Practice Terms and conditions

Fees

1. VAT is charged at the prevailing rate on all fees, diets and drugs
2. Charges are determined according to the drugs, materials, consumables and diets used together with the type of work under taken and time required
3. You may receive a detailed fee note with every transaction with us
4. Our fee list is available on request

Methods of payment

5. Accounts are due for settlement at the end of consultation, on the discharge of your pet or upon collection of drugs/diet
6. You may settle your account using cash or credit/debit card.

Estimate of treatment cost

7. We will happily provide a written estimate as to the probable cost of a course of treatment. Please bear in mind that any estimate given can only be approximate. A pet’s illness may not follow a conventional course and your pet’s welfare is our primary concern.

Settlement terms

8. Should your account not be settled within 14 days a reminder will be sent with an additional fee in respect of administrative costs incurred.
9. Interest will be added at the rate of 8% over base lending rate.
10. Should it be necessary for further reminders to be sent, further charges will be incurred.
11. After due notice to you the client overdue accounts will be sent to our debt collection agency.

Inability to pay

12. If for any reason you are unable to settle your account we ask you to discuss the matter with a member of staff at the earliest opportunity.
13. Please note that instalments or part payments of accounts may only be sanctioned with written permission from the Practice principal.

Pet health insurance

14. We strongly support the principle of insuring your pet against illness and accidents; please ask for details from any member of staff.
15. Please note it is your responsibility to settle our account and then reclaim the fees from your insurance company

Complaints and standards

16. We hope you never feel the need to complain about the standards of our service, however if you feel there is something you wish to complain about please direct your comments to the practice principal.

Ownership of records

17. Case records and similar documents are the property of, and shall be retained by, the practice
18. Copies with a summary of the history will be passed on request to another veterinary surgeon taking over the case
19. Even though we make a charge for carrying out investigations such as x-rays  the ownership of the resulting record such as a radiograph remains the property of the practice

Out of hours service

20. The out of hours service is provided by Vets Now it can be accessed by phoning the practice number and the phone number for Vets Now will be given. This information is also available on our website.
21. Directions on how to reach the out of hours centre are available from the practice during opening hours.

Applicable law

22. These terms and conditions are governed by and constructed in accordance with Scots law, the courts of Scotland will have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any claim dispute or difference concerning these terms and any matter arising from it. Each party irrevocably waives any right it may have to object to any action being brought in these courts to claim that the action has between brought in an inappropriate forum, or to claim that those courts do not have jurisdiction.
23. If any provision in these standard terms of business or its application is found to be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision shall not in any way be affected or impaired

Data Protection Act

24. We may obtain, use, process, and disclose personal data about you in order that we may discharge our duties as your Veterinary Surgeon under these standard terms of business, and for any other related purposes including updating and enhancing client records, analysis for management purposes and statutory returns, crime prevention and legal and regulatory compliance. You have a right of access, under data protection legislation, to the personal data that we hold about you. We confirm that when processing data on your behalf we will comply within the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018. For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 2018 the Data Controller in relation to personal data supplied about you is the Practice principal.