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Author: TNTP LAW

Service Contracts: Basic Content You Need To Know

The service contract is a common type of civil contract, commonly used in today’s society. To ensure the contract performance is in accordance with the law and limit possible disputes, it is extremely necessary to understand the provisions of the law on service contracts. In this article, TNTP will analyze some basic contents about this type of contract.

I. What is a service contract?

According to the provisions of Article 513 of the Civil Code 2015, a service contract is an agreement between the parties whereby the service provider performs work for the client, and the client must pay a fee for that work to the service provider.

On the other hand, according to Clause 9, Article 3 of the Commercial Law 2005, service provision is a commercial activity, whereby one party (hereinafter referred to as service provider) is obliged to perform services for another party and receive payment; the service user (hereinafter referred to as the client) is obliged to pay a fee for the service provider and use the service as agreed.

Thus, it can be seen that a service contract is a type of contract whose object is work. In a service contract, the service provider must perform work for the benefit of the client, and the client is obliged to pay the service fee to the service provider based on the contents of provisions in the contract or as prescribed by law.

II. Legal features 

First, a service contract is a bilateral contract, where the two parties to the contract must perform obligations towards each other. Accordingly, the service provider performs an agreed-upon work for the benefit of the client. The client is obligated to pay the service provider.

Second, a service contract is a compensatory contract. Accordingly, the client must pay the service fee to the service provider after the service provider has completed the work. In case the service provided is not as agreed upon or the work is not completed on time, the client has the right to reduce the service fee and claim compensation for damage.

Third, as mentioned above, the object of the service contract is the work that the service provider must perform for the benefit of the client. The work considered as the object in the service contract must be work that can be feasibly executed. Additionally, the work must not be prohibited by law, contrary to social ethics, and must be carried out by entities with the authority to provide the service.

III. The form of the service contract

According to Article 74 of the 2005 Commercial Law, a service contract can be expressed verbally, in writing, or established by actual acts. For types of service contracts that are required by law to be in writing, the parties to the contract must adhere to those regulations. For example, according to the provisions in Article 90 and Article 124 of the Commercial Law 2005, promotional service contracts and contracts for displaying and introducing goods or services must be made in writing or in another form of equivalent value. The legally equivalent forms here include telegraph, telex, fax, data messages, and other forms as prescribed by the law (Clause 15, Article 3 of the Commercial Law 2005), or in other words, the contract is concluded in the form of an electronic contract (Article 33 of the Law on Electronic Transactions 2005).

IV. Basic contents 

A service contract may include the following basic terms:

+ The subject of the contract;
+ Rights and obligations of the client;
+ Rights and obligations of the service provider;
+ Payment for services;
+ Force majeure;
+ Penalties for violations and compensation for damage;
+ Unilaterally terminate the contract performance;
+ Continuation of the service contract;
+ Dispute resolution;
+ Term of effect.

Above is the content of the article “Service Contracts: Basic Content You Need to Know” that TNTP sent to readers. If you have any questions, please contact TNTP for the best support.

Best regards,

The fundamental terms in the service contract

In order to support readers have more useful information regarding drafting service contract, TNTP will analyze several terms that the parties should pay attention to when drafting service contract, including the time limit for service completion, rights and obligations of the parties, continue to perform the contract and unilaterally termination of the contract performance.

1. The time limit for service completion

The parties shall specify the time limit for completion of the work since this will be the basis for determining whether the service provider has breached the contract or not. If there is no specific agreement, the service provider must complete the service within a reasonable timeframe. This timeframe is determined based on the conditions and circumstances known to the service provider at the time of contract formation, including any relevant time requirements from the client regarding service completion.

In case the work can only be completed when certain conditions are met by the client or another service provider, that service provider has no obligation to complete its service until such conditions are met. Therefore, the parties should agree on the conditions that the client or another service provider needs to meet.

2. Rights and obligations of the parties

A service contract is a bilateral contract. Therefore, the parties have rights and obligations towards each other. Based on the actual situation, the parties themselves agree on their rights and obligations. The parties can refer to some basic contents regarding the rights and obligations as follows:

2.1. Rights and obligations of the client

● Rights: i) Require the service provider to perform the act strictly in accordance with the agreement on quality, quantity, time, and location as agreed; ii) Unilaterally terminate contract performance and demand compensation for damage if the service provider seriously breaches obligations agreed upon in the contract. The client should agree on specific cases where it is considered that the service provider seriously breaches obligations as a basis for requesting the breaching party to pay a penalty for the violation.

● Obligations: i) Pay the service fee to the service provider as agreed; ii) Provide sufficient information and documentation related to the service for the service contract that requires for the performance of the work.

