Terms and Conditions

Man With a Van Chessington Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Man With a Van Chessington provides removal, transport and related services within the United Kingdom. By making a booking, confirming a quotation or allowing our team to commence 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:

1.1 "We", "us" and "our" refer to Man With a Van Chessington, the provider of the services.

1.2 "You" and "your" refer to the customer, being the person, firm or company who requests or accepts a quotation or booking for services.

1.3 "Services" means any man and van, removal, transport, loading and unloading, packing, clearance, waste removal, or related services that we agree to provide.

1.4 "Goods" means the items, belongings or materials that you request us to handle, transport, move, store or dispose of.

1.5 "Booking" means any confirmed request by you for services, whether confirmed verbally or in writing, and whether made online or by other means.

1.6 "Working day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday in England.

2. Scope of Services

2.1 We provide man and van and removal services primarily within the local and surrounding areas, as well as to and from other locations in the United Kingdom by agreement.

2.2 The exact scope of services, including vehicle size, number of staff, estimated time and route, will be confirmed to you at the time of booking or in a written quotation.

2.3 We reserve the right to refuse to carry any goods that in our reasonable opinion are hazardous, illegal, unsafe, or likely to cause damage to our vehicle, staff, third parties or other goods.

2.4 We do not provide specialist disconnection or reconnection of appliances, plumbing, electrics or other installations. You are responsible for arranging suitable qualified professionals where required.

3. Booking Process

3.1 Enquiries for services may be made by phone, online or by any other method we make available. A booking is not confirmed until we have accepted it and provided you with a confirmation of the agreed date, time window, rates and any other key terms.

3.2 You are responsible for providing accurate and complete information at the time of booking, including:

a) Collection and delivery addresses

b) Access details, including floors, lifts, stairs, parking restrictions and distances from vehicle to property

c) An honest and reasonable estimate of the quantity, size and nature of the goods

d) Any items requiring special handling or which are heavy, fragile or valuable

e) Any time constraints or building management requirements that may affect the service

3.3 If on arrival we find that the work is substantially different from that described at the time of booking, we may adjust the price, change the vehicle or staff allocation, or if necessary refuse to complete all or part of the job. In such circumstances you may be liable for a call-out or cancellation charge.

3.4 All bookings are subject to availability. We will use reasonable efforts to provide the services at the agreed date and time, but timings are estimates and not guaranteed unless explicitly stated in writing.

4. Quotations and Pricing

4.1 Quotations may be provided on a fixed-price or hourly-rate basis, depending on the nature of the job. The basis of pricing will be made clear to you at the time of quotation.

4.2 Fixed-price quotations are based on the information provided by you. If the information is inaccurate or incomplete, we may reasonably vary the price to reflect the actual work required.

4.3 Hourly-rate jobs are typically charged from the time our vehicle and staff arrive at the collection address until the time the job is completed, including any waiting time caused by access issues, delays in loading or unloading, or other circumstances beyond our control.

4.4 Additional charges may apply for congestion, tolls, parking fees, long carries, difficult access, dismantling and reassembly, or for work outside normal hours, where not already included in the quotation.

4.5 Unless expressly stated otherwise, all prices are quoted in pounds sterling and are inclusive or exclusive of VAT according to our current tax status and legal obligations.

5. Payments

5.1 We may require a deposit at the time of booking to secure the date and time of your service. Any required deposit amount will be communicated before you confirm the booking.

5.2 Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the balance of payment is due immediately upon completion of the job, and before our staff leave the final delivery address.

5.3 We accept payment by the methods specified at the time of booking. We do not accept payment by cheque unless agreed in advance.

5.4 If payment is not made when due, we reserve the right to:

a) Charge reasonable interest and late payment fees in line with applicable UK legislation

b) Retain possession of your goods until full payment is received

c) Recover any costs incurred in pursuing late or non-payment, including legal and collection fees

5.5 For business and commercial accounts, credit terms may be agreed in writing. If such terms are agreed, invoices must be paid in full by the due date shown on the invoice.

6. Cancellations and Amendments

6.1 If you need to cancel or amend your booking, you should notify us as soon as possible. All cancellations and amendments are subject to the following terms.

6.2 If you cancel your booking more than 48 hours before the agreed start time, any deposit paid may be refunded or credited at our discretion, minus any reasonable administrative costs already incurred.

6.3 If you cancel within 48 hours but more than 24 hours of the agreed start time, we may retain part or all of your deposit to cover lost booking opportunities and administrative costs.

6.4 If you cancel within 24 hours of the agreed start time, or fail to be present or provide access when our team arrives, we reserve the right to charge up to 100 percent of the estimated job value, subject to a minimum call-out charge.

6.5 If you wish to change the date, time or details of the job, we will use reasonable efforts to accommodate the change, but cannot guarantee availability. Substantial changes may be treated as a cancellation and rebooking, and may incur charges under clauses 6.2 to 6.4.

6.6 In the event that we need to cancel or significantly amend your booking due to unforeseen circumstances such as vehicle breakdown, staff illness, extreme weather, accidents or other events beyond our reasonable control, we will notify you as soon as practical and offer an alternative time or a refund of any deposit paid. We will not be liable for any consequential loss arising from such cancellation.

