Terms & Conditions
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. Your attention
is drawn to Clauses 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12 which set out our liability
to you for loss of or damage to goods and property.
1 Our Quotation
1.1 - Our quotation, unless
otherwise stated, does not include customs duties and inspections
or any other
fees or taxes payable to government bodies.
It does include us accepting liability for your goods, subject to
clauses 2.2, 3.2, 5.2, 5.3 and the provisions of Clauses 4, 9, 10,
11 and 12.
1.2 - We may change the price
or make additional charges if circumstances are found to apply which
have not been taken into account when preparing our quotation and
confirmed by us in writing. These include:
1.2.1 - You do not accept our
quotation in writing within 28 days, or the work is not carried out
or completed within three months.
1.2.2 - Our costs change because of currency
fluctuations or changes in taxation or freight charges beyond our
control.
1.2.3 - The work is carried out on a Saturday,
Sunday, or Public Holiday or outside normal hours (08.00-18.00hrs)
at your request.
1.2.4 - We have to collect or deliver goods at
your request above the ground floor and first upper floor.
1.2.5 - If you collect some or all of the goods
from our warehouse, we are entitled to make a charge for handing them
over.
1.2.6 - We supply any additional services, including
moving or storing extra goods (these conditions apply to such work)
or where you request additional periods of storage or Standard Liability
protection.
1.2.7 - The 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.
1.2.8 - We have to pay parking or other fees
or charges in order to carry out services on your behalf.
1.2.9 - There are delays or
events outside our reasonable control which increase or extend the
resources or time allowed to complete the agreed work.
1.3 - In any such circumstances,
adjusted charges will apply and become payable.
2 Work not included in the quotation
2.1 -
Unless agreed by us in writing, we will not:
2.1.1 - Dismantle or assemble
unit or system furniture (flat-pack), fitments or fittings.
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 5.
2.2 -
Our staff are not authorized 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 sole
responsibility to:
3.1.1 - Declare to us, in writing, the value of the
goods being removed and/or stored. If it is subsequently established
that the value of the goods removed or stored is greater than the
actual value you declare, you agree that our liability under clause
9.1 will be reduced to reflect the proportion that your declared
value bears to it’s or their actual value.
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 - Be present or represented
during the collection and delivery of the removal.
3.1.4 - Ensure authorized
signature on agreed inventories, receipts, waybills, job sheets or
other relevant documents by way of confirmation of collection or
delivery of goods.
3.1.5 - Take all reasonable steps to ensure that
nothing that should be removed is left behind and nothing is taken
away in error.
3.1.6 - 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.
3.1.7 - Prepare adequately and stabilize all appliances
or electronic equipment prior to their removal.
3.1.8 - Empty, properly
defrost and clean refrigerators and deep freezers. We are not responsible
for the contents.
3.1.9 - Provide us with a contact address for correspondence
during removal transit and/or storage of goods.
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. Our responsibility
4.1 -
It is our responsibility to deliver your goods to you, or produce them
for your collection, undamaged. By “undamaged” we mean in the same
condition as they were in at the time when they were packed or otherwise
made ready for transportation and/ or storage.
4.2 - In the event that we have undertaken to pack the
goods, or otherwise make them ready for transportation and/or storage,
it is our responsibility to deliver them to you, or produce them for
your collection, undamaged. Again, by “undamaged” we mean in the same
condition as they were in immediately prior to being packed/ made ready
for transportation or storage.
4.3 - If we fail to discharge the responsibilities
identified in clause 4.1 and 4.2, we will, subject to the provisions
of clauses 9, 11 and 12, be liable under this agreement to compensate
you for such failure.
4.4 - We will not be liable to compensate you where
clauses 2.2, 3.2, 5.2 and 5.3 apply unless loss or damage occurred
as a result of negligence or breach of contract on our part.
4.5 - If
you do not provide us with a declaration of value of your goods on
the form we provide, or if you do not require us to accept standard
liability pursuant to clause 9.1 we will not be liable to you for
failure to discharge the responsibilities identified in clause 4.1
and 4.2, unless that failure was caused by negligence or breach of
contract on our part.
4.6 - The amount of our liability under this clause
shall be determined in accordance with clauses 9 and 11.
5. Goods
not to be submitted for removal or storage
5.1 -
Unless previously agreed in writing by a director or other authorized
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 5.1.1 below may present risks to health
and safety and of fire. Items listed under 5.1.2 to 5.1.6 below carry
other risks and you should make your own arrangements for their transport
and storage.
5.1.1 -
Prohibited or stolen goods, drugs, pornographic material, potentially
dangerous, damaging or explosive items, including gas bottles, aerosols,
paints, firearms and ammunition.