2.2. Rights and obligations of the service provider

● Rights: i) Require the client to pay the fee; ii) Require the client to provide information, documents, and facilities; iii) Amend the terms of service in the interests of the client without necessarily asking for the opinion of the client where waiting for such opinion would cause damage to the client provided that the service provider promptly informs the client thereof; iv) Require the client to provide licenses for performing service; v) Be alerted to unusual events from the client.

● Obligations: i) Perform the work strictly in accordance with the agreement on quality, quantity, time and location and other matters; ii) Do not assign the work to another person for performance on its behalf without the consent of the client; iii) Take care of, and to return to the client after completion of the work, the documents and facilities provided to it; iv) Notify the client promptly of any inadequacy in the information or documents and any failure of the facilities to satisfy the quality required for the completion of the work; v) Keep confidential any information of which it has known during the period of providing the service as agreed or as provided by law; vi) Compensate the client for damage where the service provider causes any loss of or damage to the documents or facilities supplied or discloses confidential information; vii) Warn possible risks in the process of performing work for the client; viii) Develop service implementation plans; ix) Adjust the negotiated content in case the contract has any changes; x) Gather information before doing the work.

3. Continuation of the service contract

Article 521 of the Civil Code 2015 provides that, “If, after the expiry of the agreed period for the provision of services, the work has not been completed and the service provider continues its performance and the client is aware of this but does not object, the performance of the service contract shall automatically be deemed to continue in accordance with the agreed terms until the act is completed”. Therefore, the client shall consider whether there is a provision in the contract that the service provider is obligated to continue performing the work if the work is not completed and the period for the performance of the work is over. In case the client does not agree to let the service provider continue to perform the contract, the client shall specify this in the contract.

4. Unilateral termination of performance of the service contract

The parties shall consider and agree on specific cases of unilateral termination of contract performance. The parties can refer to the provisions of Article 520 of the Civil Code 2015, “Where the continued provision of services does not benefit the client, the client has the right to terminate unilaterally the contract performance but must provide reasonable prior notice to the service provider, in which case the client must pay a fee according to the portion of services already provided and must compensate for damage. Where the client seriously breaches obligations, the service provider has the right to terminate unilaterally the contract performance and demand compensation for damage.”

In addition to the terms above, the parties may further agree in the contract on the terms of force majeure; dispute settlement; terms of penalties for violations and compensation for damages; etc.

Above is the content of the article “The fundamental terms in the service contract” that TNTP sent to readers. If you have any questions, please contact TNTP for the best support.

Sincerely,

Instructions for drafting fundamental terms in a contract for the transport of property

Currently, the demand for buying and selling property of individuals and legal entities is increasing, leading to increasing demand for property transportation. To ensure the rights and interests of the carrier and the customer, it is crucial for both parties must be cautious and accurate in each provision of the contract. Typically, the contract for the transport of property shall include content such as information about the parties, a detailed description of the property being transported, time and method of transportation, etc. In this article, TNTP will analyze the contents that parties should pay attention to when drafting the contract for the transport of property.

1. The parties enter into the contract

The parties should state information regarding the carrier and the customer in the contract. Individuals shall specify information such as name, identification number, contact address, phone number, email, etc. Legal entities shall provide their name, head office address, tax code number, the person signing the contract (legal representative under the law or authorized representative), etc. When having the demand for transporting property, especially property of great value, the customer needs to find a reputable transportation company with verified information to avoid fraud. When signing the contract, the parties should pay attention to the signing authority of each party to avoid situations where the person signing the contract does not have the authority to do so.

2. Subject matter of transportation

The subject matter of transportation can include machinery, equipment, raw materials, fuel, consumer goods, and other properties, including live animals, containers, etc. Before entering into the contract, the carrier must verify the legal status of the transported property, specifically determining whether those are prohibited or restricted from transportation, whether they are considered dangerous goods, or if there are any specific requirements for transporting such property. Determining the legal status of the transported property is a mandatory task for the carrier because failure to comply with transportation regulations can result in civil liability, compensation for damages, administrative penalties, or even criminal liability.

After determining the legality of the transported property and the conditions to be complied with during their transportation, the parties need to specify the details of the property, such as quantity, type, model, appearance, specifications, value, etc. For example, for the property that is the television, the parties need to agree on its value, brand, type, screen size, screen type, year of manufacture, condition, etc., to avoid vague agreements such as transporting a television without specifying relevant information. A detailed agreement on the subject matter of transportation is a crucial factor in resolving contract disputes, such as cases of property substitution, loss, damage, or missing items during delivery.

