These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Man And A Van Balham provides removals, transport and related moving services to private and commercial customers in the UK. By making a booking, confirming a quotation, or allowing us to begin work, you agree to be bound by these terms. They are intended to create a clear and fair framework for the service, including the booking process, payment arrangements, cancellations, liability, waste handling and the law that applies to any dispute. They do not affect your statutory rights where these apply.

In these terms, references to “we”, “us” and “our” mean the service provider operating under the name Man and a Van Balham, and “you” or “the customer” means the person requesting or paying for the service, together with any person acting on their behalf. The words service, moving service, man and van service and removal service may be used interchangeably. Any quotation is based on the information you provide, and the final scope of work may change if the information provided is incomplete or inaccurate.

These terms are written for a UK audience and are intended for general moving and transport services only. They should be read alongside any written quotation, booking confirmation, inventory, or service notes that we issue. If any specific written agreement conflicts with these terms, the specific written agreement will apply to the extent of that conflict.

Booking process

All bookings for Man And A Van Balham are subject to availability. A booking is usually made after you request a quotation and provide details such as collection and delivery addresses, access conditions, item descriptions, floor levels, parking arrangements, time constraints, and any special handling requirements. We may ask for photographs, measurements or other information to assess the job properly. Any time estimate is given in good faith but may change if access is restricted, loading takes longer than expected, or additional work is requested on the day.

Once a quotation is accepted, we may issue a booking confirmation. A booking is not guaranteed until it has been confirmed by us and, where required, any deposit or advance payment has been received. You are responsible for checking that all booking details are correct, including dates, times, addresses, items, and any agreed services. If there is a mistake in the information you supplied, we may revise the quotation, adjust the schedule, or decline the booking if the revised terms are not acceptable.

We will endeavour to arrive within the agreed time window, but exact arrival times cannot always be guaranteed due to traffic, weather, delays at previous jobs, or other circumstances beyond our control. If we anticipate a significant delay, we will make reasonable efforts to inform you as soon as practicable. You agree to ensure that someone is present to authorise the work and confirm the items to be moved, unless we have agreed in advance to collect or deliver without attendance.

The customer must ensure that there is safe and suitable access for the vehicle and for manual handling, including any required permissions for loading, stopping, parking or use of shared areas. If a permit, booking slot, access code, security clearance or building approval is needed, you must arrange it in advance unless we have expressly agreed to do so. Any delay caused by access problems, waiting time, inability to park, or failure to obtain required permissions may be charged as additional time.

Payments and charges

Prices are based on the information available at the time of quotation and may be charged as a fixed fee, hourly rate, or a combination of both. Unless stated otherwise, all charges are quoted in pounds sterling and may be subject to VAT where applicable. Additional fees may apply for waiting time, extra labour, stairs, heavy or awkward items, long carries, congestion, tolls, parking charges, urgent bookings, or changes to the agreed scope of work. We will normally explain any such charges as soon as reasonably possible.

Payment terms will be confirmed at the time of booking. In many cases, full payment is due on completion of the service unless an advance deposit, part payment or invoice arrangement has been agreed. We reserve the right to require payment in advance for certain bookings or for customers with a history of late payment. Payment must be made using an approved method and without deduction or set-off unless required by law. If payment is not received when due, we may charge reasonable recovery costs and interest to the extent permitted by law.

You are responsible for paying any parking charges, council permits, building fees, congestion-related charges, road tolls, or similar costs incurred in connection with the service unless we expressly agree otherwise. If we pay any such amount on your behalf, you must reimburse us. Any disputed invoice item should be raised promptly, but you must still pay any undisputed amount by the due date. We may suspend or refuse future bookings if there are outstanding balances.

Cancellations and amendments

You may cancel or amend a booking by giving us reasonable notice. Because time is reserved for each booking, cancellation charges may apply depending on how much notice you provide and whether costs have already been incurred. Where a deposit has been paid, it may be non-refundable or partly refundable depending on the circumstances and any costs already committed for the booking. The exact position will depend on the quotation or confirmation issued for your service.

If you need to change the date, time, address or scope of a man and van service, you should tell us as early as possible. We will try to accommodate amendments, but we are not obliged to do so if the change is not reasonably practicable or if the new request would require a different vehicle, team size, or pricing structure. A revised quotation may be issued if the changes affect the nature or duration of the work.

We may cancel or suspend a booking if you fail to provide accurate information, the premises are unsafe, payment is not made when due, or events beyond our control make performance impossible or unlawful. In such cases, we may charge for work already completed, time lost, or costs reasonably incurred. We will not be liable for loss caused by our cancellation where this results from your breach of these terms or from force majeure events.

