In these conditions the following words have the following meanings:

“Company” means C J Lamb Event Hire at the address stated at the end of these terms and include its owners.

“Hirer” means the person, firm, company, or other organisation hiring the hire goods.

“Hire goods” means any goods which are hired to the hirer.

“Hire period” means the period commencing when the hirer holds the Hire Goods on hire (including Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays) and ending upon the happening of any of the following events:

• The physical return of the Hire Goods by the hirer into the company’s possession.
• The physical repossession or collection of Hire Goods by the company.

“Liability” means liability for all damages, claims, proceedings, actions, awards, expenses, costs, and any other losses and/or liabilities.

“Rental” means the companies charging rate for the hire of the hire goods.

Hire goods always remain the property of the company.

The HIRER must check before use, that all equipment ordered has been delivered and our attention should be drawn to any miscounts, omissions, wrong deliveries, or damaged equipment prior to use in order that charges may not undeservedly be made. This can be done by email, or over the telephone. No claims for deficiency or damage after this period will be entertained by the company.

The HIRER should ensure that a responsible person is at the delivery address to receive the goods or agree other delivery terms with the company prior to the delivery taking place.

The company reserves the right to revise hire rates, delivery/collection charges, terms of hire, product specifications, etc, without the need to give prior notice.

Receiving the Order Confirmation

Upon receiving the order confirmation, the hirer must carefully check the dates, addresses, items, and quantities to ensure everything is correct. The company cannot be held responsible for any unreported errors.

A 50% deposit will be taken by the company prior to the hirer receiving the hired goods.  

Deliveries or Collections

The company is unable to guarantee specific arrival times due to traffic delays, unexpected vehicle breakdowns or delays on prior deliveries/collections. The company does, however, endeavor to offer 1 hour delivery and collection slots, with the option to be called or texted when approximately 30 minutes away.

The company offers delivery Monday-Thursday 8am - 12pm, Friday 9am to 7pm and Weekends (subject to availability and upon special request). 

It is at the hirers discretion to count and check their order upon delivery and prior to collection. If after collection, there are items missing, it is the hirers responsibility to return these to the company otherwise replacement fees will apply.  
 

Amendments to Orders - reductions

Reductions can be made up to 24 working hours prior to delivery/collection from the company. If amendments are needed within a 24 hour working period then the hirer should call the company and speak to them directly to confirm.  Any hired goods sort on behalf of the hirer by the company from another service will be subject to additional fee's if amendments are made any less that 7 days prior to hire, please discuss this with the company  prior to hiring the goods (e.g. table clothes, tables etc.)

The company's working hours for amendments are as follows: 

Monday – before 5:30pm the previous Friday

Tuesday – before 12pm the previous Monday of that week

Wednesday – before 12pm the Monday of that week

Thursday – before 12pm the Wednesday of that week

Friday – before 12pm the Thursday of that week

Weekends - before 12pm the Thursday of that week. 

Amendments to Orders – increases subject to availability

Additions must be made by 12pm the day prior to delivery/collection from the company. Any additions after this time will need to be made on a phone call with the company  to confirm if it is feasible as well as still being subject to availability.  

Monday – before 12pm the previous Friday

Tuesday – before 12pm the Monday of that week

Wednesday – before 12pm the Tuesday of that week

Thursday – before 12pm the Wednesday of that week

Friday – before 12pm the Thursday of that week

Weekends - before 12pm the Thursday of that week

Collection/Return of Hire Goods

All hire goods are to be returned dirty FREE OF CHARGE. However, Items returned with excess pieces of food or fluid and needing significant additional cleaning may be subject to additional charges at the company's discretion. The phrase returned dirty means as follows: 

• Hired goods are to be ready to be cleaned and washed by the company.
• Crockery and cutlery will have excess pieces of food scraped off prior to packing.
• Glassware and liquid holding items will have excess liquid tipped out prior to packing.

Hired goods MUST be packed and ready for the company to collect on the collection day that the hirer has agreed with the company. It is the hirers responsibility to ensure all the order is waiting for the company, in the boxes they were provided in.

The company will check the order once returned to their facilities and the hirer will be responsible for returning any missing items to the company or be subject to fees. The company WILL NOT wait at point of collection for the hirer to count the hired goods. Additional fee's will apply and it is at the companies discretion to leave the goods and for the hirer to return them the same day by 6pm. 

When the hirer is due to return to the company, this must be made by 6pm on the return day, unless agreed otherwise. This is extremely important as hire goods often go back out on hire the same day or the next day. Late fee's will apply if this is not met.

If any equipment, which does not belong to the company, is returned to the company’s premises, the company will only hold this equipment on site for a maximum of 2 weeks, after which it will be disposed of. The hirer is to contact the company if they think they have something of theirs and is responsible for collecting the item(s).

If hire goods are not ready when the company arrives to collect, there will be an additional charge of £10.00. The hirer will be responsible for returning the hired goods, unless discussed with the company for a rearranged collection date at the agreed delivery charge. 

