Terms and Conditions for Man With A Van Claphamcommon
These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Man With A Van Claphamcommon provides removal, delivery, collection, and related transport services within the United Kingdom. By making a booking, the customer confirms that they have read, understood, and agreed to these terms. This document is intended to provide clear rules for the booking process, payment, cancellations, liability, waste handling, and governing law. It is designed as a legal service page and should be read carefully before any service is confirmed.
Throughout these terms, references to “we”, “us”, and “our” mean the service provider trading as Man With A Van Claphamcommon, and references to “you” and “the customer” mean the person or business requesting the service. The scope of our work may include single-item transport, small removals, furniture moves, light clearance work, and similar van-based services. Each job is arranged on a case-by-case basis and may depend on access, load size, time, vehicle availability, and lawful disposal requirements.
These terms are separate from any quotation, invoice, job sheet, or written message exchanged during the booking process. If there is any conflict between a quotation and these terms, these terms shall apply unless expressly stated otherwise in writing. Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer where such rights cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
1. Booking Process
All bookings are subject to availability and are only confirmed once we have accepted the job and, where required, received any deposit or advance payment. A booking request may be made by phone, email, online form, or other agreed communication method. When requesting a quote, you must provide accurate and complete information about the items, access conditions, collection and delivery addresses, parking restrictions, floor level, lifting requirements, and any special handling needs.We provide an estimate based on the information supplied by you. If the description is incomplete, inaccurate, or changes after the quote is issued, we reserve the right to revise the price, adjust the vehicle size, amend the crew requirements, or decline the job if it is unsafe or impractical to complete as planned. A quote is not binding until confirmed by us in writing or by clear acceptance of the booking.
Once your booking has been accepted, you are responsible for ensuring that the service details remain correct. Failure to disclose important information, such as narrow access, heavy items, unsafe loads, dismantling needs, or parking limitations, may result in delays, additional charges, or cancellation. Where parking permits, loading permissions, or building access arrangements are required, it is your responsibility to organise these unless we have expressly agreed otherwise in writing.
2. Service Standards and Customer Responsibilities
We will use reasonable skill and care in carrying out the service in accordance with the agreed booking details. However, the customer must ensure that items are ready for collection at the agreed time and that the premises are safe to access. If the job requires lifting through tight stairways, restricted entrances, or areas with fragile surfaces, you must tell us in advance so that appropriate precautions can be taken.You must also ensure that items are properly packed and suitable for transport unless we have agreed to pack or wrap them as part of the service. We are not responsible for inherent defects, poor packaging, or unsuitable loading provided by the customer. Any request to move items that are excessively heavy, contaminated, dangerous, or otherwise unsuitable for standard van transport may be refused at our discretion.
Where the customer or an authorised representative is not present, we may rely on written instructions given before the job begins. If items are left unattended, you accept the associated risks unless we have expressly agreed to store or safeguard them. We may suspend the work if circumstances on site are unsafe, abusive, or materially different from the agreed description.
3. Payments and Pricing
All prices are quoted in pounds sterling unless otherwise stated. Charges may be based on time, mileage, vehicle size, labour, access conditions, waiting time, congestion exposure, disposal requirements, or a fixed-job price. Any estimate given before the job starts is based on the information available at that time and may change if the actual service differs from the original description.Payment must be made in the manner agreed at the time of booking. We may require full payment in advance, a deposit, or payment on completion, depending on the type and size of the job. Deposits are usually non-refundable unless we cancel the booking or otherwise agree in writing. If payment is due on completion, it must be made immediately once the service has ended unless another arrangement has been confirmed in advance.
If the customer requests extra work, additional stops, stair carries, waiting time, dismantling, reassembly, or other unplanned services, these may be charged as extras. We may also charge for delays caused by the customer, access problems, failure to prepare items, or inaccurate booking details. Any unpaid sums may be recovered through lawful means, and we reserve the right to suspend further services until all outstanding balances are settled.
4. Cancellations, Rescheduling, and No-Shows
You may cancel or reschedule a booking by giving us reasonable notice. The amount of notice required may depend on the size and complexity of the job. For smaller service jobs, shorter notice may be acceptable, while larger or pre-booked removals may require more notice because vehicles, staff, and time slots are reserved in advance.If you cancel after we have already committed resources, we may retain the deposit or charge a cancellation fee that reflects our losses, including time reserved, administrative costs, travel already undertaken, and any third-party costs incurred. If cancellation occurs at short notice or when we are already en route, additional charges may apply. Where a job cannot be completed because you are not present, cannot provide access, or fail to supply essential instructions, this may be treated as a late cancellation or no-show.
We may cancel or reschedule a booking if the vehicle becomes unavailable, if weather or traffic conditions make the job unsafe, if legal restrictions prevent completion, or if the circumstances on arrival are materially different from those agreed. If we cancel and payment has already been made for the cancelled portion of the service, we will refund the relevant amount unless the cancellation was caused by your breach of these terms. We will not be responsible for indirect losses caused by cancellation, provided this is permitted by law.
5. Liability and Limitations
We will take reasonable care of your items while they are in our possession. However, because van-based transport often involves manual handling, multiple access points, and third-party premises, some risk of damage or delay is unavoidable. Our liability is limited to direct loss or damage caused by our proven negligence, breach of contract, or failure to exercise reasonable care and skill.We are not liable for pre-existing damage, hidden defects, inadequate packaging, items that are fragile despite being declared otherwise, or losses caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control. We do not accept liability for indirect or consequential losses, such as loss of profit, loss of business opportunity, missed appointments, or emotional distress, except where such exclusion is not allowed by law. Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded.
