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Fee Policy

This Fee Policy sets out how General Standards charges for its work, and is in addition to the Standard Terms. This includes charges on specific matters and general queries. Where time is charged, please refer to our Standard Rates.

If you are unsure about a Fee, you should contact australia@generalstandards.co.

Standard Prices

General Standards publishes its Standard Prices for most of its services. This is a fixed-fee with set inclusions and processes.

Standard Prices usually include:

  • 2 parties only to a single document
  • 1 Consultation (to start the work)
  • Up to 2 rounds of amendments (as needed)
  • Finalisation (getting it ready to sign/use)
  • Digital signing for 2 parties using HelloSign.com (where need or possible)

    • Where any of the inclusions change, the Standard Price may vary.

    For example, if a contract has more than 2 parties, or there a 2 parties signing the same type of document with the Company.

    Standard Prices are also based on performing the work in a defined process and timespan:

  • Work performed in the scheduled Work Window (and not urgently)
  • Feedback is received promptly (usually 3 business days)
  • Finalisation is approved promptly (usually 2 business days)
  • Documents are signed promptly (usually 2 business days)

    • Where the client changes any of the process, work done outside of the process may be separately charged.

    For example, if feedback on a document is not received for several weeks, the amendments may be charged on a time cost basis.

    We will let you know if a Standard Price changes, or if there are any additional charges due to changes to the inclusions or processes, before you incur those charges.

    Consultations

    Consultations are discussion-based bookings, whether performed online, on-phone or in-person.

    New Clients

  • If you are not yet a client, there is no charge for your consultation (as its purpose is usually to provide you with a quote).

    • Existing Clients

  • Consultations for Standard Clients usually have fixed price of $99 for 15 minute consultations, or $199 for 30 minute consultations (which is less than our Standard Rates). Unless consultation run materially shorter or longer, no adjustments to the price apply.
  • Most Standard Contracts & Services include upfront consultation (usually no more than 30 minutes), which is included in the price. Additional consultations are charged a their Standard Price, unless agreed otherwise.
  • Where a consultation is primarily to obtain a Quote for a new Matter, we will credit the value of the consultation to any Fees for that new Matter started within 30 days.
  • If a consultation is cancelled by the Client, the Client will be entitled to take up another consultation within 30 days, however no refunds will be offered.

    • Minor Services & Queries

    It is inherent in the nature of commercial legal services that clients have "quick questions" that need to be resolved, and we want to help. But no matter how large or small the query, the same legal professional standards apply to our answers (ie we're still liable if we're wrong).

    Clients should expect that if they have a query, fees will apply for its answer. This includes queries about closed matters or clarifications on existing documents (unless of course we are fixing an error of our making). Clients are able to book Consultations (see above) as an affordable and practical way to have minor queries answered. Where queries are put to us in writing, we will record the time for our response at our Standard Rates - if we feel that the cost of doing so will exceed the cost of a 15 minute Consultation, we will advise you in advance and seek your consent before continuing. However we have no obligation to answer a minor query if we do not believe we will be remunerate for doing so.

    Fixed Fee and Capped Fee Services

    Fixed Fee Services

    Fixed Fees are invoiced upfront, and payable before commencement of the Work Window.

    A Work Window for a Fixed Fee Matter is not confirmed until payment is received. General Standards may cancel or reschedule a Work Window if payment is not received within 2 business days prior to the scheduled Work Window.

    Where you don't provide feedback in a timely manner under a Fixed Fee matter, General Standards may require you to provide feedback with 5 days, which if not provided shall end the Fixed Fee. General Standards may refund the Fees paid for any item in a Fixed Fee Matter that has not commenced, however all work on items commenced will be considered paid in full.


    Capped Fee Services

    Capped Fees are time cost matter where the Client pays the lesser of the time cost at our Standard Rates or the the Standard Price.

    The Capped Fee only applies to the usual inclusions and processes of the Standard Price. Any work in excess to the inclusions, or outside of the process, will also be charged at the Standard Rates but not included in the Capped Fees. We will let you know if work attracts extra charges before you incur the costs.

    All work on Capped Fee Matters are billed twice per month, on 7 day terms. We will bill any part of the Capped Fee, irrespective of the status of the Matter, up to the Capped Fee (after which we will not send further invoices).


    General Standards Pty Ltd
    ​ABN 33 634 696 512
    ​Revolver Lane, 231 Chapel Street Prahran VIC 3181
    ​Web: generalstandards.co

    Liability limited by a scheme approved
    ​under Professional Standards Legislation