| Terms and conditions of
hire
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 RDH Services, Westcroft,
Plumpton Lane, Plumpton, East Sussex, BN7 3AH.
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 than that agreed. The charges will be pro rata and
in accordance with the formula of £15 per hour and 50 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 7 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.
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