Terms & Condition

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms & Conditions apply to all work undertaken by VCB Removals and Clearance Ltd.

Acceptance of our quotation by email, text message or any written communication, payment of a booking deposit, or allowing work to commence shall constitute acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.

2. Our Agreement

VCB Removals provides professional services including but not limited to:

• Domestic house removals
• Commercial removals
• Packing services
• Unpacking services
• Furniture dismantling and reassembly
• House clearances
• Garden clearances
• Garage and loft clearances
• Storage collection and delivery
• Man and van services

All work will be completed using reasonable care, skill and attention.

3. Quotations

Where possible, we will make property visits to survey the work required in order to provide accurate quotations. Please declare anything unusual, particularly heavy (over 100kgs), or high value items that may require specialist equipment, insurances, or circumstances.

When our quotations are based entirely upon the information supplied by the customer, quotations assume:

• the inventory supplied is accurate
• access details are accurate
• parking arrangements are available
• no unusual lifting equipment is required
• no undeclared heavy items exist

If the quantity of goods differs significantly from the quotation, VCB Removals reserves the right to:

• revise the quotation
• charge for additional labour
• provide additional vehicles
• postpone or reschedule the move if operationally necessary

Quotations remain valid for 30 days unless otherwise stated.

4. Booking & Payment

A non-refundable booking deposit of 10% is required to secure your booking unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Your booking is not confirmed until the deposit has been received.

The remaining balance is payable on completion of the work unless alternative arrangements have been agreed beforehand.

Accepted payment methods include:

• Bank Transfer
• Cash
• Cheque (only when confirmed prior to booking)

Late payments may incur statutory interest together with reasonable debt recovery costs.

5. Cancellation & Postponement

More than seven days before your move:

VCB Removals may, at its discretion, transfer your deposit to a new agreed moving date.

Between 48 hours and 7 days:

Deposits will normally be retained.

Less than 48 hours:

VCB Removals reserves the right to charge up to 50% of the agreed booking value together with any unrecoverable costs already incurred, including:

• packing materials
• subcontractors
• vehicle hire
• accommodation
• ferry bookings

6. Customer Responsibilities

The Customer agrees to:

• provide an accurate inventory
• notify us of any changes
• advise us of stairs
• advise us of long carries
• advise us of lofts
• advise us of basements
• advise us of valuable items
• advise us of any heavy items (exceeding 100kgs)
• arrange suitable parking
• obtain any parking suspensions or permits
• ensure all access routes are safe
• ensure someone over 18 is present throughout the move
• complete a final inspection before our team leaves

Any additional items presented on the day which were not disclosed during quotation may incur additional charges.

7. Packing Services

Where a packing service has not been booked, the customer is responsible for ensuring all items are securely packed before our arrival.

VCB Removals cannot accept liability for damage caused by:

• overloaded boxes
• poorly packed boxes
• unsuitable containers
• concealed defects
• inadequate packing materials

Fridges & Freezers

Customers are responsible for:

• emptying all fridge contents
• emptying all freezer contents
• packing all food
• defrosting freezers for at least 24 hours prior to the move
• drying internal compartments

VCB Removals will not pack food from fridges or freezers.

8. Large Furniture & Heavy Items

VCB Removals will take every reasonable care when handling your furniture and possessions.

Certain items require additional planning, specialist equipment or additional staff. These must be declared at the quotation stage.

This includes (but is not limited to):

• Pianos
• Safes
• American-style fridge freezers
• Marble or stone tables
• Large dining tables
• Gym equipment
• Hot tubs
• Pool tables
• Large fish tanks or aquariums
• Garden statues
• Commercial equipment
• Any individual item weighing approximately 100kg or more

Failure to declare such items may result in:

• Additional charges
• Delays
• Additional labour being required
• The item being left behind if it cannot be moved safely.

Flat Pack Furniture

Furniture manufactured from particleboard or MDF (including IKEA and similar manufacturers) can weaken over time and each time it is dismantled.

Whilst VCB Removals will exercise every reasonable care, we cannot guarantee that previously assembled flat-pack furniture can be dismantled and reassembled without damage.

Customers should be aware that older flat-pack furniture may not be suitable for repeated dismantling.

9. Electrical Appliances

Customers should disconnect the following before our arrival unless otherwise agreed:

• Washing machines
• Dishwashers
• Tumble dryers
• American fridge freezers
• Water dispensers
• TVs mounted on walls
• Satellite equipment
• Sound systems

VCB Removals is not responsible for reconnecting plumbing, gas or electrical appliances unless specifically agreed beforehand.

10. Items We Cannot Transport

For the safety of our staff and customers, we cannot transport:

• Paint
• Oil
• Petrol
• Diesel
• Gas cylinders
• Calor Gas bottles
• Fireworks
• Ammunition
• Explosives
• Hazardous chemicals
• Corrosive substances
• Biological waste
• Medical waste
• Asbestos
• Illegal substances
• Illegal goods

If these items are discovered on moving day they must be removed before loading can continue.

