1.GENERAL NOTES
The below rules are established by the WAO NETWORK which aims to set right Member’s behaviors, operations and businesses processses, within the Network environment. Those rules are considered as accepted and abided by participating Members and may be subject to modifications at any time by the WAO NETWORK representatives without prior notice or warning.
2.CORPORATE PURPOSES
Representing Members in the Logistics macroarea under WAO NETWORK name and logo and more specifically in all the fields regarding International Freight Forwarding, Shipping, Packaging and 3PL (Third Party Logistics);
Promoting established members in their home country and abroad;
Creating new businesses bonds and opportunities between Members on a worldwide basis;
Providing reliable and certified professionals agents for every and each registered Member;
Helping Members to work and cooperate each other at the highest level of performance and competence.
3.COMPANY AND PERSONAL DATAS
Every and each Member agrees that the data released to the WAO NETWORK are kept in the Corporate database for no longer than 5 years. Members agree that every and each file released to them from WAO NETWORK where other logos besides the one of WAO NETWORK are used only for the only and unique achievement of the Corporate Pruposes along with their Company and Personal datas. No claim are accepted based on the documents, media or any other means of property of WAO NETWORK created for the achievement of the Corporate Purposes.
Every and each Member accept that WAO NETWORK is the only owner of all copyrights for forms, videos, and every other documents contained, shared or released within the WAO NETWORK website, intranet, social network and e-mails.
4.MEANS OF COMMUNICATIONS
Communications will be done mainly by e-mail. Members must be fully protected by anti-virus software and must report to the WAO Network any update in their internal organization chart and/or changes in the contact details or status of the company. English language is set as preferred communication in all exchanges. Members may agree to talk in any other language but cannot use the said communications in the event of any MDA/PSP resolution. Member shall report any kind of problem regarding communication with other WAO Members to allow WAO Network to investigate the case. Members abide to respond emails in 24 or maximum 48 hours. Whenever a longer delay occurs, Members shall report this to WAO Network to investigate the case.
5.MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Members are entitled to benefit from privileges such as News and Media exposition, Logistics Conciergerie, Access to Freight Forwarding Tools, newsletters and the opportunity to attend annual Conference, and may have benefits from PSP as stated in section 12.
Members are allowed to use WAO logo on their website, emails, documents, business cards and promotional materials all along their membership period.
Members are listed in the Members Only area where their company name and address, logo, contact person’s details and introduction text or company infos will be shown off.
Members have username and password for the restricted areas and services of WAO Network.
Members are required to do their utmost to develop as much as possible business with other Members at the highest level of standards.
6.FEES
In the event that payment is not received within 30 days of billing or the day of membership renewal, usd 100 surcharge is applicable, while members automatically enters in D Payment rating while membership is revoked unless receipt of full payment (inclusive of the surcharge).
Fees are non refundable under any circumstances.
Fees are non transferable to any party or company.
7.BUSINESS PROCESS
Members are required to deal under only real net/net charges and rates.
Free hand shipments are handled as free of charge.
Handling fee and profit share must be mentioned and agreed between members.
Members cannot claim for any free hand shipments given to them, unless the Member from origin don’t get confirmation from destination Member about the free hand prior to shipment which should check draft documents, request modification if needed before vessel sailed or flight/truck departure.
Members are required to publish their Free Hand SOP (Standard Operative Procedures) or to inform the Member passing the free hand regarding any documents such as MBL/HBL, MAWB/HAWB, CMR, ATR, EUR1, CUSTOMS INSTRUCTIONS to crosscheck with both countries requirements and regulations.
Members receiving the free hand are responsible for collecting the original Bill Of Lading issued by the other party and all required charges such as freight collect shipments before releasing documents or cargo to ultimate consignee/freight forwarder (unless otherwise agreed).
Pre-Alert and Arrival Notices must be sent from Members at origin to Members at destination, specifying consignee and/or notify party name, details and way of contact on HBL, HAWB, CMR and must provide a good collaboration with all parties involved for a smooth delivery. Ocean carrier’s B/L can not be released to any third party.
Pre-Alert message by e-mail or fax with CMR, MBL/HBL and MAWB/HAWB copies via email to destination Member in 48 hours after vessel sailed and in 24 hours after flight departure.
8.ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Annual Conference participation at least one time in every two years is mandatory for all Members.
Members may not be allowed to join Annual Conference in case of late notification to WAO Network officers, even though the WAO Network will act at their very best to have also last minute participants “on board”.