At this provision, the parties shall agree on the packaging of the property, especially for the property of great value and fragile items.

3. Time of delivery and receipt of property

The parties need to agree in the contract on the beginning and end time of the transportation of property, the moment when the customer delivers the property to the carrier, and the time when the carrier delivers the property to the receiving party.

Specifying the above content in the contract will determine the corresponding obligations of each party. Accordingly, the parties should agree on some of the following contents in the contract, such as the obligation of the customer to deliver the property to the carrier on time as agreed. In case the customer fails to deliver the property on time, they must bear the waiting costs and transportation fees to the agreed location for the carrier. Similarly, if the carrier delays receiving the property at the agreed location, they must bear the additional costs incurred due to the delay.

Meanwhile, the parties shall agree on the signing of the property delivery record. This record is considered evidence that the receiving party has fully and accurately received the property, and the carrier has fulfilled its responsibility to deliver the property.

4. Location of receiving property

Typically, the property delivery location is the address of the receiving party. However, in many cases, this location can be a warehouse or another place designated by the receiving party. Therefore, this location shall be agreed upon by the parties in the contract.

The parties need to agree on the course of action when the property is delivered to the designated delivery location on time but there is no recipient to receive the property. If the parties do not specifically agree on this matter, it will be governed by Clause 3, Article 538 of the Civil Code 2015 as follows: “Where the property has been delivered to the point of delivery on time but there is no recipient of the property, the carrier may deposit such property at a place of the designated third party to receive the property (the bailment) and must notify immediately the customer or the recipient of the property. The customer or recipient of the property must bear the reasonable expenses incurred about the storage of the property. The obligation to deliver the property is fulfilled when the property has been sent at a place of the bailment, and the customer or the bailment has been informed of the storage arrangement.”

5. Payment for the transportation fee

The transportation fee is an extremely important aspect of the contract. The transportation fee shall be as agreed by the parties. However, if the law provides regulations on the transportation fee rate, such fee rate shall be applied.

The parties shall agree on the content of the transportation fee, such as whether it includes the loading and unloading costs of the property onto the means of transport; whether the transportation fee is all-inclusive or if there are additional costs; whether the fee includes value-added tax, etc.

Along with the transportation fee, the parties shall agree on the payment method in the contract. The parties can choose to pay in instalments or make full payments. Meanwhile, the parties shall agree on the payment terms. The parties can refer to the following provisions regarding payment terms as follow: full payment of transportation fee immediately after the parties enter into the contract or immediately after the property recipient receives the property or immediately after the carrier receives the property for transportation; payment in instalments corresponding to each stage such as contract signing, the carrier receiving the property for transportation, the property recipient receiving the property, etc.

The above is the content of the article “Instructions for drafting fundamental terms in a contract for the transport of property” sent to readers by TNTP. If you have any issues requiring assistance, please do not hesitate to contact TNTP for the best support.

Best regards,

Instructions for drafting fundamental terms in service contracts

The service contract is a type of contract whereby the service provider performs work for the client and the client pays a fee for that work. One of the essential skills for those who are working in the field of providing service is drafting service contracts. Drafting service contract requires specialized knowledge of legal matters, business, and the operations of the service industry. However, understanding and applying flexible legal regulations, practical situations, etc. is relatively complicated. Therefore, in this article, TNTP will analyze the basic contents that the parties should pay attention to when drafting service contract.

1. Information about the parties to the contract

The parties to the service contract could be individuals or organizations. Individuals shall specify the following information: full name, citizen identification/passport, address, and contact information (phone number/email). The organization shall clarify the following information: name, tax identification number, address, contact information (phone number, email), full name, and position of the person signing the contract (legal representative or authorized representative), etc.

For enterprises, the contract shall be signed by the legal representative or authorized representative. The legal representative’s information is usually shown in the company’s charter and the business registration certificate. In case the one person signing the contract is not the legal representative, written authorization is required. Therefore, in order to avoid the risk of the contract being invalidated, the parties should request to present one of the aforementioned documents when signing the contract.

When entering into the contract, the client should pay special attention to the civil act capacity of the service provider, in other words, whether the service provider fully meets the legal requirements for providing the service or not, in order to avoid using the service of a party that does not have the right to provide the service. The civil act capacity of the service provider is determined in each case as follows: i) The service might only be provided with a certificate or diploma and must be registered with the competent state authority; ii) The service can only be provided after registering the operation with the competent state authority; iii) The service can be provided in cases where certificates and diplomas are not required and there is no need to register the operation with the competent state authority.

