Terms and Conditions for Man With Van Swiss Cottage

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Man With Van Swiss Cottage provides moving, loading, unloading, transport, and related man and van services to customers in the United Kingdom. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing us to begin work, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. Please read them carefully before confirming any service. These terms are intended to be clear, fair, and consistent with UK consumer law and standard commercial practice.

Man With Van Swiss Cottage refers to the service provider, and customer refers to the person, company, or organisation requesting the service. These terms apply to domestic, commercial, single-item, partial-load, and full-load transport services, together with any labour, packing, or handling that has been agreed in advance. Unless otherwise confirmed in writing, no variation to these terms will apply. Any additional agreement, special instruction, or exemption must be expressly accepted by us in writing.

Our service is designed to support safe, lawful, and efficient transport of household or business goods. While we aim to provide a flexible van moving service, the scope of any job is always limited to what was agreed at the time of booking. The customer must ensure that all instructions are accurate, all access details are provided, and the items to be moved are suitable for transport. We reserve the right to decline any job that appears unsafe, unlawful, or materially different from the original description.

1. Booking Process

Bookings may be made by telephone, email, online enquiry, or any other method we make available from time to time. A booking request does not create a binding contract until we confirm acceptance and, where relevant, the required deposit or payment has been received. During the booking process, the customer must provide accurate information including collection and delivery addresses, access limitations, item descriptions, floor levels, parking restrictions, and any special handling needs. The price provided will usually be based on the information supplied at the time of quotation.

We may offer an estimate or a fixed price. An estimate is based on the information available and may change if the job differs in size, time, distance, access, or complexity. A fixed price applies only to the specified service description and assumptions stated in the booking confirmation. If the customer’s instructions change before or during the job, we may revise the price to reflect additional labour, mileage, waiting time, or equipment required. The customer accepts that delays caused by inaccurate or incomplete information may affect the schedule and final cost.

2. Customer Responsibilities

The customer must ensure that goods are ready for collection at the agreed time, unless packing or preparation has been separately included in the service. Items should be adequately packed, labelled, and protected where necessary. The customer is responsible for identifying fragile, valuable, hazardous, or unusually heavy items before the job begins. We may refuse to move items that are unsafe, unlawful, improperly packed, or likely to cause damage to property, vehicles, or persons.

The customer must obtain any necessary permissions for parking, access, building entry, lift use, or loading bay use. Where permits, passes, keys, or access codes are required, they must be provided in good time. If access is delayed or obstructed, waiting charges may apply. The customer is also responsible for ensuring that items being moved are owned by them or that they have authority to arrange the transport of those items. We accept no responsibility for disputes concerning ownership or authority unless caused by our negligence.

The customer must not include prohibited, illegal, hazardous, or contaminated items in any booking unless we have specifically agreed and confirmed a lawful method of handling them. This includes, but is not limited to, chemicals, pressurised containers, flammable substances, live animals, cash, precious stones, weapons, and items that require specialist regulatory handling. If such items are discovered without prior agreement, we may refuse collection or stop the job immediately.

3. Payments

All prices are quoted in pounds sterling unless stated otherwise. Payment terms will be confirmed at booking and may include full payment in advance, a deposit, staged payments, or payment on completion. We may request card payment, bank transfer, or another approved payment method. Where a deposit is required, the booking may not be secured until the deposit has cleared. Any outstanding balance becomes due immediately upon completion of the service unless a different term has been agreed in writing.

If payment is overdue, we may charge reasonable late payment interest and administrative costs to the extent permitted by law, including under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts legislation where applicable. If a customer fails to pay, we reserve the right to suspend future services, withhold delivery where lawful, or take reasonable steps to recover sums owed. The customer must ensure that sufficient funds are available for any card transaction or bank transfer.

Any quotation excludes additional costs unless expressly stated. These may include congestion, tolls, parking charges, ferry costs, waiting time, additional labour, storage, specialist equipment, or re-delivery charges. If the customer asks us to continue after the original booked time or quantity of work has been exceeded, any extra time or effort may be billed at the applicable rate. All invoices must be checked promptly and any query raised without delay.

4. Cancellations and Amendments

The customer may cancel or amend a booking by giving reasonable notice. Because our work is scheduled in advance and vehicle resources are allocated specifically for each job, cancellation charges may apply depending on how much notice is provided and whether any preparatory costs have been incurred. If the customer cancels after dispatch, or fails to provide access, the full or partial charge may still be payable. Any deposit paid may be non-refundable where costs have been incurred or where the booking was reserved exclusively for the customer.

We may cancel or reschedule a booking if circumstances beyond our reasonable control make performance impractical, unsafe, or unlawful. These may include severe traffic disruption, adverse weather, vehicle breakdown, staff unavailability, industrial action, government restrictions, or unsafe access conditions. In such cases, we will use reasonable efforts to arrange a new date or provide an alternative solution. Our liability for cancellation is limited to the refund of any payment received for the cancelled portion of the service, unless otherwise required by law.