Force majeure means any event beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, accidents, road closures, strikes, fire, flood, public emergencies, government restrictions, vehicle breakdown not caused by lack of maintenance, or unavailability of third-party access. If a force majeure event occurs, we may delay, reschedule, or cancel the service without liability except to the extent required by law. Any prepaid amount for services not performed will be handled fairly, taking into account costs already incurred.

Liability and customer obligations

We will take reasonable care when carrying out the service, including handling items with appropriate caution and using our experience to protect your property. However, liability is limited to the extent permitted by law. We are not responsible for pre-existing damage, items that were already fragile or inadequately packed, or damage arising from concealed defects, unsuitable packaging, or the customer’s own instructions. It is your responsibility to ensure that goods are properly prepared for transport unless we have agreed to provide packing or wrapping services.

Where we are responsible for loss or damage, our liability will generally be limited to the reasonable repair or replacement cost of the affected item, subject to any applicable limits set out in the quotation or insurance arrangement. We do not exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded. You must notify us of any claim as soon as reasonably practicable and, in any event, within a reasonable time after the event.

You agree to remove or secure any items of special value, sentimental value, cash, documents, jewellery, medicines, passports, data storage devices, or other high-risk belongings unless we have expressly agreed in writing to transport them. If you ask us to move such items, you do so at your own risk unless a higher level of cover has been agreed in advance. We are not responsible for loss caused by your failure to disclose that an item requires special handling.

Waste, disposal and environmental rules

Our man and van removal service may include the transport of unwanted items only where this has been agreed in advance. We do not operate as an unauthorised waste carrier, and we will only collect, move or dispose of waste in accordance with applicable UK law, including waste duty of care obligations and carrier requirements where relevant. You must not ask us to dispose of waste illegally, fly-tip materials, or remove items that are prohibited by law or unsafe to handle.

If you require disposal, recycling or clearance of unwanted items, you must tell us exactly what is to be removed. Some items may need special handling, separate disposal arrangements or additional fees. Hazardous, contaminated, clinical, asbestos-related, gas, chemical, explosive or sharp waste may be refused. You must accurately describe any waste before collection so that the correct vehicle, labour and disposal arrangements can be made. If undeclared waste is presented, we may refuse to take it or charge extra if legal disposal is possible.

General service conditions

Unless otherwise agreed, you are responsible for ensuring that goods are packed securely and that appliances are disconnected, defrosted, drained and prepared for movement where necessary. We may refuse to move items that appear unsafe, incorrectly packed, too heavy for safe manual handling, or likely to cause damage to property or injury. We may also request assistance from the customer if this is required to complete the job safely and lawfully. Our team may stop work if continuing would be unsafe.

Any estimates of time, mileage or labour are approximate and may be affected by the number, size and condition of items, access to the property, delays in parking or unloading, or additional requests made during the job. If the actual work differs materially from the original booking details, we may adjust the charge accordingly. We are entitled to rely on the information you provide, and we are not bound by any assumption that later proves to be inaccurate.

Title to goods remains with you at all times unless a separate sale or transfer has been arranged in writing. We do not accept responsibility for checking whether you own all items being moved or whether you have authority to have them transported. You confirm that you have the right to instruct us to move the goods and that doing so will not breach any law, tenancy condition, storage term, court order or contractual restriction.

Claims, complaints and disputes

Any complaint should be raised promptly so that we can investigate and, where appropriate, attempt to resolve the issue. If damage is discovered, you should keep the item and any packaging available for inspection and provide photographs or other supporting evidence if requested. We may decline a claim if we are not given a reasonable opportunity to assess the issue or if the item has been repaired, discarded, or altered before inspection.

Where a claim is accepted, we may offer repair, replacement, partial refund or another fair remedy depending on the circumstances. Any remedy will be assessed in line with these terms, the scope of the service, and any insurance or legal requirements. A failure by us to enforce a term on one occasion does not mean that term has been waived for the future. If any provision is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect.

These Terms and Conditions, together with the booking confirmation and any written quotation, form the entire agreement between you and Man And A Van Balham in relation to the service. You should not rely on any statement or promise that has not been confirmed in writing by us. We may update these terms from time to time, but the version in force at the date of your booking will usually apply to that booking unless a later change is required by law.

Governing law

These terms and any dispute or claim arising from or connected with them shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction, unless the law requires otherwise. If any dispute cannot be resolved informally, either party may pursue any lawful remedy available under the applicable rules. Nothing in these terms limits your legal rights as a consumer where those rights cannot be excluded.