Surcharge On Accounts
Sir, —As the owner of a small business, I am perturbed by the growing practice of firms’ adding to their accounts a percentage under “plusage” or “surcharge.” The amount shown is then deductible if the account is paid by the 20th of the following month. As I pay my accounts regularly this does not worry me unduly. However, an account I received today does. This account is for work done in November, the current month. A statement has been received already, which includes a surcharge of 5 per cent of the total amount owing. A note attached to the statement indicates that a discount (the amount of the surcharge) will be allowed if the account is paid by the end of the current month. What is the legal position regarding this surcharge? This account would normally be paid on December 20. Has this firm any right to demand a 5 per cent surcharge before the account is due?—Yours, etc., FAIR GO PLEASE. November 21, 1966.
[The district officer of the Department of Industries and Commerce (Mr A. V. Church) replies: “The department is not aware of any legal basis for either charging or demanding payment of a surcharge such as that referred to by your correspondent.”]
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19661207.2.146.1
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 20
Word Count
209Surcharge On Accounts Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 20
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.