These conditions apply to the private hire of transport, not
operating as a package, as defined by the package travel,
package holidays and package tour regulations 1992.
1. Applications
These conditions apply whether a contract has been
made verbally or in writing. The hirer acts on behalf of all
the passengers travelling on the vehicles. If the hirer is a
company, group, or partnership, an individual must be named as
a responsible person. The hirer is responsible for the actions
and decisions of all the passengers on board including any
additional costs incurred in performing the contract, whether
or not they actually travel with the party. The company will
only accept instructions from the hirer. If the hirer is
not going to travel with the party, a representative must be
chosen, and the company informed prior to the hire taking
place.
2. Quotations
Quotations are given on the basis of the most direct
route and on information provided by the hirer. The route used
will be at the discretion of the company unless it has been
particularly specified by the hirer in which case it will be
clearly shown on the confirmation.
All quotations are given subject to the company having
available a suitable vehicle at the time the hirer accepts the
quotation.
Quotations are valid for 28 days from the initial enquiry
unless otherwise notified.
Quotations are given for coach and driver only. Any additional
charges will be separately identified and will be the hirers
responsibility unless otherwise specified.
3. Use of Vehicle
The hirer cannot assume use of the vehicle between outward and
return journeys nor to remain at the destination for the hirers
use unless this has been agreed with the company in
advance.
4. Route and Time Variation
The company reserves the right to levy additional charges for
additional mileage or time than that agreed. The charges will
be pro rata and in accordance with the formula advised on the
booking confirmation.
The vehicle will depart at times agreed by the hirer, and it is
the responsibility of the hirer to account for all passengers
at those times. The company will not accept liability for any
losses incurred by passengers who fail to follow instructions
given by the hirer.
5. Drivers Hours
The hours of operation for the driver are regulated by
law, and the hirer accepts the responsibility of ensuring the
hire keeps to the hours and times agreed by the Company.
Neither the hirer nor any passenger shall delay or otherwise
interrupt the journey in such as way that the driver is at risk
of breaching regulations relating to driving hours and duty
time. If any breach is likely to occur, the hirer will be
responsible for any additional costs incurred unless it is
outside the control of the hirer. Any additional costs will be
as in condition 4.
6. Seating Capacity
The company will, at the time of booking, agree and specify the
legal seating capacity of the vehicle to be supplied. The hirer
must not load the vehicle beyond this capacity.
7. Conveyance of Animals
On a private hire, no animals (other than guide dogs
and hearing dogs notified to the company in advance) may be
come on any vehicle without prior written agreement from the
company.
8. Confirmation
Normally, written confirmation by the company is the
only basis for the acceptance of a hiring or for a subsequent
alteration to its terms.
9. Payment
Any deposit requested must be paid by the date stated, and
payment in full must be made before the start of the hire
unless otherwise agreed by the company. The company reserves
the right to add interest at the rate of 2% compound interest
per calendar month, after the date by which payment should have
been made.
10. Cancellation by Hirer
a. If the hirer wishes to cancel any agreement, the following
scale of charges will apply in relation to the total hire
charge.
DAYS PRIOR TO CANCELLATION CHARGE
DAY HIRE
28 days or more - 10% or £50 (Whichever the
greater)
14-27 days - 50% of hire
7-13 days - 60% of hire
3-6 days - 75% of hire
1-2 days - 85% of hire
Day of hire Minimum of 85% of
hire
Arrival of coach at departure point 100% of
hire
TOUR WORK
42 to 36 days - 10% or £300 (Whichever the
greater)
35 to 29 days - 50% of hire
28 to 22 days - 60% of hire
21 to 15 days 75% of hire
14 to 8 days 85% of hire
7 days or less Minimum of 85% of hire
Arrival of coach at departure point 100% of hire
b. The cost of accommodation, meals and theatre tickets
which have already been purchased by the company at the request
of the hirer, will be charged to the hirer,
plus any administration charges incurred by the company.
c. Cancellation due to inclement weather conditions will be
charged as above.
d. Theatre tickets once purchased are not returnable and must
be paid for in full. (or other such ancillary service)
11. Cancellation by the Company
In the event of any emergency, riot, civil commotion,
strike, lock out, stoppage or restraint of labour or on the
happening of any event over which the company has no control
(including adverse weather and road conditions) or in the event
of the hirer taking any action to vary agreed conditions
unilaterally, the company may, by returning all money paid and
without further or other liability, cancel the contract.
12. Vehicle to be Provided
a. The company reserves the right to provide a larger
vehicle than that specified at no additional charge unless any
extra seats are used in which case an additional pro rata
charge will be made to the hire charge.
b. The company reserves the right to substitute another vehicle
(including those of other operators) or ancillary facilities
for all or part of the hiring subject to such substitutes being
of a least equivalent quality.
c. The company reserves the right to provide multiple vehicles
to meet the seating capacity requirements of the hirer,
including substituting two single deck vehicles for a double
deck vehicle.
