These are the conditions under which we agree to carry out the work. They explain the rights, obligations and responsibilities of you (the customer) and ourselves (the removal company). A contract is a two-way arrangement and it is important that everyone, you and us, know where they stand. These conditions can only be changed or amended by our written agreement.
1. OUR QUOTATION is a fixed price and does not include customs duties and inspections or any other fees payable to government bodies. Unless otherwise stated under ‘Additions/Exclusions’ as a specific item, the quotation is for the removal of the goods advised by the customer. It does not include the following, unless otherwise stated, or later agreed in writing.
a) Dismantling or re-assembly of furniture, fitments or fittings.
b) Disconnection or re-connection of appliances, fittings or equipment.
c) Up-lifting of or re-laying of fitted floor coverings.
d) Night storage heaters unless fully dismantled.
e) Taking down goods from lofts.
f) Taking down, or re-hanging curtains, light shades.
g) Potentially dangerous, damaging or explosive items.
h) Goods likely to encourage vermin or other pests or to cause infection.
i) Any animals and their cages including pets, birds or fish
j) parking or other fees and charges that we pay on your behalf
k) Pack and/or wrap fragile and non-fragile small and sundry items that will fit into a box i.e.: china, glass, kitchenware, books, tapes, videos, records, toys, lamps, ornaments, pictures, clothes, linen, bedding, shoes, plants, garage and shed contents etc. etc.
We are entitled to dispose of (without notice) any goods submitted which are listed under g) & h) above and any expenses incurred will be charged to the customer.
Although our quotation is a fixed price we may make additional charges if any of the above, or any of the following have not been taken into account when preparing the quotation. Please see separate list for details of our additional charges for: hourly rates, Saturday and Sunday surcharges, materials, vehicle rates and container prices.
a) We have to deliver or collect goods above a first floor, our vehicle cannot park within 25 metres of the entrance door, there are an exceptional number of steps, the destination of the goods is more than 40 metres from the entrance door, the construction of either premises does not allow for smooth and easy access for the goods that are to be moved.
b) The work is carried out on a Saturday, Sunday or Public Holiday, at your request.
c) Waiting time due to: keys being unavailable, unable to gain access to the property (ie: customer delayed)
d) Any other circumstances which involves our staff, or ourselves, in extra time, work or cost, including you giving us inaccurate or misleading information or omitting any relevant details.
e) any cost borne by ourselves on your behalf, which has not been included in the quotation.
The quotation is valid for three months, but during this time is subject to any changes in the rate of Vat, fuel, freight charges, changes in taxation, currency fluctuations or other outside influences over which we have no control. We cannot be held responsible for delays or events beyond our control.
2. PAYMENT must be made, in full and by cleared funds, at least one week before the removal is due to take place, or immediately if booking with less notice. Any additional charges will be taken from the same card as the deposit, or any other payment, was made. Your booking confirms you authorise us to do this.
3. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY It will be your sole responsibility to:
a) Ensure that you have given us all the necessary information on which to base the quotation.
b) Declare to us the value of the goods being moved and/or stored.
c) Obtain, at your own expense, all documents, licences etc. necessary for the removal to be completed.
d) Be present, or be represented throughout the removal.
e) Take all reasonable steps to ensure that nothing is left behind and that nothing is taken in error. In this event it will be your responsibility to remove the item(s). If removed by us, our additional costs will be borne by yourself.
f) Prepare & stabilise appliances & electronic equipment. Adequately prepare freezers & fridges. We are not responsible for the contents. All items for storage must be dry.
g) Keys - all keys to furniture, filing cabinets, house doors & any other keys are your sole responsibility. Please make sure you keep them in a safe place. We are not responsible for missing keys.
h) By entering into this contract you declare that you are the owner of the goods or are acting with the authority of the owner.
4. POSTPONEMENT/CANCELLATION CHARGES/DEPOSITS To book a removal you must pay a deposit equivalent of £150 per lorry, per day. In the event of cancellation or postponement, by yourself, this deposit is non-refundable. The deposit is paid to reserve the staff and lorry for a specific day(s) and is not transferable to an alternative day. To guarantee a reservation, a deposit is essential.
5. PACKING If a customer requires us to pack small and sundry items, a detail of the work to be done will be given in the quotation. Items of a fragile nature i.e: china and glass packed by us, must be unpacked by our staff, otherwise no claim for breakage will be entertained.
6. WORK TO DO/PACKING BY CUSTOMER Where the removal is quoted subject to the customer packing all small and sundry items or preparing items i.e.: dismantling/re-assembly, disconnecting/reconnection this must be done prior to the move. All items that will fit into a box must be packed. If this is not complied with and it is considered that it hampers the men in their work, then the customer will be charged for the estimated additional time involved. Alternatively, the men may be instructed to wait until the removal is packed and prepared, and the waiting time will be charged or if the men assist with the said packing or preparing, time and materials will be charged for. In any event contact may be made with the office and agreement reached with the customer prior to the commencement.
