"Terms of business" "late payment charge / fee"

InFi[D]eL

eddddy wrote: »

Did you agree those payment terms before the treatment started (i.e. before the contract was formed)?

I would expect that a vet would require full payment immediately after the treatment - wouldn't you expect that?

In an emergency what they expect or want isn't always what can happen. Vets are undeniably very expensive and although you can budget for the standard regular treatments and checkups and so pay them on the day when something big happens out of the blue that needs immediate attention it's not so cut and dry.

Edit:
Ooops I forgot to answer your question. No I didn't agree anything about anything payment or otherwise it was a life threatening situation there was no time for that.

Undervalued

InFi[D]eL wrote: »

In an emergency what they expect or want isn't always what can happen. Vets are undeniably very expensive and although you can budget for the standard regular treatments and checkups and so pay them on the day when something big happens out of the blue that needs immediate attention it's not so cut and dry.

Edit:
Ooops I forgot to answer your question. No I didn't agree anything about anything payment or otherwise it was a life threatening situation there was no time for that.

Many things seem expensive when you are paying and are far less so when you are trying to run a viable business and earn a living.

Compared to the hourly charge out rate of most other professional practices, particularly when you consider the length of training required to qualify as a vet, then their charges are generally actually quite modest.

Re your final point, as others have explained, if you didn't specifically agree with them to pay by instalments then the normal legal interpretation would be that you would pay in full on receipt of their bill.

So I am afraid the bottom line of all this is that you are in breach of contract so, in addition to being paid, they can seek to recover their additional costs and reasonable interest.

sheramber

Undervalued wrote: »

I don't think a vet is allowed by law to refuse to provide emergency treatment to an injured or suffering animal.

Emergency treatment is provision of first aid and pain relief.

There were complaints when a tv programme showed a stray gsd who had a broken leg who was only given pain relief by the RSPCA as there was no one to pay for an operation to fix it.

Undervalued

sheramber wrote: »

Emergency treatment is provision of first aid and pain relief.

Indeed, or if more appropriate putting the animal down.

sheramber

My vet has a notice that payment must be made at the end of each consultation or on collecting your animal. If any payment remains unpaid after 30 days interest will be charged.

A small notice in the surgery states a payment plan can be entered into which is a legal arrangement.