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Terms & Conditions

   

                                       

Terms & Conditions of The National Guild of Removers & Storers Ltd © 2005

 

 

These conditions set out the terms of the contract between the Removal and/or

Storage Contractor (“the Contractor”) and you (“the Customer”) and explain your

rights and obligations and responsibilities and those of the Contractor.

 


1.          Interpretation 

1.1        Any reference in these conditions to “we” or “us” is a reference to the

            Contractor.

1.2        Any reference in these conditions to “you” is a reference to the Customer.

1.3        Any reference to “Insurance Option” is to the Insurance Option set out in

            Clause 9A.

1.4        “Goods” means the goods being removed and/or stored.

 

2.          Quotations

2.1         Quotations include Value Added Tax but do not include any other customs

             duties levies or fees payable to government or other statutory bodies and

             all such duties or fees (if any) will be payable by you in addition to the

             quoted price.

2.2         Although we quote a fixed price we reserve the right to amend it or make

             additional charges if any of the following have not been taken into account

             when preparing the quotation:-

2.2.1      If due to any circumstances outside our control the work is not carried out

             or completed within three months of the quotation date.

2.2.2      Our costs increase as a result of currency fluctuations or changes in

             taxation or freight charges beyond our control.

2.2.3      We have to collect or deliver Goods above the first upper floor.

2.2.4      We supply any additional services.

2.2.5      There are delays outside our reasonable control in which event we will make

             an additional charge for waiting time calculated in accordance with our

             standard rates applicable at the time.

2.2.6      Access to the collection or delivery point is inadequate or the approach is

             unsuitable for our vehicles.

2.2.7      Any parking or other fees or charges that we have to incur and pay in order

             to carry out the services you require. In all these circumstances you will be

             responsible for the extra charges.

2.3        The Insurance Option will only apply if it is stated on the Quotation. A

             summary of the insurance cover maintained by us and any main exclusions

             from the cover is either enclosed with these conditions or is available on

             request.

2.4        Our quotation is not a guarantee that we have vehicles available on the

             day you require. Accordingly your signed acceptance of our quotation does

             not constitute a contract between us until you have our written confirmation

             that we can move your Goods on your required date. We will send our written 

             confirmation within one working day of our receipt of your acceptance of our

             quotation.

 

3           Work excluded from our quotations

             Unless previously agreed in writing we will not: -

3.1        Dismantle or assemble unit-furniture (flat-pack), fittings or fitments.

3.2        Disconnect or reconnect appliances, fittings or equipment.

3.3        Remove or lay fitted floor coverings.

3.4        Take down or re-hang curtains, blinds or other window coverings.

3.5        Move night storage heaters unless they are dismantled.

3.6        Move or store any items excluded under Clause 4.

3.7        Move any item or items which our removal crew reasonably believe they

             cannot move safely or the removal of which may damage the item or items

             in question or its or their surrounding.

 

4.          Excluded Property 

             The following items are specifically excluded from this contract and will not

             be removed: -

4.1        Jewellery, watches, trinkets, precious stones, money, deeds, securities,

             stamps, coins, or goods or collections of a similar kind.

4.2        Potentially dangerous, damaging or explosive items.

4.3        Goods likely to encourage vermin or other pests or to cause infection.

4.4        Refrigerated or frozen food or drink.

4.5        Any animals and their cages or tanks including pets, birds or fish.

4.6        Cars, boats and caravans.

4.7        Furs, perfumery, wines, spirits, tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, foodstuffs,

             perishable goods or any kind of explosives. Such goods will not be removed

             by us except without prior written agreement. If you submit such goods

             without our knowledge and prior written agreement we will not be liable for

             any loss or damage except when death or injury is caused by our negligence

             or that of our employees or agents and you will indemnify us against any

             charges, expenses, damages or penalties claimed against us by third parties.

             In addition we shall be entitled to dispose of (without notice) any such 

             goods which are listed under paragraphs 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, & 4.7.

4.8        Breakage of owner packed property unless the box or container shows

             signs of external damage.

 

5.          Customer's responsibility

             It is your sole responsibility to:-

5.1        Declare to us the proper value of the Goods.

5.2        Obtain at your expense all documents necessary for the removal to be

             completed.

5.3        Be present yourself or appoint a representative at the departure and

             destination points to ensure that nothing is removed or left in error or is

             left in the wrong room.

