Introduction
These conditions explain the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of all parties to this Agreement. Where we use the word 'You' or 'Your' it means the Customer: 'We', 'Us' or 'Our' means the Remover. These terms and conditions can be varied or amended subject to prior written agreement. In Clauses 8, 9, 10, and 11 We limit or exclude Our liability for loss and damage. We recommend You arrange insurance to cover Your goods or premises. We are able to arrange insurance for Your benefit upon request. This insurance will be separate from this contract and subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.
1. Our Quotation
1.1 Our quotation, unless otherwise stated, does not include insurance, cancellation/postponement waivers, customs duties, port charges including (but not limited to) demurrage, inspections, or any fees, or taxes payable to government bodies or agencies.
1.2 Our Quotation is valid for twenty-eight days from the date of issue. Unless already included in Our Quotation, reasonable additional charges will apply in the following circumstances:
1.2.1 If the work does not commence within twenty-eight days of acceptance;
1.2.2 Where We have given You a price including redelivery from store within Our Quotation and the re-delivery from store has not taken place within six months from the date of the issue of the quotation;
1.2.3 Our costs change because of currency fluctuations, changes in taxation, freight, fuel, ferry or toll charges beyond our control.
1.2.4 The work is carried out on a Saturday, Sunday, or Public Holiday or outside normal hours (08.00-18.00hrs) at your request.
1.2.5 We have to collect or deliver goods at Your request above the ground floor and first upper floor.
1.2.6 If You or Your agents request collection or access to Your goods whilst they are in store;
1.2.7 We supply any additional services, including moving or storing extra goods (these conditions apply to such work).
1.2.8 The entrance or exit to the premises, stairs, lifts or doorways are inadequate for free movement of the goods without mechanical equipment or structural alteration, or the approach, road or drive is unsuitable for our vehicles and/or containers to load and/or unload within 20 metres of the doorway.
1.2.9 We have to pay parking or other fees or charges (including fines where you have not arranged agreed suspension of parking restrictions) in order to carry out services on Your behalf. For the purpose of this Agreement parking fines for illegal parking, caused by Our negligence, are not fees or charges and You are not responsible for paying them.
1.2.10 There are delays or events outside Our reasonable control which increase or extend the resources or time allowed to complete the agreed work.
1.2.11 We agree in writing to increase Our limit of liability set out in Clause 8.1 prior to the work commencing;
1.3 You agree to pay any reasonable charges arising from the above circumstances.
2. Work not included in the quotation
2.1 Unless agreed by us in writing, we will not:
2.1.1 Dismantle or assemble furniture of any kind
2.1.2 Disconnect, re-connect, dismantle or re-assemble appliances, fixtures, fittings or equipment.
2.1.3 Take up or lay fitted floor coverings.
2.1.4 Move items from a loft, unless properly lit and floored and safe access is provided.
2.1.5 Move or store any items excluded under Clause 4.
2.1.6 Dismantle or assemble garden furniture and equipment including, but not limited to: sheds, greenhouses, garden shelters, outdoor play equipment, and satellite dishes, or move paving slabs, planters and the like.
2.2 Our staff are not authorised or qualified to carry out such work. We recommend that a properly qualified person is separately employed by You to carry out these services.
3. Your responsibility
3.1 It will be your responsibility to:
3.1.1 Arrange adequate insurance cover for the goods submitted for removal transit and/or storage, against all insurable risks as Our liability is limited under clauses 8.1 and 8.2.
3.1.2 Obtain at Your own expense, all documents, permits, permissions, licences, customs documents necessary for the removal to be completed.
3.1.3 Pay for any parking or meter suspension charges incurred by Us in carrying out the work.
3.1.4 Be present or represented throughout the collection and delivery of the removal.
3.1.5 Where We provide You with inventories, receipts, waybills, job sheets or other relevant documents You will ensure that they are signed by You or Your authorised representative as confirmation of collection or delivery of the Goods.
3.1.6 Take all reasonable steps to ensure that nothing that should be removed is left behind and nothing is taken away in error.
3.1.7 Arrange proper protection for goods left in unoccupied or unattended premises, or where other people such as (but not limited to) tenants or workmen are, or will be present.
3.1.8 Prepare adequately and stabilize all appliances or electronic equipment prior to their removal.
3.1.9 Empty, properly defrost and clean refrigerators and deep freezers. We are not responsible for the contents.
3.1.10 Ensure that all domestic and garden appliances, including but not limited to washing machines, dish washers, hose pipes, petrol lawn mowers are clean and dry and have no residual fluid left in them;
3.1.11 Provide Us with a correct and up to date contact address and telephone number during removal transit and/or storage of goods.
3.1.12 Arrange appropriate transport, storage or disposal of goods listed in clause 4.
3.2 Other than by reason of Our negligence or breach of contract, We will not be liable for any loss or damage, costs or additional charges that may arise from failure to discharge these responsibilities.
4. Goods not to be submitted for removal or storage
4.1 Unless previously agreed in writing by a director or other authorised company representative, the following items must not be submitted for removal or storage and will under no circumstances be moved or stored by Us. The items listed under 4.1.1 below may present risks to health and safety and of fire. Items listed under 4.1.2 to 4.1.7 below carry other risks and You should make Your own arrangements for their transport and storage.
4.1.1 Potentially dangerous, damaging or explosive items, including gas bottles, aerosols, paints, firearms and ammunition.
4.1.2 Jewellery, watches, trinkets, precious stones or metals, money, deeds, securities, mobile telephones, portable media and computing devices, stamps, coins, or goods or collections of any similar kind. Prohibited or stolen goods, drugs, pornographic material, potentially dangerous, damaging or explosive items, including gas bottles, aerosols, paints, firearms and ammunition.
