Fortus Group – Terms and Conditions of Trade
1. Definitions
1.1 “Seller” means Founder Enterprises Pty Ltd T/A Fortus Group, its successors and assigns or any person acting on behalf of and with the authority of Founder Enterprises Pty Ltd T/A Fortus Group.
1.2 “Customer” means the person/s buying the Goods as specified in any invoice, document or order, and if there is more than one Customer is a reference to each Customer jointly and severally.
1.3 “Goods” means all Goods or Services supplied by the Seller to the Customer at the Customer’s request from time to time (where the context so permits the terms ‘Goods’ or ‘Services’ shall be interchangeable for the other).
1.4 “Price” means the Price payable for the Goods as agreed between the Seller and the Customer in accordance with clause 4 below.
2. Acceptance
2.1 The Customer is taken to have exclusively accepted and is immediately bound, jointly and severally, by these terms and conditions if the Customer places an order for or accepts Delivery.
2.2 These terms and conditions may only be amended with the Seller’s consent in writing and shall prevail to the extent of any inconsistency with any other document or agreement between the Customer and the Seller.
2.3 The Customer acknowledges that the names, descriptions, symbols and numbers that the Seller uses are for reference purposes only. It is not implied that the Goods supplied are the products of the manufacturer whose part numbers may be quoted.
2.4 The Customer acknowledges that the Goods are bought relying solely upon the Customer’s skill and judgment that the Goods are suitable for the Customer’s intended purpose or use thereof, and thereby indemnifies the Seller against any loss or damage to the Goods, or caused by the Goods, or any part thereof however arising.
3. Change in Control
3.1 The Customer shall give the Seller not less than fourteen (14) days prior written notice of any proposed change of ownership of the Customer and/or any other change in the Customer’s details (including but not limited to, changes in the Customer’s name, address, contact phone or fax number/s, 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.
4. Price and Payment
4.1 At the Seller’s sole discretion the Price shall be either:
(a) as indicated on any invoice provided by the Seller to the Customer; or
(b) the Price as at the date of Delivery according to the Seller’s current price list;
or
(c) the Seller’s quoted price (subject to clause 4.2) which will be valid for the period stated in the quotation or otherwise for a period of thirty (30) days.
4.2 The Seller reserves the right to change the Price if a variation to the Seller’s quotation is requested.
4.3 At the Seller’s sole discretion, a deposit may be required.
4.4 Time for payment for the Goods being of the essence, the Price will be payable by the Customer on the date/s determined by the Seller, which may be:
(a) on Delivery
(b) thirty (30) days following the end of the month in which a statement is posted to the Customer’s address or address for notices;
(c) the date specified on any invoice or other form as being the date for payment;
or
(d) failing any notice to the contrary, the date which is seven (7) days following the date of any invoice given to the Customer by the Seller.
4.5 Payment may be made by cash, cheque, bank cheque, electronic/on-line banking, credit card (plus a surcharge of up to two and a half percent (2.5%) of the Price), or by any other method as agreed to between the Customer and the Seller.
4.6 Unless otherwise stated the Price does not include GST. In addition to the Price the Customer must pay to the Seller an amount equal to any GST the Seller must pay for any supply by the Seller under this or any other agreement for the sale of the Goods. The Customer must pay GST, without deduction or set off of any other amounts, at the same time and on the same basis as the Customer pays the Price. In addition the Customer must pay any other taxes and duties that may be applicable in addition to the Price except where they are expressly included in the Price.
4.7 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, and this agreement, shall continue.
5. Delivery
5.1 Delivery of the Goods (“Delivery”) is taken to occur at the time that:
(a) the Customer or the Customer’s nominated carrier takes possession of the Goods at the Seller’s address; or
(b) the Seller (or the Seller’s nominated carrier) delivers the Goods to the Customer’s nominated address even if the Customer is not present at the address.
5.2 At the Seller’s sole discretion, the cost of Delivery is either included in, or in addition to, the Price.
5.3 The Customer must take Delivery by receipt or collection of the Goods whenever they are tendered for Delivery. In the event that the Customer is unable to take Delivery as arranged then the Seller shall be entitled to charge a reasonable fee for redelivery and/or storage.
5.4 The Seller may deliver the Goods in separate instalments. Each separate instalment shall be invoiced and paid in accordance with the provisions in these terms and conditions.
5.5 Any time or date given by the Seller to the Customer is an estimate only. The Customer must still accept Delivery even if late and the Seller will not be liable for any loss or damage incurred by the Customer as a result of the Delivery being late.
6. Risk
6.1 Risk of damage to or loss of the Goods passes to the Customer on Delivery and the Customer must insure the Goods on or before Delivery.
