1. Applicability
1.1 These general terms and conditions apply to all agreements and assignments between ViBel, a brand by Roland Wampers BE0516.865.191, De Romboutweg 142, 2930 Brasschaat and its customers (the Customer), and, in a general manner, to all their business relations. If required, they are completed by special terms and conditions (together the Conditions).
1.2 The Conditions can only be amended by explicit, written agreement. They are deemed as accepted by the Customer by the simple fact of placing an order for an Assignment, even if they are in contradiction with its own general or special terms and conditions.
2. Definitions
Assignment: the services to be provided by ViBel as listed in an agreement between ViBel and the Customer or in any other document duly accepted by ViBel according to Clause 3.2 of the Conditions.
3. Authority
3.1 The Customer is bound by every order he places. His employees, sales representatives, agents or intermediaries are indisputably deemed to being vested with the necessary authority for committing the latter.
3.2 The employees, sales representatives, agents or intermediaries are not vested with the authority to bind ViBel. The offers, purchase orders and purchase order confirmations signed by them only commit ViBel after written ratification by a director or a manager duly authorized to this effect, except for instances where the Assignment has already been performed. ViBel reserves the right either to revoke an order that has not been so ratified or to ratify such an order at any time.
4. Information and cooperation of the Customer
4.1 Before signing an agreement or giving an Assignment, the Customer is to make sure the services to be provided by ViBel meet his needs. ViBel accepts no liability resulting from an error of choice or appreciation of the Customer.
4.2 All Assignments are carried out by ViBel on the basis of data, information, requests and/or requirements provided by the Customer. The Customer shall ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data or other information.
4.3 The Customer shall provide its complete cooperation for the proper execution of the Assignment and make all necessary items and persons available to ViBel, including, if requested, a work area with appropriate facilities, employees , as well as access to all necessary documents and data..
5. Delivery
5.1 ViBel shall commence execution of the Assignment after being bound according to Clause 3.2 of these Conditions. Should ViBel commence execution of the Assignment prior thereto, ViBel reserves the right to suspend execution of the Assignment.
5.2 Delivery dates or performance terms, if any, shall o.a. only be considered as a time period within which ViBel shall strive with best efforts to execute the Assignment. Such delivery dates or performance terms are merely indicative, it being understood that the length of the Assignment can be influenced by several factors, such as the quality of the provided information and cooperation. A delay may not, in any circumstances, give rise to the cancellation of an Assignment or to any indemnity, unless intentional fault.
5.3 The delivery of services by ViBel takes place at the places and time that the services are performed.
6. Third parties
6.1 The Customer shall not involve any third party for the execution of the Assignment without ViBel's prior written consent.
6.2 If deemed necessary by ViBel, third parties can be involved in the execution of the Assignment and the Customer shall cooperate fully and, if necessary, sign a separate agreement with such third party upon ViBel's request.
7. Liability
7.1 ViBel undertakes to perform its contractual obligations with all reasonable care according to usual professional practices, with the explicit exclusion of any obligation of result.
7.2 ViBel shall have no liability, whether in contract or in tort, for loss of or damage to Customer regardless of whether or not ViBel may have been negligent, except for such loss or damage which is caused by ViBel's fraud and/or willful misconduct. ViBel shall have no liability to Customer for any indirect, or consequential damages whether or not arising from or in connection with (i) a breach of its obligations or (ii) its negligence in the performance of its obligations, except for such losses or damages which are caused by ViBel's fraud and/or willful misconduct.
7.3 ViBel's liability shall in any case be limited to the fees actually paid to ViBel by the Customer during the current agreement with a maximum of EUR 50.000.
7.4 ViBel's liability exists solely when Customer immediately and appropriately notifies ViBel of the deficiency in writing and at the latest within twenty days after occurrence of the damage.
7.5 The Customer shall indemnify and hold harmless ViBel from any claim from third parties as a consequence of the work performed by ViBel.
8. Prices and payments
8.1 Price lists and specifications and quotations are supplied for information only and can be amended by ViBel without notice as long as there is no agreement. All prices are VAT exclusive ex operational headquarters, with charges and taxes in addition. All invoices are drawn up in euro unless agreed upon otherwise in writing.
8.2 ViBel shall invoice the amount, appropriately itemized, owed by Customer. The invoicing occurs monthly on the basis of the services and costs made. All invoices are payable within 30 days of the invoice date. These payments shall not be subject to any compensation or deduction.
8.3 Any claim relating to an invoice, must be sent to by registered mail within five working days of its receipt, which is presumed to be effective three working days after the date of the invoice. After this period, no further claim shall be taken into account. A claim may in no circumstances justify suspension of payment.
8.4 Should Customer fail to fulfill any obligation upon written notification of breach by ViBel, ViBel reserves the right to charge all incurred costs to Customer, including judicial and extra-judicial expenses, with regard to the collection of debts from Customer. Extra-judicial collection costs amount to 15% of the debt, with a minimum of EUR 500. Finally, any failure to pay an invoice at maturity, any protest of an unaccepted bill of exchange, any request for an amicable or judicial composition, any suspension of payment or any other fact that could imply the Customer's insolvency, shall by right and without summons entail the immediate payment of all outstanding invoices and Customer shall be charged interest on a monthly basis, at the legal percentage rate, on all outstanding debts starting from the date of failure to pay. Furthermore, these situations shall vest ViBel with the authority to suspend its own obligations and to cancel all or part of the contracts in progress without any other formality than a notification by registered mail, and without indemnity.
