Terms & Conditions of Hire

These conditions apply to:
Three Star Coaches
Unit 1, Guardian Business Park, Dallow Road,
Luton,
Beds LU1 1NA.

1.  Terms
These conditions apply to any customer new or existing, whether a contract has been made verbally or in writing.

2.  Quotations
Quotations are given on the basis of travel details that you have provided to us.  Our calculation is based on the most direct possible route, and will be at the discretion of the company, unless it has been particularly specified by the hirer in which case it will be clearly shown on the confirmation.

All quotations are given subject to the company having available a suitable vehicle at the time the hirer accepts the quotation.

Quotations are valid for 90 days unless otherwise notified.  All quotations are given as estimates, though the estimate will normally be a fixed price, there may be surcharges as in extra mileage, waiting time, parking charges, or credit card surcharges.  This is per our standard terms and conditions.

3.  Confirming a Hire
Normally, a written confirmation by email, letter or fax to the company is the preferred method of accepting a hire booking.  Any subsequent alterations to the itinerary must also be made in writing and could be subject to a price change

4.  Payment
A minimum deposit is required of £50 to secure the coach.  This is non refundable. Balances must be paid before the day of the hire, unless credit arrangements have been agreed.  Payment by Credit cards attract a 4% charge with Debit cards nil charge.  We also accept payments by BACS which the details are as follows:

HSBC
Sort Code: 40 30 32
Account No. 91757318

Please put your name or client ID if it exists as a referance.

4a. Additional Charges
The company reserves the right to charge the customer any additional costs and/or expenses that are reasonably incurred by the company in order to perform or to continue to perform the contract. (Parking, road tolls, overnight accommodation etc)

4b. Fuel Surcharges
The company reserve the right to increase the hire cost in the event that fuel costs should excessively rise within a short period of time.  As of August 2009 all quotations are covered up to a fuel price not exceeding £1.20 per litre of Diesel.  Should the need arise that we have to make an increase you will be notified in writing.  You have the right to cancel with a full refund should you wish to cancel.

4c.  Driver gratuities
The company has no objections to our drivers recieving Gratuities for good service at the end of a hire.

5.  Retention of Vehicle during Hire.
The hirer cannot assume that the Coach will remain with them for the duration of the hire, unless otherwise agreed by the company.

Valuables must not be left in the Coach and the company accepts no responsibility should any personal items go missing.

5a. Vehicle to be provided
The company reserves the right to alter a coach specification with another, providing the seating capacity does not fall below the number ordered.  However should a larger Coach be supplied and these extra seats be used, then the company reserve the right to charge extra.

5b. Seating Capacity
The Customer must not exceed the authorised official seating capacity of the vehicle.  This means that small babies must occupy their own seat with or without a car seat.

5c. Conduct of Passengers
The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle at all times, and as such is authorised by the company to remove any passenger whose behaviour prejudices safety or is in breach of Public Service Vehicle Safety.

No staff employed at Three Star Coaches will be subject to abuse whether verbal or physical.  Should an incident arise he has been instructed to return to base irrespective of the welfare or situation of the remaining customers.
The hirer is responsible for any damage caused to the vehicle by any passenger throughout the duration of the hire.

5d. Car Seats
The company is not responsible for providing or fitting of car seats for children under 2 years of age.  The customer must make sure that babies do not sit on laps and must have their own seat.  Please note that it is not Law for car seats to be used by under two's.

5e. Transport of Animals
The carrying of animals is not permitted on any vehicles other than guide dogs for the blind and have been authorised by the office at the time of booking.

5f. Use of equipment on the coach
The company will do its best to ensure that the equipment required i.e. Toilets DVD players etc are functional at the time of hire.  However the company will not be liable for any loss of what ever nature should the facilities not be working on the day of the hire.

Microphones are to be used only by authorised persons such as tour reps during a tour or a group leader in order to transmit messages to the group.  It is not there for the purposes of Karaoke

5g. Consumption of Food and Drinks
Food & Drink consumption is permitted on the coaches providing the customer ensures that they “clean up” at the end of the hire.  Black bin bags can be provided by us but it will be assumed that the customer will provide their own.

