What is the maximum interest rate that Azal Coffee can charge on overdue payments?
Azal_Coffee Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Your payments to us for royalty, local advertising fees, marketing fund contributions, mobile application and technology fees, training, renewal and transfer fees, management fees, mystery shopper fees, relocation fees, litigation expenses, late charges and interest, amounts owed for products or services provided by us or our affiliates, amounts owed for maintenance expenses we incur under Section 8.8, amounts owed for management fees, amounts owed for liquidated damage amounts, and all other amounts you owe to us or our affiliates must be made by electronic or similar funds transfer in the appropriate amounts from your bank account to our accounts, and at the places or in the manner we may specify. You must make payments at the times specified in this Agreement or as we may otherwise specify. You agree that we may specify payment by electronic fund transfers that we initiate. You must sign and deliver to your bank and to us the documents necessary to authorize and effectuate fund transfers as specified by us. You agree not to terminate the authorization as long as this Agreement is in effect. You agree not to close your bank account without providing us prior written notice and establishing a substitute bank account for the transfers. You also agree to make all required payments to us daily or weekly or at some other interval, instead of monthly or as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if we specify. You acknowledge that we may require you to make required payments at different intervals than other Azal Coffee franchisees.
4.14 No Setoff; Application of Payments.
Your obligations for the full and timely payment of the fees described in this Agreement and all other amounts owed to us are absolute and unconditional. You must not delay or withhold payment to us of all or part of those amounts based on our alleged nonperformance or for any other reason or put the fees or other amounts in escrow or setoff against any claims you may allege against us. We may apply any of your payments first to any accrued late charges or interest and then to any delinquent fees or other amounts outstanding before crediting the payment in the manner specified by you or to the current amount due.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 51)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Azal Coffee Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchise agreement outlines payment obligations for franchisees. Specifically, Azal Coffee franchisees are obligated to make payments for royalties, local advertising fees, marketing fund contributions, mobile application and technology fees, training, renewal and transfer fees, management fees, mystery shopper fees, relocation fees, litigation expenses, late charges and interest, amounts owed for products or services provided by Azal Coffee or its affiliates, amounts owed for maintenance expenses, amounts owed for liquidated damage amounts, and all other amounts owed to Azal Coffee or its affiliates. These payments must be made via electronic or similar funds transfer from the franchisee's bank account to Azal Coffee's accounts, at specified times and in a manner directed by Azal Coffee.
The agreement specifies that Azal Coffee can apply payments first to any accrued late charges or interest and then to any delinquent fees or other outstanding amounts before crediting the payment in the manner specified by the franchisee or to the current amount due.
However, the FDD does not specify the exact interest rate that Azal Coffee may charge on overdue payments. A prospective franchisee should seek clarification from Azal Coffee regarding the specific interest rate applicable to late payments to fully understand the financial obligations and potential penalties associated with the franchise agreement.