Man And Van Swiss Cottage Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Man and Van Swiss Cottage provides moving, transport, loading, unloading, and related services to customers in the United Kingdom. By making a booking, confirming a quote, or allowing our team to begin work, you agree to be bound by these terms. Please read them carefully before using our man and van Swiss Cottage service.

For the purposes of these terms, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the service provider, and references to “you” and “your” mean the customer, hirer, or person booking the service. These conditions apply to domestic and commercial jobs, one-off removals, single-item transport, storage transfers, and related labour services, unless a separate written agreement states otherwise. They are designed to provide clarity on the booking process, payment, cancellations, liability, waste handling, and the law that applies to the contract.

If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights under UK consumer law where those rights apply. We may update these terms from time to time, and the version in force at the time of your booking will normally govern the service provided.

1. Booking Process

Bookings for our man and van Swiss Cottage service may be made by telephone, email, online form, messaging platform, or any other method we make available. A booking request does not become binding until we confirm the job details, availability, price, and any special conditions. The customer is responsible for providing accurate information at the time of booking, including collection and delivery addresses, access restrictions, item descriptions, parking limitations, floor levels, lift access, and any heavy or fragile items that may require extra labour or equipment.

Any quotation given before the job begins is based on the information supplied by you. If the actual work differs from the description provided, such as additional items, longer distances, delays, restricted access, or the need for extra manpower, the price may be revised accordingly. We reserve the right to refuse a booking if the work requested is unsafe, unlawful, beyond our operational capacity, or materially different from what was originally agreed.

A booking is usually treated as confirmed once we have accepted your request and, where required, received any deposit or advance payment. You should check the confirmation details carefully and notify us promptly of any errors. We may also ask for proof of identity, ownership, or authority to move items where this is reasonably necessary, especially for high-value goods, business moves, or waste-related collections.

2. Service Delivery and Customer Responsibilities

Customers must ensure that goods are ready for collection at the agreed time and that we have safe and reasonable access to the premises, loading area, and destination address. If a job is delayed because the property is inaccessible, the customer is not present, or the items are not ready, waiting time or additional attendance charges may apply. We may leave and rebook the service if the delay is excessive or if our vehicle and staff are required elsewhere.

You are responsible for properly packing, labelling, and protecting items unless packaging or wrapping has been specifically included in the service. We do not accept responsibility for damage caused by inadequate packing, loose fittings, hidden defects, overloading of boxes, or items that are structurally weak. For safety reasons, we may refuse to move items that are unsafe to lift, improperly secured, leaking, infested, or likely to damage our vehicle or other property.

Where our team carries out dismantling, reassembly, lifting, or placement work, this is done on a reasonable-efforts basis unless a detailed written arrangement says otherwise. You should tell us in advance about stair-only access, low ceilings, narrow hallways, weight-restricted flooring, or similar issues. If a service requires permits, parking arrangements, or building permissions, it is your duty to obtain them unless we have expressly agreed in writing to arrange them for you.

3. Payments and Charges

Our charges may be based on an hourly rate, a fixed price, a distance-based rate, or a combination of these, depending on the type of move and the information available when the quotation is made. Additional charges may apply for waiting time, congestion, congestion-related delays, parking fees, tolls, congestion-related access issues, extra loading/unloading time, heavy items, long carries, weekend work, late notice changes, or out-of-hours service. Any applicable VAT will be shown where required by law.

Unless otherwise agreed, payment is due on completion of the service, immediately after the job ends, or in advance for deposits and certain bookings. We may require part-payment or full prepayment for larger removals, repeat cancellations, storage transfers, or work involving disposal and waste handling. We accept the payment methods we state at the time of booking, and we may refuse cashless or cash payments that do not match the agreed arrangement or exceed any lawful limits we apply.

If payment is not made when due, we may charge reasonable recovery costs, interest where permitted by law, and administrative fees associated with collecting the outstanding amount. Title to any goods or services supplied remains unaffected by your payment obligations, and we may suspend future work or withhold further services until all outstanding sums have been paid. You must pay all undisputed amounts promptly, even if a separate issue is being discussed.

4. Cancellations, Rescheduling, and Delays

You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving us notice as early as possible. The amount charged on cancellation may depend on how much notice is given, whether staff and vehicles have already been allocated, and whether any third-party costs have been incurred. Short-notice cancellations may be subject to a fee, and deposits may be non-refundable where this has been clearly stated at the time of booking. These charges reflect administrative costs, reserved capacity, and lost opportunity.

If you need to change the time, date, address, or scope of the service, we will try to accommodate the request but cannot guarantee availability. A significant change to the original booking may be treated as a cancellation and a new booking. We are not liable for delay caused by traffic, weather, road closures, mechanical issues, force majeure events, or circumstances beyond our reasonable control, although we will act reasonably to minimise disruption and keep you informed where possible.