If the company is prevented from collecting the hired goods, depending on the circumstances, the hirer can be charged an additional fee of up to £25.00. Additional late fee's will also apply on top of this.

Other additional charges include:

1. Unreturned items
2. Items that are damaged or broken
3. storage containers damaged or broken

The following should also be carried out by the hirer prior to return of goods:

1. Items MUST be packed away in the same way that it arrived, this means:
   -  Attention must be taken as to how the equipment arrived
   -  Anything that arrives in boxes, must be put back into the box and stacked safely
   -  Goods are to be returned dirty, however excess pieces of food should be tipped off before packing 
   -  Glasses must be placed in their correct crates, with excess liquid tipped out 
    
2. Boxes and crates MUST be stored somewhere dry and safe. Adverse weather can cause damage.
    
3. Any damages, losses or breakages must be, where possible,  reported to the company prior to collection/return of goods.
    
4. Goods must be counted to ensure all items are ready for the company to collect. This must be done before the company arrives for collection. The company is not responsible for counting the items upon collections for sanitary and facility purposes. 
    

Delivery/Collection Charges

Delivery/collection is charged for using a single driver that will deliver and collect door to door only. This involves delivery and collection being made on a ground floor, flat terrain, and short distance access door to door location.

If delivery/collection is to be made elsewhere, the terrain is not flat/there is a longer distance to be made or if the delivery/collection requires 2 x people, etc. the company MUST be told so that the company can see if they can offer this service, and if so, additional delivery/collection charges will apply. Please note, if we are not told prior to, these additional charges will be charged back to the hirer post event.

It is the hirers responsibility to ensure adequate parking is available, whilst we deliver and collect.

If, to enable us to deliver/collect a hirers order, our vehicles must go into any zones such as a congestion or ULEZ zone etc., this additional charge will be applied to the hirers order either at time of order, or post collection, depending on the circumstances.

Delivery and Collection Times and Days

The company offers delivery Monday-Thursday 8am-12pm, Friday 9am to 7pm and Weekends (subject to availability and upon special request). 

If the hirer requires delivery and collection outside of these times, let the company know so it can be checked if this would be possible. If possible, additional charges would apply, these additional charges would be included at the time of booking.

Please be aware that during busy periods, delivery, and collection times, may be a little earlier/later than the company’s standard times. The company would inform the hirer if this was the case.

Any change to the company’s standard delivery and collection times and days, are made at the discretion of the company.

Cancellation Charge

Cancellation of order more than 7 days prior to delivery date will not incur any cancellation charge.

• 7 days prior to delivery - 50% of hire charge
• 72 hours or less prior to delivery - 100% of hire charge

COVID:

If the government impose restrictions that result in events not legally being able to proceed, and the order has not been loaded  and/or out for delivery, at the discretion of the company, cancellation charges may be waived

-If government restrictions come into place after the order has been loaded  and/or out for delivery, full cancellation charges will still apply

-In the event of illness, self-isolation, etc., cancellation charges will still apply

The company must be notified in writing if an order needs to be cancelled and an acknowledgement email confirming the cancellation will be sent to the hirer. If the company is not made aware that the order needed to be cancelled, full cancellation charges will apply.

Responsibility of Hire Goods

Ownership of the hire goods always remains with the company. The hirer named on the confirmation is responsible for the equipment, including boxes and crates, for the period of the hire. The hirer named on the confirmation, is also responsible for any loss or damages that occur to the hire equipment. For details on these costs prior to hire, please email the company. 

Broken, damaged, lost and/or unreturned items will be charged at replacement cost. Any items that are found, are to be returned to company’s office at Sibford Ferris within 7 days after the collection date, unless otherwise agreed with the company. Any items found after the hirer has been invoiced for payment, must be returned within 5 days or will be subject to the replacement fees.

Delivery/Collection - As soon as the company have delivered the hire goods, it is then the hirers responsibility. It remains the hirers responsibility up until the moment the hire equipment is back with the company. 

Hirer Collection/Return - As soon as the hirer collects the hire goods, it is then the hirers responsibility. It remains the hirers responsibility up until the moment that the hirer returns the hire equipment back to the company’ at Sibford Ferris, or Adderbury if agreed prior.

Before the hirer is invoiced by the company for the rest of the payment, all hired goods will be checked and counted by the company at their storage facility.

Payment of orders

The company requires 50% payment, for all orders prior to the delivery date or hirers collection date, unless otherwise agreed. Payment by BACS is available or cash at point of delivery/hirer collection . If money is not received, the order will not be delivered, and the company has no liability to the hirer.

Once orders have been returned/collected and checked by the company, the hirer will be invoiced for the remaining payment. Payment is required within 10 days of the invoice date. 

Payment time may be reduced if there are significant breakage fees of over £100 to payment required with 5 days of the invoice date. If you are unable to pay the full amount within 5 days, the minimum required is the breakage fees. The remaining total will still need to be paid within 10 days of the invoice date.

Any concerns with the invoice must be made within 3 days of it being received (2 days for significant breakages reduced time invoices), otherwise the company has the right to dismiss these.  If payment is not received within this time period, the hirer will be responsible for an additional fee of £5 per late day will be charged. 

