1. Definitions
1.1 - Affiliate means: in relation to a party under this agreement, any entity that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control of that party.
1.2 - Ancillary Charges means: the charges set out in the Price List, disbursements paid to third parties and costs and charges set out in paragraph 8.5 and 8.6 below.
1.3 - Client means: the person, limited company or business instructing Redwood in relation to the Services.
1.4 - Control means: that a person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the other person (whether through the ownership of voting shares or power, ability to appoint directors, by contract or otherwise) and the terms "Controls", "Controlled" shall be interpreted accordingly.
1.5 - Controller means: as set out under the relevant Data Protection Legislation. However, if there is no definition under the relevant Data Protection Legislation, it means the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of Personal Data.
1.6 - Data Protection Legislation means: the UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45/2021 On the Protection of Personal Data, and any other applicable data protection legislation.
1.7 - Debt means: each sum owed to the Client, or notified by the Client to Redwood as owed, which Redwood is instructed to collect.
1.8 - Debtor means: the person, limited company or business instructed as owing monies to the Client.
1.9 - Minimum Commission means: a rate of 15% on Monies Recovered.
1.10 - Monies Recovered means: monies paid (including any payment to the Client, Redwood, an agent of the Client, a company or individual connected to the Client or any third party where the Debt is satisfied or partially satisfied) in relation to a Debt or the amount set-off or reduced as a contra charge against the Debt or the value of goods, monies or any other pecuniary advantage received by the Client in payment of a Debt or as a set-off or contra charge in relation to the Debt.
1.11 - Personal Data means: as set out in the Data Protection Legislation and shall refer, in this agreement, to any data relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. Personal Data may include information relating to the Debtor and the Debt, including names, addresses, email addresses, dates of birth, financial information and identity documents.
1.12 - Price List means: Redwood’s current price list setting out Redwood’s charges, a copy of which is available on request.
1.13 - Processing means: as set out under the relevant Data Protection Legislation. However, if there is no definition under the relevant Data Protection Legislation, it means any operation or set of operations which is performed on Personal Data or on sets of Personal Data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction. The terms “Process” and “Processed” shall be construed accordingly.
1.14 - Processor means: as set out under the relevant Data Protection Legislation. However, if there is no definition under the relevant Data Protection Legislation, it means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which Processes Personal Data on behalf of the Controller.
1.15 - Redwood means: Redwood Debt Collection Services L.L.C (license number 1539475).
1.16 - Services means: collection of Debts from third parties and any other service ancillary or associated with this function.
1.17 VAT means: value added tax or any like tax imposed in any jurisdiction from time to time.
2. - General
2.1 - Redwood only supplies its Services on these conditions which in the case of conflict shall override any terms or conditions sought to be imposed by the Client and can only be varied in writing by Redwood’s duly authorised representative.
2.2 - The Client’s instruction to carry out the Services constitutes a binding contract incorporating these terms and conditions.
3. - Redwood’s Obligations
3.1 - Redwood will endeavour to collect the Debt and perform the Services on behalf of the Client.
3.2 - Redwood will act in a professional manner in compliance with industry standards and, where applicable, in accordance with the Central Bank of the UAE's rules and regulations.
3.3 - Redwood will maintain a separate general account for all monies due to Clients received for payment of Debts subject to clauses 6.5 below.
3.4 - Redwood will account to the Client at least once per calendar month and in any event will send all monies collected within 40 days of receipt subject always to clauses 6.5, 6.6 below. Redwood is not obliged to send any monies to any business, individual or limited company that is not the Client.
3.5 - Where any Monies Recovered are less than 500 AED, payment will be made within one calendar month of the accumulative total of 500 AED being collected, save where no further Monies Recovered are collected.
4. - Agency
4.1 - Redwood shall act as an agent for the Client and is authorised by the Client to do all acts necessary for carrying out the Services on behalf of the Client, including but not limited to corresponding with Debtors, third parties, solicitors and other interested parties on the Client’s behalf, instructing solicitors, third parties, enforcement officers, enquiry agents or other third parties.