6.2 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.
6.3 If the Customer requests the Seller to leave Goods outside the Seller’s premises for collection or to deliver the Goods to an unattended location then such Goods shall be left at the Customer’s sole risk.
7. Title
7.1 The Seller and the Customer agree that ownership of the Goods shall not pass until:
(a) the Customer has paid the Seller all amounts owing to the Seller; and
(b) the Customer has met all of its other obligations to the Seller.
7.2 It is further agreed that:
(a) until ownership of the Goods passes to the Customer in accordance with clause 7.1 that the Customer is only a bailee of the Goods and must return the Goods to the Seller on request.
(b) the Customer holds the benefit of the Customer’s insurance of the Goods on trust for the Seller and must pay to the Seller the proceeds of any insurance in the event of the Goods being lost, damaged or destroyed.
(c) the Customer must not sell, dispose, or otherwise part with possession of the Goods other than in the ordinary course of business and for market value. If the Customer sells, disposes or parts with possession of the Goods then the Customer must hold the proceeds of any such act on trust for the Seller and must pay or deliver the proceeds to the Seller on demand.
(d) the Customer should not convert or process the Goods or intermix them with other goods but if the Customer does so then the Customer holds the resulting product on trust for the benefit of the Seller and must sell, dispose of or return the resulting product to the Seller as it so directs.
(e) the Customer irrevocably authorises the Seller to enter any premises where the Seller believes the Goods are kept and recover possession of the Goods.
(f) the Seller may recover possession of any Goods in transit whether or not delivery has occurred.
(g) the Customer shall not charge or grant an encumbrance over the Goods nor grant nor otherwise give away any interest in the Goods while they remain the property of the Seller.
(h) the Seller may commence proceedings to recover the Price notwithstanding that ownership of the Goods has not passed to the Customer.
8. Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (“PPSA”)
8.1 In this clause financing statement, financing change statement, security agreement, and security interest has the meaning given to it by the PPSA.
8.2 Upon assenting to these terms and conditions in writing the Customer acknowledges and agrees that these terms and conditions constitute a security agreement for the purposes of the PPSA and creates a security interest in all Goods that have previously been supplied and that will be supplied in the future by the Seller to the Customer.
8.3 The Customer undertakes to:
(a) promptly 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;
(i) register a financing statement or financing change statement in relation to a security interest on the Personal Property Securities Register;
(ii) register any other document required to be registered by the PPSA; or
(iii) correct a defect in a statement referred to in clause 8.3(a)(i) or 8.3(a)(ii);
(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 established by the PPSA or releasing any Goods charged thereby;
(c) not register a financing change statement in respect of a security interest without the prior written consent of the Seller;
(d) not register, or permit to be registered, a financing statement or a financing change statement in relation to the Goods in favour of a third party without the prior written consent of the Seller;
(e) 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.
8.4 The Seller and the Customer agree that sections 96, 115 and 125 of the PPSA do not apply to the security agreement created by these terms and conditions.
8.5 The Customer waives their rights to receive notices under sections 95, 118, 121(4), 130, 132(3)(d) and 132(4) of the PPSA.
8.6 The Customer waives their rights as a grantor and/or a debtor under sections 142 and 143 of the PPSA.
8.7 Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Seller, the Customer waives their right to receive a verification statement in accordance with section 157 of the PPSA.
8.8 The Customer must unconditionally ratify any actions taken by the Seller under clauses 8.3 to 8.5.
8.9 Subject to any express provisions to the contrary nothing in these terms and conditions is intended to have the effect of contracting out of any of the provisions of the PPSA.
9. Security and Charge
9.1 In consideration of the Seller agreeing to supply the Goods, the Customer charges all of its rights, title and interest (whether joint or several) in any land, realty or other assets capable of being charged, owned by the Customer either now or in the future, to secure the performance by the Customer of its obligations under these terms and conditions (including, but not limited to, the payment of any money).
9.2 The Customer indemnifies the Seller from and against all the Seller’s costs and disbursements including legal costs on a solicitor and own client basis incurred in exercising the Seller’s rights under this clause.
9.3 The Customer irrevocably appoints the Seller and each director of the Seller as the Customer’s true and lawful attorney/s to perform all necessary acts to give effect to the provisions of this clause 9 including, but not limited to, signing any document on the Customer’s behalf.
10. Defects, Warranties and Returns, Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (CCA)
10.1 The Customer must inspect the Goods on Delivery and must within seven (7) days of such time notify the Seller in writing of any evident defect/damage, shortage in quantity, or failure to comply with the description or quote. The Customer must notify any other alleged defect in the Goods as soon as reasonably possible after any such defect becomes evident. Upon such
notification the Customer must allow the Seller to inspect the Goods.
