Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions was last updated on 18 July 2020

Adams Tours Ltd – Terms and Conditions of Carriage

1. Application of Terms & Conditions.

1.1 - These general booking terms and conditions (“the conditions”) are the conditions of Adams Tours Limited (“the Operator”) and shall be applicable to any party (“the Hirer”) that books a seat on any of the Operator’s services and to any party that makes a booking or hires a vehicle or vehicles on behalf of themselves or any other party.

1.2 - A booking shall be deemed to have been made at the moment when either written or oral confirmation of acceptance of a quotation has been received by the Operator and the booking has been entered into the Operator’s scheduling system.

1.3 - These conditions shall apply whether or not a contract for carriage has been entered into following the offer and acceptance of a quotation by any party or whether a contract has been made verbally or in writing. Confirmed acceptance of a quotation or the entering into of a contract whether verbally or in writing will be deemed by the Operator to be acceptance by the Hirer of these Terms & Conditions.

1.4 - It shall be agreed by the Hirer that these conditions shall constitute the entirety of the agreement made between the Hirer and the Operator and that they shall supersede any and all previous agreements made verbally or in writing, save that the Operator shall reserve and retain the right to notify the Hirer of any alternative or additional cancellation conditions as may apply to specific journeys.

1.5 - Any person who travels on any of the Operator’s services will be deemed to have accepted and to be bound be these conditions.

1.6 - Where the Hirer has made a booking on behalf of one or more other passengers, the Hirer is deemed to be acting on behalf of those passengers and shall assume responsibility for the acts and omissions of those passengers, whether or not the Hirer travels with the passengers. Should any act or omission by any passenger give rise to any additional cost to the Operator in performing the contract, the Hirer shall be responsible for meeting that cost.

2. Quotation.

2.1 - Quotations are provided on the basis of the service offered by the Operator and information provided by the Hirer including but not limited to: vehicle size, boarding locations, comfort stops, overall mileage and destination. The route used will be entirely at the Operator’s discretion unless a specific route has been requested by the Hirer and agreed by the Operator in writing.

2.2 - The Operator will use its reasonable endeavours to accommodate alterations to specific booking details upon written request by the Hirer wherever possible. Any such changes are strictly at the Operator’s discretion and are subject to availability and may incur additional charges. No such changes shall be binding upon the Operator unless expressly agreed in writing.

2.3 - Quotations for private hire are made subject to a suitable vehicle being available at the time the Hirer accepts the quotation. The route used will be at the discretion of the Operator, unless the Hirer has specified an alternative route which must be detailed in writing and agreed by the Operator.

2.4 - Quotations are valid for 30 days unless otherwise notified.

2.5 - Unless stated otherwise, quotations are provided for the coach and driver only. Any additional charges such as accommodation, admission costs, meals, parking fees and tolls will be separately charged and the Hirer will be responsible for these charges unless otherwise specified.

2.6 - Once the booking has been made, any changes to the journey, route, destination or timings must be agreed by the Operator.

3. Payment.

3.1 - Any deposit requested by the operator must be paid by the date stated, and payment in full must be made at least 7 days before the start of the hire unless otherwise stated by the operator or agreed in writing with the operator. The operator will accept payment by cash, cheque or electronic bank transfer.

4. Route or Time Variation.

4.1 - The Operator will use its best endeavours to adhere to the routes and times provided in any itinerary. However, any itineraries provided are intended to be guidance only and may be varied at the discretion of the Operator and/or the Operator’s driver(s).

4.2 - The Operator will use its best endeavours to accommodate any reasonable requests for any changes of routes and/or variations to agreed timetables during the course of any hire. It shall be at the sole discretion of the Operator’s driver to agree to any such variation.

4.3 - The Operator reserves the right to make additional charges for any additional mileage or time incurred over and above that agreed in the hire. Any additional charges will be commensurate with the costs incurred by the Operator.

4.4 - Unless inhibited by circumstances beyond the Operator’s control, vehicles will depart at the times agreed with the Hirer and it is the Hirer’s responsibility to account for all passengers at these times. The Operator will not accept any responsibility for any losses incurred by passengers who fail to follow the Hirer’s instructions or the instructions of any servant or agent of the Hirer, to include the Hirer’s nominated representative, including any failure by any passenger to be present and prepared to depart at the appointed time.

