3TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF HIRE

1. Application
These conditions apply whether a contract has been made verbally or in writing. The Hirer acts on behalf of all passengers travelling on the vehicles. Where the Hirer is a Company, group, partnership or other body, an individual must be named as that body’s Responsible Person for the purpose of the hire. The Hirer is responsible for the actions of the passengers on board and is deemed to have the authority to agree additional costs, should any arise during the course of the booking. RedRoutemaster will only accept instructions from the Hirer or the Hirer’s nominated representative.

2. Quotations
Quotations are given on the basis of the direct route and on information and timings provided by the Hirer. The route used will be at the discretion of RedRoutemaster unless it has been specifically specified by the Hirer and agreed by the Company in which case it will be clearly shown on the confirmation. Quotations are valid for 7 days unless otherwise notified.

The Hirer is advised that the route chosen MUST be safe for the passage of the vehicle chosen. A minimum height clearance of 14 feet and 9 inches and a minimum width clearance of 8 feet 6 inches, RedRoutemaster will endeavour to accommodate the Hirer’s route wishes, but will pick up and drop off at the nearest safe point. RedRoutemaster will endeavour to advise at the time of booking, but it is the Hirer’s responsibility to check with venues regarding any height or width restrictions.

3. Use of the Vehicle between booked journeys.
The Hirer cannot assume that he will have the use of the vehicle or that it will remain at the destination between outward and return journeys, unless this has been agreed with RedRoutemaster in advance.

4 Route Time and/or Vehicle Variation
a. RedRoutemaster reserves the right to levy additional charges for time exceeding that agreed for the booking. Should the Hirer request an overrun beyond the agreed end time of the booking, the Company may make additional charges as follows: £175 for the first hour or part thereof, £240 for the second hour or part thereof, £350 for the third and for each and every subsequent hour or part thereof. Overruns will be accommodated at the Company’s discretion and subject to the availability and other commitments of vehicle and crew. The vehicle will depart at times agreed by the Hirer, and it is the responsibility of the Hirer to account for all passengers at those times.

Any substantial change to the agreed route of the hire may require a renegotiation of the cost of the hire and in any case will only be accommodated with the agreement of RedRoutemaster.

RedRoutemaster will not accept liability for any losses incurred by passengers who fail to follow the instructions given by the Hirer. The Company cannot accept responsibility for delays caused by traffic conditions or other disruption beyond the Company’s control. The Driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle, its passengers and other road users and he may deviate from the planned route if he feels it necessary in the interests of safety. RedRoutemaster will do its best to provide the type of vehicle requested but reserves the right to operate a substitute vehicle in the event of unforeseeable difficulties such as breakdown.

RedRoutemaster will make every effort to be at the Hirer’s pick up point at least 15 minutes prior to pick up time, however, allowances must be made for traffic delays, major incidents and other events that are out of the control of Redroutemaster. In the unlikely event that our vehicle will be late to the pick-up point, every effort will be made to contact the hirer and keep them informed of an expected arrival time (subject to use of mobile telephone whilst driving laws).
b. The Vehicle
Our fleet is historic and as such they are of “as used in daily service condition” inside & out. Due care and attention to detail is taken but please respect these buses are nearly 50 years old and still out doing the job they were designed for and not perfect static museum exhibits. They are inspected at the same level as a modern bus or coach and have to conform to the relevant safety standards.

5. Drivers’ Hours
The Driver’s working hours are regulated by law. RedRoutemaster is obliged to take these restrictions into account when planning staffing for the hire, and the Hirer agrees to adhere to timings agreed with RedRoutemaster. Neither the Hirer nor any passenger shall delay or otherwise interrupt the journey in such a manner as to put the driver at risk of breaching the driving hours and duty time regulations. The Driver is responsible for observing the legal requirements and will advise the Hirer or his representative if any alteration in schedule risks causing a breach. The Hirer will be responsible for any additional costs incurred unless the cause is outside the control of the Hirer.