10.2 Under applicable State, Territory and Commonwealth Law (including, without limitation the CCA), certain statutory implied guarantees and warranties (including, without limitation the statutory guarantees under the CCA) may be implied into these terms and conditions (Non-Excluded Guarantees).
10.3 The Seller acknowledges that nothing in these terms and conditions purports to modify or exclude the Non-Excluded Guarantees.
10.4 Except as expressly set out in these terms and conditions or in respect of the Non-Excluded Guarantees, the Seller makes no warranties or other representations under these terms and conditions including but not limited to the quality or suitability of the Goods. The Seller’s liability in respect of these warranties is limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.
10.5 If the Customer is a consumer within the meaning of the CCA, the Seller’s liability is limited to the extent permitted by section 64A of Schedule 2.
10.6 If the Seller is required to replace the Goods under this clause or the CCA, but is unable to do so, the Seller may refund any money the Customer has paid for the Goods.
10.7 If the Customer is not a consumer within the meaning of the CCA, the Seller’s liability for any defect or damage in the Goods is:
(a) limited to the value of any express warranty or warranty card provided to the Customer by the Seller at the Seller’s sole discretion;
(b) limited to any warranty to which the Seller is entitled, if the Seller did not manufacture the Goods;
(c) otherwise negated absolutely.
10.8 Subject to this clause 10, returns will only be accepted provided that:
(a) the Customer has complied with the provisions of clause 10.1; and
(b) the Seller has agreed that the Goods are defective; and
(c) the Goods are returned within a reasonable time at the Customer’s cost (if that cost is not significant); and
(d) the Goods are returned in as close a condition to that in which they were delivered as is possible.
10.9 Notwithstanding clauses 10.1 to 10.8 but subject to the CCA, the Seller shall not be liable for any defect or damage which may be caused or partly caused by or arise as a result of:
(a) the Customer failing to properly maintain or store any Goods;
(b) the Customer using the Goods for any purpose other than that for which they were designed;
(c) the Customer continuing the use of any Goods after any defect became apparent or should have become apparent to a reasonably prudent operator or user;
(d) the Customer failing to follow any instructions or guidelines provided by the Seller;
(e) fair wear and tear, any accident, or act of God.
10.10 In the case of second hand Goods, unless the Customer is a consumer under the CCA, the Customer acknowledges that it has had full opportunity to inspect the second hand Goods prior to delivery and accepts them with all faults and that to the extent permitted by law no warranty is given by the Seller as to the quality or suitability for any purpose and any implied warranty, statutory or otherwise, is expressly excluded. The Customer acknowledges and agrees that the Seller has agreed to provide the Customer with the second hand Goods and calculated the Price of the second hand Goods in reliance of this clause 10.10.
10.11 The Seller may in its absolute discretion accept non-defective Goods for return for a full credit if:
(a) the Goods returned within thirty (30) days from date of invoice, however, excluded items are;
(i) backordered items;
(ii) non-stocklist items or Goods; or
(iii) used parts
(b) Goods returned after thirty (30) days but within forty-five (45) days will attract a fifteen percent (15%) re-stocking fee, of the value of the returned Goods;
(c) Goods returned after forty-five (45) days these will not be subject to a credit, unless otherwise agreed by the Seller; and
(d) all retuned Goods must be in saleable condition and in original packaging as per clause 10.8(d) to obtain a credit of any kind.
10.12 Notwithstanding anything contained in this clause if the Seller is required by a law to accept a return then the Seller will only accept a return on the conditions imposed by that law.
11. Default and Consequences of Default
11.1 Interest on overdue invoices shall accrue daily from the date when payment becomes due, until the date of payment, at a rate of two and a half percent (2.5%) per calendar month (and at the Seller’s sole discretion such interest shall compound monthly at such a rate) after as well as before any judgment.
11.2 If the Customer owes the Seller any money the Customer shall indemnify the Seller from and against all costs and disbursements incurred by the Seller in recovering the debt (including but not limited to internal administration fees, legal costs on a solicitor and own client basis, the Seller’s contract default fee, and bank dishonour fees).
11.3 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) under these terms and conditions the Seller may suspend or terminate the supply of Goods to the Customer. 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.
11.4 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 if:
(a) any money payable to the Seller becomes overdue, or in the Seller’s opinionthe Customer will be unable to make a payment when it falls due;
(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.
12. Cancellation
12.1 The Seller may cancel any contract to which these terms and conditions apply or cancel Delivery 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 money paid by the Customer for the Goods. The Seller shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from such cancellation.
