The (payment) instalment terms referred to in Article 16 will be set by the client, on presentation of ...ce qu'il en soit.

French term (edited): terme d’acompte à la commande

Or simply, and more commonly, "payment terms."

BTW, the GDT gives:
English: payment with order
French: acompte à la commande



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Note added at 27 mins (2012-08-16 16:33:47 GMT)
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Another reference:
payment terms
Definition The conditions under which a seller will complete a sale. Typically, these terms specify the period allowed to a buyer to pay off the amount due, and may demand cash in advance, cash on delivery, a deferred payment period of 30 days or more, or other similar provisions.
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/payment-terms.h...

Also interesting:
Invoicing and payment terms
Commonly used invoice payment terms and their meanings
This list explains many of the terms commonly used on invoices.
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=10...

An "acompte" is a payment on account. You sign a contract for 1 000 € and require an "acompte" of 30% which confirms your undertaking to go ahead upon the terms agreed. Note termS means contractual terms and term in the singular as in the French, means deadline for payment hence date here.

I agree it would be helpful to see Article 16.

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Note added at 36 mins (2012-08-16 16:42:53 GMT)
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Looks as though the contract is conditional upon payment of the account within 30 days of the contractual documents being recieved.

On larger contracts and/or with first-time clients, when I send off the quote, not only must the quote be returned signed, but often with a 30% downpayment/ payment on account, within a time limit I specify. Once received in return, this becomes a firm order.

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Note added at 53 mins (2012-08-16 16:59:34 GMT)
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This is what I think is happening :

The payment on account (downpayment) has to be paid within 30 days of the docs being received, payment on a/c and documents signed to be returned together. The balance outstanding is to be paid within 60 days following delivery of the goods/services.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2012-08-16 18:14:51 GMT)
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I think it is just clumsy usage, with "terme" being used where "échéance" would normally be used.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2012-08-16 18:15:59 GMT)
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http://www.linternaute.com/dictionnaire/fr/definition/terme/


terme, nom masculin
Sens 1 Fin, limite de quelque chose dans le temps ou dans l'espace. Ex Le terme d'un voyage, le terme de la vie. Synonyme accomplissement Anglais time limit, end
Sens 2 Moment fixé pour le paiement d'un loyer, d'un crédit... Prix d'un loyer. Ex Payer son terme. Synonyme énoncé Anglais rent day, time limit
Sens 3 Date attendue pour un accouchement. Ex Un enfant né avant terme.
Sens 4 Mot, expression. Ex Un terme technique. Synonyme vocable Anglais term

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Note added at 2 hrs (2012-08-16 18:33:18 GMT)
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I am coming round to Tony's reading although would alter his suggestion a little. In this example, there is a "versement immédiat à titre d’acompte d’un premier terme...".

My modif to Tony's suggestion would be to avoid "initial downpayment". Downpayment is, as I understand it, initial. "Downpayment" or "first payment on account", further payments are "installments", or, more usually, the payment of the balance if paid off in one go thereafter.

So, "terme" is not a date as such but synonym for a payment. In the asker's extract, I'd therefore suggest either "payment on account" or "downpayment".

http://shop.peopleandtech.com/content/3-conditions-generales...

ARTICLE 5 - CONDITIONS DE PAIEMENT.
Le montant, majoré des taxes, est payé par le Client à PEOPLE AND TECH selon les modalités et conditions suivantes:
5.1 : Développements informatiques
Versement immédiat à titre d’acompte d’un premier terme de 30 % du montant total du prix T.T.C. à la commande à PEOPLE AND TECH; le versement de ce premier terme par le Client signifie l’entrée en vigueur de la convention ; le solde du prix T.T.C., selon les mêmes modalités, à la livraison des Services.


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Note added at 2 hrs (2012-08-16 18:34:43 GMT)
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Actually, thinking about it, "échéance" is used this way. "Payer une échéance" where "échéance" can be read as the sum to paid or "à l'échéancé, the due date.