| Terms and
Conditions |
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| Before hiring a
coach |
| Anyone contemplating the hire of a
coach from WOODS COACHES LTD should give the fullest possible details of
what is required (eg number of passengers, exact starting points, any
special requirements regarding route or stopping points, the precise
destination, together with the date of the hire and the time that the
coach will be required). Any quotation given will be based on this
information and it will also form the basis of any hire booking. |
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| Unless it indicates otherwise, the
price given in any quotation will only apply to hires booked within 28
days of the quotation being given and bookings can only be accepted
subject to availability at the time bookings are made. |
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| If we both understand and accept our
respective responsibilities the satisfaction of hirer and passengers
should be ensured, but if any dispute about these Terms and Conditions
should arise English law will apply. |
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| What We
Undertake |
| We will provide a driver or drivers
and a coach of sufficient seating capacity and to the specification
ordered, suitable to undertake the work detailed in a satisfactory and
legal manner. If We have to hire-in another operator's vehicle it will
be to the equivalent standards. Unless any particular route or other
arrangements have been agreed, the journey will be by the most direct
route, with stops made at suitable points to serve the comfort of the
passengers and to satisfy legal requirements regarding breaks and rest
for drivers. Between outward and return journeys the coach may not
remain at any destination or be accessible to passengers unless specific
arrangements for this have been agreed. |
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| Although we will endeavour to complete
journeys in the times required, and will give our best advice at the
time of booking if asked to do so on probable journey times, we cannot
accept responsibility for the consequences of delays caused by
circumstances or events which are beyond our control. It is strongly
recommended that you should consider insuring against this risk if
journey times are particularly crucial. |
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| We do however give you our money back
reliability guarantee that if any journey is delayed by more than 30
minutes by a mechanical defect with one of our coaches (excludes tyre
breakdowns) then no hire charge will be made for that coach for that
day. |
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| If we have to supply a larger coach
than you require there will be no extra charge, unless the number of
passengers was greater than you had advised. If this happens, the price
will be increased for each extra passenger pro rata to the hire price
and seating capacity of the coach ordered. |
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| If, as a result of any action by you
or circumstances beyond our control, we are unable to supply the coach
required, but given you as much notice as the particular circumstances
allow and return all moneys paid to you, we will have no further
liability to you. |
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| Unless, it has been otherwise agreed,
the hire price will not include any group catering, tickets, or
admission charges. At your request we may make these sort of
arrangements for you, but we would do so as your agent. This means that
any terms and conditions applicable to that transaction (eg relating to
payment, cancellation, etc.) would be binding on you as if you had made
the arrangements yourself. We will seek your acceptance of any such
terms and conditions and not expend any money on your behalf until you
have made similar payment to us. |
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| Whilst we will take all reasonable
care with passengers' luggage and other items which they may bring on
our coach, we do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused
to these items whilst on the vehicle. Under no circumstances should any
valuables be left on a coach, even if locked, personal belongings are
not insured against theft on any of our coaches. |
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| Personal insurance of luggage an
valuables is strongly recommended. Any passengers' property discovered
on the vehicle after the hire will be stored, and may be claimed in
accordance with the current Lost Property Regulations. |
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| Although it is essential for us to
have advance notice of your detailed plans for the hire, we do
appreciate the need for flexibility to cater for the unexpected and our
drivers will co-operate in this. But we have to make it clear that laws
designed to ensure your safety do constrain the hours that drivers can
work. For this and other reasons drivers may have to refuse late
requests for variations. |
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| What you
undertake |
| No person or organisation should agree
to hire a coach unless they are prepared to accept the obligations
involved. As our contract is with you, not with your passengers, we have
to insist that you accept responsibility for any damage they might cause
to our coach. By exercising their lawful powers, our drivers will assist
in limiting your liability by stopping passengers from travelling, or
continuing to travel, if their conduct merits this action. Similarly, as
hirer, you are responsible to pay any deposit and the full hire coast
when due. If you fail to make due payments we are entitled to either
terminate the contract or to take legal action to enforce payment. We
may levy interest on all monies due at a rate of 2% for any calendar
month, or part of a month, after the due date for payment. |
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| Any coach that is overloaded, whether
with passengers or their possessions, is likely to be stopped by the
police and not allowed to proceed until it is within the legal limits.
To avoid the inconvenience and increased hire costs occasioned by this,
hirers must observe seating capacity limits and any restrictions on the
type, size and weights of passengers' luggage, purchases, etc. advised
by us and/or our driver. The carriage of alcohol on coaches going to
certain sporting events and anywhere in Scotland is illegal. It is your
responsibility to ensure total compliance with these rules. If you are
in doubt whether they apply to a particular journey you should seek our
advise. |
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| If you want any animals, other than
guiding and hearing dogs, carried on a hire you must seek our advise
prior arrangements as drivers may otherwise refuse to let them board. If
it is possible for us or our driver to undertake any variations from the
agreed details of hire you will be liable for any increases in the price
that this generates. Generally we would attempt to make any increase pro
rata to the agreed hire charge and would not normally make any charge
for minor alterations. It is, however, possible that you could become
liable for significant increase for quite a small variation if this was
warranted by the cost involved to us. Examples of this would include the
need to send out a relief driver in order to comply with drivers' work
limits, or the securing of another vehicle and driver if a late return
affected other work to which you coach and driver was assigned. |
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| We trust that you will have no cause
to complain about your hire, but in the unlikely event of this being
necessary, it must be done as soon as possible and, at all events, with
14 days of the end of the hire. |
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| Should you have any reason to
complain. We will acknowledge your complaint with 5 working days. And
aim to resolve it within 21 days of it being made. |