Conditions of hire

STAR COACHES OF BATLEY LTD – CONDITIONS OF COACH HIRE

Once formal instruction written or verbal is received to book a coach it is deemed that the hirer has fully agreed to these conditions of hire.

The Organiser and their Representative assumes responsibility to ensure that all passengers act in a responsible and safe manner and wear seatbelts as required by the law of England & Wales. Seatbelts MUST be worn/used at all times. The company accepts no responsibility for passengers in the event of a personal injury where passengers have been negligent in wearing seatbelts or have acted in an unsafe manner.

1.PAYMENT

The balance will be due 14days before the date of the hire unless the Company has agreed in writing to vary this condition. Deposits are non-transferable/non-refundable. Any coach parking will be payable by the organiser to the driver on the day.

If payment is not made in accordance with this agreement, the Company reserves the right to charge Statutory Interest on the overdue balances for the period from the date on which payment became due until the date on which payment is made including any period after the date of any judgement or decree against the Customer. In addition, each overdue invoice will attract a late payment compensation fee of £100. In this clause “Statutory Interest” means statutory interest as defined in the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 as amended & supplemented by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2002.

In the event of any cheques, standing orders or direct debits due from a Customer to the Company being dishonoured, a charge of £45 (or such other sum as the Company may from time to time advise the Customer) will be made on the Customer’s account to cover bank and administrative costs.

2. BOND PAYMENTS/DAMAGE LIABILITY

Bond payments will not be returned where passenger/s have been: sick on the coach, late on return journey back, have been smoking, drinking alcohol, the coach is left dirty, or passengers have been disruptive which has caused concerns for health and safety for the driver, or broken conditions of hire.

The organiser is responsible for cost of repair to any damage/loss occurred on the hire to our coaches. Where a Bond is paid and the damage exceeds the value of the bond money paid, then the hirer will be solely responsible to pay the total cost plus the total time of the vehicle being off the road whilst in repair. This will be at £150 a day for 33 seaters and below and £200 for coaches above 33 seats.

3. CANCELLATION BY HIRER

If the hirer wishes to cancel or amend any agreement, the following scale of charges will apply in relation to the total hire charge. A charge of £200 is applicable. Any Deposit payments will be lost. A cancellation fee of up to £200 is applicable, 1 – 10 days notice before hire 75% of the cost of hire will be payable, Day of hire – Minimum of 85% of hire, Arrival of coach at pickup point – 100% of hire.

Cancellation due to inclement weather conditions will be charged as above. Theatre/concert tickets already purchased are non-refundable. Accommodation Meals etc arranged on your behalf by our company may be liable for a cancellation charge.

4. CANCELLATION BY COMPANY

In the event of an emergency or an action by the hirer to vary the agreed conditions, the company may return monies other than the deposit paid and without further liability cancel the contract.

5. DRIVERS HOUR’S AND REST PERIODS

The Driver’s hours or driving and rest periods are strictly controlled and the current regulations must be complied with. The company will agree the hours of operation of the hire and these MUST be observed.

6. SEATING CAPACITY

The maximum number of passengers allowed on the vehicle is indicated on the vehicle. No standing passengers allowed. Drivers will not carry any extra passengers over the seating capacity of the vehicle. Passengers must provide there own booster seats.

7. VARIATION OF HIRE

If the vehicle is detained late by the hirer or used for a longer journey than the contracted for, the company will make an extra charge at £50per hour.

8. CONDUCT OF PASSENGERS

The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle. Any passengers whose conduct prejudices safety or is in breach statutory regulations will be removed on the driver’s authority. The hirer will be responsible for all damages caused to the vehicle by passengers during the hiring.

9. PROPERTY

The company will not accept liability for any damage or loss of any property, which belongs to any passengers and is left on a vehicle. Any articles of found property recovered from a vehicle will be held at the depot.

10. CHANGE OF VEHICLE

The Company may provide a larger vehicle or smaller (to accommodate the number of seats) than the size hired at no additional charge. The company reserves the right to hire another Coach Operator to cover the hirer.

11. BREAKDOWN/DELAY

There is no guarantee that the motor coach will perform the journey in any given time. The company gives advice on journey times in good faith, but does not guarantee the completion of a journey at a specific time and will NOT be liable for any financial loss, damage, inconvenience arising from any accident, fire, breakdown, tempest, strikes, delays or detention.

12. AGENCY AGREEMENT

When the company provides meals, accommodation, ferries, admission tickets and any other service provided by another contractor, it does so as an Agent of the Hirer on his behalf. Any terms and conditions imposed by the Contractor will be binding on the hirer as if he had directly contracted the services himself.

13. COMPLAINTS

In the event of a complaint about the Company’s services, the hirer should endeavour to seek a solution at the time by seeking assistance from the driver or the Company. If this has not provided remedy, complaints should be submitted in writing within 14 days of the termination date of hirer to 25 Talbot Street, Batley, WF17 5AW. Complaints will be submitted in writing within 14 days of the company will aim to resolve any complaint within 28 days of it being made.

14. RETENTION OF VEHICLE

Unless stated it should not be assumed that any vehicle will remain at the destination until the time for the return journey.

15. ROUTE

The route used, unless the Hirer has advised of a particular route or places to be passed en-route, will be at the discretion of the Company and/or the Driver.

16. ALCOHOL

By virtue of the 1985 Act and as amended by the Public Order Act 1986, under no circumstances may alcoholic drinks be carried on or consumed upon the vehicle without the express permission of the Company in writing. It is the responsibility of the Hirer to be aware of any legal regulations relating to alcohol at sporting events.

17. MINORS

No booking will be accepted where Minors (Under the age of 16) are travelling without Adult supervision. It is the responsibility of the hirer to ensure that Adult/Staff child ratios are observed in line with good practice and legislation that is in place, and that this is maintained at all times (A minimum of two Adults are required for private hire bookings). Supervising adults must be seated throughout the vehicle and not congregate together in one place. The driver will have the final say with regards to Adult/Staff seating where minors are travelling on the vehicle. We request that a member of staff is seated near an emergency exit for safety purposes.