5. - The Client’s Obligations
5.1 - The Client agrees that it will give to Redwood:
5.1.1 - All necessary documents and correspondence (whether or not requested) to enable Redwood to properly carry out the Services.
5.1.2 - All relevant information within the Client’s knowledge, whether advantageous or not.
5.1.3 - Copies of any further correspondence with the Debtor or its solicitors or agents after the commencement of the Services.
5.2 - The Client shall forthwith notify Redwood of any payment made in relation to the Debt or any arrangement for payment entered into with the Debtor or any payment made during the period of this agreement within 4 months of the termination of this agreement.
5.3 - The Client will not instruct any other agency in relation to the Debt until this agreement is terminated under the terms hereof.
5.4 - The Client will respond to any request for documentation and information from Redwood and give instructions to Redwood or any solicitors instructed in a timely manner.
5.5 - The Client will ensure that all information on the case listing and information forms required by Redwood is complete and accurate.
6. - Payment
6.1 - The Client will pay to Redwood the following:
6.1.1 - Commission on Monies Recovered at a rate agreed between Redwood and the Client. If no such rate is agreed, the Minimum Commission shall apply; and
6.1.2 - the Ancillary Charges.
6.2 - Redwood’s costs and commission are payable:
6.2.1 - from the time an instruction to collect a Debt is submitted or a case listing form is received by Redwood;
6.2.2 - if the Client fails to notify Redwood of a payment in relation to the Debt, or does not respond to a request by Redwood for information in relation thereto within 21 days of the date of such payment or where a request has been made within 21 days of request on the full amount of the Debt;
6.2.3 - where the Client withdraws its instructions other than by termination under this agreement as if the full amount of the Debt has been paid;
6.2.4 - where the Client withdraws its instructions or the agreement is terminated and the Debt has been secured by way of charge, charging order or otherwise as if the amount so charged had been recovered;
6.2.5 - on the amount of any payment made within 4 months of the termination of this agreement; and
6.2.6 - on the amount of any payment made in accordance with an agreement with the Debtor where such agreement was made prior to the date of termination or within 4 months thereafter.
6.3 - VAT will be charged at the prevailing rate.
6.4 - Redwood may request the payment of charges and disbursements in advance based on the charges on the Price List.
6.5 - Redwood may deduct any commission or Ancillary Charges from any monies held in connection with the payment of a Debt including a Debt recovered on behalf of a company that is a subsidiary of the Client or an associated company thereof.
6.6 - Irrespective of any instructions to the contrary, Redwood can refuse to make any payment to the Client or accept any payment on the Client’s behalf if they believe that by doing so they might break a law, regulation, code or other duty which applies to them or incur any liability to a third party. Furthermore, the Client agrees to indemnify Redwood and keep them indemnified against all liabilities, costs, expenses, damages and losses (including but not limited to any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit and all interest, penalties and legal costs, calculated on a full indemnity basis, and all other professional costs and expenses) suffered or incurred by Redwood in relation to claims by third parties against them or their employees arising out of or in connection with their performance of this agreement. This provision will apply whether or not Redwood have acted negligently. The Client agrees that Redwood can deduct any sums payable under this provision from any money which is held to the Client’s account without requiring the Client’s specific permission.
6.7 - Redwood reserves the right to charge additional fees where the workload required to perform the Services is materially greater than initially anticipated or where relevant information affecting the scope of work was not communicated to Redwood by the Client at the outset. Redwood will endeavour to notify the Client of any such additional charges as soon as reasonably practicable upon becoming aware of the circumstances giving rise to them.
7. - Terms of Payment
7.1 - Where any invoice or request for payment is not deducted from Monies Recovered in accordance with paragraph 6.5 hereof, invoices shall be payable within 21 days of the date of such invoice.
7.2 - We may charge you interest at a rate of 8% per annum above the base rate of the Central Bank of the UAE on any outstanding sums due from you to us from the due date for payment to the actual date of payment.
