Courtesy Coaches Ltd
Travel With Courtesy
BOOKING CONDITIONS – CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE
1. Applications
These conditions apply whether a contract has been
made verbally or in writing. The hirer acts on behalf of all the passengers
travelling on the vehicles. If the hirer is a company, group or partnership, an
individual must be named as a responsible person. The hirer is responsible for
the actions and decisions of all the passengers on board including any
additional costs incurred in performing the contract, whether or not they
actually travel with the party. The company will only accept instructions from
the hirer. If, after reading these conditions you do not wish to be bound by
the terms and conditions, you have the right to cancel the contract - which
must be made in writing within seven days to: Courtesy Coaches Ltd. Palm
Business Centre,
2. Quotations
Quotations are given on the basis of the most direct route and on information
provided by the hirer. The route used will be at the discretion of the company,
unless it has been particularly specified by the hirer, in which case it will
clearly be shown on the confirmation and acceptance.
All quotations are given subject to the company having available a suitable
vehicle at the time the hirer accepts the quotation.
Quotations are valid for 28 days unless otherwise notified.
Quotations are given for coach and driver only. Any additional charges will be
separately identified and will be the hirer's responsibility unless otherwise
specified.
3. Use of Vehicle
The hirer cannot assume use of the vehicle between outward and return journeys,
nor for it to remain at the destination for the hirer's use unless this has
been agreed with the company in advance.
4. Route and Time Variation
The company reserves the right to levy additional
charges for additional mileage or time other than that agreed. The charges will
be pro rata and in accordance with the formula of £30 per hour and 75 pence per
mile.
The vehicle will depart at times agreed by the hirer, and it is the responsibility
of the hirer to account for all passengers at those times. The company will not
accept liability for any losses incurred by passengers who fail to follow
instructions given by the hirer.
5. Driver's Hours
The hours of operation for the driver are regulated by law, and the hirer
accepts the responsibility of ensuring the hire keeps to the hours and times
agreed by the company. Neither the hirer nor any passenger shall delay or
otherwise interrupt the journey in such way that the driver is at risk of
breaching regulations relating to driving hours and duty time. If any breach is
likely to occur, the hirer will be responsible for any additional costs
incurred unless, it is outside the control of the hirer. Any additional costs
will be as in condition 4.
6. Seating Capacity
The company will, at the time of booking, agree and
specify the legal seating capacity of the vehicle to be supplied. The hirer
must not load the vehicle beyond this capacity.
7. Conveyance of Children / Animals
Children under three years of age must not wear a seatbelt. Children under the
age of five years are allowed to sit on the lap of an accompanied adult at all
times and as such are carried entirely at the risk of the accompanying adult.
On a private hire, no animals (other than guide dogs and hearing dogs notified
to the company in advance) may be carried on any vehicle without prior written
agreement from the company.
8. Confirmation
Normally, written confirmation by the company is the
only basis for the acceptance of a hiring or for a subsequent alteration to its
terms.
9. Payment
Any deposit requested must be paid by the date stated,
and payment in full must be made at least 14 days before the start of the hire
unless otherwise agreed by the company. The company reserves the right to add
interest at the rate of 2% compound interest per calendar month, after the date
by which payment should have been made.
10. Cancellation by Hirer
(a) If the hirer wishes to cancel any agreement, the following scale of charges
will apply in relation to the total hire charge.
DAYS PRIOR TO CANCELLATION CHARGE
COACH HIRE:
10 days or more None
6-9 days 10% of hire
3-5 days 25% of hire
1-2 days 50% of hire
Day of hire 100% of hire
(b) The cost of accommodation, meals and entrance or travel tickets which have
already been purchased by the company at the request of the hirer, will be
charged to the hirer, plus any administration charges incurred by the company.
(c) Cancellation due to inclement weather conditions will be charged as above.
(d) Theatre tickets, or other such ancillary service, once purchased are not
returnable and must be paid for in full.
11. Cancellation by the Company
In the event of any emergency, riot, civil commotion, strike, lock out,
stoppage or restraint of labour or on the happening of any event over which the
company has no control (including adverse weather and road conditions) or in
the event of the hirer taking any action to vary agreed conditions
unilaterally, the company may, by returning all money paid and without further
or other liability, cancel the contract.
12. Vehicle to be Provided
(a) The company reserves the right to provide a larger vehicle than that
specified at no additional charge unless any extra seats are used in which case
an additional pro rata charge will be made to the hire charge.
(b) The company reserves the right to substitute another vehicle (including
those of other operators) or ancillary facilities for all or part of the hiring
subject to such substitutes being of at least equivalent quality.
13. Breakdown and Delays
The company gives its advice on journey time in good
faith. However, as a result of breakdown or traffic congestion, or other events
beyond the reasonable control of the company, journeys may take longer than
predicted and in those circumstances the company will not be liable for any
loss or inconvenience suffered by the hirer as a result.
