1. Definitions
1.1 “Water Heater Brokers” shall mean Water Heater Brokers Limited, its successors and assigns or any person acting on behalf of and with the authority of Water Heater Brokers 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd to the Customer.
1.3 “Guarantor” shall mean that person (or persons) who agrees to be liable for the debts of the Customer on a principal debtor basis.
1.4 “Goods” shall mean all Goods supplied by Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd to the Customer.
1.5 “Services” shall mean all services supplied by Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd and the Customer in accordance with clause 4 of this contract.
2. Consumer Guarantees Act 1993
2.1 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd to the Customer.
3. Acceptance
3.1 Any instructions received by Water Heater Brokers Ltd from the Customer for the supply of Goods and/or the Customer’s acceptance of Goods supplied by Water Heater Brokers Ltd shall constitute acceptance of the terms and conditions contained herein.
3.2 Where more than one Customer has entered into this agreement, the Customers shall be jointly and severally liable for all payments of the Price.
3.3 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd.
3.4 The Customer shall give Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd as a result of the Customer’s failure to comply with this clause.
3.5 Goods are supplied by Water Heater Brokers Ltd only on the terms and conditions of trade herein to the exclusion of anything to the contrary in the terms of the Customer’s order notwithstanding that any such order is placed on terms that purport to override these terms and conditions of trade.
4. Price and Payment
4.1 At Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s sole discretion the Price shall be either:
(a) as indicated on invoices provided by Water Heater Brokers Ltd to the Customer in respect of Goods supplied; or
(b) Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s quoted Price (subject to clause 4.2) which shall be binding upon Water Heater Brokers Ltd provided that the Customer shall accept Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s quotation in writing within thirty (30) days.
4.2 Water Heater Brokers Ltd reserves the right to change the Price in the event of a variation to Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s quotation. Any variation from the plan of scheduled Services or specifications of the Goods (including, but not limited to, any variation as a result of additional work required due to unforeseen circumstances or as a result of increases to Water Heater Brokers Ltd in the cost of Goods and labour) will be charged for on the basis of Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s quotation and will be shown as variations on the invoice.
4.3 At Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s sole discretion a deposit may be required.
4.4 Water Heater Brokers Ltd may submit detailed progress payment claims:
(a) at intervals not less than monthly for work performed up to the end of each month; or
(b) in accordance with Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s specified payment schedule; and such payment claims may include the reasonable value of authorised variations and the value of any Goods delivered to the site but not yet installed.
4.5 At Water Heater Brokers Ltd’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 due twenty (20) days following the end of the month in which a statement is posted to the Customer’s address or address for notices.
4.6 Time for payment 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.
4.7 Payment will be made by cash, or by cheque, or by bank cheque, or by credit card, or by direct credit, or by any other method as agreed to between the Customer and Water Heater Brokers Ltd.
4.8 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.
5. Delivery of the Goods
5.1 At Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s sole discretion delivery of the Goods shall take place when:
(a) the Customer takes possession of the Goods at the Customer’s nominated address (in the event that the Goods are delivered by Water Heater Brokers Ltd or Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s nominated carrier); or
(b) the Customer’s nominated carrier takes possession of the Goods in which event the carrier shall be deemed to be the Customer’s agent.
5.2 At Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s sole discretion the costs of delivery are:
(a) included in the Price; or
(b) in addition to the Price.
5.3 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd shall be entitled to charge a reasonable fee for redelivery.
5.4 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.
5.5 Water Heater Brokers Ltd may deliver the Goods by separate instalments. Each separate instalment shall be invoiced and paid for in accordance with the provisions in these terms and conditions.
5.6 The failure of Water Heater Brokers Ltd to deliver shall not entitle either party to treat this contract as repudiated.
5.7 Water Heater Brokers Ltd shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever due to failure by Water Heater Brokers Ltd to deliver the Goods (or any of them) promptly or at all, where due to circumstances beyond the control of Water Heater Brokers Ltd.
6. Risk
6.1 If Water Heater Brokers Ltd retains ownership of the Goods nonetheless, all risk for the Goods passes to the Customer on delivery.
6.2 If any of the Goods are damaged or destroyed following delivery but prior to ownership passing to the Customer, Water Heater Brokers Ltd is entitled to receive all insurance proceeds payable for the Goods. The production of these terms and conditions by Water Heater Brokers Ltd is sufficient evidence of Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s rights to receive the insurance proceeds without the need for any person dealing with Water Heater Brokers Ltd to make further enquiries.
6.3 Where the Customer has supplied materials for Water Heater Brokers Ltd to complete the Services, the Customer acknowledges that he accepts responsibility for the suitability of purpose, quality and any faults inherent in the materials. Water Heater Brokers Ltd shall not be responsible for any defects in the Services, any loss or damage to the materials (or any part thereof), howsoever arising from the use of materials supplied by the Customer.
6.4 The Customer acknowledges and agrees that Water Heater Brokers Ltd shall not be responsible for the performance or efficiency of the Goods where those Goods are installed by Water Heater Brokers Ltd in accordance the Customer’s and/or manufacturer’s specifications and instructions.
