Assure Recoveries - Terms and Conditions

Terms and conditions for the appointment of Assure Global Plus as the Commercial Agent for Recoveries Action

Recoveries - Terms and Conditions

For provision of services by NCI Group Australia Pty Ltd ABN 75 1267 890 99 Trading as Assure Global Plus (we/us)

These General Terms and each application for appointment that you sign with us (Appointment Form) form the basis of our agreement with you (and may be added to or amended).

You accept our offer of Services if you:

(a)     sign and return the Appointment Form; or

         continue to instruct us (either orally or in writing) to provide the Services, whether or not you sign the Appointment Form.

  1. Appointment Form

(a)     We will perform the Services generally in accordance with these General Terms and each Appointment Form that you sign with us.

(b)     The Appointment Form itself may take a number of different forms, including a formal application form or more informal communications such as email. If there is any                inconsistency between these General Terms and the Appointment Form, the Appointment Form will prevail.

(c)     Each Appointment Form that you sign in relation to each engagement with us will be governed by these General Terms.

2. Our Services and Fees

2.1 Services

        The Appointment Form and these General Terms will describe the Services that we will undertake for you and the Fees payable for those Services.

2.2 Fees

(a) The costs payable to us are as follows. Note all prices are exclusive of GST:

               a. Contingent Collections or Recoveries – Commission on debts collected will be, with respect to any single payment, 18% of monies collected plus GST.

               b. Outsourced Accounts Receivable – $120.00 per hour

               c. Skip fee:

                    i.      $220.00 (find); or 

                    ii.     $110.00 (no find).

               d. Searches:

                    i.     Company Search: $55.00

                    ii.     Land Title Search: $75.00;

                    iii.    PPSR Search: $55.00;

               e. Other searches: $POA.

               f. Litigation

                    i.     Solicitor’s Letter of Demand $77 plus gst.

                    ii.     Solicitors’ fees as quoted.

                    iii.    Terms and Conditions $POA.

                    iv.     Probity/Credit Checks $200.00 (includes credit check and director company search)

               (b) In addition to the above, depending on the Services specified in the Appointment Form, our Fees may be a combination of hourly rates, fixed prices for specific services                      and a commission in relation to contingent collections or recoveries, together with provision for recovery of disbursements we incur when performing the Services.

               (c) Payment for our services:

                    a.     must be made by either direct deposit into the Agent’s nominated bank account.

                    b.     must be made within 14 days of the date as noted on the Tax Invoice or as otherwise directed by the Agent: and

                    c.     must be made in the manner as stated on the Tax Invoice.

2.3 Interest

We may charge interest on unpaid Fees.  You agree that interest at the rate of the Reserve Bank of Australia Cash Rate plus 7% is payable in respect of any invoice which is not paid in accordance with the terms of payment described in that invoice.  Interest will be charged and calculated on daily rests on the balance owing until the invoice is paid in full.

2.4 GST

Any amount payable under this Agreement for a taxable supply will be the amount of consideration for the supply set out in the applicable invoice rendered plus any amount of GST payable in relation to that supply unless otherwise stated by us.

3. Authority to act

Upon you signing the Application Form you engage us to provide the Services and authorise us to act on your behalf in taking such action as we reasonably consider necessary to recover the Debt described in the Appointment Form (Authority).

4. Your Obligations

4.1 Obligations to comply

(a) You acknowledge and agree that our offer to provide the Services in the Application Form, and subsequent Recovery Action that we take and the Recovery Expenses that we incur, are on the basis that:

               a.     you ensure that the Debt Information you have provided to us regarding the Debt is complete and accurate and not misleading in any way, as we will be relying upon that information being complete and accurate;

               b.     you will not do anything that impacts on the Recovery Action or the ability to recover Recovery Expenses;

               c.     you will cooperate with us in relation to the Recovery Action including providing additional information and instructions when requested and sign any further documents we reasonably require in connection with the Recovery Action; and

                d.     you will comply with your obligations under these General Terms in relation to all matters associated with any Recovery Action that is taken,

(collectively the Client Obligations).

(b) You agree to comply with all of the Client Obligations.

(c) You must indemnify us in relation to any Claim made against us or any Loss we suffer as a result of your failure to comply with any of the Client Obligations.