8. - Legal and Insolvency Actions
8.1 - Redwood does not give legal advice. Redwood may set out the options available for the collection of a Debt and may give information about the general effectiveness of any such method of collection but any advice is of a general nature and is not tailored to the specific requirements of the Client or in relation to the Debt. The Client must, where necessary, obtain its own independent legal advice.
8.2 - Redwood may recommend a suitably experienced solicitor to advise and commence a claim or institute insolvency proceedings. The Client may chose its own solicitor but Redwood’s costs, commission and Ancillary Costs remain payable hereunder.
8.3 - Any advice given by a solicitor recommended by Redwood is done in accordance with their terms of business which will be provided directly by the solicitor to the Client.
8.4 - The Client appoints Redwood as its agent to liaise with the appointed solicitor, convey the Client’s instructions to the solicitor including instructions to compromise an action or accept or put forward any offer of settlement, pay fees and disbursements on behalf of the Client, collect Monies Recovered from the solicitor on the Client’s behalf and provide the appointed solicitor with the Client’s evidence and documentation.
8.5 - Redwood will liaise with the appointed solicitor on the Client’s behalf, act as a point of contact, assist in transmitting information from the solicitor, explain generally the court system and assist in the mechanical and clerical aspect of your claim. Redwood will charge fees for such work in addition to the charges levied by the solicitor. Redwood’s fees may not be recoverable as legal costs in the action depending on the Client’s terms of business with its customers.
8.6 - Redwood will collect court fees, disbursements and legal costs from the Client including monies for anticipated legal costs or disbursements. Redwood reserves the right to delay its instructions to commence legal action or other steps in the event that any invoice or request for payment for such sums remains unpaid.
8.7 - Any quoted fees for legal actions are not exhaustive as the costs of such action cannot be predicted at the outset.
9. - Termination of Services
9.1 - Either party may give the other 30 days written notice to terminate this agreement.
9.2 - Redwood may terminate this agreement forthwith on giving written notice in the following circumstances.
9.2.2 - The Client is insolvent, commits an act of bankruptcy, is adjudged to be bankrupt (if the Client is an individual) or a winding up petition is issued against a Client company.
9.2.3 - The Client goes into administration, a receiver is appointed in relation to any of the Client’s assets or an administration order is made.
9.2.4 - The Client enters into a voluntary arrangement with his creditors.
9.2.5 - The Client ceases or threatens to cease to carry on business.
9.2.6 - The Client fails to make payment or is in breach of the terms of this agreement.
9.2.7 - The Debtor is insolvent or the Debt is not worth perusing in the reasonable opinion of Redwood.
9.2.8 - Redwood is asked to act in a manner that is a breach of its professional obligations or is illegal or immoral.
9.2.9 - Where the Client fails to give instructions in a timely manner or Redwood or the nominated solicitors where any other party is instructed to collect the Debt.
9.3 - In the event of termination, all commission due from the Client (including the balance of the total aggregate commission from any pre-agreed instalment plans that would have been payable but for the termination) and any Ancillary Charges shall become immediately due and payable by the Client.
10. - Indemnity
10.1 - The Client will indemnify Redwood against all losses, damages, expenses and costs on a full indemnity basis and hold Redwood harmless in relation to.
10.1.1 - Any breach of this agreement.
10.1.2 - Any claim made by a third party against Redwood whilst carrying out the Services for the Client except any claim arising out of or relating to Redwood’s negligence or breach of this agreement.
10.1.3 - Any monies, costs or disbursements expended by Redwood on the Client’s behalf.
10.1.4 - Any monies paid to the Client by Redwood in connection with the collection of a Debt where such monies are recalled by a paying party or intermediary.
