BOC LIMITED

Payment due end of month following month of invoice

There is a standard process which is undertaken on our behalf by a third party, Accenture. The Accenture Accounts Payable (AP) Helpdesk is a team formulated to provide assistance to the Vendor on queries relating to payment issues. The AP helpdesk team is responsible for investigating each payment query and then working with both the Processing team and BOC personnel to resolve the query. Communication is then sent to the vendor via call or email based on the mode of request and the issue is closed. If this process does not resolve the dispute the next escalation would be the terms stipulated within the contract, it is very dependent on the actual contract but the typical terms on BOC drafted contracts are:

Clause 9.9 If the Customer reasonably disputes all or a part of a Supplier Invoice, it shall notify the Supplier promptly. The Supplier shall respond to credit request within 5 working days and supply agreed credits within 3 working days of agreeing that such a credit will be issued. The Customer shall pay only the undisputed part of the invoice. The parties shall as soon as practicable commence good faith negotiations to resolve the disputed part of the Invoice in accordance with Clause 30.

Clause30.3 If the Commercial Director of the Supplier and Head of Procurement of the Customer fail to resolve the matter within one calendar month, then either Party may refer the dispute to an appropriate court or tribunal, or, if both Parties agree, may opt for mediation. The commencement of mediation shall not prevent the Parties commencing or continuing court proceedings.