13. Breakdown and Delays
The company gives its advice on journey time in good
faith. However, as a result of breakdown or traffic congestion,
or other events beyond the reasonable control of the company,
journeys may take longer than predicted and in those
circumstances the company will not be liable for any loss or
inconvenience suffered by the hirer as a result.
14 Agency Arrangements
Where the company hires-in vehicles from other operators at
the request of the hirer and where the company arranges
ancillary facilities such as meals, accommodation, ferries,
admission tickets or any other services provided by another
supplier, it does so as agent for and on behalf of the hirer.
Any terms and conditions imposed by such other suppliers
through the company shall, insofar as they are supplied to the
hirer, be binding on the hirer as if he had directly contracted
such services and the hirer shall indemnify the company against
any loss, claim, damage or award in respect of a breach of such
suppliers terms and conditions brought about by the hirers
action.
15. Package Travel Regulations
If the hirer organises other elements of a package in addition
to the provision of transport, the hirer may be defined as an
organiser or a retailer for the purposes of the Package Travel,
Package Holidays, and Package Tours Regulations 1992 and as
such may be required to comply with the provisions of those
Regulations.
In this instance, the company cannot accept any liability that
may be incurred for losses or damage that it would otherwise
accept under the terms of those Regulations.
The hirer accepts responsibility for ensuring whether they are
so defined, and the company cannot accept liability for loss or
damage incurred that should have been the responsibility of the
hirer if the hirer was the legally defined organiser or
retailer.
Where the company acts as an organiser or retailer, it will
issue separate conditions of trading relating to its
liabilities and responsibilities under the Regulations.
16. Passengers Property
a. All vehicles hired by the company are subject to
restrictions on carrying luggage for statutory safety reasons.
The hirer accepts that the driver shall be the sole judge as to
whether and to what extent passengers property is claimed.
Large, bulky items may not be able to be carried, and the hirer
should take all steps to notify the company in advance of such
requirements.
b. The company accepts any personal property of the hirer and
their passengers on the understanding that it will take all
reasonable steps to avoid loss or damage. The hirer should
notify the company or the driver if items of exceptional value
are to be carried on the vehicle. It is the hirers
responsibility to minimise risk of loss when property is left
unattended.
c. The Companys liability for loss and damage, however caused,
is limited to £500 per bag, case or package and an
overall limit of £1000 (overall claim value) maximum per
passenger. It is the responsibility of the hirer to ensure that
items over this value are insured separately for loss and
damage.
d. All articles of lost property recovered from the vehicle
will be held at the companys premises where the vehicle is
based, and will be subject to the current Public Service
Vehicle (Lost Property) Regulations. The company will provide
details of this legislation on request.
17. Conduct of Passengers
The driver is responsible for the safety of the
vehicle at all times, and as such may remove any passenger
whose behaviour prejudices safety or is in breach of the Public
Service Vehicle (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and
Passengers) Regulations 1990. These regulations set out certain
rights and responsibilities on all parties, and full details of
these can be obtained from the company on request. The hirer is
responsible for any damage caused to the vehicle by any
passenger for the duration of the hire.
Where the hire is to a sporting event, the hirer should be
aware of the legal requirements relating to alcohol, contained
in the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1995, and the
conditions of entry to race courses as laid down by the Race
Course Association Ltd. The company will provide details of
these restrictions on request.
18. Complaints
In the event of a complaint about the companys services, the
hirer should endeavour to seek a solution at the time by
seeking assistance from the driver or from the company. If this
has not provided a remedy, complaints should be submitted in
writing and within 14 days of the termination date of the hire.
Complaints will be acknowledged within 14 working days
and the Company will aim to resolve any complaint within 28
days of it being made. Full details of the Companys complaint
procedure are available on request.
19. Notices
No bill, poster or notice is to be displayed on any
vehicle without the written consent of the company.
20. Refreshments and Alcoholic Drinks
Other than on a vehicle fitted expressly for that
purpose, food (except confectionery) and drink (including
alcoholic beverages) may not be consumed on the vehicle without
prior written consent from the company. Only food (except
confectionery) and beverages supplied by the company may be
sold or distributed on the vehicle.
21. Surcharges
Once a confirmation has been issued to the hirer, providing
there are 30 days prior to the departure date, the company
reserves the right to pass on increases in the cost of fuel,
taxes imposed by the Governments of the UK and of other
countries to be visited during the journey, road tolls, and
foreign currency. No surcharges will be levied within 30 days
of departure. On notification of such surcharges, the hirer may
cancel the booking subject to the scale of cancellation charges
shown in paragraph 10. The liability of the company will be
limited to the cost of the hire and any ancillary services
supplied.
Disability Terms & Conditions