Penalty Clauses in Commercial Contracts

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Table of Contents

• What is a Penalty?
• Is a Clause a Penalty?
• The Paciocco v ANZ Case
• Common Clauses That May Be Penalties
• Key Considerations When Drafting Commercial Contracts
• Key Takeaways

Generally, two parties can enter into and agree on the terms of a contract freely. However, there are limitations on the types of terms that the contract can include. Australian courts have deemed clauses which seek to impose a penalty on a contracting party unenforceable. This article will explore the law of penalties and provide tips for businesses dealing with penalty clauses in commercial contracts.

What is a Penalty?

A penalty is a clause that sets a harsh monetary punishment for the breach of a contract term, or failure to uphold contractual obligations. At first view, this type of clause may appear attractive to those who wish to ensure that the other party performs its obligations.

However, if the amount of money requested is greater than, or disproportionate to, the damage or loss that you actually suffer, there is the risk that this clause would be considered a penalty.

Is a Clause a Penalty?

According to the court, a clause is a penalty if it requests the payment of an amount that is “extravagant” and “unconscionable” in light of the most significant loss that the breach could have caused.

The Paciocco v ANZ Case

In this case, the court needed to decide whether credit card late payment fees imposed by ANZ were penalties. The losses suffered by ANZ relating to late payment were no more than $3 per late payment event. At that time, ANZ was charging a late payment fee of $20.

Although the amount of the late payment fee was greater than the actual loss suffered by ANZ, the court decided that the late payment fees were not penalties. When determining whether a payment is “extravagant” or “unconscionable”, the court could take into consideration the effects of the late payments on ANZ’s financial interests.

These financial interests included:

• actual operational costs;
• loss provisioning; and
• regulatory capital costs.

The late payment fee was therefore not void. In deciding this, the courts allowed more flexibility in determining the amount a party may request.

Common Clauses That May Be Penalties

A clause will be a penalty if the payment it requires is unreasonable in relation to the loss suffered. Common scenarios where a clause may be a penalty include:

• a company that provides services at a set time issuing a fee for cancelling or rescheduling an appointment;
• a business entering a fixed term contract with another party requiring payment of an early termination fee;
• a party charging a fee for the other party’s failure to fulfill a particular task; and
• liquidated damages, which are often included in construction and leasing contracts.

The above examples provide you with clauses which may be considered a penalty. For the clause to be a penalty, the fee requested in each scenario will need to be “extravagant” or “unconscionable”.

Key Considerations When Drafting Commercial Contracts

When drafting your commercial contracts, there are a few important things to consider. These include the:

1. amount the other party is to pay. When determining this amount, take into consideration whether it reflects your actual costs for rectifying the breach of the contract;
2. wording of the contract. If it is necessary to include an obligation for the other party to pay a fee, consider stating that the amount is a genuine pre-estimate of the loss you may suffer as a result of the breach in the contract;
3. bargaining position of each party. The court will consider the amount that the other party is required to pay and how “oppressive” it may be. Here, the court will consider each party’s bargaining power, and how the clause might advantage or disadvantage them; and
4. possibility that the clause is a threat. It is essential to determine whether the clause requiring the other party to pay an amount would be deemed a threat to ensure the other party complies with its obligations. If it is a threat, it is likely that the clause will be a penalty. 

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Key Takeaways

Penalty clauses may arise in various contracts, including construction contracts, leases and business terms and conditions. It is important to be aware of the law surrounding penalties, and to think about issues like:

• the respective bargaining positions of each party;
• whether the fee you wish to enforce is reasonable; and
• the actual cost of recovering the loss that a breach of contract will cause.

Considering these points when drafting commercial contracts will ensure that the clauses you include are enforceable.  If you have any questions about penalty clauses in commercial contracts, contact LegalVision’s contract lawyers on 1300 544 755 or fill out the form on this page.