If we must cancel or postpone for operational or safety reasons, we will seek to offer an alternative time or a refund of amounts paid for work not carried out. We will not be responsible for any indirect loss arising from a cancellation or delay, including missed appointments, consequential business losses, or emotional distress, except where liability cannot be limited under applicable law.

5. Liability and Damage

We will use reasonable care and skill in carrying out the service. However, our liability is limited to loss or damage directly caused by our negligence or breach of contract. We are not liable for pre-existing damage, hidden defects, wear and tear, inadequate packaging, or any item that was unstable, fragile, or unsuitable for transit without specialist handling. We also do not accept responsibility for damage arising from instructions given by you that we reasonably follow, provided those instructions are not unlawful and do not create a clear safety risk.

You should inspect belongings before and after the move where possible and report any issue as soon as reasonably practicable. Claims for damage must be supported by evidence, such as photographs, a description of the item, and an explanation of the circumstances. If we are found liable, we may repair, replace, or compensate up to the fair value of the proven loss, subject to any agreed limitation and any mandatory consumer protections that apply. We are not responsible for loss of business, profit, goodwill, or anticipated savings.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded under UK law. If your own actions, omissions, or inaccurate information contribute to a loss, our responsibility may be reduced to reflect your share of fault. Customers are encouraged to maintain appropriate insurance for high-value items, especially where the items have unusual fragility, sentimental value, or difficult access requirements.

6. Waste Regulations and Disposal Rules

Where our man and van Swiss Cottage service includes disposal, clearance, or transport of unwanted items, all work must comply with UK waste legislation and local authority requirements. We may only remove waste where we are properly authorised to do so, and we may refuse any collection that appears unsafe, contaminated, unlabelled, or likely to breach environmental rules. The customer must provide accurate information about the nature of the waste, including whether it contains electrical items, mattresses, furniture, construction debris, or materials that need special handling.

You must not ask us to transport, dump, or dispose of waste unlawfully. Fly-tipping, unauthorised dumping, and improper waste handling are prohibited. Where required, you must cooperate with documentation, transfer notes, or proof of lawful disposal, and you must ensure that waste is presented in a manner that allows proper sorting and handling. If the material is classified as hazardous, potentially hazardous, or regulated, it is your responsibility to tell us in advance so that we can decide whether the job can be accepted.

We may charge additional fees for specialist waste items, sorting, segregation, loading assistance, or lawful disposal costs. If you misdescribe waste, conceal prohibited items, or request unlawful disposal, you will be responsible for any resulting fines, enforcement action, clean-up costs, or claims made against us, unless the issue was caused by our own breach. We reserve the right to report unlawful conduct to the relevant authorities where required or appropriate.

7. Insurance, Ownership, and Prohibited Items

You confirm that you have the authority to arrange transport of the items booked and that the goods do not belong to another person without permission. We may refuse to move items that are illegal, dangerous, flammable, explosive, corrosive, toxic, live, perishable beyond safe limits, or otherwise prohibited by law or by our own safety policies. Cash, jewellery, documents, medicines, firearms, controlled substances, and items of exceptional value should not be included unless specifically agreed in writing and properly declared.

Any insurance we hold is provided in accordance with the policy terms and may be subject to exclusions, excesses, and claim conditions. The existence of insurance does not mean that all losses will be covered. If you require protection beyond our standard liability position, you should arrange your own goods-in-transit, contents, or business insurance. We may ask for proof of value in relation to a claim and may decline claims where records are insufficient, misleading, or not submitted within a reasonable time.

If we temporarily store items during a job or hold them pending delivery, we will take reasonable care, but storage is only incidental to the transport service unless agreed otherwise in writing. We do not guarantee secure storage for goods that are left unattended against instructions, and you should remove or secure valuables wherever possible. Any retention of goods for unpaid charges may be exercised only to the extent permitted by law.

8. General Legal Terms and Governing Law

These terms form the entire agreement between you and us relating to the services we provide, unless amended in writing by an authorised representative. No waiver of any right or remedy will operate as a continuing waiver. If we do not enforce a term immediately, that does not mean we have given up the right to enforce it later. Headings are included for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

Governing law and jurisdiction: these Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute, claim, or matter arising out of or in connection with the service will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, unless mandatory law provides otherwise. If you are a consumer resident in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may also have rights to bring proceedings in your local courts where the law allows.

By proceeding with a booking for our man and van Swiss Cottage service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions. If you do not accept them, you should not confirm a booking or permit the service to begin. Your continued use of the service after any update will be taken as acceptance of the revised terms, subject always to any mandatory legal rights that cannot be waived.