Man and a Van Clapham Service Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Man and a Van Clapham provides removal, man and van, transportation and related services within the United Kingdom. By making a booking, confirming a quotation, or allowing our staff to begin work, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

1. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions, the following expressions have the meanings set out below:

Client means the person or organisation that makes the booking or on whose behalf the booking is made.

We, Us, Our means Man and a Van Clapham.

Services means any removal, man and van, transport, packing, loading, unloading, storage assistance, or related services provided by us.

Vehicle means any van or other vehicle used by us to carry out the Services.

Property means the premises from which goods are collected or to which they are delivered.

Goods means any items, furniture, belongings, equipment or materials that we are asked to move, handle or transport.

2. Scope of Services

We provide man and van and small to medium removal services, including collection, transportation and delivery of Goods. Services may include, where agreed in advance, assistance with packing, unpacking, loading and unloading.

Our Services are primarily intended for domestic and light commercial customers within our usual operating area. We may, at our discretion, agree to provide Services to other locations in the UK, subject to availability and additional charges.

We do not provide specialist removal services for items requiring dedicated handling, such as industrial machinery, heavy safes, hazardous materials or items requiring specialist lifting equipment, unless this has been expressly agreed in writing in advance.

3. Booking Process

All bookings must be made in advance, either by telephone, through our website booking form, or via another method we make available. A booking is only considered confirmed once we have provided a written or clearly recorded confirmation setting out the agreed date, time, vehicle size, number of operatives and estimated charges.

When making a booking, you must provide accurate information, including but not limited to:

1. The addresses for collection and delivery.

2. Details of the Goods to be moved, including approximate volume and any unusually heavy, fragile or valuable items.

3. Details of access restrictions at all locations, such as parking limitations, stairs, narrow corridors, lifts, low ceilings or time restrictions.

4. Any other relevant information that may affect the provision of the Services.

We may revise or withdraw a quotation or booking if the information provided is inaccurate or incomplete, or if circumstances change materially before the Services are due to take place.

4. Quotations and Pricing

Quotations are based on the information supplied by you at the time of enquiry. They may be given as a fixed price for a defined scope of work or as an hourly rate with a minimum hire period.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, quotations do not include:

1. Parking fees, congestion charges, tolls, ferry charges or other third-party charges.

2. Packing materials such as boxes, bubble wrap or tape.

3. Dismantling or reassembly of furniture or equipment.

4. Removal or disposal of waste or unwanted items.

Additional charges may apply where:

1. The job takes longer than the time estimated due to circumstances beyond our control.

2. Access at either property is more difficult than disclosed.

3. Additional Goods or services are requested on the day.

4. There are delays caused by keys not being available, waiting for access, or other hold-ups outside our control.

5. Payments

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due either in full in advance or immediately upon completion of the Services on the day of the move.

We accept commonly used UK payment methods that we confirm at the time of booking. We reserve the right to request a deposit to secure your booking, particularly for larger moves or busy dates.

If payment is not received when due, we may:

1. Suspend or refuse to carry out the Services.

2. Retain Goods in our possession until payment has been received in full.

3. Charge reasonable costs for storage and any additional journeys required as a result of non-payment.

4. Charge interest on overdue amounts at the statutory rate until payment is made.

6. Cancellations and Amendments

You may cancel or amend your booking by notifying us as soon as possible. The following cancellation terms will apply unless otherwise agreed:

1. More than 7 days before the scheduled date: no cancellation fee, and any deposit paid may be refunded or transferred to a new date.

2. Between 48 hours and 7 days before the scheduled date: we may retain part or all of any deposit to cover administration and loss of booking opportunity.

3. Less than 48 hours before the scheduled date or on the day of the move: we reserve the right to charge up to the full estimated cost of the booking.

If you wish to change the date, time, size of vehicle, or scope of work, this will be subject to availability. We are not obliged to accommodate changes, and changes may affect the price.

We may cancel or rearrange a booking where:

1. Circumstances beyond our reasonable control prevent us from providing the Services, including extreme weather, vehicle breakdown or illness.

2. We believe it would be unsafe or unlawful to proceed.

In such cases, our liability will be limited to refunding any deposit or advance payment you have made for Services not yet provided, or rebooking the Services on a mutually convenient date.

7. Client Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

1. Ensuring adequate access and parking is available at both collection and delivery addresses, including obtaining any necessary permits or permissions.

2. Ensuring that Goods are properly packed, secured and prepared for transport, unless we have agreed to provide packing services.

3. Removing and securing any personal documents, money, jewellery or other small valuables, which should not be handed to us for transport.

4. Being present, or appointing a representative to be present, during collection and delivery to provide instructions and check Goods.

5. Ensuring that all Goods to be moved are ready at the agreed time, and that access routes are clear.

If you fail to comply with these responsibilities, we may charge for delays, additional time, additional manpower or journeys required to complete the work.