14. Agency Arrangements
Where the company hires-in vehicles from other operators at the request of the
hirer and where the company arranges ancillary facilities such as meals,
accommodation, ferries, admission tickets or any other services provided by
another supplier, it does so as agent for and on behalf of the hirer. Any terms
and conditions imposed by such other suppliers through the company shall,
insofar as they are supplied to the hirer, be binding on the hirer as if he had
directly contracted such services and the hirer shall indemnify the company
against any loss, claim, damage or award in respect of a breach of such
supplier's terms and conditions brought about by the hirer's action.
15. Package Travel Regulations
If the hirer organises other elements of a package in addition to the provision
of transport, the hirer may be defined as an 'organiser' or a 'retailer' for
the purposes of the Package Travel, Package Holidays, and Package Tours
Regulations 1992 and as such may be required to comply with the provisions of
those Regulations.
In this instance, the company cannot accept any liability that may be incurred
for losses or damage that it would otherwise accept under the terms of those
Regulations.
The hirer accepts responsibility for ensuring whether they are so defined, and
the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage incurred that should
have been the responsibility of the hirer if the hirer was the legally defined
organiser or retailer.
Where the company acts as an organiser or retailer, it will issue separate
conditions of trading relating to its liabilities and responsibilities under
the Regulations.
16. Passengers' Property
(a) All vehicles hired by the company are subject to
restrictions on carrying luggage for statutory safety reasons. The hirer
accepts that the driver shall be the sole judge as to whether and to what
extent passengers' property is carried. Large, bulky items may not be able to
be carried, and the hirer should take all steps to notify the company in
advance of such requirements.
(b) The company accepts any personal property of the hirer and their passengers
on the understanding that it will take all reasonable steps to avoid loss or
damage. The hirer should notify the company or the driver if items of
exceptional value are to be carried on the vehicle. It is the hirer's
responsibility to minimise the risk of loss when property is left unattended.
(c) The company's liability for loss and damage, however caused, is limited to
£500 per bag, case or package and an overall limit of £1000 (overall claim
value) maximum per passenger. It is the responsibility of the hirer to ensure
that items over this value are insured separately for loss and damage.
(d) All articles of lost property recovered from the vehicle will be held at
the company's premises where the vehicle is based, and will be subject to the
current Public Service Vehicle (Lost Property) Regulations. The company will
provide details of this legislation on request.
17. Conduct of Passengers
(a) The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle at all times, and
as such may remove any passenger whose behaviour prejudices safety or is in
breach of the Public Service Vehicle (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors,
Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990. These regulations set out certain
rights and responsibilities on all parties, and full details of these can be
obtained from the company on request. The hirer is responsible for any damage
or soiling caused to the vehicle by any passenger for the duration of the hire.
(b) Where the hire is to a sporting event, the hirer should be aware of the
legal requirements relating to alcohol, contained in the Sporting Events
(Control of Alcohol) Act 1985, and the conditions of entry as laid down by the Race Course Association Ltd. The company
will provide details of these restrictions on request.
18. Complaints
In the event of complaint about the company's services, the hirer should
endeavour to seek a solution at the time by seeking assistance from the driver
or from the company. If this has not provided a remedy, complaints should be
submitted in writing and within 14 days of the termination date of the hire.
19. Notices
No bill, poster or notice is to be displayed on any vehicle without the written
consent of the company.
20. Refreshments and Alcoholic Drinks
Other than on a vehicle fitted expressly for that purpose, food (except
confectionery) and drink (including alcoholic beverages) may not be consumed on
the vehicle without prior written consent from the company.
21. Surcharges
Once a confirmation has been issued to the hirer, providing there are 30 days
prior to the departure date, the company reserves the right to pass on
increases in the cost of fuel, taxes imposed by the Governments of the UK and
of other countries to be visited during the journey, road tolls, and foreign
currency. No surcharges will be levied within 30 days of departure. On
notification of such surcharges, the hirer may cancel the booking subject to
the scale of cancellation charges shown in paragraph 10. The liability of the
company will be limited to the cost of the hire and any ancillary services
supplied.
22. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Before you undertake a coach journey of more than 3 hours, you should consult
with your doctor if you have:-
(a) Ever had DVT or pulmonary embolism;
(b) A family history of clotting conditions;
(c) An inherited tendency to clot;
(d) Cancer, or treatment for cancer in the past;
(e) Undergone major surgery in the last 3 months;
(f) Had hip or knee replacement within the last 3 months;
(g) Ever suffered from a stroke, heart or lung disease.
The following information is recommended by the relevant UK Health Departments:-
(a) Be comfortable in your seat.
(b) Bend and straighten your legs, feet and toes every half hour or so whilst
seated.
(c) Press the balls of the feet down hard against the floor or footrest to
increase blood flow in the legs and reduce clotting.
(d) Perform upper body and breathing exercises, which can further improve
circulation.
(e) Drink plenty of water.
(f) Drink alcohol only in moderation as it leads to dehydration and immobility.
(g) Avoid taking sleeping pills, which also cause immobility.