TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

These terms and conditions of service constitute a legally binding contract between the “Company” and the “Customer”. In the event the Company renders services and issues a document containing a Terms and Conditions governing such services, the Terms and Conditions set forth in such other document(s) shall govern those services.

Definitions.

(a) “Company” shall mean ABC Service Network, Inc., its subsidiaries, related companies, agents, and/or representatives;

(b) “Customer” shall mean the person for which the Company is rendering service, as well as its agents and/or representatives, including, but not limited to, shippers, importers, exporters, carriers, secured parties, warehousemen, buyers and/or sellers, shipper’s agents, insurers and underwriters, break-bulk agents, consignees, etc. It is the responsibility of the Customer to provide notice and copy(s) of these terms and conditions of service to all such agents or representatives;

(c) “Documentation” shall mean all information received directly or indirectly from Customer, whether in paper or electronic form;

(d) “Ocean Transportation Intermediaries” (“OTI”) shall include an “ocean freight forwarder” and a “non-vessel operating carrier”;

(e) “Third parties” shall include, but not be limited to, the following: “carriers, truckmen, cartmen, lightermen, forwarders, OTIs, customs brokers, agents, warehousemen and others to which the goods are entrusted for transportation, cartage, handling and/or delivery and/or storage or otherwise”.

Company As Agent. The Company acts as the “agent” of the Customer for the purpose of performing duties in connection with the entry and release of goods, the securing of export licenses, the filing of export documentation on behalf of the Customer and other dealings with Government Agencies: as to all other services, Company acts as an independent contractor.
Limitation of Actions. Unless subject to a specific stature of international convention, all claims against the Company for a potential or actual loss, must be made in writing and received by the Company, within thirty (30) days of the event giving rise to claim; the failure to give the Company timely notice shall be a complete defense to any suit or action commenced by Customer.
Quotations Not Binding. Quotations as to fees, rates of duty, freight charges, insurance premiums or other charges given by the Company to the Customer are for informational purposes only and are subject to change without notice; no quotation shall be binding upon the Company unless the Company in writing agrees to undertake the handling or transportation of the shipment at a specific rate or amount set forth in the quotation and payment arrangements are agreed to between the Company and the Customer.
Reliance on Information Furnished.

(a) Customer acknowledges that it is required to review all documents and declarations prepared and/or filed with Government Agency and/or third parties, and will immediately advise the Company of any errors, discrepancies, incorrect statements, or omissions on any declaration filed on Customer’s behalf.

(b) In preparing and submitting export declarations, applications, documentation and/or export data to the United States and/or a third party, the Company relies on the correctness of all documentation, whether in written or electronic format, and all information furnished by Customer; Customer shall use reasonable care to insure the correctness of all such information and shall indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any and all claims asserted and/or liability or losses suffered by reason of the Customer’s failure to disclose information or any incorrect or false statement by the Customer upon which the Company reasonably relied. The Customer agrees that the Customer has an affirmative non-delegable duty to disclose any and all information required to import, export, or enter the goods.

Declaring Higher Value To Third Parties. Third parties to whom the goods are entrusted may limit liability for loss or damage; the Company will request excess valuation coverage only upon specific written instructions from the Customer, which must agree to pay any charges therefore; in the absence of written instructions or the refusal of the third party to agree to a higher declared value, at Company’s discretion the goods may be tendered to the third party, subject to the terms of the third party’s limitations or liability and/or terms and conditions of service.
Insurance. Unless requested to do so in writing and confirmed to Customer in writing, Company is under no obligation to procure insurance on the Customer’s behalf; in all cases, Customer shall pay all premiums and costs in connection with procuring requested insurance.
Disclaimers; Limitation of Liability.

(a) Except as specifically set forth herein, Company makes no express or implied warranties in connection with its services;

(b) Subject to (c) below, Customer agrees that in connection with any and all services performed by the Company, the Company shall only be liable for its negligent acts, which are the direct and proximate cause of any injury to the Customer, including loss or damage to Customer’s goods, and the Company shall in no event be liable for the acts of third parties;

(c) In connection with all services performed by the Company, Customer may obtain additional liability coverage, up to the actual or declared value of the shipment or transaction, by requesting such coverage and agreeing to make payment therefore, which request must be confirmed in writing by the Company prior to rendering services for the covered transaction(s);

(d) In the absence of additional coverage under (b) above, the Company’s liability shall be limited to the following:

(i) where the claim arises from activities other than those relating to customs brokerage, $50.00 per shipment or transaction, or

(ii) where the claim arises from activities relating to “CBP Business,” $50.00 per entry or the amount of the brokerage fees paid to Company for the entry, whichever is less;

(e) In no event shall Company be liable or responsible for consequential, indirect, incidental, statutory or punitive damages even if it has been put on notice of the possibility of such damages.