4.2 Communications with Debtor

(a) You must:

               a.     notify us within one Business Day of receiving payment (in whole or part) of the Debt by or on behalf of the Debtor;

               b.     immediately notify us if you receive any communication (whether verbal or in writing) from a Debtor regarding the Debt;

               c.     notify us immediately if you have any additional Debt Information that you have not provided to us;

               d.     not negotiate with or communicate with the Debtor in relation to the Debt, nor agree to any Compromise of the Debt, unless we consent in writing.

(b) If, without our written consent, you agree with a Debtor to Compromise payment of the Debt (including for a reduced amount of the Debt or Recovery Expenses that may be recovered) then:

               a.     any Fee we are entitled to receive in relation to the recovery of that Debt will be charged on the full amount of the Debt and not on any reduced amount, as if the Debt was not Compromised; and

               b. you mu    st pay us the amount of Recovery Expenses that we incurred in relation to the collection of that Debt which can no longer be recovered from the Debtor as result of the Compromise.

5. Termination of this Agreement

(a) You may terminate this Agreement and the delivery of our Services if we commit a material  breach our obligations under these General Terms and do not remedied that breach within 30 days of being given written notice to do so.

(b) We may terminate this Agreement and the delivery of our Services, and immediately cease all Recovery Action, if you:

               a.    breach these General Terms or anything contained in the Application Form, including but not limited to breaching any of the Client Obligations;

               b.     require us to act unlawfully or unethically;

               c.     do not promptly give us adequate instructions or Debt Information whenever we request;

               d.     become an externally administered body corporate within the meaning of the Corporations Act.

(c) We will give to you reasonable notice if we intend to terminate this Agreement.

(d) If this Agreement is terminated by either of us you agree that we are entitled to all Fees up to the termination and will be entitled to retain possession of all documents in our                possession until we have received payment of those Fees. You acknowledge and agree that we have such a lien over your documentation.

(e) If we terminate this Agreement because of your breach or default, then we may recover from you our Fees and all Recovery Expenses incurred to the date of termination.

  1. Agent’s Obligations

(a) If we at any time deem that it is unethical or uneconomical to pursue the Debt, we may notify the you in writing or otherwise:

               a.     Recommend that the Client cease recovery of the Debt; and/or

               b.     Suspend or cease performing debt recovery services in relation to the Debt..

  1. General matters

(a) Any amendments to these General Terms must be made in writing or if agreed verbally between us, must be confirmed in writing within a reasonable time after such verbal agreement.

(b) You agree that we may use email to communicate with you and may use the email address that you provide to us for that purpose. You agree to release us from any liability for any loss which you might incur if an email is intercepted or corrupted during transmission or if a document which we prepare for you is altered by you or any other party without our written consent.

(c) Personal information about you, provided by you or other sources, is protected under the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000. Disclosure of such information may be compelled by law (e.g. under the Social Security Act).  You also authorise us to disclose such information where necessary to others in furtherance of your claim/matter (e.g. to the Court, the other party or parties to litigation, to valuers, experts, barristers etc).

(d) This agreement is governed by the laws of Queensland and each of us agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland.

(e) You agree that we can assign, novate or otherwise transfer any of our rights or obligations under the costs agreement we have entered into with you without the need to obtain your consent.

(f) These General Terms and the Appointment Form may be executed, in original form, by facsimile transmission or by electronic signature, and in any number of counterparts each of which will be considered to constitute the same instrument.

(g) If you are referred to us by a Third Party, and you have engaged us to pursue recovery action pursuant to these Terms and Conditions and the Appointment Form, we may pay a referral fee, commission or other benefit to the Third Party for the referral.

(h) Any referral fee, commission or other benefit payable to the Third Party will be at our expense and will not be payable by or passed on as an expense to you.

(i) Any provision of these General Terms or our engagement letter that is illegal, void or unenforceable will be severed without prejudice to the balance of the provisions of these terms and the Appointment Form.

8. Authority to release funds

You revocably agree and authorise us to direct payment of any Amount Recovered to pay our Fees and the amount of any Recovery Expenses for which we are entitled to be reimbursed, from any person holding the Amount Recovered including any lawyers that we engage on your behalf as part of the Recovery Action and that we may give such an authority or direction to those lawyers on your behalf.