5.1.2 - Jewellery, watches, trinkets,
precious stones or metals, money, deeds, securities, stamps, coins,
or goods or collections of any similar kind.
5.1.3 - Plants or goods
likely to encourage vermin or other pests or to cause infestation
or contamination.
5.1.4 - Perishable items and/or those requiring a
controlled environment.
5.1.5 - Any animals, birds or fish.
5.1.6 - Goods
which require special licence or government permission for export
or import.
5.2 - If we do agree to remove
such goods, we will not accept liability for loss or damage unless
we are negligent or in breach of contract, in which case all these
conditions will apply.
5.3 - 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 will apply for an appropriate court
order to dispose of any such goods found in the consignment without
notice. You will furthermore pay to us any charges, expenses, damages,
legal costs or penalties incurred by us.
6. Ownership of the goods
6.1 - By entering into this Agreement,
you guarantee that:
6.1.1 - The goods to be removed
and/or stored are your own property, or
6.1.2 - The person(s) who own or have an interest
in them have given you authority to make this contract and have been
made aware of these conditions.
6.1.3 - You will pay us for any claim
for damages and/or costs brought against us if either warranty 6.1.1
or 6.1.2 is not true.
7. Charges if you postpone or cancel the removal
7.1 - If you postpone or cancel
this Agreement, we will charge you according to how much notice is
given. “Working days” refer to the normal working week of Monday to
Friday and excludes weekends and Public Holidays.
7.1.1 - More than 10 working days before the
removal was due to start: No charge.
7.1.2 - Between 5 and 10 working days inclusive
before the removal was due to start: not more than 30% of the removal
charge.
7.1.3 - Less than
5 working days before the removal was due to start: not more than
60% of the removal charge.
8. Payment
8.1 - Unless otherwise agreed
by us in writing:
8.1.1 - Payment is required
by cleared funds in advance of the removal or storage period.
8.1.2 - You may not withhold any part
of the agreed price.
8.1.3 - 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.
9. Determination of amount of our liability for
loss or damage
9.1 Standard Liability.
9.1.1 - If you provide us
with a declaration of the value of your goods on the valuation form
we provide, and make payment of the additional charge for us to accept
Standard Liability, subject to clause 3.1.1, the amount of our liability
to you in the event of loss or damage to those goods in breach of
clause 4 will be determined in accordance with Clauses 9.1.2, 9.1.3
and 11 below.
9.1.2 - In the event of loss of or damage to your goods in breach
of clause 4, our liability to you is to be assessed as a sum equivalent
to the cost of their repair or replacement whichever is the smaller
sum, taking into account the age, condition and value you declared
of the goods immediately prior to their loss or damage.
9.1.3 - Where
the lost or damaged item is part of a pair or set, our liability to
you, where it is assessed as the cost of replacement of that item,
is to be assessed as a sum equivalent to the cost of that item in
isolation, not the cost of that item as part of a pair or set. 9.2
Limited Liability. 9.2.1 If you do not provide us with a declaration
of value, or if you do not require us to accept Standard Liability
pursuant to clause 9.1, then our liability to you is to be determined
in accordance with Clauses 9.1.3, 9.2.2 and 11.
9.2.2 - In the event of loss of or damage to your goods caused by negligence
or breach of contract on our part, our liability to you is to be assessed
as a sum equivalent to the cost of their repair or replacement, taking
into account their age and condition immediately prior to their loss
or damage, subject to a maximum liability of £40 per item. Your attention
is drawn to clause 11.1 which applies to Limited Liability.
9.3 - For
goods destined to or received from a place outside the UK
9.3.1 - We
will only accept Standard Liability if you provide us with a detailed
valuation of your goods on the valuation form which we provide. All
other provisions of Clause 9.1 will apply.
9.3.2 - We do not accept
liability for loss of or damage to goods confiscated, seized, or removed
by Customs Authorities or other Government Agencies unless we have
been negligent or in breach of contract.
9.3.3 - We do not accept liability
for loss of or damage to goods occurring in certain overseas countries,
including Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Libya,Lebanon, Angola, Cambodia,
Vietnam, N. Korea and Former States of the USSR, unless we have been
negligent or in breach of contract. This list is not exhaustive, and
we will advise you at the time of quotation if this exclusion applies.
We will 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. In either circumstance
clause 9.1 or 9.2 above will apply.
9.4 - An
Item is defined as :-
9.4.1 - The entire contents of a box, parcel,
package, carton, or similar container; and
9.4.2 - Any other object
or thing that is moved, handled or stored by us.
