Our Fees
All fees, drug charges, and consumables are subject to VAT at the current rate. Professional fees are determined by the time and expertise involved and the drugs, materials, and consumables used.
You will receive an itemised invoice for every consultation, surgical procedure, or transaction. Estimates of treatment costs are available upon request, and we will always do our best to meet them; however, please be aware that estimates are a guide only — a horse’s condition may not follow a predictable course and additional treatment may be required. We will always endeavour to keep you informed of costs as they arise. Please do not hesitate to speak to the attending veterinary surgeon if cost is a concern. Please check your invoice thoroughly upon receipt and let us know within 7 days if you believe there has been an error. We regret that invoices cannot be amended once this 7-day period has passed.
Payment Terms
Payment is due within 7 days of the date of the invoice. We accept the following methods of payment:
- BACS bank transfer (details shown on your invoice — our preferred method)
- Card (credit or debit)
- Cash
- Cheque (made payable to De Boer and Taylor Equine Vets)
We accept payment in pounds sterling (GBP) only.
New Clients
New clients will be asked to pay at the time of consultation until a satisfactory payment history has been established with us. Payment in advance may also be required for certain services, including pre-purchase examinations and planned surgical procedures.
Our vets carry card payment facilities and are happy to take payment at the yard, making it as straightforward as possible to settle at the time of visit.
Overdue Accounts
We appreciate that unexpected veterinary bills can be difficult, and we will always try to work with you. If you are experiencing difficulty settling your account, please contact us as soon as possible — we would far rather discuss a solution than pursue formal recovery action.
However, where accounts are not settled in accordance with our payment terms:
- A late payment fee of £100 will be applied to any invoice outstanding beyond 28 days from the invoice date. This charge reflects the administrative costs of managing overdue accounts.
- Overdue accounts may be referred to a debt collection agency or submitted to the County Court for recovery. All associated costs — including court fees, collection agency charges, and legal costs — will be passed on to the account holder in full.
- We reserve the right to suspend services to clients with outstanding balances until the account is brought up to date.
- Any bank fees incurred by the practice as a result of a late, returned, or failed payment will be passed on to your account.
- Any returned cheques or declined card payments will result in the account reverting to the original outstanding sum, plus any bank or administrative charges incurred.
Insurance Claims
De Boer and Taylor Equine Vets strongly supports the principle of insuring your horse against unexpected illness or injury, and we are happy to assist with insurance claims wherever we can.
Please note that direct insurance claims — where payment is made by your insurer directly to the practice — are not an automatic right. We offer this as a goodwill gesture and at our discretion. The following conditions apply:
- A valid, fully completed claim form must be submitted within 7 days of the work being carried out.
- The policy excess must be paid by you in advance before any direct billing arrangement can be agreed. If you are unsure of your excess at the time of treatment, a flat excess of £200 will be charged. Any overpayment will be refunded to you once the claim has been fully settled by your insurer.
- You remain liable for the full invoice amount at all times until payment is received in full from your insurer. If your insurer has not settled the account within 30 days of the claim being submitted, we reserve the right to request payment from you directly.
- If a claim is unsuccessful or only partially settled, any outstanding balance is payable by you immediately.
- We will provide all reasonable clinical information to support your claim, but we are unable to negotiate directly with insurers on your behalf regarding policy terms or claim decisions.
- Even where a direct claim has been agreed, you will still receive a copy of your invoice so that you can monitor the amount being claimed and ensure it does not exceed your policy limit.
Inability to Pay
If you find yourself unable to settle your account, please contact us without delay. Instalments or part-payment arrangements may be considered at the discretion of the practice and must be agreed in writing in advance. We will always try to find a workable solution.
Prescription Medicines
Prescription-only veterinary medicines (POM-Vs) can be dispensed directly by the practice or, upon request, we can provide a written prescription for you to obtain them elsewhere. A prescription charge applies.
UK law requires that a veterinary surgeon must have examined an animal within the preceding six months in order to issue a prescription. This means that animals receiving repeat prescriptions will need to be seen by one of our vets at least every six months, or more frequently depending on the condition being treated, as directed by the attending veterinary surgeon.
The quantity of medication prescribed is always a clinical decision made at the discretion of the prescribing veterinary surgeon, based on the animal’s individual needs and the requirements of the relevant prescribing legislation.
Please allow at least 48 hours for repeat or written prescription requests.
Zour Responsibility
By requesting our services, you confirm that you are the owner of the animal concerned, or that you have the owner’s authority to consent to examination and treatment. The account holder is responsible for all fees incurred, regardless of any private arrangement with a third party.
These terms were last updated June 2026. No addition or variation to these conditions will be binding unless agreed in writing by a practice director.