Terms and Conditions of Hire
ApplicationThese conditions apply whether a contract has been made verbally or in writing. The hirer acts on behalf of all passengers travelling on the vehicle. If the hirer is a Company, Group or Partnership, an individual must be named as the responsible person. The hirer is responsible for the actions and decisions of all passengers on board the vehicle and will be liable for any additional costs incurred due to damages etc. If after reading the following terms and conditions you feel that you do not wish to be bound by our terms, you have the write to cancel your reservation. This must be done within 14 days from the date of your initial reservation and must be in writing. Please send your cancellation instructions to Cresta Coaches, Unit 6, Litchard Industrial Estate, Bridgend, CF31 2AL.
Quotations
Quotations are made subject to a vehicle suiting the hirer's requirements being available at the time of acceptance. Quotations are based on costs prevailing at the time and in accordance with details provided by the hirer. Any additional charges such as Toll Fees, Parking Fees etc willbe separately identified and will be the hirer's responsibility unlessotherwise stated in writing. Quotations are valid for 28 days unlessotherwise stated.
Fuel Surcharge
Due to the continuing fluctuation in the cost of fuel prices it has become virtually impossible to give a fixed quotation for more that 60 days and therefore should you request a quotation for a vehicle hire that is outside this period then we will reserve the right to adjust the final cost in line with fuel prices at the time of the actual reservation. You can however be informed of a worst case scenario should you wish to make provisions for this.
Use of Vehicle & Seating Arrangements
The hirer cannot assume use of the vehicle between outward and return journeys times, nor should you assume that the vehicle will remain at its destination for the hirers' use unless this has been agreed in writing prior to the commencement of the hire.
School Organised Field Trips
It is a policy of this Company that in particular to School Trips that the relevant responsible persons/supervisors be seated evenly throughout the vehicle and not grouped together in any one location on the vehicle thus providing a level of acceptable supervision whilst undergoing your journey. It is also recommended that an appropriate member of the supervision team make themselves known to our driver so that they may explain the emergency procedures should there be a need for them to be implemented and to ensure that our driver is fully aware of any changes to your proposed Itinerary.
Smoking, Food & Drink Policy
In line with new NO Smoking Regulations effective 2nd April 2007 All vehicles are hired on a strict NO SMOKING policy. In addition to the above Cresta Coaches does not permit any ALCOHOL or FOOD to be consumed on any vehicles, except for small items of confectionery (such as sweets and chocolate) Should you not adhere to this policy, your hire agreement will be terminated.
Hen Party, Stag Party Security Bond Requirements.
Any hirer that wishes to have a limited amount of alcohol permitted on the vehicle due to a particular type of hire agreement i.e. Stag Party, Hen Party, etc will be required to lodge a suitable Security Bond with our office at least 72 hours prior to departure. Why do we ask for a Bond? Cresta Coaches have for many years provided transport for Stag Party's, Hen Party's etc but regrettably over the past few years we have noticed a significant increase in damage being caused to the vehicles interiors due to the unregulated consumption of alcohol. The Bond was introduced to encourage the hirer of the vehicle to take responsibility for the actions of individual members of their party and thus ensuring that should any damage or excessive spillage occur that our cleaning and repair costs could be recoverable. Please contact our office for the applicable Bond Rates for your type of trip.
Football Sporting Events
Alcohol is not prohibited on coaches carrying passengers to and from designated sporting events. In addition the Police have issued guidelines for operators to adhere to when carrying supporters to and from football matches. Please consult the Company regarding these guidelines, if applicable.
Drivers Accomodation Arrangements
Should your hire agreement involve our vehicle and driver staying away overnight, the customer is liable for all charges incurred. This will include All Drivers accommodation based on Single Room Bed/Breakfast & Evening Meal, Vehicle secure parking fees if applicable and any other expenses incurred in us ensuring that our Vehicle and Driver are safely accommodated.
Driver's working period & regulations
The Hirer undertakes to abide by all statutory requirements and regulations which may in any way affect the journey in question and especially the regulations in respect of Driver's Hours. Drivers are familiar with these regulations and whilst they will conform with reasonable requests of passengers (as to the reasonableness of which the driver alone shall be the judge) they will as far as circumstances permit, depart from the destination or from intermediate stopping places at times agreed beforehand (or specified by the driver) and to ensure compliance with the regulations will on no account wait for members of the party who may have failed to join the vehicle at the time appointed. The Company declines liability for loss, inconvenience or damage arising from failure to convey any such member of the party.