5. Liability and Damage

We will carry out the service with reasonable care and skill. However, the customer accepts that moving goods involves inherent risks, particularly where items are fragile, improperly packed, or placed in difficult access conditions. We are not liable for loss or damage arising from pre-existing defects, inadequate packaging, normal wear and tear, hidden weaknesses, or the customer’s own handling of items before or after our service. The customer should retain evidence of condition for high-value or delicate items.

Our liability for direct loss or damage caused by our negligence is limited, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the repair cost, replacement value, or fair market value of the affected item, whichever is lower, subject to any specific insurance cover that has been agreed in writing. We do not exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded under UK law. In all other cases, we shall not be liable for indirect loss, loss of profits, loss of opportunity, business interruption, or consequential damage.

The customer must notify us of any alleged damage or loss as soon as reasonably possible and in any event within a reasonable period after completion of the job. Claims made long after the service may be difficult to verify and may be declined where delay has prejudiced our ability to investigate. If we require inspection, photographs, or supporting documents, the customer must provide them promptly. Any refusal to permit inspection may affect the outcome of a claim.

6. Waste Regulations and Prohibited Disposal

Where our service includes removal of waste, discarded items, or unwanted goods, the customer must ensure that the items are lawfully classed and accurately described. We comply with applicable UK waste laws and environmental requirements, and we will not dispose of materials unlawfully. The customer must not present items for disposal that contain hazardous substances, clinical waste, asbestos, electrical waste requiring separate treatment, or other regulated materials unless this has been expressly agreed and lawfully arranged in advance.

Waste transfer may require categorisation, separation, or documentation in accordance with current regulations. If the customer fails to disclose the nature of waste, or if prohibited waste is discovered during collection, we may refuse to load it, may separate it at additional cost where lawful, or may return it to the customer if safe to do so. The customer remains responsible for the accuracy of any description given and for the lawful classification of all materials presented for removal. Any fines, penalties, or enforcement action arising from incorrect disclosure may be passed to the customer where permitted by law.

We may refuse to transport or dump any item that appears to be fly-tipped waste, hazardous material, or an item requiring special permits. Our vehicles and operations are not intended for unlawful disposal. The customer acknowledges that they must not request or encourage any action that breaches environmental, transport, or waste management rules. If a legal authority requires us to retain records, we may keep booking and disposal-related information for compliance purposes.

7. Service Conditions, Delays, and Force Majeure

Arrival times are provided as estimates unless a guaranteed time has been expressly agreed. Traffic, road closures, parking issues, loading delays, and building access restrictions may affect timings. We will use reasonable efforts to notify the customer of material delays, but we are not responsible for delays beyond our control. If waiting time becomes excessive, we may charge according to the time spent. The customer should remain available on the day of service to assist with access decisions and to avoid unnecessary delay.

We are not responsible for failure or delay in performance caused by events outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, fire, flood, epidemic, strikes, civil unrest, terrorism, war, fuel shortages, governmental action, or supply chain disruption. In such circumstances, our obligations are suspended for the duration of the event and we may adjust the booking, reschedule, or cancel without liability beyond any refund required by law. This clause does not affect statutory consumer rights that cannot be excluded.

8. Packing, Assembly, and Handling

Where packing, dismantling, reassembly, or heavy lifting is included, these tasks will be performed with reasonable care. The customer accepts that some furniture or fixtures may have hidden weaknesses, previous repairs, or manufacturer limitations that increase the risk of damage during handling. We are not liable for damage to items that were already unstable, incorrectly assembled, or unsuitable for repeated dismantling. If specialist tools or additional labour are needed because of unexpected conditions, extra charges may apply if lawful and reasonable.

9. Insurance and Risk

We may maintain insurance suitable for the type of services we provide, but insurance cover does not extend our liability beyond what is set out in these terms. Risk in the goods generally passes in accordance with the nature of the service and the point at which the customer or recipient takes possession, subject to any contrary legal requirement. The customer is encouraged to maintain their own insurance for goods of special value, sentiment, or fragility, especially where replacement would be difficult or impossible.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions limits any statutory rights enjoyed by consumers under UK law, including rights relating to services performed with reasonable care and skill. If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. A failure by us to enforce any clause on one occasion does not waive our right to enforce it later.

10. Governing Law

These terms and any dispute or claim arising from them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, unless the customer resides in another part of the United Kingdom and mandatory local law applies. The courts of England and Wales shall have non-exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute, except where consumer law gives the customer the right to bring proceedings in another competent court. Any interpretation of these terms shall be made in a manner consistent with applicable UK legislation and consumer protections.