Docklands Man and Van Service Terms and Conditions
These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Docklands Man and Van provides removal, transport and related services within the United Kingdom. By making a booking or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before confirming a booking.
1. Definitions
In these Terms and Conditions, the following expressions have the meanings given below:
1.1 "Company" means Docklands Man and Van.
1.2 "Customer" means the individual or business booking or using the services of the Company.
1.3 "Services" means any removal, man and van, transport, loading, unloading, packing, or related services provided by the Company.
1.4 "Goods" means any items, possessions, furniture, equipment or materials which are the subject of the Services.
1.5 "Service Area" means the areas within the United Kingdom in which the Company operates and agrees to provide Services.
1.6 "Booking" means a confirmed request for Services accepted by the Company.
2. Scope of Services
2.1 The Company provides man and van and removal services for domestic and commercial customers, including collection, transportation and delivery of Goods within its Service Area, subject to these Terms and Conditions.
2.2 Unless expressly agreed in writing, the Services do not include specialist disconnection or reconnection of appliances, dismantling or assembly of certain items, or the movement of items requiring specialist equipment or permits.
2.3 The Company reserves the right to refuse to carry any Goods which, in its reasonable opinion, are unsafe, illegal, hazardous, or unsuitable for transport by the type of vehicle or equipment used.
3. Booking Process
3.1 All Services must be booked in advance. A Booking is only confirmed when the Company has accepted the details of the job and, where applicable, any required deposit has been received.
3.2 The Customer is responsible for providing accurate and complete information at the time of Booking, including collection and delivery addresses, access details, floor levels, parking arrangements, the nature and approximate volume of Goods, and any items requiring special handling.
3.3 Any quote provided by the Company is based on the information supplied by the Customer. If the information proves to be incomplete or inaccurate, the Company reserves the right to adjust the quoted price and any timings accordingly.
3.4 The Company may request photographs, inventories or further details about the Goods and access conditions in order to provide an accurate quote and plan the Services.
3.5 Bookings are subject to availability of vehicles and staff. The Company will use reasonable efforts to accommodate preferred dates and times but does not guarantee availability until the Booking is confirmed.
4. Estimates, Quotes and Pricing
4.1 The Company may provide either a fixed-price quote or an estimate based on hourly rates, depending on the nature of the job.
4.2 Fixed-price quotes are based on the information supplied by the Customer and are valid for a limited period as stated at the time of issue. The Company reserves the right to amend or withdraw a quote that has expired.
4.3 Where Services are charged on an hourly basis, charges will apply from the agreed start time or upon arrival at the collection address, whichever is earlier, until completion of the job, subject to any minimum charge period notified to the Customer.
4.4 Additional charges may apply for waiting time, extended loading or unloading due to access issues, additional Goods not originally disclosed, extra journeys, congestion or clean air zone charges, tolls, ferry charges, or parking charges and fines incurred while carrying out the Services.
4.5 All prices are stated exclusive of any applicable taxes unless otherwise indicated. Where applicable, taxes will be added at the prevailing rate.
5. Payments
5.1 The Company may require a deposit at the time of Booking. The deposit amount and payment method will be notified to the Customer.
5.2 Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment of any balance due is required immediately upon completion of the Services or in advance of the Service date for certain jobs.
5.3 The Company accepts payment by methods notified to the Customer in advance of the Booking. The Customer is responsible for ensuring that cleared funds are available by the due date.
5.4 If payment is not made when due, the Company reserves the right to charge interest on overdue sums at a reasonable commercial rate and to recover any costs incurred in pursuing payment, including legal and collection costs.
5.5 The Company retains a lien over the Goods and may withhold delivery of the Goods or place them into storage at the Customer's expense until all outstanding sums are paid in full.
6. Cancellations, Postponements and Amendments
6.1 The Customer may cancel or postpone a Booking by giving notice to the Company. Any cancellation or postponement may be subject to charges as set out in this clause.
6.2 If the Customer cancels more than 72 hours before the agreed start time, any deposit paid may be refundable at the Company's discretion, subject to reasonable administrative charges.
6.3 If the Customer cancels within 72 hours of the agreed start time, the Company reserves the right to retain part or all of the deposit and may charge a cancellation fee up to a reasonable proportion of the quoted price to cover costs and lost opportunity.
6.4 If the Customer cancels on the day of the Service or after the crew has been dispatched, the Company may charge up to the full quoted amount.
6.5 Any request to amend the date, time, addresses, or scope of the Services is subject to availability and may result in an adjustment to the price. The Company will inform the Customer of any revised charges before confirming the amendment.
6.6 The Company reserves the right to cancel or postpone a Booking due to events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, vehicle breakdown, accidents, road closures, industrial action, staff illness, or safety concerns. In such cases, the Company's liability will be limited to refunding any sums paid for Services not provided, or rescheduling the Booking where possible.
7. Customer Responsibilities
7.1 The Customer must ensure that the premises at both collection and delivery points are safe and accessible for the Company's staff and vehicles.
7.2 The Customer is responsible for arranging adequate parking and any permits required. Any parking charges or fines incurred while carrying out the Services may be charged to the Customer.
7.3 The Customer must ensure that all Goods to be moved are properly packed, labelled and ready for transport, unless packing services have been expressly agreed as part of the Booking.
7.4 The Customer must remove or secure any personal documents, money, jewellery, watches, valuable items, passports, or other important documents before the Services commence. The Company will not be liable for loss of such items unless separately and expressly agreed in writing.
7.5 The Customer must inform the Company in advance of any Goods that are fragile, of high value, unusually heavy or bulky, or requiring special handling or insurance arrangements.