7. Your Responsibilities

7.1 You must ensure that all goods are properly packed, secured and ready for transport, unless you have specifically arranged for us to provide packing services.

7.2 You must be present or represented at the collection and delivery addresses to provide access, direct our staff and sign any job sheets or delivery notes as required.

7.3 You are responsible for securing necessary permissions for parking, loading, unloading and access at all addresses. Any fines or penalties arising from inadequate permissions or information may be charged to you.

7.4 You must remove or safely isolate any hazardous materials, flammable liquids, gas cylinders, chemicals or other dangerous goods before we arrive. We may refuse to handle such items.

7.5 You should ensure that valuable items such as jewellery, cash, important documents, or irreplaceable items are not included in the goods for transport, unless specifically declared and agreed in advance.

8. Liability for Loss or Damage

8.1 We will exercise reasonable care and skill in handling, loading, transporting and unloading your goods. However, our liability is subject to the limitations set out in this section.

8.2 We will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from:

a) Goods packed or unpacked by you or third parties

b) Normal wear and tear, scratching, scuffing or minor cosmetic damage

c) Inherent defects, weaknesses or pre-existing damage in the goods

d) Dismantling or reassembly of furniture or equipment, unless caused by our proven negligence

e) Weather conditions or changes in atmospheric conditions

f) Incorrect or incomplete information provided by you

g) Delays or missed deliveries caused by traffic, road closures, accidents or other events beyond our reasonable control

8.3 Our liability for loss of or damage to goods, where we are found to be at fault, will be limited to the reasonable cost of repair or replacement of the specific item, taking into account age, condition and depreciation, and subject to any overall cap agreed in writing.

8.4 We shall not be liable for indirect, special or consequential loss, including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of use, loss of opportunity, emotional distress or inconvenience, whether caused by negligence, breach of contract or otherwise.

8.5 You must notify us in writing of any visible loss or damage as soon as reasonably possible and in any event within 48 hours of completion of the job. For non-visible damage, you must notify us within 7 days of the job. Failure to do so may affect our ability to investigate the claim and may reduce or extinguish any liability we might otherwise have.

9. Insurance

9.1 We maintain appropriate insurance cover for our vehicles and public liability in line with our legal obligations and standard industry practice.

9.2 It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate insurance for your goods during the move or transport. You should check with your home, contents or business insurer whether your policy covers removals, and arrange additional cover if necessary.

9.3 Our acceptance of a booking does not constitute a guarantee of full insurance cover for your goods. Any insurance limitations or exclusions applicable to our services do not increase our contractual liability beyond that set out in these Terms and Conditions.

10. Waste and Rubbish Removal

10.1 Where we provide waste, rubbish or clearance services, these will be carried out in accordance with relevant UK waste regulations and duty of care requirements.

10.2 We will only transport and dispose of waste at authorised sites using lawful methods. You must not ask us to dispose of waste illegally, and we will refuse any such requests.

10.3 You are responsible for accurately describing the type and nature of waste to be removed. Additional charges may apply for hazardous, bulky or specialist waste streams, or if the waste differs materially from the description given at the time of booking.

10.4 Once waste has been collected from you and loaded onto our vehicle, you transfer ownership of that waste to us or to our authorised waste partners, and you consent to lawful disposal or recycling.

11. Access, Parking and Property Damage

11.1 You are responsible for ensuring safe, legal and adequate parking and access for our vehicle at both collection and delivery points.

11.2 We are not liable for damage to driveways, paths, verges or other surfaces where you have requested or consented to our vehicle accessing those areas.

11.3 We will take reasonable care when moving goods in and out of properties. However, we are not liable for damage to internal or external property caused by difficult access, tight staircases, low ceilings, narrow doorways or other structural constraints, unless caused by our failure to take reasonable care.

12. Delays and Waiting Time

12.1 If our arrival is delayed due to traffic, accidents, roadworks or other factors beyond our control, we will keep you informed where reasonably possible, but we accept no liability for resulting losses or expenses.

12.2 If loading or unloading is delayed due to your actions, lack of access, incomplete packing, or the actions of third parties, we reserve the right to charge waiting time at our standard hourly rate, rounded to the nearest 15 minutes.

13. Complaints

13.1 We aim to provide a professional and reliable service. If you have any concerns or complaints, you should raise them with our staff as soon as possible so that we have an opportunity to address them.

13.2 If a complaint cannot be resolved immediately, you should put the details in writing within 7 days of the job, including any supporting information or evidence. We will investigate and respond within a reasonable time.

14. Variation of Terms

14.1 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.

14.2 Any changes or additions to these Terms and Conditions must be agreed in writing. Verbal variations are not binding unless confirmed in writing by us.

15. Severability

15.1 If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable by a court or competent authority, that provision shall be deemed removed to the extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

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

16.2 You and we agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising from or relating to these Terms and Conditions or the services we provide.

By confirming a booking with Man With a Van Chessington or by allowing our team to commence work, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.