9. Personal responsibility

(a) In consideration of our providing the Services each person who signs the Appointment Form or otherwise gives us instructions to act (irrespective of the capacity or authority they had to sign the Appointment Form or to give us instructions), acknowledges and agrees they are jointly and severally liable for the payment of our Fees as if they were named as the Client in these General Terms or in the Appointment Form. Each such person agrees to indemnify us for any Loss we suffer because the Client does not pay our Fees for any reason.

(b) You agree that we may accept instructions from those persons who represent to us that they are authorised to provide instructions on behalf of the Client (for example, other directors, business partners, employees, accountants and other advisers) and that in the case of joint Clients, we may act on instructions given by either Client.

(c) You acknowledge that we will use and rely primarily on the Debt Information that you provide without having an opportunity to independently verify or assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information.

10. Definitions

In these General Terms the following terms have the following meanings:

Amount Recovered means the amount of a Debt recovered from a Debtor.

Claim includes, in relation to a person, a demand, claim, action, dispute or proceeding made or brought by or against the person, however arising and whether present, unascertained, immediate, future or contingent.

Compromise means to agree to accept a reduced amount of the Debt, or payment of the Debt without payment of Recovery Expenses.

Court Proceedings means proceedings instituted in a court or tribunal for the recovery of the Debt.

Debt means the sum owing to you by a Debtor as described in the Application Form, for which you have appointed us to recover pursuant to these General Terms, including accrued interest and costs.

Debt Information means all information that you have within your possession or control in relation to the Debt and the Debtor, including but not limited to documents and, invoices.

Debtor means a party owing the Debt to you.

Loss includes any damage, loss, cost, liability or expense of any kind and however arising (including as a result of any Claim) including penalties, fines and interest whether prospective or contingent and any amounts that for the time being are not ascertained or ascertainable.

Recovery Action means any action we take to recover a Debt including:

commencing recovery action against the Debtor including sending letters of demand and making telephone calls;

engaging lawyers and barristers;

commencing Court Proceedings;

obtaining judgement against the Debtor in relation to Court Proceedings and taking action to enforce any judgement obtained; and

such other steps as we reasonably consider appropriate to recover the Debt.

Recovery Expenses means the expenses we incur in connection with the action taken by us to recover a Debt, including legal fees, barrister’s fees, search fees, the cost of expert consultants and court filing and lodgment fees.

Third Party means a person or entity besides the Client and Agent subject to these Terms and Conditions and the Application Form.

Why Have Terms and Conditions?

During these difficult times that 2020 continue to throw at us, businesses are being put to the test to keep their heads above water and continue to trade. One of the most important things a business must have to protect their interests is a professionally written set of Terms and Conditions.

Essentially, business Terms and Conditions are a contractual agreement between your business and your customers.  They enable you to limit your liability and obligations.

A well drafted set of Terms and Conditions should cover a range of issues and include:

Cost Recovery Clause

A cost recovery clause you to outsource your debts to a debt collection agency and recover the debt collection fees which makes referring a debt cost neutral to your business.

Payment Terms

Payment terms enables you to manage debt effectively keeping your overdue invoices under control.

Director Guarantee

If your customer is a company, a Director Guarantee will give your business the option of pursuing a Director in the event the company goes into liquidation.

Default Clause

If you are a member of a credit reporting bureau such as Equifax or Creditor Watch then you will be able to list a credit default against slow or non-paying customers. This can be a good collection tool for your business as some customers pride themselves on a clean credit record.

Professionally written Terms and Conditions should minimise problems and disputes.

If you provide a set of professionally written Terms and Conditions to your customers, you are essentially providing certainty as to your obligations when dealing with them. Terms and Conditions are crucial to the smooth operation of any business.

You can also use your business Terms and Conditions as a branding and marketing tool. If you include a range of customer rights in your Terms and Conditions you are essentially giving your customers another reason to choose you. The primary purpose of a set of Terms and Conditions is to protect you and your business but they can also enhance your professional image.

 

As a client of Assure Global Plus, we can have our solicitor conduct a complimentary review of your Terms & Conditions and make recommendations to keep your business protected in your specific industry.