5.4        Prepare adequately and stabilise all appliances prior to their removal.

             Other than by reason of our negligence we will not be liable for any loss

             or damage, costs or additional charges that may arise from any of these

             matters.

 

6.          Ownership of the goods 

             By entering into this contract you confirm to us that:-

6.1        The Goods are your own property; or

6.2        You have the authority of the owner of the property to make this

             contract in respect of the Goods. You will be responsible to pay for any

             claim for damages and/or costs against either of the above if this proves

             to be untrue.

 

7.          Postponements/Cancellations 

7.1         If you postpone or cancel this contract we may charge according to how

             much notice you provide prior to the agreed removal date:-

             Between 4-7 days:                    50% of the total removal charges

                             3 days:                    75% of the total removal charges

                             2 days:                    90% of the total removal charges

             Less than 24 hours:                 100% of the total removal charges

7.2        Condition 7.1 will not apply if you elect to take any removal

             postponement/cancellation protection waiver for which we have quoted.

 

8.          Payment of Removal Charges

             Unless you have our written agreement to the contrary you must pay our

             charges so we have cleared funds in advance of the removal. Unless we

             agree otherwise, you may not withhold any part of the agreed price. Interest

             at 2% per month calculated on a daily basis, is charged on all overdue

             accounts. We reserve the right to terminate this contract if payment is not

             received before the removal date, and not to carry out any services quoted

             for. Failure to comply with our payment terms will also mean that we will not

             insure our liability for the goods.

 

9.          Our liability for loss or damage 

9.1         Restricted liability

9.1.1      If you do not provide us with a declaration of value of your goods or you do

             not require us to accept Regular Liability pursuant to clause 9.2 below, then

             in the event that we lose or damage your goods through our negligence or

             our breach of contract, we will pay you up to a maximum of £50.00 sterling 

             for each item which is lost or damaged, to cover the cost of repairing or

             replacing that item.  In this respect an item is defined as any one article,

             suite, pair, set, complete case, package, carton or other container.

9.1.2      We may choose to repair or replace the damaged or lost item. However if

             we choose the repair the item we will not be liable for any depreciation in

             value.

9.1.3      Other than because of our negligence, we will not be liable for any loss,

             damage or failure to deliver the goods if it is caused by any of the following

             circumstances:

9.1.4      Fire howsoever caused.

9.1.5      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.

9.1.6      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.

9.1.7     Cleaning, repairing or restoring unless we did the work.

9.1.8      Moth or vermin or similar infestation.

9.1.9      Electrical or mechanical derangement to any appliance, instrument or

             equipment unless there is evidence of external impact.

9.1.10    Additionally we will not be liable for any loss of or damage to:

9.1.11    Any goods in wardrobes, drawers or appliances, or in a package, bundle,

             case or other container not both packed and unpacked by us.

9.1.12    Jewellery, watches, trinkets, precious stones or metals, money, deeds,

             securities, stamps, coins, or goods or collections of a similar kind, unless

             you have previously given us full information including value, and we have

             confirmed in writing that we will accept responsibility.

9.1.13    Goods which have a relevant proven defect or are inherently defective.

9.1.14    Animals and their cages or tanks including pets, birds or fish.

9.1.15    Plants.

9.1.16    Refrigerated or frozen food or drink.

9.1.17    Other than because of our negligence, we will not be liable for damages

             or costs resulting indirectly from, or as a consequence of loss, damage, or

             failure to deliver the goods.

 

9.2        Regular Liability  

9.2.1      If you provide us with a declaration of the value of your goods and you

             agree to pay an additional charge the amount of our liability to you will be

             as follows:

9.2.1.1   In the event of loss or damage caused by our negligence or breach of

             contract, our liability to you will be assessed as a sum equivalent to the

             cost of their repair or replacement, taking into account the age and 

             condition of the goods immediately prior to their loss or damage but

             subject to a maximum liability of £40,000 (unless we have agreed a higher

             amount with you).

9.2.1.2   Where the lost or damaged item is part of a pair or a set, our liability to

             you, where it is assessed to be the cost of replacement of that item, it 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.

9.3        Any liability under clause 9.1 or 9.2 above is expressly subject to all or

            any other applicable exclusions set out  elsewhere in this agreement.

 

10.       Delays in transit 

10.1       Unless we give a specifically agreed written timescale then arrival and

             departure times are an estimate only.

