Payment Terms — Non-Account Customers

 

Effective 1 August 2026 (replacing 1 January 2026 terms)

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These Payment Terms apply to persons and entities obtaining goods or services from Northern Rivers Toxicology (NRT) who do not hold an approved account with NRT.

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If you are an approved NRT account holder, these Payment Terms do not apply to you. Your payment and credit terms are those specified in your account approval letter and any subsequent written variation issued or agreed by NRT.

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By requesting, ordering, authorising, or accepting goods or services from NRT, you agree to be bound by them.

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1. Invoices and payment

Unless NRT agrees otherwise in writing:

1. all invoices are payable in Australian dollars; and

2. payment must be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the Summerland Bank bank account specified on the relevant NRT invoice; and

3. the full amount of an invoice must be received by NRT within 7 calendar days after the date on which the invoice is sent.

 

An invoice is taken to have been sent when it is transmitted to the email address, electronic system or other contact point nominated by the customer.

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Payment is not complete until cleared funds have been received into NRT's nominated bank account.

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2. Card payments

NRT does not accept payment by credit card, debit card, prepaid card or other payment card for invoices issued or payable on or after 1 August 2026.

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NRT has adopted this policy in preparation for changes to Australia's card-payment and card-surcharging framework taking effect from 1 October 2026 and to simplify its payment arrangements.

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Payment must therefore be made by an available payment method specified on the invoice, ordinarily EFT.

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3. Overdue invoices

An invoice becomes overdue if NRT has not received payment in cleared funds within 7 calendar days after the invoice was sent.

 

NRT may issue reminders or demands for payment, but is not required to do so and a failure to issue a reminder does not extend the payment date or waive NRT's rights.

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4. Default charge after 28 days

If an invoice remains unpaid 28 calendar days after it was sent, NRT may apply a default charge equal to 20% of the outstanding invoice balance.

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The parties acknowledge that this provision is intended to protect NRT's legitimate commercial interests arising from materially overdue debts, including the additional financing, administration, reconciliation, collection, compliance, and operational burden associated with prolonged non-payment, and is not intended to operate as a punishment.

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To the extent that the 20% amount would in any particular circumstances be unenforceable as a penalty, an unfair contract term or otherwise contrary to applicable law, the amount payable under this clause is reduced to the maximum amount that may lawfully and enforceably be recovered by NRT in those circumstances.

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The application of a default charge does not extinguish or replace the underlying debt.

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5. Recovery action after 42 days

If any part of an invoice remains unpaid 42 calendar days after the invoice was sent, NRT may, at its discretion and without further notice commence proceedings for recovery of the debt in the Local Court of New South Wales (Lismore).

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The customer must pay NRT's reasonable costs of recovering an overdue debt to the extent those costs are lawfully recoverable, including court filing fees, service fees, debt-recovery expenses and legal costs recoverable by agreement, statute, court order or otherwise at law.

 

Nothing in these terms limits any jurisdictional requirement or procedural obligation applying to proceedings commenced by NRT.

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6. Disputed invoices

A customer who genuinely disputes an invoice must notify NRT in writing as soon as reasonably practicable, identifying:

1. the invoice concerned;

2. the amount disputed;

3. the reasons for the dispute; and

4. any supporting information reasonably necessary for NRT to investigate it.

 

A dispute concerning part of an invoice does not relieve the customer of the obligation to pay any undisputed amount by its due date.

NRT and the customer must act reasonably and in good faith in attempting to resolve a genuine billing dispute.

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7. No set-off

To the extent permitted by law, amounts payable to NRT must be paid without deduction, withholding, or set-off except where the customer has a legal right to make that deduction, withholding or set-off.

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8. Application of payments

Unless prohibited by law, NRT may apply money received from a customer against any outstanding amount owed by that customer to NRT in such order as NRT reasonably determines.

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9. Waiver

A delay or failure by NRT to exercise a right under these Payment Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right.

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A waiver is effective only if made in writing by NRT and applies only to the particular circumstance for which it is given.

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10. Severability and lawful operation

These Payment Terms are intended to operate only to the maximum extent permitted by law.

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If any provision is illegal, void, unenforceable or an unfair contract term in a particular application, that provision is to be:

1. read down to the minimum extent necessary to make it lawful and enforceable; or

2. if it cannot be read down, severed,

without affecting the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions.

 

Nothing in these Payment Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any guarantee, right, remedy or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified.

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11. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Payment Terms are governed by the laws in force in New South Wales, Australia.

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Subject to any law giving a party a right to bring proceedings elsewhere, each party submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales and courts entitled to hear appeals from those courts.

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12. Changes to these terms

NRT may amend these Payment Terms from time to time.

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An amendment applies prospectively to goods or services ordered or requested after the amended terms have been made available to the customer. An amendment does not retrospectively alter payment terms applying to an existing invoice unless NRT and the customer agree otherwise in writing.

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13. Financial Hardship

This provision is only applicable to individuals (including sole traders). It is not applicable to a Proprietary Limited (Pty Ltd), Limited (Ltd), Incorporated, or similar corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, any entity regulated by the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) is a non-exempt entity.

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Financial hardship provisions do not extend to persons that are covered by Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 9AD (officers of corporations).

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For all other persons, financial hardship is not an excuse not to pay an invoice, but means Northern Rivers Toxicology will consider a payment plan at no additional expense. Please complete pages 3 and 4 of a UCPR Examination Notice (UCPR Form 51) (ensuring you put your name and date of birth on both pages) and return it to daniel@forensictoxicology.com.au before your invoice due date for consideration.

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If approved, you will receive an email with the weekly payment we expect you to make.

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Northern Rivers Toxicology, New South Wales, Australia