2. Subject matter of the service contract (scope of work)

According to the provisions of law, the subject matter of the service contract is the work that is capable of being performed, which is not prohibited by law, and which does not contravene social morals. Service activities within the scope of legal prohibition include the following cases: i) Prohibited activities are codified in legal regulations such as illegal cross-border transportation of goods, drug transportation, etc. ii) Activities that the service provider does not meet the conditions to perform it. Before performing certain services such as medical services, insurance services, legal services, etc., the service provider must satisfy the statutory conditions. Subjects that have not yet met the statutory conditions are not entitled to perform service provision activities. Therefore, before entering into a contract, the service provider needs to clearly determine whether the requested service is feasible, complies with legal prohibitions, and aligns with social ethics. Based on these considerations, the service provider can make a decision on whether to agree to provide the service or not.

In order to ensure the performance of the agreed contents and to limit possible disputes, the parties need to agree in the contract regarding the work and scope of work that the service provider must perform. The more detailed the content of the work, the more it will limit risks for the parties.

3. Service fee

The service fee shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties. Nevertheless, for many types of services, the State has regulations on service fees, such as medical examination and treatment services. Service providers might not require payment over the frame rate prescribed by the State.

The service price is the basis for calculating the service fee and directly affects the obligation of the client to pay for the service and the right of the service provider to receive a fee for the service. Therefore, the parties shall detail the service fee in the contract. Service fee might be specified as a specific amount, determined by a pricing formula, determined by a price list or pricing formula applied by another service provider, or by the price list of the service provider.

4. Payment method

The parties can agree on the payment in cash, transfer, or make a payment order to the bank, etc. The payment can be paid once or divided into several instalments corresponding to each period performing work. It can be made immediately after the parties sign the service contract or after the service is to be done, etc. The law allows the subject to freely choose the payment method but shall comply with the law on finance and accounting.

5. Service fee reduction

The client can stipulate a reduction of the service fee in the following two cases: the work provided is not as agreed; the work is not completed due time. In order to limit disputes, the parties shall agree on the reduction of service fees in the two cases above.
Unsatisfactory service provision shall be divided into the following two cases: i) Work results are not as expected in the service contract; ii) The process of performing work does not comply with the specifications recorded in the service contract. In order to reduce the amount in this case, the parties must describe in detail the work results or the work performed. Failure to describe in detail can lead to the result of the client not having enough grounds to request the reduction in service fee in the event of a breach by the service provider.

For non-timely completion of services, the client should specify the time limit for service completion, which is an important basis for determining whether the service provider has violations or not.

Above is the content of the article “Instructions for drafting fundamental terms in service contracts” that TNTP sent to readers. If you have any questions, please contact TNTP for the best support.

Sincerely,

How businesses can avoid bad debt in the future

Although businesses have different goals and industries, their common purpose is to seek profits and generate income. One of the main reasons that can lead to cash flow deficits and reduced profits is the occurrence of difficult-to-collect bad debts. In this article, TNTP lawyers will provide advice on how businesses can prevent the occurrence of debts in the future.

1. Classifying and managing potential debts

One of the first things that businesses need to pay attention to avoid future debt is to assess, classify, and manage potential debts that have already occurred or may occur from partners. Classification can be based on various criteria, but the most fundamental ones are the Time of Debt Occurrence and the Value of the Debt.

The time of debt occurrence greatly affects the success of the debt recovery process because debtors tend to evade debts that have been outstanding for a long time without being reminded by the creditor. The longer the debt has been outstanding, the more difficult it becomes to recover, partly because debtors prioritize payments to creditors who exert the most pressure on them.

Regarding the value of the debt, businesses should prioritize the recovery of larger debts because the time required to recover the full amount of these debts will be prolonged, and to avoid situations where debtors become unable to pay, resulting in larger financial losses for the business. For smaller debts, businesses can consider sending reminders and notices before taking recovery measures to exert pressure.

Once a necessary list of debtors and their priority levels is established, businesses can easily make decisions regarding the debt recovery process and prevent any omissions or miscalculations of debts before proceeding with the necessary legal measures. The classification and management of potential debts are crucial stages for businesses to limit the occurrence of debts in the future and to prepare for the debt recovery process for inevitable debts.

2. Conduct regular payment requests and debt reconciliation

Before a regular debt turns into a bad debt, businesses need to regularly remind debtors to make payments. Regular contact and reminders will help businesses closely monitor the payment process of debtors. In case debtors encounter issues or difficulties in making payments, the business can be aware and prepare appropriate debt recovery measures.

In addition to urging and reminding, if possible, businesses can request debtors to sign a confirmation on the debt reconciliation statement. This will help the business closely monitor the payment process and the value of the debt. Furthermore, the debt reconciliation statement holds significant value in proving the business’s claims if the business decides to take legal action against the debtor at the authorized dispute resolution agency. With clear and authentic evidence from the debtor, the dispute resolution agencies will have sufficient grounds to consider accepting the business’s lawsuit request.

