1. Definitions
1.1 “Seller” shall mean Arc Automation, Security & Electrical Ltd, its successors and assigns or any person acting on behalf of and with the authority of Arc Automation, Security & Electrical Ltd.
1.2 “Customer” shall mean the Customer (or any person acting on behalf of and with the authority of the Customer) as described on any quotation, work authorisation or other form as provided by the Seller to the Customer.
1.3 “Guarantor” means that person (or persons), or entity, who agrees to be liable for the debts of the Customer on a principal debtor basis.
1.4 “Goods” shall mean Goods supplied by the Seller to the Customer (and where the context so permits shall include any supply of Services as hereinafter defined) and includes Goods described on any invoices, quotation, work authorisation or any other forms as provided by the Seller to the Customer.
1.5 “Services” shall mean all services supplied by the Seller to the Customer and includes any advice or recommendations (and where the context so permits shall include any supply of Goods as defined above).
1.6 “Price” shall mean the price payable for the Goods as agreed between the Seller and the Customer in accordance with clause 3 of this contract.
2. Acceptance
2.1 Any instructions received by the Seller from the Customer for the supply of Goods and/or the Customer’s acceptance of Goods supplied by the Seller shall constitute acceptance of the terms and conditions contained herein.
2.2 Variations for supplementary work will stand as a separate quotation subject to the contractual terms of this document.
2.3 Where more than one Customer has entered into this agreement, the Customers shall be jointly and severally liable for all payments of the Price.
2.4 Upon acceptance of these terms and conditions by the Customer, the terms and conditions are binding and can only be amended with the written consent of the Seller.
2.5 The Customer shall give the Seller not less than fourteen (14) days prior written notice of any proposed change of ownership of the Customer or any change in the Customer’s name and/or any other change in the Customer’s details (including but not limited to, changes in the Customer’s address, facsimile number, or business practice). The Customer shall be liable for any loss incurred by the Seller as a result of the Customer’s failure to comply with this clause.
3. Price And Payment
3.1 At the Seller’s sole discretion the Price shall be either:
a. as indicated on invoices provided by the Seller to the Customer in respect of Goods supplied; or
b. the Seller’s quoted Price (subject to clause 3.2) which shall be binding upon the Seller provided that the Customer shall accept the Seller’s quotation in writing within thirty (30) days.
3.2 The Seller reserves the right to change the Price in the event of a variation to the Seller’s quotation.
3.3 At the Seller’s sole discretion a deposit may be required.
3.4 At the Seller’s sole discretion:
a. payment shall be due on delivery of the Goods; or
b. payment shall be due before delivery of the Goods; or
c. payment for approved Customers shall be made by instalments in accordance with the Seller’s payment schedule; or
d. payment for approved Customers shall be due seven days after the date of the invoice.
3.5 Time for payment for the Goods shall be of the essence and will be stated on the invoice or any other forms. If no time is stated then payment shall be due seven (7) days following the date of the invoice.
3.6 Payment will be made by cash, or by cheque, or by bank cheque, or by direct credit, or by any other method as agreed to between the Customer and the Seller.
3.7 GST and other taxes and duties that may be applicable shall be added to the Price except when they are expressly included in the Price.
4. Delivery Of Goods
4.1 At the Seller’s sole discretion, delivery of the Goods shall take place when
a. the Customer takes possession of the Goods at the Seller’s address; or
b. the Customer takes possession of the Goods at the Customer’s nominated address (in the event that the Goods are delivered by the Seller or the Seller’s nominated carrier); or
c. the Customer’s nominated carrier takes possession of the Goods in which event the carrier shall be deemed to be the Customer’s agent.
4.2 At the Seller’s sole discretion the costs of delivery are:
a. included in the Price; or
b. in addition to the Price; or
c. for the Customer’s account.
4.3 The Customer shall make all arrangements necessary to take delivery of the Goods whenever they are tendered for delivery. In the event that the Customer is unable to take delivery of the Goods as arranged then the Seller shall be entitled to charge a reasonable fee for redelivery.
4.4 Delivery of the Goods to a third party nominated by the Customer is deemed to be delivery to the Customer for the purposes of this agreement.
4.5 The failure of the Seller to deliver shall not entitle either party to treat this contract as repudiated.
4.6 The Seller shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatever due to failure by the Seller to deliver the Goods (or any of them) promptly or at all.
