Terms and Conditions

	TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR HOLIDAY BOAT HIRE


	1. MAKING A BOOKING When you make a booking you must complete the HOLIDAY BOAT BOOKING FORM, accepting on behalf of all your party the terms of these booking conditions and pay a deposit as shown on your booking form. A contract will exist when we issue our confirmation invoice. For bookings made within eight weeks of departure date you must pay the full hire charge at the time of booking. For bookings 50% of the hire charge is required as a Deposit, with the balance at least 56 days before departure date. We also require a £100 refundable loss and breakages Security Deposit. If the balance is not paid in time we reserve the right to cancel your holiday, retain your deposit, and you will remain liable for the balance. 2. TERMS You may commence occupation of your boat at 2.30pm on the day of hire (subject to unavoidable delays), or at the time shown on your invoice. You must return your boat by 9.00am and vacate by 9.30am at the end of your holiday. You are obliged to return and leave your boat in a clean and tidy condition. Failure to comply with the return procedure will result in an extra charge of £15 per hour. The prices shown are for the hire of the boat only. The price of your holiday is fully guaranteed and will not be subject to surcharges. 3. INSURANCE The boat and its equipment are insured against damage resulting from collision or impact and against the hirer’s liability to other parties. The insurance does NOT cover the hirer’s personal effects. No liability can be accepted for loss or damage to client’s property, baggage, motorcars, etc., however caused. You must comply with the navigation bylaws. Cruising after sunset or before dawn is not allowed and your speed must not be such as would inconvenience or endanger other waterway users. You must not tow other boats or be towed, and you must not take your boat out to sea or enter tidal rivers. No electrical appliances or heaters of any kind may be taken on board without the permission of the owners. We strongly recommend that travel insurance with full cancellation cover be taken out. 4. CANCELLATION Telephone us immediately if you wish to cancel your holiday. At the same time send us by first class mail your confirmation and invoice. The postmark date is the date on which the cancellation becomes effective. Your cancellation will be acknowledged by us in writing. If you cancel 56 days or more before your start date then you will only forfeit your deposit. If you cancel less than 56 days before your start date then you will be responsible for the balance. You may be able to reclaim your deposit or balance from your insurance if your reason for cancellation is within the scope of your holiday insurance and provided that you have taken it up. 5. IF WE CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY It is unlikely that we will have to make changes to your holiday, but we do plan the arrangements well in advance. Occasionally changes may be made, which we reserve the right to do at any time. Most changes are minor, and we will advise you at the earliest possible date. If a major change becomes necessary (such as a change of boat to one which can reasonably be considered to be of a lesser standard to that originally booked, or a change to a different area of the country). You will have the choice of either accepting the change of arrangements, or taking another available holiday with us, or cancelling your holiday and receiving a full refund. Please note: - Compensation will not be payable if we are forced to cancel or in any way change your holiday due to war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions or similar. 6. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES A free demonstration run is given at the time of take over, after which you will be responsible for any damage or loss to the boat and its equipment. Costs resulting from negligence, deliberate damage to the boat, waterway property or to a third party will be your responsibility. You are responsible for the boat’s safe navigation. Persons under 18 may not control the boat without the supervision of an adult. In the case of an accident or damage to the boat or any other craft, or to waterway property, you must, as soon as possible, report the extent of the damage to Goods Hire Boat Co. Ltd. together with the name of any boat involved, and the name of the owner or person in charge and any relevant witnesses. You are also responsible for any charges made by waterways authorities if you cause loss of water or damage to their property. The hirer must not admit liability for any accident and must not arrange for repairs to be done without the permission of Goods Hire Boat Co. Ltd. Hirers must not attempt to repair the boat or its equipment without permission from the Company. 7. DELAYS AND COMPLAINTS We will not accept responsibility for loss of time or expenses caused by accidental damage whilst the boat is in your charge. No liability can be accepted for loss or damage or expense for any defect or breakdown occurring during your cruise unless the failure is found to be due to the negligence of the Company. Any such occurrence must be reported immediately to the Company so that it is able to repair the boat or remedy the situation. The Company cannot be responsible for delays or non-fulfilment of programmes caused by breakdown, unforeseen defects, closures, repairs to navigational works, shortages of water, non availability of fuel or any other similar cause. In the event of a breakdown, no financial or other compensation will be due unless it is proved to be negligence on the part of Goods Hire Boat Company Ltd. In any case no compensation will be due if the time lost is less than 48 hours. If you have a complaint please inform the Company immediately so that it may take remedial action. 8. UNSUITABLE HIRERS The Company reserves the right to hand over the boat to any person, who in their opinion is not suitable to take charge. In such cases a full refund will be given and the contract between the hirer and the Company is terminated. Please note: - This contract is made on the terms of these booking conditions, which are governed by English law.