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In order to post a fixed charge, a fixed charge type must be created within the practice or one of its subsidiary companies. Fixed charge types describe the nature of the charge, along with its rate-per-unit and optional flagfall. A complete history of all changes to the rate and flagfall are retained; this makes it possible to back-date charges using the historical rates, as well as being able to propose future-dated changes to cost policies that will automatically come into effect on the appropriate date.

Flagfall and rate

  • In the absence of a flagfall, the charge is calculated as the number of units multiplied by the rate.
  • If a flagfall is specified in addition to the rate, the first unit is charged at the flagfall amount and all subsequent units charged according to the rate.
  • If a flagfall is specified without a rate, the charge is equal to the flagfall amount, regardless of the number of units.

Charge policy 

Each fixed charge type also has an associated general account; either a sub-account of the fixed charges controlled account, or the account itself. Due to their relationship with the general chart of accounts, a fixed charge type may only belong to one company.
 
Fixed charge types also have the capacity to carry a historical code; this can be used to identify cost codes imported from legacy systems, or to integrate with cost recovery systems running in parallel with ContactsLaw.
 
Several options affect the behaviour of a fixed charge type:
  • Allow posting - When a charge type is no longer used, this option can be toggled to prevent further charges from being posted.
  • Reportable - Determines whether the charge type is included in members' performance statistics.
  • Magnetic - If set, this option causes fixed charges to draw upon other journals (relating to the same record) when determining their product on a bill of costs. (Effectively making all charges associated with a document - timed or fixed - "stick together")