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<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">H</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">i all,</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Hopefully this is</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> no</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">t</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> too off-topic;</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">'</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">m looking for guidance in penalty</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">clauses</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> in service contract agreements.</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I run a small WAN for a town.</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">We have an internet T-1, a</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">n internal</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">frame</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">T-1</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">, five</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">p</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">oint-to-point T-1</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">'</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">s and a small smattering of PVC</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">'</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">s and low-bandwi</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">d</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">th frame lines.</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> I know we</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">'</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">re</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">small change, but I</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">'</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">ve had lines down for as long as four days and gotten little more than an apology</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> from our current provider</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">. Our contract expires soon and I</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">'</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">d like the next one to</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">have a few more teeth, as in</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">"</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">if you</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">'</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">re down for X hours you owe the customer a credit of X dollars</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">.</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">"</FONT></P>
<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Is this common practice?</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"></FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">What are typical penalty clauses like?</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Any guidance would be welcome, off-list is fine, I will summarize if people are interested.</FONT></P>
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<P ALIGN=LEFT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">---Walter</FONT></P>
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