TERMS & CONDITIONS OF COACH HIRE

 

1. Application

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.

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. The Company will only accept instructions from the hirer or their nominated representative.

Where a copy of these conditions has been given to the hirer at any time, or the hirer has been advised verbally of all significant terms, making a booking will be deemed to signify acceptance of them. Where a hirer makes a booking before receiving these conditions and without being advised verbally of all significant terms, the hirer may cancel the contract without liability to the operator within 24 hours of receiving these conditions. Otherwise, the hirer will be deemed to accept these conditions.

 

2. Quotations

Quotations are given on the basis of the 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 a suitable vehicle available at the time the hirer accepts the quotation. Quotations are valid for 28 days unless otherwise notified.

 

3. Use of the Vehicle

The hirer cannot assume the use of the vehicle between outward and return journeys, nor that it will remain at the destination for the hirer’s 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 to that agreed. The charges will be pro-rata and in accordance with the formula used to calculate the original hire charge. 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 a 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. The calculation of 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 assistance dogs notified to the Company in advance) may be carried on any vehicle without prior written agreement from the Company.

 

8. Confirmation

Normally written confirmation, including by email from the Company, is the only basis for the acceptance of a hiring or for a subsequent alteration to its terms.

 

9. Payment

A deposit of 10% of the total booking amount received, on request, is non-refundable should the hirer cancel. Any deposit requested must be paid upon confirming the booking 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 5% compound interest per calendar month, after the date that any payment should have been made.

 

10. Cancellation by Hirer

If the hirer wishes to cancel any agreement the following scale of charges will apply in relation to the total hire charge. Notice days given are inclusive of weekends.

 

Notice Given	Charge Applicable (% Of Total Hire Charge)
Upon receipt of confirmation	25%
10 to 14 Days	50%
4 to 9 Days	75%
1 to 3 Days	100%

The cost of any parking, road tolls and out of pocket expenses paid by the Company at the request of the hirer, will be charged to the hirer, plus any administration charges incurred by the Company.

Cancellation due to inclement weather conditions will charged as above.

 

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

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. 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 at least equivalent quality

 

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 supplier’s terms and conditions brought about by the hirer’s action.

 

15. Passengers Property

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 carried. 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.

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 hirer’s responsibility to minimise risk of loss when property is left unattended. The Company’s liability for loss and damage to property, however caused, is limited.

All articles of lost property recovered from the vehicle will be held at the Company’s premises, and will be kept for a maximum of 2 months and then disposed of, if not claimed within this time.

 

16. 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.

 

17. Complaints

In the event of complaint about the Company’s 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. The Company will acknowledge all complaints within 14 days and will normally reply fully within 28 days.

 

18. Notices

No bill, poster or notice is to be displayed on any vehicle without the written consent of the Company.

 

19. Refreshment and Alcoholic Drinks

Other than on a vehicle fitted expressly for that purpose, food except confectionery and drink including alcoholic beverages with the exception of water may not be consumed on the vehicle without prior written consent from the Company.

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 1985, (as amended) 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.

 

20. 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.