8.5 Without prejudice to fixed price agreements, the indebted amount may be increased with order costs, postage costs and costs of third parties. An increase can also take place in the event that activities have to take place outside of ViBel's office. In the event that activities need to take place outside of ViBel's office, hourly rates, travel and waiting- time compensations, actual travel and/or kilometer compensation, hotel expenses and any other costs connected to such services can be charged. The travel and waiting- time compensation amounts to 50% of the current hourly rate. The means of transportation shall be determined by ViBel.
8.6 The prices are among other things based on the costs of salaries, social premiums, materials, and travel and accommodation costs, etc., as well as the rate of exchange between the currencies as at the time of closing of the agreement. With the exception of fixed price agreements, ViBel is authorized in case of changes to one or more of the cost items and changes in the rate of exchange, to adjust the prices to these changes.
8.7 When invoices are to be based on a fixed price, this means that Assignment shall be performed on the basis of prior agreed upon price, quotations and specifications. Price is fixed according to variables applicable at the time of closing of the agreement. Changes in the Assignment can lead to a change in the tariffs and costs indicated in the quotations and specifications.
8.8 When invoices are to be based on subsequent calculation, this means that a global cost estimate of the Assignment can be made. At the end of the Assignment, all costs actually incurred related shall be calculated and charged. The Customer is, then, aware that there is a possibility that the estimate made earlier could be lower than the costs actually incurred.
8.9 If no specific agreement has been made regarding billing, the Assignment shall be performed on the basis of subsequent calculation.
8.10 ViBel has the right to charge down payments which are deducted from the price. Down payments constitute the start of the execution of the Assignment and not a deposit that the Customer may surrender in order to free himself from his obligations.
9. Intellectual property rights
9.1 All intellectual property rights, industrial property rights and other rights resulting from all activities carried out by ViBel regardless of where and when carried out, reside with ViBel. Customer shall, at ViBel's request and cost, but without any other consideration, execute all documents and do all acts necessary or desirable to confirm in ViBel all right, title and statutory protection.
10. Termination, adjustment and cancellation
10.1 The agreement may be terminated with immediate effect and without prior notice (i) in case of failure by either party to observe or perform any term or covenant under any term or provision of any agreement as far as such failure has not be remedied within two weeks after a written request from the other party to remedy such failure and (ii) in case either party makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, admits in writing its inability to pay its debts when due, commits an act of bankruptcy, is adjudicated or petitioned for the adjudication of bankruptcy or insolvency or relief from its creditors or the appointment of a trustee or receiver, is subject to any of the proceedings instituted against it for bankruptcy or insolvency or relief of creditors
10.2 If the necessary data or other information are not, and/or not in time, and/or not in accordance with the agreement, made available to ViBel, or if the Customer fails to meet its obligations in any other way, ViBel is entitled to terminate or dissolve or to suspend the execution of the Assignment and to charge all costs and damages incurred.
10.3 If changes and/or new facts arise in regard to data or information provided earlier, ViBel shall always be entitled either to adjust or to terminate or dissolve the agreement and to charge all costs and damages incurred..
10.4 If the Customer cancels an Assignment, the Customer shall be charged without delay damage compensation equal to 50% of the price without prejudice to the full invoicing of any work already performed and costs made by ViBel.
11. Force majeure
11.1 Neither party is obligated to fulfill any obligation if prevented from doing so as a result of circumstances, which can be considered beyond its fault, and by law, legal act, or generally accepted practices can not be held accountable for. ViBel reserves the right, in the case of force majeure, to collect payment for obligations already fulfilled before force majeure was known.
11.2 When force majeure is of a temporary nature ViBel has the right to suspend its commitments without any form of damage compensation. In the event that force majeure exceeds three-month each party has the right to terminate the agreement without any form of damage compensation.
12. Confidentiality
12.1 ViBel and the Customer mutually commit themselves to the confidentiality of all data and information concerning each other's organization, each other's clients, files, and Products, which they become aware of while working for each other or for Customer's clients.
13. Varia
13.1 The Customer may not assign any of its rights and obligations resulting from its relationship with ViBel to a third party without ViBel's prior written consent.
13.2 If one or more terms of the Conditions are nullified, declared to be nullified, annihilable or have lost their validity in another way, the other terms shall remain in force undiminished. In regard to terms that are nullified, that are declared to be nullified, annihilable or lose their validity in another way, parties shall consult with each other to try to reach a substitute arrangement in such a way that the parties shall strive for the maintenance of the Conditions in their totality.
13.3 All agreements between ViBel and Customer, including the Conditions, are governed by Belgian law. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with agreements between ViBel and Customer shall be for the exclusive jurisdiction of the court of Antwerp.
13.4 If these general terms and conditions are also provided in another language than the Dutch language to the Customer and if divergences of interpretation exist between the different language texts, the Dutch text shall prevail.