4.1.3 Goods likely to encourage vermin or other pests or to cause infestation or contamination.
4.1.4 We shall notify you in writing as soon as practicable if any of the Goods, are in Our opinion hazardous to health, dirty or unhygienic or likely to attract vermin or pests and under what conditions we would be prepared to accept such Goods or whether we refuse to accept them. Should we refuse to accept the goods We will have no liability to You.
4.1.5 Perishable items and/or those requiring a controlled environment.
4.1.6 Any animals, birds, fish, reptiles or plants.
4.1.7 Goods which require special licence or government permission for export or import.
4.1.8 Under no circumstances will Prohibited or stolen goods, drugs or pornographic material be moved or stored by Us.
4.2 If You submit such goods without Our knowledge We will make them available for Your collection and if You do not collect them within a reasonable time We may apply for a court order to dispose of any such goods found in the consignment. You agree to pay Us any charges, expenses, damages, legal costs or penalties reasonably incurred by Us in disposing of the goods.
5. Ownership of the goods
5.1 By entering into this Agreement, you guarantee that:
5.1.1 The goods to be removed and/or stored are Your own property, or the goods are Your property free of any legal charge; or
5.1.2 You have the full authority of the owner or anyone having a legal interest in them to enter into this Agreement and You have made the owner fully aware of these terms and conditions prior to entering into this Agreement and that they have agreed to them.
5.1.3 If at any time following the implementation of this agreement to its termination another person has or obtains an interest in the goods You will advise Us of their name and address in writing immediately.
5.1.4 You will provide a full indemnity and pay Us in respect of any claim for damages and/or costs brought against Us if either statement made in 5.1.1 or 5.1.2 is untrue.
5.1.5 If You wish to transfer responsibility of this Agreement to a third party You will advise Us in writing giving Us their full name and address. We will issue a new agreement to them. Our Agreement with You will remain in force until We have received a signed agreement from the third party.
6. Charges if You postpone or cancel the removal
6.1 If You postpone or cancel this Agreement, We reserve the right to charge you a reasonable postponement or cancellation fee according to how much notice is given as set out below at 6.1.1 — 6.1.4. “Working days” refer to the normal working week of Monday to Friday and excludes weekends and Public Holidays.
6.1.1 More than 10 working days before the removal was due to start: No charge.
6.1.2 Between 5 and 10 working days inclusive before the removal was due to start: not more than 30% of the removal charge.
6.1.3 Less than 5 working days before the removal was due to start: not more than 60% of the removal charge.
6.1.4 Within 24 hours of the move taking place; not more than 75% of the removal charge.
6.1.5 On the day the work starts or at any time after the work commences up to 100% of Our charges.
6.2 Cancellation/Postponement Waiver If offered, and paid for in advance of the commencement of the services, we agree to waive the charges in Clauses 6.1.1, 6.1.2 & 6.1.3. Our agreement to waive the charges is conditional upon Us receiving written notice of Your intention to Cancel/Postpone no later than 17:00 hours on the preceding Working Day before Services commence. The Cancellation/Postponement charge will entitle You to only one Cancellation/Postponement.
7. Payment
7.1 Unless otherwise agreed by Us in writing, payment is required in full by cleared funds in advance of the removal or storage period. In default of such payment We reserve the right to refuse to commence removal or storage until such payment is received. Such advance payments are protected under the BAR Pre-Payment Protection scheme as detailed in the BAR Code of Practice.
7.2 In respect of all sums which are overdue to us, We will charge interest on a daily basis calculated at 4% per annum above the prevailing base rate for the time being of the Bank of England.
8. Our liability for loss or damage
8.1 We do not know the value of Your goods therefore We limit Our liability to a fixed limit per item. The amount of liability We accept under this agreement is reflected in Our charges for the work. If You wish Us to increase Our limit of liability per item You agree to pay a higher price for the work as stated in Condition 1.2.11 (Our Quotation).
8.2 Unless otherwise agreed in writing if we are negligent or in breach of contract We will pay You up to £40 for each item which is lost or damaged as a direct result of any negligence or breach of contract on Our part to cover the cost of repairing or replacing that item.
8.3 For goods destined to, or received from a place outside the United Kingdom:
8.3.1 We will only accept liability for loss or damage
(a) arising from Our negligence or breach of contract whilst the goods are in Our physical possession, or
(b) whilst the goods are in the possession of others if the loss or damage is established to have been caused by Our failure to pack the goods to a reasonable standard where We have been contracted to pack the goods that are subject to the claim.
8.3.2 Where We engage an international transport operator, shipping company or airline to convey Your goods to the place, port or airport of destination, We do so on Your behalf and subject to the terms and conditions set out by that carrier.
8.3.3 If the carrying vessel/conveyance, should for reasons beyond the carrier's control, fail to deliver the goods, or route them to a place other than the original destination, You may have limited recourse against the carrier depending upon the carriers particular terms and conditions of carriage, and You may be liable for General Average contribution (e.g. the costs incurred to preserve the vessel/conveyance and cargo) and salvage charges, or the additional cost of onward transmission to the place, port or airport of destination. These are insurable risks and it is Your responsibility to arrange adequate marine/transit insurance cover.
8.3.4 We do not accept liability for goods confiscated, seized, removed or damaged by Customs Authorities or other Government Agencies unless such confiscation, seizure, removal or damage arose directly as a result of Our negligence or breach of contract.
8.4 For the purposes of this Agreement an item is defined as:
8.4.1 The entire contents of a box, parcel, package, carton, or similar container; and
8.4.2 Any other object or thing that is moved, handled or stored by us.