Fees
All fees exclude GST and include travel within 100 km of Drouin by road, except tolls and parking. We confirm the fee in writing before you instruct us. Where a fee says “from”, the fee we confirm reflects the size of the matter.
Fixed-fee reports
| Report | Fee (ex GST) |
|---|---|
| Basic Causation Report, including a site inspection of up to 2 hours | $2,200 |
| Forensic Report, including a site inspection of up to 3 hours | From $5,200 |
| Forensic Report, desktop only (no site inspection) | From $3,900 |
| Scope of Works Validation (desktop) | From $1,600 |
| Quotation Review (desktop) | From $1,100 |
| Technical Advice, written (desktop) | $1,450 |
| Peer Review Report (desktop) | From $2,200; from $2,900 in VCAT or court proceedings |
| Supplementary Report (desktop) | From $850 |
Strata Forensic, Building Defect Investigation and Expert Witness reports are quoted per matter. Data Centre Forensic reports (coming soon) will also be quoted per matter. We only act on insurance-related matters.
Site visits and hourly work
| Service | Fee (ex GST) |
|---|---|
| Site inspection, up to 2 hours, with verbal findings and an email summary. Credited against a report instructed within 30 days, in place of the report’s included inspection. | $1,100 |
| Additional site attendance, up to 2 hours | $1,100 |
| Consulting, document review, joint inspections | $300 per hour |
| Expert witness work: preparation, Scott Schedules, joint reports, conclaves | $360 per hour |
| VCAT or court attendance | $3,200 per day; $1,800 per half day |
Extras
- Urgent report, within 3 business days of inspection: + 25%.
- After-hours or weekend attendance (outside 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday): + 50%.
- Travel beyond 100 km by road: the ATO cents-per-km rate (91c per km for 2026–27) and $150 per hour of driving after the first hour, each way. We include it in your quote.
- Tolls and parking: at cost, on every job.
- Accommodation, flights and other travel costs for interstate and distant jobs: at cost.
- Specialists (including drone surveys), testing, access equipment and searches: at cost plus 10%, only with your approval.
Cancellations and access
- Inspection cancelled with 24 hours’ notice or more: no charge.
- Inspection cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice: $550 (half the site inspection fee).
- No access on arrival, or the site is unsafe to inspect: $1,100, plus any travel beyond 100 km.
- VCAT or court attendance cancelled or vacated with less than 5 business days’ notice: 50% of the booked attendance fee; with less than 2 business days’ notice: 100%.
- Matter withdrawn after work has started: work done to date at the hourly rate, capped at the fixed fee.
Payment
- Insurers, lawyers, loss adjusters, insurance builders and owners corporations: invoiced when the report is issued, payable in 14 days.
- Private clients: 50% deposit on instruction; balance before the report is released.
- Expert witness matters: $2,500 retainer, then monthly invoices. Fees don’t depend on the outcome.
- Overdue invoices may attract interest at 10% a year, calculated daily from the due date until paid in full.
- Unpaid invoices may be referred for recovery action, and the reasonable costs of recovery, including collection and legal costs, may be added to the amount owed.
Hourly work is billed in 15-minute blocks; calls under 10 minutes are free. Quotes are valid for 30 days. Fees are reviewed each 1 July; instructed matters keep their quoted fee. Our Terms of Engagement apply.
Instruct Meridian
We only act on insurance-related matters. Send the names of the parties, the property address and the insurance claim or insurer involved. We’ll confirm within one business day that we can act, and the fee.