This ruling does not apply to School runs unless otherwise authorised by the office at the time of the booking. Where the hire is to a sporting event the hirer should be aware of the legal requirements relating to alcohol, contained in the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1995, and the condition of entry to racecourses as laid down by the Race Course Association Ltd.

5h. Cleaning Charge
All Three Star vehicles are hired to the hirer clean and fit for purpose.  Bins and or rubbish bags will be provided for general litter.  Excess rubbish beyond normal litter and if the vehicle is soiled in anyway, e.g. vomit, Three Star reserve the right to levy a cleaning charge of £150, to enable the vehicle to be professionally cleaned.
The use of toilets if paid for is designed for emergency use and customers must ensure that they do not block or foul the appliance.

5i. Notices
No bill, poster, notice or signage is to be displayed on any vehicle without the written consent of the company.

6. Time Keeping
The customer is asked to respect the times that the coach has been booked as it may be needed to go onto another hire straight after.  Should the coach leave late then the company reserve the right to charge extra for waiting time.

Hourly waiting Time
16 – 33 seats        £30 per hour
38 – 57 seats        £40 per hour
75 seats               £45 per hour    

6a. Drivers Hours
Law regulates the hours of operation for the driver, and the hirer accepts the responsibility of ensuring the he keeps to the hours and times agreed by the company.  Neither the hirer nor any passenger shall delay or otherwise interrupt the journey in such a way that the driver is at risk of breaching regulation relating to the driver’s hours and duty time.  If any breach is likely to occur, the hirer will be responsible for any additional costs incurred unless it is outside the control of the hirer.  Any additional cost will be as in condition 4a.  The company also reserves the right to curtail or alter any hire, which does not comply with the relevant regulations.

6b. Airport collections
The company reserve the right to charge waiting time for airport collections.  Our normal guidelines are that 1 hour is permitted from the time of landing to either boarding the Coach or to have made themselves known to the awaiting driver.  The waiting time charges are as laid out in 6

7.  Cancellation by the Hirer
The policy for cancellation of a hire is set out below.

During normal periods outside Peak times, the cancellation fees are as below.
If cancelled greater than 24 hours before the day of the hire:  Full refund minus £50 administration charge.
If cancelled the day before the hire then there will be a 50% charge.
If cancelled on the day then no refund will be given.

The company reserve the right to make an allowances for the fuel saving but this is left to the discretion of the company.

7a Cancellation during peak times.
During the following periods no refunds are given for late cancellation
Easter Bank Holiday Weekend

May 1st - July 20th
Dec 1st – Dec 23rd

The cost of accommodation, meals, and theatre tickets (or any such ancillary services), which have already been booked or purchased by the company prior to the cancellation and at the request of the hirer, will be charged to the hirer, plus any administration charges incurred by the company.

In the event of any civil emergency, which the company nor the customer has no control, Including adverse weather road conditions, then under these conditions a full refund may be given subject to any purchases that the company may have undertaken on behalf of the customer.

8.  Breakdown or Delays
The company gives its advice on journey times in good faith, however, as a result of a breakdown or traffic congestion, or other events beyond the reasonable control of the company, journeys may take longer than predicted and in those circumstances the company will not be liable for any loss or inconvenience suffered by the hirer as a result.

9.  Passengers Property
The Company will take all reasonable steps to avoid loss or damage to the personal property of the hirer and its passengers.  The hirer should notify the company or the driver if items of exceptional value are to be carried on the vehicle.  It is the hirer’s responsibility to minimise risk of loss when property is left unattended.

The company offers no compensation or will be liable for any loss or damage however caused.

Any articles of lost property recovered from the vehicles will be held at the company’s premises where the vehicles are based and will be held for a maximum of 30 days.  After this period they will be destroyed

10.  Complaints
The company takes very seriously any comments that customers may have about the service we provide.

In the rare event that a customer wishes to make a complaint about the company services, they should endeavour to seek a solution at the time by seeking assistance from the driver or from the company.  If this has not proved a remedy, then the next would be to formally write to the company by email fax or letter.  should be submitted in writing and  The company will reply to you with a view to resolving any issues.

11. Liability of the Company
The company shall not be liable for any pecuniary or consequential loss allegedly arising from any breach of this agreement by the company, however caused.  It is the aim of the company to do its best within its capabilitys to put right any problems or incidents that could occur whilst on hire to the customer.

Rev dec 09