Contact Number and Out of Hours Contact

The Company's number is 07377435777. If there are any problems after having received the order or during the hire period, the hirer must either email, Whatsapp or call the company. 

This phone is monitored Monday - Thursday 08:00am to 17:00pm,  Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm and the company aims to contact people back the same day. However, please keep in mind there is usually only one person carrying out communications, deliveries and maintaining of items, so a response during busier times may be delayed. Outside these hours, the company does not regularly check the phone unless deliveries are organised during this period to contact the hirer. 

Due to the company being solely run by two people, there can be delays in contact. Please ensure if the contact is urgent you leave a Whatsapp message or email if the call is not answered. The company cannot be held responsible for any unreported problems after the hire period. If you are wanting to place an order, please do this by email.

Insurance of Hired Items

The hirer is fully responsible for the equipment and for providing their own insurance, if necessary, from the time of acceptance until returned to our premises. No insurance is provided by the company.

The company's replacement costs can be requested for the hirer to share with their insurance provider. 

Non-availability/supply of Equipment

If for reasons beyond the company’s control any item of the hire goods, is not available for the period of hire, the company reserves the right to substitute an alternative, that will be as near as possible to the hirer’s requirements. If this happens, the company will not be liable for any loss suffered by the hirer because of the goods being unavailable.

Examples of reasons beyond the company’s control can include, but are not limited to:

- Hire goods from another order being missing, resulting in the company being short for the hirer’s order

- Hire goods that have been broken, resulting in the company being short for the hirer’s order

Faulty Equipment

Allowances may be made, for any non-use of the hire goods due to breakdown caused by the development of an inherent fault and/or fair wear and tear, only on the condition that the hirer informs the company by email or telephone as soon as possible during the hire period. The hirer needs to give the company that opportunity to repair or if possible, replace the hire goods within a reasonable time. Soon as possible does not include informing the company after the hire period.

If defective equipment is used and the company is not informed during the hire period,  the company have no liability for additional damage, loss, liability, claims, costs, or expenses. The hirer shall be responsible for all expenses, loss (including loss of rental) and/or damage suffered by the company arising from any breakdown of the hire goods due to the hirer’s negligence, misdirection and/or misuse of the hire goods.

Any defective goods must be returned to the company for inspection before the company will have any liability for defective goods.

The company shall have no liability to the hirer to the extent that the hirer is covered by any policy of insurance arranged because of the contract and the hirer shall ensure that the hirers insurers waive all rights of subrogation they may have against the company.

The hirer will be responsible for the cost of all repairs necessary to hire goods during the hire period which arise otherwise than because of fair wear and tear, an inherent fault and/or the negligence of the company while carrying out routine maintenance and/or repairs.

The hirer must not repair or attempt to repair the hire goods unless authorised to do so in writing by the company.

Loss or damage to the hire goods

If any hire goods are lost, stolen or damaged beyond economic repair during the hire period the hirer will:

Pay to the company the new replacement cost for any hire goods. If appropriate, the hirer may also need to reimburse the company for any loss or costs suffered or incurred by the company for any hire goods. This will be invoiced by the company and upon receipt, payment is required within 5 days or a fee of £5.00 an additional day is applied.

The hirer shall remain liable to pay the rental for the hire goods up to and including the date they notify the company that the hire goods have been lost, stolen and/or damaged beyond economic repair.

If a significant number of items have been damaged and the company were not made aware prior to return, the hirer shall pay, as a genuine pre-estimate of lost rental profit, a sum as liquidated damages being equal to two thirds of the rental that would have applied for such hire goods during the lost rental period.

The company shall use its reasonable commercial endeavours to purchase replacements for such hire goods as quickly as possible once it has received payment from the hirer.

If lost items are found by the hirer, they are to inform the company as soon as possible and return these to the company. If lost items are found by the hirer after being invoiced for payment, they have 5 days to return these to the company or will be subject to fees.

If items are hired from another supplier via the company, the hirer is subject to their replacement policy and charges. The hirer should request this information prior to hire if they are concerned. The hirer can request the company's replacement costs prior to hire if desired. 

Damage to the hirers property whilst delivering or collecting

If the company is found to be liable in respect of any loss or damage to the hirer’s property, whilst delivering or collecting, the extent of the company’s liability will be limited to the retail cost of replacement of the damaged property.

Complaints

Whilst we take great care to ensure that we provide all our services efficiently, courteously and to a high standard, we accept that complaints may be made.  In the event of a complaint, please contact Christopher at hire@cjlambevents.co.uk, who will acknowledge the complaint within 2 working days. An investigation will then take place and within 5 working days from acknowledgement, a response will be provided.

Force Majeure

We cannot accept liability or pay compensation where the “performance or, prompt performance, of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected by circumstances amounting to Force Majeure”. Such events may include but are not limited to war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial action, natural or nuclear activity, wet or windy weather conditions, fire, pandemics, or any events “outside our control” including hirers not returning equipment, or equipment being damaged, lost or stolen, which is advanced booked to other hirers.