Terms and Conditions of Business for Tribe Vets

Tasker & Najman Ltd, trading as Tribe Vets, is committed to providing the highest possible standard of care and attention to our patients and their owners.

Thank you for trusting us to care for your pet. To assist us in providing this service, our Practice Terms and Conditions are shown below. 

If any points are unclear, please ask a member of our team. 

Fees

All fees are subject to VAT at the current rate, and are determined by the time spent on a case, and according to the drugs, materials, consumables and diets used. A detailed invoice is provided for every consultation, procedure or transaction. 

Full payment is required at the time of consultation, or, if your pet is admitted, when they are collected. You are liable for any fees incurred in the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of your pet even if your pet has been brought to us on your behalf by a third party. 

Estimates

Written estimates can be provided on request, and remain valid for a period of one month, but please bear in mind that any estimate given can only be approximate as often a pet’s illness may not follow a conventional course. We will always endeavour to contact you if we believe this estimate is likely to be exceeded. However, there may be circumstances when immediate treatment is required to prevent pain and suffering for your pet and as such we cannot guarantee the estimate will be the total final cost. Payment for services may be made with credit or debit card or cash- please note we are unable to give change. Settlement terms: If for any reason your account has not been settled as specified, we will initially send reminders to do so. Outstanding balances remaining unpaid without agreement after 21 days will incur an administrative charge of £40. If the account remains unpaid, it will be sent to a debt recovery agency who will apply additional charges plus statutory interest. Full details are available on request. 

Pet Insurance

Tribe Vets recommends the principle of veterinary insurance to protect against the unexpected fees incurred following illness or accident. It is your responsibility to settle your account with us and then reclaim the fees from your insurance company. We will do our best to process the insurance claims as soon as possible to minimise any inconvenience. In exceptional circumstances we offer direct insurance claims, for which there is an administration charge. Prior to this we will require a completed claim form and proof of insurance, including confirmation about exclusions and the policy excess. This excess, plus a direct claim administration fee, will need to be paid in full at the time.

Client Confidentiality

All information relating to both client and patient is held in confidence and in line with the Data Protection Acts and will not be disclosed except under the following circumstances: i) Where a client provides a confirmed request in writing. ii) Where another Veterinary Surgeon requests this in order to continue the patient's care. iii) To a court or agent ofTasker & Najman Ltd. T/A Tribe Vets as part of a legal process. iv) Where Tribe Vets use outsource reminder services for treatments, vaccinations or medication reminders. Further information can be found on our website. Case records and similar documents are the property of, and retained by, Tribe Vets. Copies, with a summary of the clinical history, may be passed on to another Veterinary Surgeon taking over the case upon request, or at the request of your insurance company. 

Ownership of Radiographs and Similar Records

The care given to your pet may involve making some specific investigations, for example, taking x-rays, or performing ultrasound scans. Although we make a charge for performing these investigations, and interpreting their results, ownership of the resulting record, for example, an x-ray radiograph, remains with the practice. Patient Photographs: Photographs of your pet or their conditions may sometimes be used for educational or marketing purposes. Please let us know if you would prefer this not to happen. 

Medications and Prescriptions

You may obtain Prescription Only Medicines, category V (POM-V) directly from Tribe Vets, OR ask for a written prescription and obtain these medicines from another veterinary surgeon or pharmacy. 

A written prescription may not be appropriate if your pet is an in-patient or immediate treatment is necessary. There is a charge for each written prescription. You will be informed, upon request, of the price of any medicine that may be dispensed for your pet. 

Tribe Vets may only prescribe POM-V medications or other medications for animals under their care. For animals with an ongoing disease condition we class "under their care" as having been seen within the last three to six months depending on the disease being treated and the medication being administered. A standard consultation charge will be applied for each re-examination under such circumstances. 

Under new regulations, we must have seen your pet within the past 12 months in order to prescribe or dispense flea and worm treatment. If your pet has not been seen by a vet at Tribe Vets within the past 12 months your pet will require a consultation with a vet to which a consultation fee will be charged. 

We request 72 hours notice for any medications requested from Tribe Vets (longer if ordered in)

Use of Unlicensed Medications

In certain cases, we may decide that the best treatment for your pet involves prescribing medication outside of the data sheet recommendations (ie ‘off label’) or a specially prepared unauthorised medicine, or a medicine imported from another country under a Special Treatment Authorisation. In accepting the treatment of your pet at Tribe Vets you accept that there may be risks and side effects associated with such treatments. 

Referrals and Second Opinions

We are committed to providing your pet with the highest quality of care so should you want a second opinion from either another vet within the practice or at another practice we are happy to facilitate the transfer of your pet's care. 

Should a clinical presentation require specialist investigations and treatments, we will discuss with you referral to a specialist centre of your choice. 

Opening Hours

Tribe Vet’s opening hours and consulting times are published online on our website www.tribe.vet and may vary. 

Tribe Vets provides digital access to a vet 24 hours a day via Vidivet. Vidivet is a separate provider and is not linked to Tribe Vets; use of their services will be subject to their own terms and conditions 

Outside these hours an emergency service operates at Eastcott Vets, Swindon, in line with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons guidelines. Details can be found on our website www.tribe.vet. Additional fees are charged by the out of hours provider for the provision of this exceptional service and estimates of these can be given at the time when the service is required; use of their services will be subject to their own terms and conditions. 

Complaints

We hope to ensure you never have reason to complain about the standards of service received from us. However, if you feel that there is something you wish to raise, please contact us in writing at Tribe Vets, 74 Eaton Rd, OX13 5JJ. We endeavour to respond in writing within 14 days. 

Healthcare Reminders

Tribe Vets will contact you either by letter, email, phone or SMS in order to advise you of your pet’s upcoming healthcare treatments including annual vaccinations. Whilst we make every effort to send out reminders for your pet’s healthcare, these are provided as a complementary service and the responsibility to keep them up to date remains with you. 

In particular, please be aware that rabies vaccination boosters need administering at very specific times so please keep a personal record of when this is due. Tribe Vets accepts no liability for any loss, damages or costs which may result from the failure of a client receiving any reminder.