10. Damage to premises
or property other than goods
10.1 - Because third party contractors
are frequently present at the time of collection or delivery our liability
for loss or damage is limited as follows:
10.1.1 - If we cause loss
or damage to premises or property other than goods for removal as
a result of our negligence or breach of contract, our liability shall
be limited to making good the damaged area only.
10.1.2 - If we cause
damage as a result of moving goods under your express instruction,
against our advice, and where to move the goods in the manner instructed
is likely to cause damage, we shall not be liable.
10.1.3 - If we are
responsible for causing damage to your premises or to property other
than goods submitted for removal and/or storage, you must note this
on the worksheet or delivery receipt as soon as practically possible
or within a reasonable time. This is fundamental to the Agreement.
11. Exclusions of liability
11.1 - In respect of
Limited Liability, we will not be liable for loss of or damage to
your goods as a result of fire or explosion howsoever that fire or
explosion was caused, war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities
(whether war is declared or not), civil war, terrorism, rebellion
and/or military coup, Act of God, industrial action or other such
events outside our reasonable control unless we have been negligent
or in breach of contract.
11.2 - In respect of Standard Liability and Limited Liability, other
than as a result of our negligence or breach of contract we will not
be liable for any loss of, damage to, or failure to produce the following
goods :-
11.2.1 - Bonds, Securities, Stamps of all kinds,
Manuscripts or other Documents or Electronically held Data Records,
Mobile Telephones
11.2.2 - Plants or goods likely to encourage
vermin or other pests or to cause infestation or contamination.
11.2.3 - Perishable
items and/or those requiring a controlled environment.
11.2.4 - Furs
exceeding £100 in value, Jewellery, Watches, Precious Stones and
Metals, Money, Coins, Deeds.
11.2.5 - Any animals, birds or fish.
11.3 - In respect
of Standard Liability and Limited Liability, other than as a result
of our negligence or breach of contract we will not be liable for
any loss of, damage to, or failure to produce the goods if caused
by any of the following circumstances:-
11.3.1 - Loss or damage arising
from ionising radiations or radioactive contamination
11.3.2 - Loss or damage
arising from Chemical, Biological, Bio-chemical, Electromagnetic
Weapons and Cyber Attack
11.3.3 - Indirect or consequential
loss of any kind or description
11.3.4 - By normal wear and tear, natural or
gradual deterioration, leakage or evaporation or from perishable
or unstable goods. This includes goods left within furniture or appliances.
11.3.5 - By vermin, moth, insects and similar infestation, damp, mould,
mildew or rust
11.3.6 - By cleaning, repairing
or restoring unless we arranged for the work to be carried out.
11.3.7 - By change to atmospheric or climatic
conditions.
11.3.8 - For any goods in wardrobes,
drawers or appliances, or in a package, bundle, carton, case or other
container not both packed and unpacked by us.
11.3.9 - Loss of or damage to
china, glassware and fragile items unless they have been both professionally
packed and unpacked by us or our Subcontractor. In the event of an
accident involving an owner packed container where damage would have
occurred irrespective of the quality of the packing, then our liability
is limited to £40 or its actual value whichever is less.
11.3.10 - For electrical or
mechanical derangement to any appliance, instrument, clock, computer
or other equipment unless there is evidence of related external damage.
11.3.11 - Loss or damage of
motor vehicles caused by scratching, denting and marring unless you
obtain from us a pre-collection condition report.
11.3.12 - Loss or damage to
a vehicle whilst being driven or for the purpose of being driven
under its own power other than for the purpose of loading onto or
unloading from the carrying conveyance or container. Loss or damage
sustained by accessories and removable items unless lost with the
vehicle
11.3.13 - For any goods
which have a pre-existing defect or are inherently defective.
11.4 - No employee of ours shall
be separately liable to you for any loss, damage, mis-delivery, errors
or omissions under the terms of this
Agreement.
11.5 - Our liability will cease
upon handing over goods from our control from our own or our agent’s
warehouse (e.g. if you contract for storage) or upon completion of
delivery to residence. (Also see clause 12.2 below). Standard Liability
Protection may be extended to cover additional periods in storage
with us at origin or with our nominated destination agent, upon written
instruction and against payment of an additional fee.
11.6 - In respect of Standard
Liability, other than as a result of our negligence or breach of contract
we will not be liable for any loss of, damage to or failure to produce
the goods if caused by War, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities
(whether war is declared or not), civil war, terrorism, rebellion
and/or military coup unless your goods are on an overseas vessel or
aircraft
12 Time
limit for claims
12.1 - For goods which we deliver,
you must notify us in writing of any visible loss, damage or failure
to produce any goods at the time of delivery.
