Terms and Conditions

Man With a Van Blackheath Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Man With a Van Blackheath provides removal and related services within the United Kingdom. By making a booking, paying a deposit, or allowing work to commence, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before using our services.

1. Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions, the following words have the meanings given below:

Client means the individual or business who makes a booking or on whose behalf a booking is made.

We, us, our means Man With a Van Blackheath.

Services means any removal, transportation, loading, unloading, packing, furniture disassembly or reassembly, or related work we have agreed to provide.

Goods means any items, belongings, furniture, equipment, or other property that we are asked to handle, transport, or store.

Contract means the agreement between you and us for the provision of services, incorporating these Terms and Conditions and any agreed quotation.

2. Scope of Services

We provide man and van, removal, and related services for domestic and commercial clients. Our services cover local and regional moves, including collection and delivery within our usual operating area, as well as journeys to and from other locations in the UK as agreed.

The specific services to be provided, including the number of personnel, size of vehicle, estimated duration, and any additional tasks such as packing or furniture assembly, will be set out in our quotation or confirmed during the booking process.

3. Booking Process

All bookings are subject to availability and acceptance by us. A booking is only confirmed when we have issued a written confirmation or clearly acknowledged acceptance of your requested date, time, and service details.

When making a booking, you must provide accurate and complete information, including:

1. Full collection and delivery addresses.

2. Details of parking restrictions, access limitations, stairs, lifts, or long carrying distances.

3. A clear description of the volume and nature of goods to be moved, including any large, heavy, fragile, or high value items.

4. Any special handling requirements, time constraints, or additional services required.

We may ask you to provide a detailed inventory or photographs of the goods to ensure that the correct resources are allocated. Any quotation or estimate we give is based on the information you provide. If this information is incomplete or inaccurate, we reserve the right to amend the quotation or apply additional charges.

4. Quotations and Pricing

Quotations are normally provided as either a fixed price for a specified scope of work or an hourly rate with a minimum charge period. All quotations are exclusive of congestion charges, tolls, parking fees, fines, and other third party charges, which will be payable by you where incurred in carrying out the services.

Unless stated otherwise, quotations are valid for 30 days from the date of issue. We may revise a quotation if:

1. You request additional services or changes to the booking.

2. Access at either property is significantly more difficult than described.

3. The quantity or nature of goods to be moved differs from that originally advised.

4. Delays occur outside our control, such as waiting for keys or paperwork on the day.

5. Payments and Deposits

We may require a deposit or advance payment to confirm your booking. The amount and due date will be specified at the time of booking.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing:

1. For residential clients, payment of any balance is due immediately upon completion of the services on the day of the move.

2. For business clients, payment terms will be specified on the invoice. Where no terms are specified, payment is due on the day of completion.

We reserve the right to refuse to commence or continue any work if payment of a required deposit or overdue amount has not been made.

We may charge interest on overdue sums at the statutory rate applicable to late payments in the UK, accruing daily until payment is received in full.

6. Cancellations and Amendments

You may cancel or amend your booking by giving us clear notice. As our capacity is limited and reserved for you, we apply the following policy unless otherwise agreed:

1. More than 7 days before the scheduled service date: no cancellation charge. Any deposit paid may be refunded or applied to a new date, at our discretion.

2. Between 3 and 7 days before the service date: we may retain all or part of your deposit or charge up to 50 percent of the quoted price.

3. Less than 3 days before the service date or failure to be present when required on the day: we may charge up to 100 percent of the quoted price.

Any request to move your booking to a different date or time will be subject to availability and may be treated as a cancellation and rebooking if we reasonably incur loss as a result. We will always try to accommodate reasonable changes where possible.

We may cancel or reschedule the services if we are unable to carry them out due to circumstances beyond our control, such as severe weather, vehicle breakdown, accident, illness, or legal restrictions. In such cases, our liability will be limited to refunding any amounts you have paid for services not yet provided or rebooking the job on another mutually agreed date.

7. Your Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

1. Ensuring that you have the legal right to move the goods and that they are not stolen, illegally obtained, or prohibited.

2. Arranging suitable parking and any permits required at both collection and delivery addresses. Any parking penalties or related charges incurred as a result of your failure to do so may be added to your bill.

3. Ensuring safe and reasonable access to the property, including clear stairways, corridors, and entrances, and informing us in advance of any issues such as low ceilings, narrow doorways, or fragile surfaces.

4. Properly packing and securing your goods, unless we have expressly agreed to provide packing services.

5. Supervising the move or appointing a representative to do so, including checking that nothing is left behind and that goods are placed in the correct rooms at the destination.

6. Ensuring that any appliances are disconnected, defrosted, drained, and made safe before the move, unless otherwise agreed.