11. Valuables

Customers should personally transport:

• Cash
• Jewellery
• Watches
• Passports
• Driving licences
• Birth certificates
• Wills
• Legal paperwork
• Financial documents
• Medication
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Mobile phones
• Backup drives

Whilst we take every reasonable care, we strongly recommend these remain with the customer throughout the move.

12. Access Requirements

Customers must notify VCB Removals before the move if any of the following apply:

• More than one flight of stairs
• Narrow staircases
• Spiral staircases
• Basement access
• Loft access
• Long carrying distances
• Difficult parking
• Height restrictions
• Weight restrictions
• Narrow roads
• Lift access
• Time restrictions imposed by apartment buildings

Failure to disclose access restrictions may result in additional charges.

13. Waiting Time & Completion Delays

VCB Removals understands that delays to property completions and key releases can occasionally occur due to circumstances outside the Customer’s control, including (but not limited to):

• Solicitors
• Estate Agents
• Developers
• Property Chains
• Key Release Delays
• Utility Providers

We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate such delays wherever operationally possible.

However, our vehicles, equipment and staff are reserved exclusively for your booking, and extended delays may prevent us from completing other scheduled work.

Waiting Time Charges

Where keys have not been released by 4pm, VCB Removals reserves the right to charge additional waiting time at a rate of £50 per hour (or part thereof) for each member of staff assigned to the move, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Key Release After 5:00pm

Where access to the delivery property has not been obtained by 5:00pm, VCB Removals reserves the right not to commence unloading and to return on the next available working day.

In these circumstances:

• The full agreed charge for the original moving day remains payable.
• An overnight vehicle and secure storage charge of £250 per vehicle will apply.
• A further charge for the return visit and unloading will apply at the same labour and vehicle rate as originally agreed for the move.

VCB Removals may, entirely at its discretion, choose to commence unloading after 5:00pm where it is safe, practical and operationally feasible to do so. Any such decision shall not create an obligation to do so on future occasions.

 

14. Parking

The Customer is responsible for ensuring suitable parking is available at both collection and delivery addresses.

Where permits, suspensions or permissions are required these remain the Customer’s responsibility.

If our vehicles cannot park within a reasonable distance of the property additional charges may apply due to increased carrying distances.

15. House Clearance Services

VCB Removals provides house, garage, loft, garden and commercial clearance services.

By instructing a clearance the Customer confirms they have legal authority to authorise disposal of the contents.

VCB Removals may:

• recycle items
• donate suitable items
• sell items
• dispose of waste

using its professional judgement unless alternative written instructions have been provided.

Items to Keep

Customers are responsible for clearly identifying any items that are not to be removed.

Any item not clearly identified may be treated as clearance waste. VCB Removals accepts no responsibility for items disposed of where they were not identified before work commenced.

Personal Documents

Before the clearance begins, customers should remove:

• passports
• legal documents
• financial paperwork
• family photographs
• sentimental items
• computer hard drives
• confidential paperwork

16. Garden Clearances

Garden clearance quotations assume normal domestic waste only.

The following require prior notification:

• Concrete
• Soil
• Rubble
• Railway sleepers
• Asbestos
• Oil tanks
• Hazardous waste

Additional disposal charges may apply.

17. Our Responsibilities

VCB Removals agrees to:

• provide suitably trained staff
• use appropriate moving equipment
• exercise reasonable care
• protect floors where practical
• protect furniture during transportation
• use licensed waste disposal facilities
• communicate professionally throughout your booking

18. Insurance

VCB Removals maintains:

• Public Liability Insurance
• Goods in Transit Insurance
• Hire & Reward Insurance

Certain exclusions apply under all insurance policies.

Where customers require enhanced cover for particularly valuable items, additional insurance may be recommended.

19. Damage & Claims

Visible damage should be reported within 24 hours of completion.

Hidden damage should be reported within 7 days.

Claims should include:

• photographs
• description
• item affected
• estimated value

Failure to notify within these times may affect our ability to investigate.

20. Limitation of Liability

VCB Removals cannot accept responsibility for:

• customer packed boxes
• inherent defects
• poor quality furniture
• flat-pack failures
• electronics with existing faults
• food spoilage
• plants
• weather damage
• delays outside our control
• acts of God
• traffic delays
• road closures
• vehicle breakdowns where reasonable contingency arrangements are made

We shall not be liable for indirect or consequential loss including:

• loss of profit
• business interruption
• accommodation costs
• missed appointments

21. Health & Safety

The safety of our staff is paramount.

VCB Removals reserves the right to refuse any task that presents an unreasonable risk.

This includes:

• unsafe lifting
• dangerous access
• unstable flooring
• structural concerns
• aggressive behaviour
• unsafe animals
• intoxicated persons

22. Photography

VCB Removals may photograph:

• existing damage
• access restrictions
• loading arrangements
• damaged items

where necessary for insurance or evidential purposes.

These photographs will be retained only for legitimate business purposes.

23. Privacy

Customer information is used solely for:

• quotations
• bookings
• invoicing
• insurance
• legal compliance

We never sell customer information.

24. Complaints

If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service please contact us within 48 hours.

We are committed to resolving complaints fairly, professionally and promptly.

25. Governing Law

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.