Terms and Conditions of Business
Thank you for entrusting the care and attention of your pet to Avalon Veterinary Clinic. This letter details our Practice Terms and Conditions. Some aspects of terms may not be relevant to you and we request that you ask for further explanation/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 drugs, materials, consumables and diets used. Our written fee list is available on request.
You will receive a detailed fee note for every consultation, the discharge of your pet or upon collection of drugs/diets.
METHODS OF PAYMENT
Accounts are due for settlement at the end of the consultation, the discharge of your pet or upon collection of drugs/diets. You may settle the account using:
**We do not accept American Express**
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.
SETTLEMENT TERMS
Should an account not be settled within 14 days, then a reminder will be sent with an additional accounting fee in respect of administrative costs incurred. These, however, may be deducted if payment is made promptly. 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. This can include production of reports, correspondence, court fees, attendance at court, phone calls, and home visits etc. 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 original sum.
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 the practice manager. Please note that instalments or part payments of any account may ONLY be sanctioned with the express permission of the practice principal.
PET HEALTH INSURANCE
Avalon 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. Please be aware that it is your responsibility to settle your account and then reclaim the fees from your Insurance Company.
COMPLAINTS AND STANDARDS
We hope that you never have recourse to complain about the standards of service received from Avalon Veterinary Clinic. However, if you feel there is something you wish to complain about, please direct your comments in the first instance to Anna Pate.
OWNER OF RECORDS
Case records including radiographs and similar documents are the property of, and will be retained by, Avalon Veterinary Clinic. Copies with a summary of the history will be passed on request to another veterinary surgeon taking over the case.
OWNER OF RADIOGRAPHS AND SIMILAR RECORDS
Care given to your animal may involve making some specific investigations, e.g taking radiographs or performing ultrasound scans. Even though we make a charge for carrying out these investigations and interpreting their results, ownership of the resulting record, e.g a radiograph remains with the practice. No addition or variation of these conditions will bind 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.
REVIEWED NOVEMBER 2021
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 drugs, materials, consumables and diets used. Our written fee list is available on request.
You will receive a detailed fee note for every consultation, the discharge of your pet or upon collection of drugs/diets.
METHODS OF PAYMENT
Accounts are due for settlement at the end of the consultation, the discharge of your pet or upon collection of drugs/diets. You may settle the account using:
- CASH
- CREDIT/DEBIT CARD – Switch/Solo/Mastercard/Visa/Delta.
**We do not accept American Express**
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.
SETTLEMENT TERMS
Should an account not be settled within 14 days, then a reminder will be sent with an additional accounting fee in respect of administrative costs incurred. These, however, may be deducted if payment is made promptly. 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. This can include production of reports, correspondence, court fees, attendance at court, phone calls, and home visits etc. 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 original sum.
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 the practice manager. Please note that instalments or part payments of any account may ONLY be sanctioned with the express permission of the practice principal.
PET HEALTH INSURANCE
Avalon 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. Please be aware that it is your responsibility to settle your account and then reclaim the fees from your Insurance Company.
COMPLAINTS AND STANDARDS
We hope that you never have recourse to complain about the standards of service received from Avalon Veterinary Clinic. However, if you feel there is something you wish to complain about, please direct your comments in the first instance to Anna Pate.
OWNER OF RECORDS
Case records including radiographs and similar documents are the property of, and will be retained by, Avalon Veterinary Clinic. Copies with a summary of the history will be passed on request to another veterinary surgeon taking over the case.
OWNER OF RADIOGRAPHS AND SIMILAR RECORDS
Care given to your animal may involve making some specific investigations, e.g taking radiographs or performing ultrasound scans. Even though we make a charge for carrying out these investigations and interpreting their results, ownership of the resulting record, e.g a radiograph remains with the practice. No addition or variation of these conditions will bind 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.
REVIEWED NOVEMBER 2021