We are entitled to rely on the instructions of any person present at the collection or delivery address whom we reasonably believe to be acting on your behalf.

8. Items We Cannot Move

We will not carry, and you must not request us to carry, any of the following without our prior written consent:

1. Explosives, flammable or hazardous substances, including gas cylinders, fuel, paints, solvents, or chemicals.

2. Illegal items, drugs, weapons, or goods requiring special licences.

3. Perishable items or live animals.

4. Valuable items such as jewellery, cash, important documents, or collectibles, unless we have specifically agreed to transport them.

We may remove or refuse to load any item that presents a risk to health, safety, or property, or that we reasonably believe to be prohibited. You will be responsible for any resulting costs or delays.

9. Waste Regulations and Disposals

We operate in accordance with UK waste and environmental regulations. We are not a general rubbish clearance or waste disposal company, and we will only remove waste where this has been expressly agreed as part of the services and where such removal is lawful.

If we agree to take away unwanted items, you confirm that you have the right to dispose of those items and that they are not hazardous or regulated waste. Where appropriate, we will transport such items to a licensed facility or recycling point, and additional charges may apply for disposal fees, extra time, or additional vehicle loads.

We will not remove:

1. Asbestos or materials containing asbestos.

2. Clinical or medical waste.

3. Chemical, toxic, or hazardous waste.

4. Fridges, freezers, or electrical items where specific disposal regulations apply, unless previously agreed.

You must not request us to dispose of waste illegally, and we reserve the right to refuse any request that would breach environmental or waste management legislation. You will be liable for any fines, penalties, or costs arising from improper disposal instructions given by you.

10. Liability and Limitations

We will exercise reasonable care and skill in providing the services. However, our liability for loss or damage is subject to the following limitations.

1. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to fire, flood, severe weather, acts of God, war, terrorism, industrial action, or traffic delays.

2. We are not liable for loss or damage resulting from your failure to properly pack goods, prepare appliances, or secure fragile items, unless we have provided a full packing service and the damage is clearly due to our negligence.

3. We are not liable for normal wear and tear, minor scuffs, or scratches that may occur during the handling of large or heavy items in confined spaces, provided we have taken reasonable care.

4. We are not liable for damage to items where their condition or structure is inherently weak, unstable, or defective, such as flat-pack furniture that has been previously assembled and disassembled, or furniture weakened by age or prior damage.

5. We are not liable for loss of sentimental value, loss of profits, loss of opportunity, or any indirect or consequential loss.

6. Our total liability for physical loss of or damage to goods, whether arising from negligence, breach of contract, or otherwise, shall not exceed a reasonable replacement value of the items lost or damaged, subject to any specific limits we notify to you before the services commence.

You must notify us in writing of any visible damage or loss as soon as reasonably possible and in any event within 48 hours of completion of the services. For non-visible damage, you must notify us in writing within 7 days of the service date. We may request evidence such as photographs, receipts, or repair estimates to assess any claim.

11. Insurance

We maintain public liability or similar insurance suitable for a removal business. Details of our cover can be provided on request. It is your responsibility to ensure that your own contents or business insurance covers your goods during transit and handling, and to arrange any additional cover you consider necessary.

12. Health and Safety

We reserve the right to refuse to carry out any work that we consider unsafe or that may put our staff, vehicles, or property at risk. This includes work involving unsafe access, excessive lifting beyond safe manual handling guidelines, or work in environments that present a danger to health.

You must inform us of any known health and safety risks at the property, such as loose floorboards, faulty stair rails, or hazardous materials. We may suspend or modify the services until any such risks are addressed.

13. Data Protection and Privacy

We will use your personal information only for the purposes of providing and administering the services, managing our relationship with you, handling payments, and complying with legal obligations. We will take reasonable steps to keep your information secure and will not sell your details to third parties. We may share your information with insurers, legal advisers, or regulatory bodies where necessary.

14. Complaints and Dispute Resolution

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service, you should raise the matter with us as soon as possible so that we can seek to resolve it promptly. We will investigate any complaint in good faith and may ask for supporting information to help us understand what has occurred.

Where a dispute cannot be resolved through informal discussion, both parties agree to consider reasonable methods of alternative dispute resolution before commencing court proceedings, although this does not prevent either party from taking legal action where necessary.

15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions, and any contract between you and us, are governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. You and we agree that the courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with the services or these Terms and Conditions.

16. General Provisions

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be interpreted as narrowly as necessary to make it valid and enforceable, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

No waiver of any breach of these terms shall be taken as a waiver of any subsequent breach. No variation to these Terms and Conditions will be effective unless agreed in writing by us.

These Terms and Conditions constitute the entire agreement between you and us in relation to the services, and supersede any prior discussions, correspondence, or understandings, except where we have expressly agreed otherwise in writing.