7. INSURANCE/OUR LIABILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE Standard insurance cover to the value of £20,000 (per removal) is provided within the quotation and covers our liability for loss or damage, caused by our negligence. This is arranged, by us, on your behalf and our liability extends only to that covered by the insurance policy, a full copy of which is available on request. The maximum compensation per item (including a pair or set) will be 20% of the sum insured. Items above this limit must be declared and a separate premium will be advised. Where a customer’s goods are valued at more than £50,000 an additional premium of £1.35 per £1,000 of extra cover, will be charged. (The same sum will be charged per 28 day storage period). The contents of each container will be insured for £500 unless we are advised to the contrary. The customer will be indemnified against physical loss, destruction or damage (It is not ‘new for old’ cover, unless separate insurance is taken out for this). Cover incepts from the time the goods are placed in our care, custody or control until finally delivered, including storage, packing and unpacking by us. Liability is limited to the amount declared on the acceptance form. Exclusions We, or our insurers are not responsible for the following: Loss or destruction of, or damage to, jewellery, watches, precious stones, money, deeds, bonds, securities, stamps, gold, platinum, silver, furs, manuscripts or other documents - self-assembly furniture, unless dismantled, by us, prior to the removal, Furniture or items of such construction or condition that does not withstand normal transit and handling, Goods packed by the customer, Any fragile goods packed by us but not unpacked by us, Plants, Contents of Deep Freezers. Soiling on carpets and/or minor scuff/brush marks on walls, unless caused by our negligence. Any consequence, whether direct or indirect of War, invasion, act of foreign enemy, hostilities (whether war has been declared or not) civil war, rebellion, insurrection or usurped power – loss or damage caused by Ionising, radiation or nuclear materials. Any damage arising from wear and tear, gradual deterioration, mildew, moth, vermin, or any process of cleaning, repairing or restoring. Indirect or consequential loss of any kind, unless it is reasonably fore-seeable. Leakage of any substance that is part of the removal. Keys or any consequence arising from missing or lost keys - see clause 2 g). Unsuitable construction of either premises. Incorrect instructions or advice given by the customer. Mechanical or electrical derangement of clocks, radio, television sets and aerials, computer equipment, domestic appliances etc. unless external physical damage has occurred as a direct result of fire, derailment, collision or overturning of the conveying vehicle, vessel or aircraft. Pair and set clause- Where an item consists of a pair or set, our liability only extends to the value of the one part, without any reference to any special value which any such article may have as part of a pair or set. Our liability and that of our insurers is non-existent if the property is insured under another policy.
Claims For goods which we deliver you must note any visible loss, damage or failure to produce any goods at the time of delivery and notify the driver. You are required also to make a note on the driver’s ‘worksheet’. Any claim must then be confirmed in writing within 7 days. These time limits are an essential part of the contract. A claim form will be sent to you and must be completed in full and returned to us. We will not be liable for any loss of or damage to goods and claims will not be entertained if any of this procedure has not been adhered to.
WARNING: If your goods are under-insured, the maximum compensation payable will be the same percentage as the sum by which the total value was under-insured. If you elect not to take up the insurance cover, our liability will be limited to a maximum of £40 per item.
8. OUR RIGHT TO HOLD AND/OR SELL GOODS (LIEN) We shall have a right to withhold your goods until you have paid all of our charges. On giving you 28 days notice we are entitled to require you to remove your goods and pay all monies due to us. This will include all charges we have paid out on your behalf and any costs we have incurred because of your failure to pay i.e. any other extra work we have to do. If you fail to pay all outstanding debts due to us we are entitled to sell or dispose of your goods without further notice. The costs of sale and/or disposal will be charged to you. The net proceeds will be credited to your account and any surplus paid to you without interest. If the sale of your goods does not realise enough to cover your debt to us, you will still be liable for the balance and we will pursue payment through the County Courts, if necessary. Interest, at 4% over base rate, and administration charges will be added to any outstanding account. We are not liable for the amount of money realised from such a sale, which will be by public auction, nor will we be liable for selling more goods than is necessary to cover the debt.
9. TERMINATION OF CONTRACT Providing your payments are up to date, we will not end this contract except by giving you three months notice in writing.
10. OUR RIGHT TO SUB CONTRACT THE WORK We reserve the right to sub contract all or part of the work and, in that event, these terms and conditions will still apply.
11. ROUTE/METHOD We have the right to choose the method, vehicle and route and, unless agreed otherwise, in writing, space in our vehicle and/or container may be used for other customers.
12. DISPUTES If there is a dispute arising from this agreement, which cannot be resolved, either you or us, may refer it to the conciliation service provided by the British Association of Removers (BAR). If the dispute cannot be settled by this method it may be referred by you or with your written consent, by us to the BAR arbitration service. Under this scheme the case will be independently determined by an arbitrator appointed by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Recourse to arbitration is subject to certain limits, current details of which are available, upon request, from BAR, telephone 0181 861 3331.