If damage or loss occurs, you must notify us as soon as reasonably practicable and provide evidence of the issue. We may request photographs, proof of ownership, proof of value, and any other reasonable information needed to assess the claim. Where compensation is payable, our liability will not exceed the lesser of the repair cost, replacement value, or the amount paid for the specific service giving rise to the claim, unless a higher amount is required by law.
6. Items Not Accepted and Restricted Goods
Certain items may not be carried, stored, or transported as part of a standard man and van service. These can include illegal goods, hazardous materials, pressurised containers, explosives, corrosive substances, live animals, perishable goods requiring controlled transport, and any item whose carriage would breach law or insurance conditions. If you are unsure whether an item is suitable, you must ask before the booking is confirmed.We may refuse to transport items that are excessively valuable, dangerous, poorly packed, leaking, contaminated, or likely to cause harm to our crew, the vehicle, other customers’ property, or the public. If restricted items are discovered after collection has begun, we may stop the job immediately and return or secure the items only if it is safe and lawful to do so. Any extra costs caused by the presence of restricted items may be charged to the customer.
It is your responsibility to ensure that no prohibited goods are included in the load. If you misrepresent the contents of a load, you may be liable for all resulting losses, including cleaning, decontamination, vehicle repair, regulatory fines, and third-party claims. We may report unlawful conduct to the relevant authorities where required or permitted by law.
7. Waste Regulations and Disposal
Where our service includes clearance, uplift, or removal of unwanted items, we will handle waste in accordance with applicable UK waste legislation and duty of care requirements. The customer must accurately describe what is to be removed so that items can be assessed for reuse, recycling, lawful disposal, or special handling. We may ask for clarification or decline items that cannot be disposed of legally through the proposed route.By instructing us to remove waste, you confirm that you either own the items or have the authority to dispose of them. You must not include controlled waste, hazardous waste, clinical waste, asbestos, chemicals, or any item that requires specialist licensing unless we have expressly agreed and are legally permitted to manage it. Fly-tipping, unlawful dumping, and careless disposal are strictly prohibited, and the customer must not request or encourage any action that would breach environmental law.
Where appropriate, waste may be taken to a licensed waste facility, transferred to a registered processor, or separated for recycling and recovery. You may be charged any applicable disposal fees, handling fees, or facility charges. If an item cannot be accepted at the planned disposal location due to misdescription or legal restrictions, we may return it, store it temporarily where lawful, or seek instructions from you at your expense. We are not responsible for any penalties arising from inaccurate descriptions supplied by the customer.
8. Delays, Access, and Force Majeure
We aim to attend at the agreed time, but arrival times are estimates and may be affected by traffic, accidents, weather, breakdowns, road closures, or events outside our control. We will make reasonable efforts to inform you of significant delays. We shall not be liable for delay caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, strikes, civil disruption, government action, or supply chain interruptions.If access is restricted because of parking rules, locked gates, building management restrictions, lift failures, or other site-specific issues, waiting time or return visits may be chargeable. You must ensure that the destination is ready to receive items and that someone is available to accept delivery if required. If we cannot complete the job because access is denied or unsafe, the service may be deemed completed to the extent possible, and any additional attendance may be charged.
Where a force majeure event prevents performance for a prolonged period, either party may end the affected booking by written notice. In such circumstances, we will refund any amount paid for the undelivered portion of the service, less any reasonable costs already incurred where permitted by law. Force majeure does not include a situation created by the customer’s failure to prepare, pay, or provide accurate information.
9. Customer Property, Storage, and Risk Transfer
Risk in the items normally passes at the point they are loaded or otherwise accepted into our care and returns to you when they are safely delivered or handed back. Title to the goods remains with the customer unless the goods are lawfully sold, transferred, or disposed of by agreement or by legal requirement. If items are left with us temporarily by arrangement, that arrangement does not amount to formal storage unless expressly stated in writing.If we agree to hold items for a short time, we will do so with reasonable care but without guaranteeing specialist storage conditions unless specifically contracted. Items held pending delivery or collection must be collected within the agreed time. Any uncollected items may incur storage, administration, or re-delivery charges. If items remain uncollected for an unreasonable period, we may take lawful steps to recover costs or arrange disposal where permitted by law and after reasonable notice.
It is your responsibility to insure valuable or delicate goods if you consider our standard liability limits insufficient. We do not provide insurance advice, and you should check whether your own household, business, or transit insurance covers the relevant journey. Any additional insurance requested by the customer must be agreed in advance and may increase the total price.
10. Complaints, Governing Law, and Final Provisions
If you have a concern about any part of the service, you should raise it promptly so that we can review the matter and, where appropriate, investigate while the facts are still available. Any complaint should include sufficient detail for us to identify the booking, the issue, and the outcome you are seeking. We may ask for photographs, documents, or other supporting information before considering a resolution.These terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute, except where consumer law provides otherwise. If any part of these terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force.
We may update these terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, business practice, or service operations. The version in force at the time of your booking will normally apply to that booking. By using Man With A Van Claphamcommon, you agree to comply with the most recent applicable version of these terms and to cooperate reasonably so that the service can be delivered safely, lawfully, and efficiently.