Terms and conditions
of trade
Ownership
of Records
Case
records including radiographs and similar documents
are the property of, and will be retained by, Witten
Lodge Veterinary Centre. Copies of a summary of
the history will be passed on by request to another
veterinary surgeon taking over the case.
Out-of-Hours
Service
We
provide a 24 hr emergency service for our patients
and out of hours provision for care is shared with
Torbridge veterinary hospital. Out side of our normal
hours when telephoning Witten Lodge (01237 473278)
you will be able to speak to the duty nurse who
will then contact the veterinary surgeon on call.
Hospitalisation
of Animals
If
hospitalisation of your pet is deemed necessary,
an assessment will be made as to the level of care
that is needed during the hospitalisation period.
This may vary from regular checks by a vet; up to
24 hour nursing and regular checks by the duty vet.
There will not always be someone present in the
surgery with your pet if it is deemed unnecessary,
but if you would like this to be arranged, please
let us know. All hospitalised patients are assessed
by one of the vets and if deemed necessary they
will be transferred to the hospital for out of hours
care.
Home
visits
We
provide home visits where necessary as a service
to our clients, particularly for euthanasia of registered
pets. However, pets are often better treated at
the surgery where all the drugs, diagnostics and
nursing help are available. Due to the unpredictability
of the nature of work at a veterinary surgery, sometimes
it is not possible to fit in a non-urgent visit
on the day of request; however, please phone through
your request early in the morning and we will do
our best.
Fees
All
fees, food 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 the drugs,
materials, consumables and diets used. A detailed
statement is available for every consultation, surgical
procedure and transaction with us.
Methods
of Payment
Accounts
are due for settlement at the end of the consultation,
the discharge of the pet or upon collection of medicines.
You may settle your account using cash, by cheque
or credit/debit card.
Estimates
of Treatment Costs
We
will provide a written estimate of the probable
costs of a course of treatment. Please bear in mind
that any estimate given can only be approximate,
as a pet's illness will often not follow a conventional
course. We will however keep you up to date on costs
if requested.
Settlement
Terms
Should
the account not be settled at the time of treatment
for some reason, then a statement will be sent at
the end of the month with an additional accounting
fee in respect of the administrative costs incurred.
Should it be necessary for additional statements
to be sent, further charges will be incurred. After
due notice, overdue accounts will be referred to
Absolute Debt Recovery in Barnstaple and further
charges (usually 20% of the outstanding amount)
will be levied in respect of costs incurred. Any
cheque returned by our Bank as unpaid, 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 being added in respect
of bank charges and administrative costs together
with interest on the principal sum.
Pet
insurance
We
recommend insuring your pet against unforeseen accidents
and illnesses. We usually require clients to settle
their account with us and we then claim the fees
back from the insurance company for you. For more
information on pet insurance click here
Variations
in Terms of Trading
No
addition or variation of these conditions will bind
the practice unless it is specifically agreed in
writing and signed by one of the Practice directors.
No agent or person employed by, or under contract
with, the Practice has the authority to alter or
vary these conditions in any way.