7.6 The Customer, or a representative with authority, must be present at collection and delivery addresses to direct the crew and check that the Services have been completed as required, unless otherwise agreed.
8. Excluded and Restricted Items
8.1 The Company will not carry or store any of the following without prior written agreement: explosives, firearms, ammunition, illegal substances, perishable goods, live animals, plants that may be restricted, flammable or toxic substances, or any items prohibited by law.
8.2 If any such items are found among the Goods without the Company's knowledge or consent, the Company may remove, dispose of or otherwise deal with them at the Customer's risk and expense, and shall have no liability for any loss or damage arising.
9. Waste Regulations and Disposal
9.1 The Company operates in accordance with applicable UK waste and environmental regulations when transporting and disposing of waste or unwanted items.
9.2 The Customer must clearly identify any items to be disposed of or taken to a waste facility, and must not include hazardous, restricted or controlled waste unless this has been agreed in advance and appropriate arrangements have been made.
9.3 Where the Company agrees to remove waste or unwanted items, additional charges may apply for disposal, recycling centre fees, or any necessary licences or documentation.
9.4 The Customer remains responsible for ensuring that any waste handed over to the Company is lawful to dispose of and does not include prohibited materials. The Company reserves the right to refuse any items it reasonably believes to be in breach of waste regulations or to pose a risk to health, safety or the environment.
10. Liability and Limitations
10.1 The Company will take reasonable care in handling and transporting the Goods. However, the Company's liability for loss of or damage to Goods is subject to the limitations set out in this clause.
10.2 The Company will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of nature, severe weather, fire, flood, war, terrorism, road traffic incidents not caused by the Company's negligence, or delays caused by congestion or road closures.
10.3 The Company will not be liable for loss or damage arising from defective or inadequate packing or preparation by the Customer, or where Goods are inherently fragile, not designed for transport, or have pre-existing damage.
10.4 The Company's liability for loss of or damage to Goods, where liability is accepted, shall be limited to a reasonable amount per damaged or lost item, subject to an overall cap that reflects the level of charges for the Services provided. Details of any applicable caps or insurance arrangements can be provided on request.
10.5 The Company will not be liable for loss of profits, loss of business, consequential or indirect losses, or loss arising from delays, missed appointments, or other timing issues, save where such loss is caused by the Company's negligence and was reasonably foreseeable.
10.6 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions limits or excludes the Company's liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other liability which cannot lawfully be limited or excluded.
11. Claims and Complaints
11.1 Any visible loss or damage to Goods or property must be reported to the Company's staff as soon as possible and noted at the time of delivery where practicable.
11.2 The Customer must notify the Company in writing of any claim for loss or damage as soon as reasonably possible and, in any event, within a reasonable timeframe after the completion of the Services.
11.3 The Customer must provide reasonable evidence of any alleged loss or damage, including photographs, receipts or other documentation upon request.
11.4 The Company will investigate all genuine complaints and will seek to resolve them promptly and fairly, which may include repair, replacement, a goodwill payment or other appropriate remedy, subject to the limitations in these Terms.
12. Insurance
12.1 The Company maintains insurance cover appropriate to its operations. Details of basic cover can be made available to the Customer on request.
12.2 The Customer is responsible for arranging any additional or specialist insurance for Goods of high value or special nature that exceed the Company's standard cover or liability limits.
13. Access, Property and Parking Damage
13.1 The Customer must ensure that access for vehicles and personnel is suitable at both collection and delivery locations. This includes driveways, roads, doorways, stairways, lifts and hallways.
13.2 The Company is not responsible for damage to Goods or property resulting from limited or difficult access, where the Customer has requested that the Company proceed despite the risk.
13.3 The Customer should protect floors, walls, doors and fixtures where appropriate. The Company will take reasonable care but will not be liable for minor scuffs, marks or wear and tear reasonably arising from the moving of large or heavy items.
14. Timeframes and Delays
14.1 Any times quoted by the Company for arrival, loading, unloading or completion are estimates only and are not guaranteed, unless expressly agreed in writing as guaranteed.
14.2 The Company will not be liable for delays caused by factors beyond its reasonable control, including traffic, accidents, roadworks, access issues, or delays caused by the Customer or third parties.
14.3 Where a delay occurs, the Company will use reasonable efforts to keep the Customer informed and to complete the Services as soon as reasonably possible.
15. Subcontracting
15.1 The Company reserves the right to subcontract all or part of the Services to carefully selected third parties.
15.2 Where the Company uses subcontractors, these Terms and Conditions shall still apply, and the Company will remain responsible for the performance of the Services, subject to the limitations set out herein.
16. Data Protection and Privacy
16.1 The Company will collect and process personal data of the Customer for the purposes of providing the Services, managing bookings, taking payment, and complying with legal obligations.
16.2 Personal data will be handled in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation. The Company will take reasonable steps to keep personal data secure and will not share it with third parties except where necessary to perform the Services or comply with the law.
17. Variation of Terms
17.1 The Company may update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time of the Booking will apply to that Booking.
17.2 Any changes to the scope of the Services or to these Terms and Conditions requested by the Customer are only valid if agreed in writing by the Company.
18. Severability
18.1 If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found by a court or other competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed deleted, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
19. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
19.1 These Terms and Conditions and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, or the Services provided by the Company, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
19.2 The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions or their subject matter.
20. Entire Agreement
20.1 These Terms and Conditions, together with any written quotation or confirmation provided by the Company, constitute the entire agreement between the Customer and the Company in relation to the Services and supersede any prior understandings, statements or representations.
20.2 The Customer acknowledges that they have not relied on any statement, promise or representation made or given by or on behalf of the Company that is not set out in these Terms and Conditions or in writing from the Company.
