be made by cash, cheque,credit card or debit card (excluding American Express & Diners), Electronic Funds Transfer into our Bank Account, or via our online payment platform (Ardex Pay).

The Owner and or trainer or other person requesting our opinion and consenting to any treatment of the patient is responsible for the settlement of all fees pertaining to all goods and services that are provided.  

Payment Terms

Accounts are due for settlement strictly within 14 days of the date of the statement. Monthly direct debit payments of accounts using a nominated Credit Card can be made following completion of a Client Direct Debit Form.  Should the debt continue to be unpaid for more than 60 days, a monthly accounting fee of $13.20 in respect of administrative costs will be incurred.  In the event that the invoice (with the added charges) remains unpaid for a further 30 days the debt and all incidental costs will be referred to our external debt collecting agency. Incidental costs may include costs involved in the production of reports, correspondence, court fees, attendance at court, phone calls, debt collection fees, dishonoured cheques and Credit Card payments and any counterfeit Cash. Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice reserves the right to charge interest (Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate + 2%) on all unpaid accounts.  Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice reserves the right to refuse to visit and / or administer treatment to a horse whose owner’s account is more than 60 days overdue. We will endeavour to inform the trainer and or owner as soon as practicable of the reason for our refusal should this situation arise. Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice will however, at the owner and or trainer’s cost, render treatment (including euthanasia) to a horse in the event of an emergency to prevent suffering regardless of the state of the owner’s debt to the practice.

Ownership of Records

All records including, reports, clinical notes, radiographs and any images or laboratory results resulting from examinations or procedures performed by Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice remain the property of the Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice. Copies of our records with a summary of the patient’s medical history will be given to another veterinary surgeon upon receipt of the written authority of the trainer and or owner of the patient. Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice reserves its right to levy a fee to cover the cost of materials and time required in the provision of this information.

Confidentiality

Confidential Information means information that is by its nature confidential but does not include information already known to the receiving party at the time of disclosure or information already in the public domain.

Neither party shall, without the prior written approval of the other party, disclose the other party’s Confidential Information.  Neither party will be in breach of this duty of confidentiality in circumstances where it is legally compelled to disclose the other party’s Confidential Information.  Each party will take all reasonable steps to ensure that its employees and agents, do not make public or disclose the other party’s Confidential Information.  A party may disclose Confidential Information to its related companies, solicitors, auditors, insurers and accountants.

Referrals

All referrals, whether to any veterinary service, will at all times be made in the best interest of the patient.  You are responsible for all fees charged by the external provider to which you are referred.

External Service Providers

The use of external providers such as diagnostic labs, referral centres, other veterinary surgeons may be recommended by Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice. Disbursements made by Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice, on behalf of trainers and/or owners to cover charges of the external service providers, will be detailed and charged on the trainer and/or owner’s invoice. Our professional advice including reporting, interpreting and varying treatment based on these reports will incur a separate fee. All in-house diagnostic procedures incur professional services fees.

Health & Safety

Our staff must always perform their roles in such a manner as to protect the health and safety of themselves, their colleagues and our clients.  This may require our staff may make recommendations for the location of examination and treatment, patient restraint and owner / trainer behaviour. Our staff shall consider patient wellbeing at these times and make a professional judgment as to the appropriate conduct under the circumstances.

Prescription Policy

The medication prescribed by the veterinarian to treat patients may be required for extended periods of time. Our veterinarians are obliged by law to ensure that the medication is safe, effective and suitable for the horse. In order to satisfy this obligation it is likely that the patient will need to be re-examination during the treatment process. All examinations and re-examination of the patient will incur professional fees.

Our advice in regards to timing for withdrawal of medication to enable a horse to compete, is provided in good faith and based on current information available to us.  Due to factors such as individual variation, we are unable to give definitive timeframes for ceasing medication.  We take no responsibility for any positive drug test results in relation to a horse that is or has been treated by us.   

Disputes

Please direct any queries to the Directors of Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice.  We will endeavour to respond in a timely manner.

Variation

Our standard terms and conditions of business must be agreed to in writing by the Directors of Advantage Equine Veterinary Practice. No other person has authority to alter or vary these conditions in any way.

THESE TERMS AND CONDITONS HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO YOUR LATEST STATEMENT. IF YOU CONTINUE TO INSTRUCT US YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO ACCEPT THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.