7. Title
7.1 Water Heater Brokers Ltd and Customer agree that ownership of the Goods shall not pass until:
(a) the Customer has paid Water Heater Brokers Ltd all amounts owing for the particular Goods; and
(b) the Customer has met all other obligations due by the Customer to Water Heater Brokers Ltd in respect of all contracts between Water Heater Brokers Ltd and the Customer.
7.2 Receipt by Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s ownership or rights in respect of the Goods shall continue.
7.3 It is further agreed that:
(a) where practicable the Goods shall be kept separate and identifiable until Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd to the Customer Water Heater Brokers Ltd may give notice in writing to the Customer to return the Goods or any of them to Water Heater Brokers Ltd. 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd has received payment in full for the Goods then the Customer shall hold any proceeds from the sale or disposal of the Goods, up to and including the amount the Customer owes to Water Heater Brokers Ltd for the Goods, on trust for Water Heater Brokers Ltd; 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd will be the owner of the end products; and
(e) if the Customer fails to return the Goods to Water Heater Brokers Ltd then Water Heater Brokers Ltd or Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s agent may (as the invitee of the Customer) enter upon and into land and premises owned, occupied or used by the Customer, or any premises where the Goods are situated and take possession of the Goods, and Water Heater Brokers Ltd will not be liable for any reasonable loss or damage suffered as a result of any action by Water Heater Brokers Ltd under this clause.
8. Personal Property Securities Act 1999 (“PPSA”)
8.1 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd to the Customer (if any) and all Goods that will be supplied in the future by Water Heater Brokers Ltd to the Customer.
8.2 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd may reasonably require to register a financing statement or financing change statement on the Personal Property Securities Register;
(b) indemnify, and upon demand reimburse, Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd; and
(d) immediately advise Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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.
8.3 Water Heater Brokers Ltd and the Customer agree that nothing in sections 114(1)(a), 133 and 134 of the PPSA shall apply to these terms and conditions.
8.4 The Customer waives its rights as a debtor under sections 116, 120(2), 121, 125, 126, 127, 129, 131 and 132 of the PPSA.
8.5 Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Water Heater Brokers Ltd, the Customer waives its right to receive a verification statement in accordance with section 148 of the PPSA.
8.6 The Customer shall unconditionally ratify any actions taken by Water Heater Brokers Ltd under clauses 8.1 to 8.5.
9. Defects
9.1 The Customer shall inspect the Goods on delivery and shall within two (2) days of delivery (time being of the essence) notify Water Heater Brokers Ltd of any alleged defect, shortage in quantity, damage or failure to comply with the description or quote. The Customer shall afford Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd has agreed in writing that the Customer is entitled to reject, Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s liability is limited to either (at Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s discretion) replacing the Goods or repairing the Goods.
1. Returns
10.1 Returns will only be accepted provided that:
(a) the Customer has complied with the provisions of clause 9.1; and
(b) Water Heater Brokers Ltd has agreed in writing to accept the return of the Goods; and
(c) the Goods are returned at the Customer’s cost within two (2) days of the delivery date; and
(d) Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd may (in its discretion) accept the return of Goods for credit but this may incur a handling fee of twenty percent (20%) of the value of the returned Goods plus any freight.
10.3 Non-stocklist items or Goods made to the Customer’s specifications are under no circumstances acceptable for credit or return.
1. Warranty
11.1 For Goods not manufactured by Water Heater Brokers Ltd, the warranty shall be the current warranty provided by the manufacturer of the Goods. Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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.
11.2 The conditions applicable to the warranty given on Goods supplied by Water Heater Brokers Ltd are contained on the “Warranty Card” that will be supplied with the Goods.
11.3 In the case of second hand Goods, the Customer acknowledges that he has had full opportunity to inspect the same and that he accepts the same with all faults and that no warranty is given by Water Heater Brokers Ltd as to the quality or suitability for any purpose and any implied warranty, statutory or otherwise, is expressly excluded. Water Heater Brokers Ltd shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to the Goods, or caused by the Goods, or any part thereof however arising.
2. Intellectual Property
12.1 Where Water Heater Brokers Ltd has designed, drawn or written Goods for the Customer, then the copyright in those designs and drawings and documents shall remain vested in Water Heater Brokers Ltd, and shall only be used by the Customer at Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s discretion.
12.2 The Customer warrants that all designs or instructions to Water Heater Brokers Ltd will not cause Water Heater Brokers Ltd to infringe any patent, registered design or trademark in the execution of the Customer’s order and the Customer agrees to indemnify Water Heater Brokers Ltd against any action taken by a third party against Water Heater Brokers Ltd in respect of any such infringement.
12.3 The Customer agrees that Water Heater Brokers Ltd may use any documents, designs, drawings or Goods created by Water Heater Brokers Ltd for the purposes of advertising, marketing, or entry into any competition.
3. Default and Consequences of Default
13.1 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s sole discretion such interest shall compound monthly at such a rate) after as well as before any judgment.
13.2 In the event that the Customer’s payment is dishonoured for any reason the Customer shall be liable for any dishonour fees incurred by Water Heater Brokers Ltd.