5. Risk
5.1 If the Seller retains ownership of the Goods nonetheless, all risk for the Goods passes to the Customer on delivery.
5.2 If any of the Goods are damaged or destroyed following delivery but prior to ownership passing to the Customer, the Seller is entitled to receive all insurance proceeds payable for the Goods. The production of these terms and conditions by the Seller is sufficient evidence of the Seller’s rights to receive the insurance proceeds without the need for any person dealing with the Seller to make further enquiries.
6. Title
6.1 The Seller and Customer agree that ownership of the Goods shall not pass until:
a. the Customer has paid the Seller all amounts owing for the particular Goods; and
b. the Customer has met all other obligations due by the Customer to the Seller in respect of all contracts between the Seller and the Customer.
6.2 Receipt by the Seller of any form of payment other than cash shall not be deemed to be payment until that form of payment has been honoured, cleared or recognised and until then the Seller’s ownership or rights in respect of the Goods shall continue.
6.3 It is further agreed that:
a. where practicable the Goods shall be kept separate and identifiable until the Seller shall have received payment and all other obligations of the Customer are met; and
b. until such time as ownership of the Goods shall pass from the Seller to the Customer the Seller may give notice in writing to the Customer to return the Goods or any of them to the Seller. Upon such notice being given the rights of the Customer to obtain ownership or any other interest in the Goods shall cease; and
c. the Customer is only a bailee of the Goods and until such time as the Seller has received payment in full for the Goods then the Customer shall hold any proceeds from the sale or disposal of the Goods on trust for the Seller; and
d. until such time that ownership in the Goods passes to the Customer, if the Goods are converted into other products, the parties agree that the Seller will be the owner of the end products; and
e. if the Customer fails to return the Goods to the Seller then the Seller or the Seller’s agent may enter upon and into land and premises owned, occupied or used by the Customer, or any premises where the Goods are situated as the invitee of the Customer and take possession of the Goods, and the Seller will not be liable for any reasonable loss or damage suffered as a result of any action by the Seller under this clause.
7. Personal Property Securities Act 1999 (“PPSA”)
7.1 Upon assenting to these terms and conditions in writing the Customer acknowledges and agrees that:
a. these terms and conditions constitute a security agreement for the purposes of the PPSA; and
b. a security interest is taken in all Goods previously supplied by the Seller to the Customer (if any) and all Goods that will be supplied in the future by the Seller to the Customer.
7.2 The Customer undertakes to:
a. sign any further documents and/or provide any further information (such information to be complete, accurate and up-to-date in all respects) which the Seller may reasonably require to register a financing statement or financing change statement on the Personal Property Securities Register;
b. indemnify, and upon demand reimburse, the Seller for all expenses incurred in registering a financing statement or financing change statement on the Personal Property Securities Register or releasing any Goods charged thereby;
c. not register a financing change statement or a change demand without the prior written consent of the Seller; and
d. immediately advise the Seller of any material change in its business practices of selling the Goods which would result in a change in the nature of proceeds derived from such sales.
7.3 The Seller and the Customer agree that nothing in sections 114(1)(a), 133 and 134 of the PPSA shall apply to these terms and conditions.
7.4 The Customer waives its rights as a debtor under sections 116, 120(2), 121, 125, 126, 127, 129, 131 and 132 of the PPSA.
7.5 Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Seller, the Customer waives its right to receive a verification statement in accordance with section 148 of the PPSA.
7.6 The Customer shall unconditionally ratify any actions taken by the Seller under clauses 7.1 to 7.5.
8. Customer’s Disclaimer
8.1 The Customer hereby disclaims any right to rescind or cancel any contract with the Seller or to sue for damages or to claim restitution arising out of any misrepresentation made to the Customer by the Seller and the Customer acknowledges that the Goods are bought relying solely upon the Customer’s skill and judgment.
9. Defects
9.1 The Customer shall inspect the Goods on delivery and shall within five (5) days of delivery (time being of the essence) notify the Seller of any alleged defect, shortage in quantity, damage or failure to comply with the description or quote. The Customer shall afford the Seller an opportunity to inspect the Goods within a reasonable time following delivery if the Customer believes the Goods are defective in any way. If the Customer shall fail to comply with these provisions the Goods shall be presumed to be free from any defect or damage. For defective Goods, which the Seller has agreed in writing that the Customer is entitled to reject, the Seller’s liability is limited to either (at the Seller’s discretion) replacing the Goods or repairing the Goods.