6. Seating Capacity
RedRoutemaster will, at the time of booking, agree and specify the legal seating capacity of the vehicle to be supplied. The Hirer must not load the vehicle beyond this capacity. The Company will not allow the legal capacity to be exceeded under any circumstances.

7. Smoking
Smoking is not permitted on any of the Company’s vehicles at any time.

8. Alcohol
The carriage and or consumption of alcohol aboard RedRoutemaster‘s vehicles may only take place if agreed in advance between RedRoutemaster and the Hirer and upon payment of a security deposit. RedRoutemaster may impose such restrictions as it deems fit in respect of the type and quantity of beverages carried for consumption aboard. Glass receptacles may not be used under any circumstances.

9. Food
a. The carriage and or consumption of food aboard RedRoutemaster‘s vehicles may only take place if agreed in advance between RedRoutemaster and the Hirer and upon payment of a security deposit. RedRoutemaster may impose such restrictions as it deems fit in respect of the type of food items carried for consumption aboard.
b. State of Vehicle:
RedRoutemaster will make every effort to arrive at your pick up point with a vehicle that is clean and free of rubbish. However, if the vehicle has come straight from another booking, it may be necessary for our staff to make good the vehicle prior to your party board. You will be kept informed of events by our staff.

10. Damage to vehicle
a. A security deposit may be imposed prior to the hire to mitigate the event of spillage of food and/or drink or other contamination of or damage to the vehicle whether arising from the consumption of drinks aboard or from the behaviour of passengers who have consumed alcohol before travelling or from any other action by passengers. RedRoutemaster reserves the right at its absolute discretion to request and to hold a security deposit, such deposit to be returned in full to the Hirer following completion of the booking provided that no spillage, contamination or damage has occurred. RedRoutemaster may retain the deposit in full or in part to mitigate the cost of returning the vehicle to a suitable condition. Charges include, but are not restricted to, the following examples: per bag of rubbish – £5; cleaning of food or drink spillage – £50.
b. A charge may also be made for any exterior damage to the vehicle caused by inadequate route planning by the Hirer or false information given by venues that the Hirer has booked. Type of vehicle damage shall include (but not restricted to) roof panels, windows, side panels, mirrors, tyres and peripheral equipment.

11. Conveyance of Animals Bicycles Pushchairs & Wheelchairs
No animals, with the exception of guide dogs and hearing dogs, may be carried on any vehicle without prior written agreement from RedRoutemaster. The conveyance of bicycles is prohibited. One or two small pushchairs may be folded and accommodated in the luggage area. The Hirer should consult RedRoutemaster in advance if the conveyance of large pushchairs or wheelchairs is required. The Hirer understands that the historic nature of the vehicles operated by RedRoutemaster means that they cannot be modified to conform to modern accessibility standards. The Company’s crews will do their best to provide non-physical assistance where required, but the Hirer is responsible for ensuring that disabled passengers are advised in advance of the limitations of the vehicle.

12. Confirmation
Written confirmation (including by electronic mail) by RedRoutemaster is the only basis for the acceptance of a hiring or for a subsequent alteration to its terms, with the exception of such operational alterations as may become necessary during the course of the hire.

13. Payment
An initial deposit of £250 per bus is required to secure the booking. The initial deposit is not refundable in the event of cancellation by the Hirer. Payment of the full balance due together with any security deposit (see paras 9a-10 above) must be made a minimum of 28 days before the start of the hire, unless otherwise agreed by RedRoutemaster. RedRoutemaster’s Booking Confirmation advice will show the date by which payment is due. If the booking is made within 28 days of the date of the hire, payment must be made in full at the time of the booking. It is the Hirer’s responsibility to ensure that payment is made by the due date. RedRoutemaster reserves the right at its absolute discretion to cancel the booking and retain the initial deposit in the event that payment is not received by the due date. Without prejudice to its other rights and remedies, RedRoutemaster reserves the right to add interest at the rate of 2% per annum above the Bank of England base rate, calculated on a daily basis from the date by which payment should have been made.