11. - Limitation of Liability
11.1 - Nothing in these terms and conditions shall exclude or restrict Redwood’s liability for death or personal injury resulting from its negligence, liability for fraudulent misrepresentation or any other liability which cannot be limited or excluded under applicable law. Subject to this:
11.1.1 - Redwood’s total liability to the Client in contract or tort or otherwise howsoever arising in relation to this contract is limited to the amount of the Debt, or the sum of AED 2,000,000, whichever is the lower.
11.1.2 - Redwood will not be liable to the Client for economic loss including loss of profits, business, contracts, revenues, goodwill and anticipated savings of any descriptions howsoever caused even if foreseeable by the Client.
11.1.3 - Redwood will not be liable in relation to any instructions given by the Client as a consequence of its general advice on collection of the Debt.
11.1.4 - Redwood is not liable for any monies remitted to a bank account which Redwood have been notified is the account of the Client whether or not the account is the Client’s account or the notification has been given by a third party purporting to be the Client.
All warranties, conditions and other terms implied by law or otherwise are hereby excluded from this contract to the fullest extent permitted by law.
12. – Data Processing
12.1 - Redwood is the data Processor of any Personal Data provided by the Client under this agreement.
12.2 - The nature and purpose of the Personal Data being Processed are to enable Redwood to carry out the Services.
12.3 - The Client’s Personal Data will be stored on Redwood’s computer system where it may be viewed by any employee of this office. A paper copy of Personal Data may be taken.
12.4 - Subject to obligations under Data Protection Legalisation the Client, by way of its retainer, provide Redwood with written authorisation to share this information with solicitors, agents, advocates, insolvency practitioners, subcontractors, process servers, collection agents, IT consultants, and any third party necessary to enable Redwood to fulfil its obligations.
12.5 - Redwood will ensure that any persons authorised to process the Personal Data have committed themselves to confidentiality or under an appropriate obligation of confidentiality and have taken the measurers required by Article 5 of Data Protection Legislation.
12.6 - The Client has a right to request access to rectification or erasure of data and to object and request a restriction of processing and data portability subject to our professional and legal obligations.
12.7 - A data information access request can be made to Redwood via email to contactus@redwoodcollections.ae.
12.8 - If the Client is not satisfied with Redwood’s response or believes Redwood are processing data unfairly or unlawfully the Client can complain to the UAE Data Bureau .
13. - General
13.1 - This contract is subject to and should be interpreted in accordance with the laws of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the DIFC Courts have exclusive jurisdiction of any dispute arising in connection hereunder.
13.2 - No delay or failure by Redwood to enforce any provisions of these terms and conditions is a waiver of that provision or any other provision.
13.3 - If any one of the provisions hereof are held by a competent tribunal or authority to be invalid or enforceable the rest of the provisions remain valid and enforceable.
13.4 - This contract is the entire agreement between Redwood and the Client on the subject matter contained herein and supersedes any representations, communications and prior agreements between Redwood and the Client.
13.5 - The Client acknowledges that it has relied solely on these terms and conditions of business and not on any other representation, warranty or statement of undertaking by Redwood, its employees, professional advisors, agents or solicitor.
13.6 - Unless expressly provided under this contract no term of this contract is enforceable by any person who is not a party to it.
13.7 - Telephone calls to and from Redwood may be recorded for quality and training purposes.
13.8 - If any of the provisions of the Services is frustrated or cannot be performed because of events beyond the control of Redwood or the Client including but not limited to acts of god, terrorism accident, explosion, fire, transports, delays, strikes and other industrial disputes, and compliance with any laws, regulations or orders. In the circumstances the bridge of the service ends dramatically on the date when the Client has paid the costs incurred to that date.
13.9 Redwood may assign, novate, transfer, mortgage, charge, subcontract, or deal in any other manner with any or all of its rights and obligations under this agreement to one or more of its Affiliates. The Client shall not assign, novate, transfer, mortgage, charge, subcontract, or deal in any other manner with any or all of its rights and obligations under this agreement without the prior written consent of Redwood.
13.10 Termination of this agreement will not affect the accrued rights and obligations of the parties as at the date of termination.