10. Returns
10.1 Returns will only be accepted provided that:
a. the Customer has complied with the provisions of clause 9.1; and
b. the Seller has agreed in writing to accept the return of the Goods; and
c. the Goods are returned at the Customer’s cost within seven (7) days of the delivery date; and
d. the Seller will not be liable for Goods which have not been stored or used in a proper manner; and
e. the Goods are returned in the condition in which they were delivered and with all packaging material, brochures and instruction material in as new condition as is reasonably possible in the circumstances.
10.2 The Seller may (in its discretion) accept the return of Goods for credit but this may incur a handling fee of twenty five percent (25%) of the value of the returned Goods plus any freight.
11. Warranty
11.1 For Goods not manufactured by the Seller, the warranty shall be the current warranty provided by the manufacturer of the Goods. The Seller shall not be bound by nor be responsible for any term, condition, representation or warranty other than that which is given by the manufacturer of the Goods.
12. Consumer Guarantees Act 1993
12.1 If the Customer is acquiring Goods for the purposes of a trade or business, the Customer acknowledges that the provisions of the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 do not apply to the supply of Goods by the Seller to the Customer.
13. Intellectual Property
13.1 Where the Seller has designed, drawn or written Goods for the Customer, then the copyright in those designs and drawings and documents shall remain vested in the Seller, and shall only be used by the Customer at the Seller’s discretion.
13.2 The Customer warrants that all designs or instructions to the Seller will not cause the Seller to infringe any patent, registered design or trademark in the execution of the Customer’s order and the Client agrees to indemnify the Seller against any action taken by a third party against the Seller in respect of any such infringement.
14. Default & Consequences Of Default
14.1 Interest on overdue invoices shall accrue from the date when payment becomes due daily until the date of payment at a rate of 2.5% per calendar month and such interest shall compound monthly at such a rate after as well as before any judgment.
14.2 If the Customer defaults in payment of any invoice when due, the Customer shall indemnify the Seller from and against all costs and disbursements incurred by the Seller in pursuing the debt including legal costs on a solicitor and own client basis and the Seller’s collection agency costs.
14.3 Without prejudice to any other remedies the Seller may have, if at any time the Customer is in breach of any obligation (including those relating to payment); The Seller may suspend or terminate the supply of Goods to the Customer and any of its other obligations under the terms and conditions. The Seller will not be liable to the Customer for any loss or damage the Customer suffers because the Seller has exercised its rights under this clause.
14.4 If any account remains overdue after thirty (30) days then an amount of the greater of $20.00 or 10.00% of the amount overdue (up to a maximum of $200) shall be levied for administration fees which sum shall become immediately due and payable.
14.5 Without prejudice to the Seller’s other remedies at law the Seller shall be entitled to cancel all or any part of any order of the Customer which remains unfulfilled and all amounts owing to the Seller shall, whether or not due for payment, become immediately payable in the event that:
a. any money payable to the Seller becomes overdue, or in the Seller’s opinion the Customer will be unable to meet its payments as they fall due; or
b. the Customer becomes insolvent, convenes a meeting with its creditors or proposes or enters into an arrangement with creditors, or makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
c. a receiver, manager, liquidator (provisional or otherwise) or similar person is appointed in respect of the Customer or any asset of the Customer.
15. Security And Charge
15.1 Despite anything to the contrary contained herein or any other rights which the Seller may have howsoever:
a. where the Customer and/or the Guarantor (if any) is the owner of land, realty or any other asset capable of being charged, both the Customer and/or the Guarantor agree to mortgage and/or charge all of their joint and/or several interest in the said land, realty or any other asset to the Seller or the Seller’s nominee to secure all amounts and other monetary obligations payable under these terms and conditions. The Customer and/or the Guarantor acknowledge and agree that the Seller (or the Seller’s nominee) shall be entitled to lodge where appropriate a caveat, which caveat shall be withdrawn once all payments and other monetary obligations payable hereunder have been met.
b. should the Seller elect to proceed in any manner in accordance with this clause and/or its sub-clauses, the Customer and/or Guarantor shall indemnify the Seller from and against all the Seller’s costs and disbursements including legal costs on a solicitor and own client basis.
c. the Customer and/or the Guarantor (if any) agree to irrevocably nominate, constitute and appoint the Seller or the Seller’s nominee as the Customer’s and/or Guarantor’s true and lawful attorney to perform all necessary acts to give effect to the provisions of this clause 15.1.
16. Cancellation
16.1 The Seller may cancel any contract to which these terms and conditions apply or cancel delivery of Goods at any time before the Goods are delivered by giving written notice to the Customer. On giving such notice the Seller shall repay to the Customer any sums paid in respect of the Price. The Seller shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatever arising from such cancellation.