12.2 In the event that the Customer cancels Delivery the Customer shall be liable for any and all loss incurred (whether direct or indirect) by the Seller as a direct result of the cancellation (including, but not limited to, any loss of profits).
12.3 Cancellation of orders for Goods made to the Customer’s specifications, or for non-stocklist items, will definitely not be accepted once production has commenced, or an order has been placed.
13. Privacy Act 1988
13.1 The Customer agrees for the Seller to obtain from a credit reporting body (CRB) a credit report containing personal credit information (e.g. name, address, D.O.B, occupation, previous credit applications, credit history) about the Customer in relation to credit provided by the Seller.
13.2 The Customer agrees that the Seller may exchange information about the Customer with those credit providers and with related body corporates for the following purposes:
(a) to assess an application by the Customer; and/or
(b) to notify other credit providers of a default by the Customer; and/or
(c) to exchange information with other credit providers as to the status of this credit account, where the Customer is in default with other credit providers; and/or
(d) to assess the creditworthiness of the Customer including the Customer’srepayment history in the preceding two years.
13.3 The Customer consents to the Seller being given a consumer credit report to collect overdue payment on commercial credit.
13.4 The Customer agrees that personal credit information provided may be used and retained by the Seller for the following purposes (and for other agreed purposes or required by):
(a) the provision of Goods; and/or
(b) analysing, verifying and/or checking the Customer’s credit, payment and/or status in relation to the provision of Goods; and/or
(c) processing of any payment instructions, direct debit facilities and/or credit facilities requested by the Customer; and/or
(d) enabling the collection of amounts outstanding in relation to the Goods.
13.5 The Seller may give information about the Customer to a CRB for the following purposes:
(a) to obtain a consumer credit report;
(b) allow the CRB to create or maintain a credit information file about theCustomer including credit history.
13.6 The information given to the CRB may include:
(a) personal information as outlined in 13.1 above;
(b) name of the credit provider and that the Seller is a current credit provider to the Customer;
(c) whether the credit provider is a licensee;
(d) type of consumer credit;
(e) details concerning the Customer’s application for credit or commercial credit
(e.g. date of commencement/termination of the credit account and the amount requested);
(f) advice of consumer credit defaults, overdue accounts, loan repayments or outstanding monies which are overdue by more than sixty (60) days and for which written notice for request of payment has been made and debt recovery action commenced or alternatively that the Customer no longer has any overdue accounts and the Seller has been paid or otherwise discharged and all details surrounding that discharge(e.g. dates of payments);
(g) information that, in the opinion of the Seller, the Customer has committed aserious credit infringement;
(h) advice that the amount of the Customer’s overdue payment is equal to ormore than one hundred and fifty dollars ($150).
13.7 The Customer shall have the right to request (by e-mail) from the Seller:
(a) a copy of the information about the Customer retained by the Seller and theright to request that the Seller correct any incorrect information; and
(b) that the Seller does not disclose any personal information about the Customer for the purpose of direct marketing.
13.8 The Seller will destroy personal information upon the Customer’s request (by e-mail) or if it is no longer required unless it is required in order to fulfil the
obligations of this agreement or is required to be maintained and/or stored in accordance with the law.
13.9 The Customer can make a privacy complaint by contacting the Seller via e-mail.
The Seller will respond to that complaint within seven (7) days of receipt and will take all reasonable steps to make a decision as to the complaint within thirty (30) days of receipt of the complaint. In the event that the Customer is not satisfied with the resolution provided, the Customer can make a complaint to the Information Commissioner at www.oaic.gov.au.
14. General
14.1 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. 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.
14.2 These terms and conditions and any contract to which they apply shall be governed by the laws of Western Australia, the state in which the Seller has its principal place of business, and are subject to the jurisdiction of the Courts in that state.
14.3 Subject to clause 10, the Seller shall be under no liability whatsoever to the Customer for any indirect and/or consequential 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 (alternatively the Seller’s liability shall be limited to damages which under no circumstances shall exceed the Price).
14.4 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 nor to withhold payment of any invoice because part of that invoice is in dispute.
14.5 The Seller may license or sub-contract all or any part of its rights and obligations without the Customer’s consent.
14.6 The Customer agrees that the Seller may amend these terms and conditions at any time. If the Seller makes a 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. The Customer will be taken to have accepted such changes if the Customer makes a further request for the Seller to provide Goods to the Customer.
14.7 Neither party shall be liable for any default due to any act of God, war, terrorism, strike, lock-out, industrial action, fire, flood, storm or other event beyond the reasonable control of either party.
14.8 The Customer warrants that it has the power to enter into this agreement and has obtained all necessary authorisations to allow it to do so, it is not insolvent and that this agreement creates binding and valid legal obligations on it.