In case of being in the impossibility of attending the Annual Conference, fees cannot be refunded, nor transferred to another Member or party and cannot be accepted as an anticipation of next years' fees.
WAO Network work to arrange Annual Conference once every year in a country according to internal decision. In case of any failure of arranging Annual Conference, WAO Network can not be held responsible for any expense, error or omissions by Member but Conference fee will be then reimbursed to members.
Annual Conference can be subject to a change of location and date by two (2) months prior notice through email. In case of venue or location change for Annual Conference it is member's discretion and responsibility to attend to the event in new location or venue and no fees can be refunded.
In the event of any circumstance determining a danger to the safety and the security of Members, WAO Network’s officers and representatives, any action taken in this regard cannot be claimable to the WAO Network.
9.QUALITY MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Members performances are evaluated annually and Members are required to share their feedbacks in case of good or bad services to the WAO Network.
WAO Network may require its members to participate to surveys and fill questionnaires to perform random quality controls.
10.LEGAL LIABILITY BETWEEN MEMBERS
WAO Network shall not be responsible for any damages, legal claims, debt, obligation or liability in connection to or referred to any business transaction between Members. The governing law of WAO Network shall be the one of ITALY and EUROPEAN UNION.
Only the courts of ITALY can be referred to settle any dispute which may be in in connection to or referred to the herewith enclosed Rules and Conditions, use of the WAO Network websites and any other information.
Members should hold a valid LLEO insurance (Limited Liability Errors and Omissions) with any international insurance company. Under no circumstances, WAO Network will be held responsible for any errors, omissions, unpaid invoice(s), misunderstandings or claims arising from these Rules and Conditions.
11.NON-LIABILITY CONDITION
Members agrees to hold harmless and non-liable the WAO Network, its officers, its employees and agents from each and every litigation, damages, claims, settlement payments, liabilities, actions, causes of actions, and reasonable costs or expenses of any source and nature, incurred, sustained from the Members. Members also agrees to not request payments of any source and nature towards the WAO Network, its officers, its employees and agents for any of the topics listed above by reason of, or resulting from, a claim by any third party based upon an implied or express allegation concerning:
· any misrepresentation from another Member
· any inaccuracy from another Member
· any breach of the Rules and Conditions from another Member
12.PAYMENT SECURITY PROGRAM
13.DISPUTES AND ARBITRATION
14.PAYMENTS BETWEEN MEMBERS
It is suggested to afford 30 days credit line from the date of invoice to Verified Memers (unless otherwise agreed) and Immediate payment in case of invoice to Standard Members.
Lack of payment from clients, customers, shippers and consignees are not accepted as non-payment motivation to another Member unless these were agreed conditions prior to the commencement of any transaction.
Payments should be in the currency agreed during the quotation phase unless otherwise agreed between both members and all bank charges occuring are suggested to be placed under SHA terms, while all bank charges including intermediary bank charges and amount should arrive beneficiary account as on the invoice.
15.DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
WAO Network has the right to list Members in blacklists and make Members D rated/delinquent listed on any platform/social networkas well as inform all members about the delinquent Member, sending warning messages to any company including members and non-members in its database and last but not least to inform other private or official organization, associations, networks and agencies about a blacklisted, delinquent company/person.
16.TERMINATION AND REVOCATION OF MEMBERSHIP
WAO Network holds the authority to terminate membership of any member without any reason. Fees will only be refunded in the event a Verified Member will terminate its membership for “Force Majeure”. Under no circumstances Annual fees are refunded to Standard Members. Under no circumstances Conference fees are refunded to any Member.
In the event of multiple official claims or negative payment rating given while doing business with other members within 3 months may cause revocation of Membership on immediate basis.
Whenever a membership is terminated or revoked, use of WAO Network’s logos, documents and services is no longer allowed to the expelled member. WAO Network reserves the right of initiating a legal action in the event a misuse of their logos, services and documents came to its attention.
Members can terminate their membership at anytime, but at least 3 months before the expiry date of membership. In this case will not be refunded under no circumstances.
WAO Network will notify and inform other Members about the reason of membership termination of any Member in detail.
17.MISCELLANEOUS
Noncompliance or disregard to Terms and Conditions will result in disciplinary action such as cancellation of membership and being black listed in any platform, debt recovery agency website or database including WAO Network website.
The above Rules and Conditions are outlined to provide operational guidelines within the WAO Network, based on the principle of unity, quality and professionalism among each and every members.