12.2 - If you or your agent collect
the goods, you must notify us in writing of any loss or damage at
the time the goods are handed to you or your agent.
12.3 - Notwithstanding
clauses 9, 10 and 11 we will not be liable for any loss of or damage
to the goods unless a claim is notified to us, or to our agent or
the company carrying out the collection or delivery of the goods on
our behalf, in writing as soon as such loss or damage is discovered
(or with reasonable diligence ought to have been discovered) and in
any event within thirty (30) days of delivery of the goods by us.
12.4 - The time limit for notifying us of your
claim may be extended upon receipt of your written request provided
such request is received within seven (7) days of delivery. Consent
to such a request will not be unreasonably withheld.
12.5 - Any dispute concerning
the handling of claims should in the first instance be referred to
Removal Claims Service, Swan House, 24 Bridge Street, Leatherhead,
Surrey, KT22 8BX Tel. 01372 385970; Fax. 01372 385971; email: info@removalclaims.co.uk
13
Delays in transit
13.1 - Other than by reason of our negligence
or breach of contract, we will not be liable for delays in transit.
13.2 - If through no fault of ours we are unable to deliver your goods,
we will take them into store. The Agreement will then be fulfilled
and any additional service(s), including storage and delivery, will
be at your expense.
14 Our Right to Hold the Goods (lien)
We shall
have a right to withhold and/or ultimately dispose of some or all of
the goods until you have paid all our charges and any other payments
due under this or any other Agreement. (See also Clause 23). These
include any charges that we have paid out on your behalf. While we
hold the goods you will be liable to pay all storage charges and other
costs incurred by our withholding your goods and these terms and conditions
shall continue to apply.
15 Disputes
If there is a dispute arising
from this Agreement, which cannot be resolved, either party 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 either party 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, Tel: 01923 699480, Fax: 01923
699481, Email: info@bar.co.uk. This does not prejudice your right
to commence court proceedings.
16 Our right to sub-contract the work
16.1 - We reserve the right to
sub-contract some or all of the work.
16.2 - If we sub-contract, then
these conditions will still apply.
17 Route and method
17.1 - We have the right to choose
the method and route by which to carry out the work.
17.2 - Unless it
has been specifically agreed otherwise in writing in our Quotation,
other space/volume/capacity on our vehicles and/or the container may
be utilized for consignments of other customers.
18 Advice and information
for International Removals
We will use our reasonable endeavours to
provide you with up to date information to assist you with the import/export
of your goods. Information on such matters as national or regional
laws and regulations which are subject to change and interpretation
at any time is provided in good faith and is based upon existing known
circumstances. It is your responsibility to seek appropriate advice
to verify the accuracy of any information provided.
19 Applicable law
This contract is subject
to the law of the country in which the office of the company issuing this contract
is situated.
20 Your forwarding
address
20.1 - If you send goods to be
stored, you must provide an address for correspondence and notify
us if it changes. All correspondence and notices will be considered
to have been received by you seven days after sending it to your last
address recorded by us.
20.2 - If you do
not provide an address or respond to our correspondence or notices,
we may publish such notices in a public newspaper in the area to or
from which the goods were removed. Such notice will be considered
to have been received by you seven days after the publication date
of the newspaper. Note: If we are unable to contact you, we will charge
you any costs incurred in establishing your whereabouts.
21 List of
goods (inventory) or receipt
Where we produce a list of your goods
(inventory) or a receipt and send it to you, it will be accepted as
accurate unless you write to us within 10 days of the
date of our sending, or a reasonable period agreed between us, notifying
us of any errors or omissions.
22 Revision of storage charges
We review
our storage charges periodically. You will be given 3 months notice
in writing of any increases.
23 Our right to Sell or dispose of the
Goods
If payment of our charges relating to your goods
is in arrears, and on giving you three months’ notice, we are entitled
to require you to remove your goods from our custody and pay all money
due to us. If you fail to pay all outstanding amounts due to us, we
may sell or dispose of some or all of the goods without further notice.
The cost of the sale or disposal will be charged to you. The net proceeds
will be credited to your account and any eventual surplus will be
paid to you without interest. If the full amount due is not received,
we may seek to recover the balance from you.
24 Termination
If payments
are up to date, we will not end this contract except by giving you
three months notice in writing. If you wish to terminate your storage
contract, you must give us at least 10 working days’ notice (working
days are defined in Clause 7 above). If we can release the goods earlier,
we will do so, provided that your account is paid up to date. Charges
for storage are payable to the date when the notice should have taken
effect. Liability Terms For British Association of Removers Members
Marine Moves. |