13.3 If the Customer defaults in payment of any invoice when due, the Customer shall indemnify Water Heater Brokers Ltd from and against all costs and disbursements incurred by Water Heater Brokers Ltd in pursuing the debt including legal costs on a solicitor and own client basis and Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s collection agency costs.
13.4 Without prejudice to any other remedies Water Heater Brokers Ltd may have, if at any time the Customer is in breach of any obligation (including those relating to payment) Water Heater Brokers Ltd may suspend or terminate the supply of Goods to the Customer and any of its other obligations under the terms and conditions. Water Heater Brokers Ltd will not be liable to the Customer for any loss or damage the Customer suffers because Water Heater Brokers Ltd has exercised its rights under this clause.
13.5 If any account remains overdue after thirty (30) days then an amount of the greater of twenty dollars ($20.00) or ten percent (10%) of the amount overdue (up to a maximum of two hundred dollars ($200.00)) shall be levied for administration fees which sum shall become immediately due and payable.
13.6 Without prejudice to Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s other remedies at law Water Heater Brokers Ltd shall be entitled to cancel all or any part of any order of the Customer which remains unfulfilled and all amounts owing to Water Heater Brokers Ltd shall, whether or not due for payment, become immediately payable in the event that:
(a) any money payable to Water Heater Brokers Ltd becomes overdue, or in Water Heater Brokers Ltd’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.
4. Security and Charge
14.1 Despite anything to the contrary contained herein or any other rights which Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd or Water Heater Brokers Ltd’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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd (or Water Heater Brokers Ltd’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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd elect to proceed in any manner in accordance with this clause and/or its sub-clauses, the Customer and/or Guarantor shall indemnify Water Heater Brokers Ltd from and against all Water Heater Brokers Ltd’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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd or Water Heater Brokers Ltd’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 14.1.
5. Cancellation
15.1 Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd shall repay to the Customer any sums paid in respect of the Price. Water Heater Brokers Ltd shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from such cancellation.
15.2 In the event that the Customer cancels delivery of the Goods the Customer shall be liable for any loss incurred by Water Heater Brokers Ltd (including, but not limited to, any loss of profits) up to the time of cancellation.
15.3 Cancellation of orders for Goods made to the Customer’s specifications or non-stocklist items will definitely not be accepted, once production has commenced.
6. Privacy Act 1993
16.1 The Customer and the Guarantor/s (if separate to the Customer) authorises Water Heater Brokers Ltd to:
(a) collect, retain and use any information about the Customer and/or Guarantors, for the purpose of assessing the Customer’s and/or Guarantors creditworthiness or marketing products and services to the Customer and/or Guarantors; and
(b) disclose information about the Customer and/or Guarantors, whether collected by Water Heater Brokers Ltd from the Customer and/or Guarantors directly or obtained by Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 and/or Guarantors.
16.2 Where the Customer and/or Guarantors are an individual the authorities under clause 16.1 are authorities or consents for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1993.
16.3 The Customer and/or Guarantors shall have the right to request Water Heater Brokers Ltd for a copy of the information about the Customer and/or Guarantors retained by Water Heater Brokers Ltd and the right to request Water Heater Brokers Ltd to correct any incorrect information about the Customer and/or Guarantors held by Water Heater Brokers Ltd.
7. Customer’s Disclaimer
17.1 The Customer hereby disclaims any right to rescind, or cancel any contract with Water Heater Brokers Ltd or to sue for damages or to claim restitution arising out of any inadvertent misrepresentation made to the Customer by Water Heater Brokers Ltd and the Customer acknowledges that the Goods are bought relying solely upon the Customer’s skill and judgment.
8. Construction Contract Act 2002
18.1 The Customer hereby expressly acknowledges that:
(a) Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd by a particular date; and
(iv) Water Heater Brokers Ltd has given written notice to the Customer of its intention to suspend the carrying out of construction work under the construction contract.
(b) if Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 has not been complied with.
(c) if Water Heater Brokers Ltd exercises the right to suspend work, the exercise of that right does not:
(i) affect any rights that would otherwise have been available to Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd suspending work under this provision.
9. General
19.1 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.
19.2 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 Auckland.
19.3 Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd of these terms and conditions.
19.4 In the event of any breach of this contract by Water Heater Brokers Ltd the remedies of the Customer shall be limited to damages which under no circumstances shall exceed the Price of the Goods.
19.5 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd nor to withhold payment of any invoice because part of that invoice is in dispute.
19.6 Water Heater Brokers Ltd may license or sub-contract all or any part of its rights and obligations without the Customer’s consent.
19.7 Water Heater Brokers Ltd 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 Water Heater Brokers Ltd notifies the Customer of such change.
19.8 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.
19.9 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.
19.10 The failure by Water Heater Brokers Ltd to enforce any provision of these terms and conditions shall not be treated as a waiver of that provision, nor shall it affect Water Heater Brokers Ltd’s right to subsequently enforce that provision.
© Copyright – Water Heater Brokers Ltd – 2017