16.2 In the event that the Customer cancels delivery of Goods the Customer shall be liable for any loss incurred by the Seller (including, but not limited to, any loss of profits) up to the time of cancellation.
17. Privacy Act 1993
17.1 The Customer and the Guarantor/s (if separate to the Customer) authorises the Seller to:
a. collect, retain and use any information about the Customer, for the purpose of assessing the Customer’s creditworthiness or marketing products and services to the Customer; and
b. disclose information about the Customer, whether collected by the Seller from the Customer directly or obtained by the Seller from any other source, to any other credit provider or any credit reporting agency for the purposes of providing or obtaining a credit reference, debt collection or notifying a default by the Customer.
17.2 Where the Customer and/or Guarantors are an individual the authorities under clause 17.1 are authorities or consents for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1993.
17.3 The Customer and/or Guarantors shall have the right to request the Seller for a copy of the information about the Customer and/or Guarantors retained by the Seller and the right to request the Seller to correct any incorrect information about the Customer and/or Guarantors held by the Seller.
18. Unpaid Seller’s Rights
18.1 Where the Customer has left any item with Seller for repair, modification, exchange or for the Seller to perform any other Service in relation to the item and Seller has not received or been tendered the whole of the Price, or the payment has been dishonoured, the Seller shall have:
a. a lien on the item;
b. the right to retain the item for the Price while the Seller is in possession of the item;
c. a right to sell the item.
18.2 The lien of the Seller shall continue despite the commencement of proceedings, or judgement for the Price having been obtained.
19. Construction Contracts Act 2002
19.1 In the event that the Customer is a residential occupier as defined by the Construction Contracts Act 2002 the Customer hereby expressly acknowledges that:
a. the Seller has the right to suspend work within five (5) working days of written notice of its intent to do so if a payment claim is served on the Customer, and:
i. the payment is not paid in full by the due date for payment and no payment schedule has been given by the Customer; or
ii. a scheduled amount stated in a payment schedule issued by the Customer in relation to the payment claim is not paid in full by the due date for its payment; or
iii. the Customer has not complied with an adjudicator’s notice that the Customer must pay an amount to the Seller by a particular date; and
iv. the Seller has given written notice to the Customer of its intention to suspend the carrying out of construction work under the construction contract.
b. if the Seller suspends work, it:
i. is not in breach of contract; and
ii. is not liable for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered, or alleged to be suffered, by the Customer or by any person claiming through the Customer; and
iii. is entitled to an extension of time to complete the contract; and
iv. keeps its rights under the contract including the right to terminate the contract; and may at any time lift the suspension, even if the amount has not been paid or an adjudicator’s determination had not been complied with.
c. if the Seller exercises the right to suspend work, the exercise of that right does not:
i. affect any rights that would otherwise have been available to the Seller under the Contractual Remedies Act 1979; or
ii. enable the Customer to exercise any rights that may otherwise have been available to the Customer under that Act as a direct consequence of the Seller suspending work under this provision.
20. General
20.1 If any provision of these terms and conditions shall be invalid, void, illegal or unenforceable the validity, existence, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected, prejudiced or impaired.
20.2 These terms and conditions and any contract to which they apply shall be governed by the laws of New Zealand and are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand.
20.3 The Seller shall be under no liability whatever to the Customer for any indirect loss and/or expense (including loss of profit) suffered by the Customer arising out of a breach by the Seller of these terms and conditions.
20.4 In the event of any breach of this contract by the Seller the remedies of the Customer shall be limited to damages which under no circumstances shall exceed the Price of the Goods.
20.5 The Customer shall not be entitled to set off against or deduct from the Price any sums owed or claimed to be owed to the Customer by the Seller.
20.6 The Seller may license or sub-contract all or any part of its rights and obligations without the Customer’s consent.
20.7 The Seller reserves the right to review these terms and conditions at any time. If, following any such review, there is to be any change to these terms and conditions, then that change will take effect from the date on which the Seller notifies the Customer of such change.
20.8 The provisions of the Contractual Remedies Act 1979 shall apply to this contract as if section 15(d) were omitted from the Contractual Remedies Act 1979.
20.9 Neither party shall be liable for any default due to any act of God, war, terrorism, strike, lock-out, industrial action, fire, flood, drought, storm or other event beyond the reasonable control of either party.
20.10 The failure by the Seller to enforce any provision of these terms and conditions shall not be treated as a waiver of that provision, nor shall it affect the Seller’s right to subsequently enforce that provision.
© Copyright – EC Credit Control Ltd – 2006