8. Goods Excluded from Transport

We do not transport the following types of items unless expressly agreed in writing prior to the booking and subject to any additional conditions we specify:

1. Hazardous materials, flammable or explosive items, gas cylinders, chemicals or solvents.

2. Live animals, plants requiring special care, or perishable items that may spoil.

3. Illegal items or items of unlawful origin.

4. Extremely high-value items such as fine art, antiques of exceptional value, precious metals, or collections where the total value exceeds normal household contents insurance levels.

If such items are included without our knowledge or consent, they will be moved entirely at your risk and we may decline to move them or dispose of them lawfully if they pose a risk.

9. Liability and Limitations

We will exercise reasonable care and skill in handling and transporting your Goods. However, our liability is subject to the following limitations:

1. We are not liable for normal wear and tear, minor scratches, scuffs or dents that may occur during transportation when reasonable care has been taken.

2. We are not liable for damage to Goods that are inadequately packed by you, or that are inherently fragile or defective.

3. We are not liable for loss or damage arising from your failure to protect or secure goods of special value.

4. We are not responsible for damage to items that we are asked to move against our advice or where we indicate that the item is unsuitable for moving in the requested manner.

5. We are not liable for any indirect or consequential loss, including loss of profits, loss of revenue, loss of opportunity, or loss arising from delays.

Our total liability for any loss of or damage to Goods, whether arising from breach of contract, negligence or otherwise, shall not exceed a reasonable replacement value of the items affected, subject to an overall cap proportionate to the fee paid for the Services, unless a higher level of cover has been specifically agreed in writing prior to the move.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under UK law.

10. Claims and Complaints

Any visible loss or damage must be reported to our staff as soon as reasonably practicable, ideally on the day of the move. You should also notify us in writing within 7 days of completion of the Services, providing full details of the items affected, the nature of the damage, and supporting evidence such as photographs where available.

We may inspect the Goods and, where appropriate, seek to repair the damage, compensate for the loss, or otherwise resolve the issue in line with these Terms and Conditions. Failure to notify us within a reasonable period may affect our ability to investigate and process your claim.

11. Property Damage

We will take reasonable care to avoid damage to your Property during the provision of the Services. However, you must ensure that floors, walls, doorways and other vulnerable surfaces are suitably protected where necessary.

We are not liable for superficial damage to decorations, floor coverings or fixtures that occurs despite reasonable care being taken. If our staff consider that an item is too large to be moved safely without risk of damage to the Property, we may decline to proceed or require you to sign a disclaimer if you insist on us continuing.

12. Waste Regulations and Disposal

We operate in accordance with applicable UK waste regulations. We are not a general waste disposal company and will not remove or dispose of household or commercial waste unless this has been explicitly agreed as a separate service and is compliant with relevant regulations.

Where we agree to remove unwanted items, they must not include hazardous, clinical, or prohibited waste. We reserve the right to refuse any items that we reasonably believe may breach waste laws or pose a risk to health, safety or the environment.

Any charges for disposal or recycling of items will be confirmed in advance where possible. We may require evidence that items to be removed are lawfully owned by you and that you have the right to authorise their removal.

13. Delays and Events Beyond Our Control

While we make reasonable efforts to meet agreed timescales, all arrival and completion times are estimates. We are not liable for delays due to traffic conditions, accidents, road closures, extreme weather, or other events beyond our reasonable control.

If an event outside our control prevents or delays us from performing the Services, we will inform you as soon as reasonably practicable and take reasonable steps to minimise the effect of the delay. Where the Services cannot be carried out, our liability will be limited to refunding any amounts paid for Services not provided.

14. Insurance

We maintain appropriate insurance cover for our vehicles and business activities in accordance with UK requirements. Our insurance is subject to limitations, conditions and exclusions imposed by our insurers.

It remains your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate contents or other insurance in place to cover your Goods and any special risks. If you require additional cover for high-value items or specific risks, you should arrange this independently.

15. Health and Safety

We adhere to relevant health and safety legislation and expect clients to provide a safe working environment for our staff. We may refuse to carry out any task that in our reasonable opinion poses an unacceptable risk to health or safety.

Our staff must not be asked to carry out tasks that fall outside normal removal activities, such as electrical, plumbing or structural work, for which they are not qualified.

16. Data Protection and Privacy

We collect and process personal information such as names, addresses, and contact details solely for the purposes of managing bookings, providing Services, handling payments and dealing with queries or complaints.

We will handle your personal data in accordance with applicable UK data protection laws. We will not sell your details to third parties, but may share information with trusted partners where necessary to deliver the Services or as required by law.

17. Variation of Terms

We may update or amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time of your booking will apply to that booking. Any variation to these Terms must be agreed in writing by us.

18. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or the Services, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

You and we agree that 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.

19. Severability

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a competent authority, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

20. Entire Agreement

These Terms and Conditions, together with any written quotation or confirmation provided by us, constitute the entire agreement between you and us in relation to the Services. You acknowledge that you have not relied on any statement, promise or representation that is not set out in these documents.