TERMS & CONDITIONS (UPDATED 1/1/21)

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‘The Client’ The Company/ Funeral Director(s) / Member of the General Public hiring our
services.
‘The Company’ AJ Carriagemasters Ltd, registered in England and Wales – Company No
08015360.

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Hire of the Vehicle(s):
All bookings placed with AJ Carriagemasters are provisional until confirmed by phone call and/or in writing by email from the Funeral Director/private client.
 

By booking with AJ Carriagemasters you have agreed to enter into the terms and conditions below:

A confirmation email is required within 3 days of making the booking.  If confirmation is not received AJ Carriagemasters have the right to rehire the vehicles to other clients. Bookings are contractually agreed upon receipt of telephone confirmation to AJ Carriagemasters and/or written communications have been received by/from AJ Carriagemasters.

Following the confirmation of booking AJ Carriagemasters require a running itinerary of the detailed job in question which should include the booking date, number of vehicles required, timings, addresses including post codes, place of committal, committal times, estimated departure of hired vehicles and any further information which may be relevant.

Specific uniform requirements are to be advised at the point of booking. Items particular to each client, must be provided i.e. coloured ties, handkerchiefs, white gloves, corsage, caps etc. All drivers were standard grey/black pinstripe mourning trousers, black shoes, white shirt, black tie, black waistcoat, black formal jacket and, dependent on weather, a winter long wool overcoat.

Bookings DO NOT INCLUDE the return of the Funeral Director, their staff or clergy/celebrants to any further addresses following the funeral.

Driver/bearers are not authorised to return families alone, following the funeral, without the attendance of a member of staff from the client.

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On receiving this information AJ Carriagemasters will provide the client with an estimated quote prior to the commencement of our services, the quote is based on schedule submitted by the client. 

AJ Carriagemasters reserves the right to revise the estimate upwards or downwards and will notify the client of any such revisions. 

These may occur due to additional mileage, time delays due to non-advised cultural traditions, excessive numbers of mourners on funerals or weather conditions.

If the date of the ceremony is changed from the original booking, within 48 hours of the confirmed booking, a charge of 50% of the original hire fee will be invoiced. 

Please notify AJ Carriagemasters immediately of any cancellations to ensure the vehicle(s) are available to rehire.

Cancellation of the vehicle will also include cancellation of the driver/bearer, therefore please ensure you are aware of the staff's non-attendance and fleet accordingly.

AJ Carriagemasters shall be entitled to appoint sub-contractors to provide or assist with any part of the service if unable to provide this directly.

The period of hire commences when the vehicle/chauffeur leaves the AJ Carriagemasters premises and finishes upon its return to the premises. 

Driver/bearers subsistence (for weekends, bank holidays, along with out of hours surcharge between 19:00hrs/07:00hrs) an additional £5.00 per hour will be charged to the invoice.

 
Dependent on timings this may be sent as an updated invoice, after the funeral.

Separate fleeting of funeral staff only, for hire for bearing duties at place of committal, will be agreed and invoiced at £50 per staff member. This will be listed on the invoice separately.

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Final Invoice:
AJ Carriagemasters shall submit a final itemised invoice to the Funeral Director/private client which shall require full settlement without any set off or deduction within 7 days from the date of invoice. 

If the payment is not received within the given time, then AJ Carriagemasters shall be entitled to charge interest on the outstanding amount at the rate of 2% per cent, such interest shall accrue daily until the outstanding amount is paid.

For further non-payment the invoice will be forwarded to our debt recovery solicitors at Thomas Higgins Partnership, who will liaise directly with the client.

For new clients, payment may be requested in advance of the hire, by BACS, until credit history is confirmed and agreed by the company.

AJ Carriagemasters reserves the right to refuse to supply the funeral vehicles booked, should non-payment be received, or excessive debt on the account is incurred.

Cancellations:
Cancellations within 48 hours: 50% of the total cost of the proposed hire is chargeable (minimum £100.00) together with other commitments such as overnight accommodation or insurance. 

Cancellation of the vehicle will also include cancellation of the driver/bearer, therefore please ensure you are aware of the staff's non-attendance and fleet accordingly.

Please note: All cancellations must be received in writing by AJ Carriagemasters within the stated time to ajcarriagemasters@gmail.com

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Complaints:
If the client with any aspect of the service provided by AJ Carriagemasters should write a letter for the attention of the Manager outlining the reason of dissatisfaction. 

AJ Carriagemasters will then investigate the complaint and respond in writing detailing the outcome of the investigation. 

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If the client is not willing to except the explanation or offer of settlement by the company then the client may refer the complaint to the approved, independent regulatory body recognised within the industry. 

Any settlement to be made to the client by AJ Carriagemasters shall not exceed the total of the sums due from the client under the agreement and shall exclude any third-party costs incurred by AJ Carriagemasters.

AJ Carriagemasters will undertake to transport a reasonable number of luggage/passengers to the vehicles’ specifications.  (In the case of child seats, the new law applies.) 

Booster/Child seats are to be supplied by client.

However, if in the judgement of the driver/bearer, the volume of weight is excessive, the company reserves the right to refuse the carriage of the said luggage/passengers.  

AJ Carriagemasters accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage to clients’ property or luggage whilst in the vehicle(s).

AJ Carriagemasters accepts no responsibility for any damage caused by passengers or associates to the interior or exterior of the vehicle(s).  

The hirer (Our Client) is responsible for the first £500.00 of any insurance claim.  All
vehicles are smoking, alcohol and food free.

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AJ Carriagemasters reserve the right to use images that are taken by our personnel on location to promote our portfolio and for our advertising purposes. Images taken by any third party cannot be used for any promotional or advertising purposes unless written permission is given by AJ Carriagemasters.

In the event of a mechanical breakdown, or severe weather conditions, and other incidents outside of our control, AJ Carriagemasters reserves the right to provide a different vehicle to the one booked, without adjustment to hire cost.
 
If another vehicle is not available, an adjustment to the hire cost to a maximum of 50% will be agreed with the client to compensate for this.

AJ Carriagemasters also reserve the right for one AJC personnel (during a hire period) to travel within the vehicle in addition to the driver/bearer for observation/training purposes when required.