3. Utilize professional consulting services

Many businesses believe that professional debt recovery companies such as law firms only have experience in dispute resolution and debt collection. However, in reality, law firms also provide regular legal advisory services to help businesses mitigate risks during their operations, including providing advice on preventing bad debt risks.

The preventive advisory services for bad debt risks are carried out by experienced lawyers and legal experts who can identify potential risks and bad debts in business activities. This service is often conducted through financial assessments of businesses, examining financial records to identify priority debts for recovery, and reviewing important documents to ensure preventive measures are in place and prepared for debt recovery if necessary.

Law firms with years of debt recovery experience can provide a more professional evaluation than the internal staff of businesses that may lack experience in debt collection operations. Therefore, they can enhance the ability to prevent the occurrence of bad debts in business activities.

The above is an article by TNTP Law Firm on the topic: “How businesses can avoid bad debt in the future” It is hoped that this article will provide useful knowledge for businesses in your operations.

Best Regard,

 

Causes of bad debt arising

In today’s business operations, one of the main causes that lead to difficulties in cash flow control and affect profitability is the emergence of debt. So what are the common causes of bad debt? In this article, TNTP’s lawyer will provide insights into the causes of bad debt to give readers a better understanding of this issue.

1. Ineffective financial control

One of the most important causes of bad debt is ineffective financial control by businesses. Ineffective control is manifested by the absence of control procedures or unclear, specific, and transparent financial control processes, resulting in the wastage of the company’s financial resources. If the ineffective financial control persists, it will lead to a lack of capital for business development, reduce competitiveness, and even cause cash flow deficits, directly affecting the company’s operations.

Furthermore, ineffective financial control has a significant impact on the emergence of debt because the company cannot control or prevent potential debts with partners. This becomes a burden for the business over time because when the company lacks control and limits on debt, the amount of debt will increase over time, accompanied by capital deficits due to ineffective financial control within the company. This situation can push the company into a state of financial inability, and even lead to the cessation of operations.

2. Insufficient profits compared to expenses

The main objective in business operations for companies is profit. However, due to various reasons, ineffective business activities can result in low profits. Specifically, here are some reasons:

a) High input costs

Businesses incur input costs to provide services or products. However, depending on different periods and suppliers, as well as market demands, input costs can vary. In cases where the input costs exceed the profits generated, it will not be enough to compensate for the invested capital. This situation can lead to the emergence of debt if the source of the input costs is borrowed money.

b) Inadequate quality of output products/services to meet market demand:

In business operations, there is always continuous and harsh competition over time. If a business cannot provide products/services that meet the quality requirements of the market, it will gradually lose customers. Additionally, misidentifying customer segments, the quantity of customers, as well as the business’s ability to meet demand, can also lead to the inability to supply suitable products/services. If a business continuously fails to meet market demand, the emergence of debt will only be a matter of time because when it cannot meet market demand, profits will decrease over time. Eventually, the business will be unable to continue operating because the profits cannot compensate for the invested capital.

3. Inability to effectively recover the debt

One of the crucial reasons leading to the emergence of debt for businesses is the inability to offset expenses incurred in business operations with profits. In addition to ineffective business operations and inefficient capital management, the inability to effectively recover debt from unpaid partners is also a leading cause of bad debt for businesses.

There are several reasons why businesses may not have the ability to effectively recover debt, specifically:

a) Ineffective debt recovery team

To achieve effective debt recovery, the employees responsible for debt collection in the business need to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and experience to handle outstanding debts. In cases where these employees lack the required expertise in efficient debt recovery, it becomes difficult to recover the debts. Moreover, if the debt recovery personnel have an insufficient understanding of legal regulations, they may engage in unlawful debt recovery activities that seriously impact the business’s interests or even constitute criminal offenses as defined by the Penal Code.

b) Prolonged existence of debts

The longer a debt exists, the more challenging it becomes to recover. In such cases, the debtors tend to avoid payment to retain the capital for as long as possible. Allowing debts to linger for an extended period also poses risks to the business. Once the debtor accumulates a significant amount of debt, they may become unable to make payments. When the debtor loses the ability to pay, the chances of debt recovery become extremely difficult, often incurring additional costs without guaranteeing the full recovery of the debt.

The above is an article on the topic ” Causes of bad debt arising” based on the working experiences of TNTP’s lawyers. We hope that this article will bring benefits to the operations of your businesses.

Best Regard,

TNTP & ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM

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