14. Cancellation by the Hirer
If the Hirer wishes to cancel any agreement, the following scale of charges shall apply in relation to the total hire charge, according to the notice of cancellation given:
28 days or more – deposit only;
27 to 21 days – 50% of hire;
20 to 8 days 75% of hire;
7 days to day of hire – 100% of hire.

15. Conduct of Passengers
RedRoutemaster ‘s Conductor is responsible for safety in the passenger areas and his instructions must be followed. In particular no passenger may travel on the platform or the staircase while the vehicle is in motion and no standing passengers are permitted on the upper deck. In the event that the behaviour or demeanour of any passenger is deemed by the crew to be hazardous to the passenger himself, to other passengers, to the safety of the vehicle, to RedRoutemaster’s staff or to other road users, the Conductor may require any persons to leave the vehicle. No refunds or compensation will be considered in this event. When children (17 years of age and under) are carried, the Hirer shall be responsible for ensuring that adequate supervision by suitable responsible adults is provided. The Hirer understands that the historic nature of the vehicles means that seatbelts are not fitted or provided.

16. Insurance and Liability
RedRoutemaster shall not be held liable for loss or destruction of or damage to passengers’ property or for injury to passengers unless this is caused by the negligence of RedRoutemaster’s personnel. RedRoutemaster shall not be liable under any circumstances for losses arising from traffic delays, road closures, actions of Police or other enforcement agencies or any other unforeseeable obstructions to the completion of the hire as planned. RedRoutemaster recommends that the Hirer arranges appropriate Insurance to mitigate their losses in such eventualities.

In the event that RedRoutemaster is unable to complete the booking because of vehicle breakdown, staff sickness or other unforeseeable eventuality, RedRoutemaster shall use its best endeavours to secure suitable alternative transport for the Hirer. In any event, RedRoutemaster ‘s liability to the Hirer shall not exceed the cost of providing alternative transport to the Hirer’s agreed destination or the total fee paid by the Hirer for the booking, whichever shall be the lesser.=

17. Compliance with Statutory Provisions and Exclusion of Liability
The Hirer shall at all times comply with all statutory and other requirements having the force of law whilst the Hirer’s party remains aboard RedRoutemaster ‘s vehicles and shall indemnify RedRoutemaster from and against all costs, expenses, liabilities, injuries, losses, damages, claims, demands or legal costs and judgements which RedRoutemaster incurs or suffers as a consequence of any act or omission by the Hirer.

The Hirer also agrees not to instruct our driving staff to break parking regulations, whether on a public or private road, and the Hirer also agrees that the driver can only stop at legal and safe points along the route. Should any penalty charges (including clamping fees) be incurred as a direct result of the Hirer’s instructions, the Hirer is responsible for the full cost of such penalties.

18. Waiver
Failure by RedRoutemaster at any time to enforce these terms and conditions shall not be construed as a waiver and shall not affect the validity of these terms and conditions or any part of them.

19. Enforceability
If any provision of these terms and conditions shall become or shall be declared by any Court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall in no way impair or affect any other provisions which shall remain in full force and effect.

20. Variation
a. These terms and conditions may only be varied from time to time with the written agreement of the parties hereto.
b. Customer Instructions on Day of Hire.
RedRoutemaster will only take instructions on the day of hire from the Hirer, their designated representative or a party whom Redroutemaster thinks, with good reason, is acting with the Hirer’s permission.

21. Notices
Any demand, notice or other communication may be sent by post or delivered by hand to RedRoutemaster at:

Attend IT Limited T/a RedRoutemaster.com
202 High Street,
Brentford,
London TW8 8AH;

and in the case of the Hirer at the address given by the Hirer or at such other address as may be notified by either party to the other from time to time in writing.

22. Definitions
“RedRoutemaster” is Attend IT Ltd T/A RedRoutemaster and includes RedRoutemaster Reading. “The Hirer” is the person or body engaging the services of RedRoutemaster by either verbal or written (including e-mail) communication.

23. Jurisdiction
These terms and conditions shall be construed in accordance with the laws of England and the English Courts shall have jurisdiction.