Seating Capacity
No more than the maximum number of passengers indicated may be carried on each vehicle.
Confirmation
Normally, written confirmation by the company is the only basis for the acceptance of hiring or subsequent alteration in its terms.
Payment Terms & Methods
Payment can be made by Cash, Cheque, Debit/Credit Card, Bankers transfer Etc. Any requested deposit must be paid by the time stated, and payment in full must be made at least 14 days before the start of the hire unless the Company has agreed in writing otherwise. Payments by Debit or Credit Card are subject to a handling charge. The Company reserves the right to add interest at a rate of 5% compound interest per calendar month, after the date by which payment should have been paid.
Cancellation by Hirer
In the event of cancellation by the Hirer, the Company reserves the right to retain any deposit. The Hirer shall be liable to the Company for any losses incurred by the Company as a result of the cancellation but not exceeding the full amount of the full cost of the hiring.
Cancellation by The Company
In the event of any emergency or force majeure or of any action by the Hirer to vary the agreed conditions unilaterally, the Company may, by returning all monies paid and without further or other liability, cancel the contract.
Route and time variation
Should a vehicle be detained by the Hirer, or taken on a longer journey than originally contracted for, the Company reserves the right to make an additional charge commensurate with the costs incurred. During the hiring, the driver must be the judge of any request for a change of route or time and his/her decision is final. In any event, when the vehicle(s) depart at the agreed time the Company will not be liable for any loss or injury sustained by a passenger failing to join the vehicle at the appointed time.
Change of vehicle
The Company reserves the right to provide a larger vehicle than the specified but at no additional charge unless any extra seats are used. The Company reserves the right to substitute other vehicles of similar quality including those of other operators, for all or part of the hiring.
Airport Departures & Collections
Departures. The Company will if asked give an estimated journey time to your departure Airport. Clients should always build in a provision for unforeseen circumstances and in particular always allow extra time when travelling to the major UK Airports such as Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, Manchester Etc. These airports are accessed via some of the countries busiest Motorway networks and we are finding that delays are becoming much more frequent. Particular attention should also be paid to check-in time given by any airline. Especially those airline companies that operate a shorter check-in time such as 1-2 hours.
Our drivers are legally required to take rest periods and therefore these must be added to the overall journey time.
Return Collections: The Company has access to most UK airports flight arrivals information and relies heavily on the live updates being provided by the major Airline Companies. It is therefore imperative that we are given your return flight details in full on final confirmation of your booking. Cresta Coaches will give allowance for return flight delays of up to 2 hours. Any additional delays in return flight collections are subject to an hourly charge of £25 per hour. These charges are in addition to the stated hire fees.
The Company will not be held responsible for late arrivals and missed flights due to circumstances beyond its control. All airport parking fees paid by the Company are in addition to the vehicle hire costs stated.
Breakdowns and delays
The Company gives its advice on journey times in good faith but does not guarantee the completion of any journey within a specific time period and will not be liable for loss or inconvenience caused by breakdown or other delays.
Passengers' property
Unless previously agreed with the Company, the driver has discretion as to carriage of passengers' luggage and its storage. The Company will not accept liability for any damage to or loss of any property, which belongs to the passengers that is left in a vehicle. All articles of lost property recovered from a vehicle will be held at the depot at which the vehicle is based for a period of 30 days. It is particularly drawn the to Hirer's notice that theft from parked coaches is on the increase, and no items should be left on seats or in racks when the coach is unattended.
Conduct of passengers
The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle. Any passengers whose conduct is in breach of statutory regulations may be removed on the driver's authority. The Hirer will be held responsible for the conduct of passengers and for any damage caused to the vehicle by passengers during the hiring. The Company will not accept liability for damage or loss to any passenger entering or leaving the coach whilst in motion.
Insurance
All Hirers and individual passengers are recommended to obtain insurance for those items, where save for the negligence, the Company's liability is limited (such as delay or luggage).