Advancing Money. All charges must be paid by the Customer in advance unless the Company agrees in writing to extend credit to Customer; the granting of credit to a Customer in connection with a particular transaction shall not be considered a waiver of this provision by the Company.
Indemnification/Hold Harmless. The Customer agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold the Company harmless from any claims and/or liability arising from the importation or exportation of Customer’s merchandise, and/or any conduct of the Customer which violates any Federal, State and/or other laws, including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees, which the Company may hereafter incur, suffer or be required to pay by reason of such claims; in the event that any claim, suit or proceeding is brought against the Company, it shall give notice in writing to the Customer by mail at its address on file with the Company.
C.O.D. or Cash Collect Shipments. Company shall use reasonable care regarding written instructions relating to “Cash/Collect” on “Deliver (C.O.D.)” shipments, bank drafts, cashier’s and/or certified checks, letter(s) of credit and other similar payment documents and/or instructions regarding collection of monies but shall have no liability if the bank or consignee refuses to pay for the shipment.
Costs of Collection. In any dispute involving monies owed to Company, the Company shall be entitled to all costs of collection, including reasonable attorney’s fees and interest at 15% per annum or the highest rate allowed by law, whichever is less, unless a lower amount is agreed to by Company.
General Lien and Right To Sell Customer’s Property.

(a) Company shall have a general and continuing lien on any and all property of Customer coming into Company’s actual or constructive possession or control for monies owed to Company with regard to the shipment on which the lien is claimed, and prior and subsequent shipments;

(b) Company shall provide written notice to Customer of its intent to exercise such lien, the exact amount of monies due and owing, as well as any on-going storage or other charges; Customer shall notify all parties having an interest in its shipments of Company’s rights and/or the exercise of such lien;

(c) Unless, within thirty days of receiving notice of lien, Customer posts cash or letter of credit at sight, or, if the amount due is in dispute, an acceptable bond equal to 110% of the value of the total amount due, in favor of Company, guaranteeing payment of the monies owed, plus all storage charges accrued or to be accrued, Company shall have the right to sell such shipment(s) at public or private sale or auction, and any net proceeds remaining thereafter shall be refunded to Customer.

No Duty To Maintain Records For Customer. Customer acknowledges that pursuant to Sections 508 and 509 of the Tariff Act, as amended (19 USC § 1508 and 1509) it has the duty and is solely liable for maintaining all records required under the CBP and/or other Laws and Regulations of the United States; unless otherwise agreed to in writing, Company shall only keep such records that it is required to maintain by Statute(s) and/or Regulation(s), but not act as a “record keeper” or “recordkeeping agent” for Customer.
Obtaining Binding Rulings, Filing Protests, etc. Unless requested by Customer in writing and agreed to by Company in writing, Company shall be under no obligation to undertake any pre- or post- CBP release action, including, but not limited to, obtaining binding rulings, advising of liquidations, filing of petition(s) and/or protests, etc.

16. Preparation and Issuance of Bills of Lading. Where Company prepares and/or issues a bill of lading, Company shall be under no obligation to specify thereon the number of pieces, packages and/or cartons, etc.; unless specifically requested to do so in writing by Customer or its agent and Customer agrees to pay for same, Company shall rely upon and use the cargo weight supplied by Customer.

17. No Modification or Amendment Unless Written. These terms and conditions of service may only be modified, altered or amended in writing signed by both Customer and Company any attempt to unilaterally modify, alter or amend same shall be null and void.

18. Compensation of Company. The compensation of the Company for its services shall be included with and is an addition to the rates and charges of all carriers and other agencies selected by the Company to transport and deal with the goods, and such compensation shall be exclusive of any brokerage, commissions, dividends, or other revenue received by the Company from carriers, insurers and others in connection with the shipment. On ocean exports, upon request, the Company shall provide a detailed breakout of the components of all charges assessed and a true copy of each pertinent document relating to these charges. In any referral for collection or action against the Customer for monies due the Company, upon recovery by the Company, the Customer shall pay the expenses of collection and/or litigation, including a reasonable attorney fee.

19. Severability. In the event any Paragraph(s) hereof is found invalid and/or unenforceable, then in such event the remainder hereof shall remain in full force and effect.

20. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue. These terms and conditions of service and the relationship of the parties shall be construed according to the laws of the State of California, without giving consideration to principles of conflict of law. Customer and Company:

(a) irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court and the State Courts of California;

(b) agree that any action relating to the services performed by Company shall only be brought in said courts;

(d) further agree that any action to enforce a judgment may be instituted in any jurisdiction. - End