10.2       If we do not keep to an agreed written time scale schedule and any delay

             is within our reasonable control we will pay your reasonable expenses which

             arise as a result of our not keeping to the agreed written time schedule. If

             through no fault of ours we are unable to deliver your goods, we will take

             them into store. This contract will then be fulfilled and any additional

             service(s), including storage and delivery, will be at your expense.

 

11.        Damage to premises

             We shall only be liable for damage to premises caused by our negligence.

             Any damages to premises must be noted on the delivery receipt and

             confirmed in writing to us within seven days unless you request a reasonable

             extension which we agree in writing.

 

12.        Time limits for claims        

             We will not be liable for any loss or damage to any goods unless any claim

             for loss or damage is notified to us in writing WITHIN SEVEN DAYS (this is a

             requirement of insurers) of either their collection by you or delivery by us to

             their destination, unless you request a reasonable extension which we agree

             in writing.

 

13.        Our rights to withhold or dispose of goods 

             We have a legal right to withhold or (subject to complying with the notice

             procedure in condition 16.6) ultimately dispose of some or all of the goods

             until you have paid all our charges and other payments due under this 

             contract. These include any charges that we have paid out on your behalf.

             While we hold the goods and wait for payment you will be liable to pay all

             storage charges and other costs incurred as a result of our withholding 

             your goods and these terms and conditions will continue to apply.

 

14.        Disputes  

14.1       If there is a dispute arising from this agreement which cannot be resolved

             either you or we may refer it to the Conciliation Service provided by The

             National Guild of Removers and Storers ("the Guild"). A referral of any

             matter to  the Guild by us does not affect your right to pursue the matter

             through the Court.

14.2       As a member of the National Guild of Removers and Storers we participate

             in the Removals Industry Ombudsman Scheme ("the Scheme"). In the event

             that you are not satisfied with the result of the Conciliation Service referred

             to above you are entitled to refer the matter to the Ombudsman subject 

             always to the rules of the Scheme from time to time.

 

15.        Sub-contracting the work 

15.1       We reserve the right to sub-contract some or all of the work for which we

             have provided a quotation without reference to you.

15.2       If we sub-contract these conditions will still apply in full.

 

16.        Storage services

             The following terms in addition to all other terms set out in this document

             will apply to all contracts for the storage of goods:-

16.1       If you require storage facilities you are obliged to provide a forwarding

             address and notify us in writing if it changes. All correspondence and

             notices will be deemed to have been received by you seven days after

             posting it to the last forwarding address recorded by us.

16.2       The manner in which goods are transported and whether we use conventional

             or containerised storage shall be within our sole discretion unless otherwise

             confirmed in writing.

16.3       Where we provide an inventory of goods stored on your behalf it will be

             accepted as accurate unless you provide us with written notice of any errors

             or omissions within 14 days of our posting the inventory to you.

16.4       All charges for storage services are payable in advance. All our charges

             including removal charges must be paid in full in cleared funds before any

             goods are released from storage and we shall be entitled to exercise a lien

             over those goods until we receive payment of all charges due from you to us.

16.5       We review our storage charges periodically. You will be given 28 days' notice

             in writing of any increases following which our revised rates as notified will

             apply. We will always act reasonably in reviewing our storage charges.

16.6       On giving you 28 days' notice we are entitled to require you to remove your

             goods from our custody and pay all money due to us. Any such notice will

             tell you that we will dispose of your goods three months thereafter if you fail

             to pay all outstanding sums due to us and, in that event, we will do so 

             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.

16.7       If your payments are up to date we will not end this contract except by

             giving you three calendar months' notice in writing. If you wish to terminate

             your storage contract you should give at least 14 days' notice. Whilst we

             will use reasonable endeavours to arrange the release of your goods on the 

             dates you require, specific dates cannot be guaranteed.

16.8       If you choose someone else to collect your goods from our storage facilities

             we are entitled to make a charge for handing them over. Our responsibility

             for such goods will cease upon their being handed over to your chosen 

             representative.

 

17.        Whole agreement

             These Terms and Conditions together with our quotation are intended to

             form the whole agreement between us and to prevail over any verbal

             discussions. Should we mutually agree to any variation of these terms such 

             variation should be confirmed in writing. Any variation however agreed shall 

             never invalidate the remainder of these Terms and Conditions.

 

18.        Jurisdiction

             This contract is subject to the laws of England and Wales if our principal

             place of business is situated iin England or Wales, or to the laws of Scotland

             if our principal place of business is situated in Scotland.  

 

 

 
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