5. Drivers Hours and Regulations.

5.1 - The hours of operation for drivers are regulated by law and the Hirer accepts the responsibility of ensuring the hire of the vehicle keeps to the hours and times agreed by the Operator (other than in the case of serious emergency or diversion).

5.2 - Neither the Hirer nor any passenger shall, by any act or omission, delay or otherwise interrupt the journey in such way that the driver is at risk of breaching regulations relating to the driver’s working time, duty time, driving time, breaks or rest periods. If alternative arrangements are required in order to avoid the risk of any breach caused or materially contributed to by the acts or omissions of the Hirer or any passenger, the Hirer will be responsible for any additional costs that are incurred unless circumstances are beyond the control of the Hirer, including but not limited to the use of a relief driver if required.

6. Vehicle Provided.

6.1 - The Operator undertakes to use its best endeavours to provide one of its own vehicles in accordance with the vehicle specification discussed and agreed at the point of booking. However, the Operator reserves the right if requirements dictate to substitute another vehicle or vehicles or other, ancillary facilities for all or any part of the duration of the hire. The Operator undertakes to use its best endeavours in these circumstances to provide a vehicle or vehicles of at least equivalent standard and specification.

7. Seating Capacity.

7.1 - The seating capacity of the hired vehicle will be confirmed to the Hirer at the time of booking. The Hirer must not load the vehicle beyond the number of passengers which it is legally permitted to carry. Neither the Hirer nor any passenger shall be permitted to use a courier seat under any circumstances.

7.2 - All passengers must remain seated with their seatbelts securely fastened while the vehicle is in motion.

7.3 - The Operator will not accept liability for any loss or damage incurred by passengers who fail to follow the instructions given by the Hirer or by the driver insofar as seating and the use of seatbelts is concerned.

8. Use of the Vehicle.

8.1 - Unless it has been agreed in writing, in advance, it should not be assumed at any point that the vehicle will remain available for the Hirer’s incidental use when parked at any destination.

9. Breakdown and Delays.

9.1 - The Operator provides advice to the Hirer on journey times in good faith; however, the Operator is unable to guarantee the completion of any journey by a specific time and the Hirer agrees that the Operator shall not be held responsible for any failure to meet any published or advised journey schedule, itinerary or arrival time as a result of any delay caused by breakdown, traffic congestion or other event which is beyond the Operator’s control.

10. Carriage of Animals.

10.1 - With the exception of guide dogs and hearing dogs notified to the Operator in advance, no animals may be carried on any vehicle without the express prior written agreement of the Operator.

11. Passenger Property.

11.1 - For safety reasons all vehicles are subject to certain statutory restrictions on carrying luggage. Very large, bulky or unusual items of luggage such as bicycles, skis and surfboards may not be carried except by prior arrangement with the Operator.

11.2 - The Hirer agrees that the vehicle driver has ultimate discretion as to the carriage and storage of all luggage and property and shall be entitled to refuse to carry any luggage item or personal property in the interests of safety.

11.3 - It is the responsibility of the Hirer and/or the Hirer’s passengers to notify the Operator in the event that they wish to carry a wheelchair of any size or type. Such notification must include full particulars of the wheelchair to include its dimensions, weight, the extent to which it may be collapsed or dismantled and if so the dimensions and weight of any individual parts. Upon provision of this information the Operator shall carry out necessary investigations and shall confirm the basis, if any, upon which it is able to carry the wheelchair. The Hirer agrees that the Operator shall not be under any obligation to carry any wheelchair if this condition has not been complied with.

11.4 - The Operator accepts no responsibility for any personal property belonging to the Hirer or any of the Hirer’s passengers and it is the responsibility of the Hirer and/or its passengers to take all reasonable steps to avoid loss or damage to personal property, and to ensure that suitable insurance cover is in place to cover loss or damage to their personal items. It is the Hirer’s responsibility to inform the company if items of high value are to be carried on the vehicle and to take all reasonable steps to insure against loss or damage.

11.5 - The company accepts no liability for loss or damage to passenger’s property, luggage of any personal items left unattended on the vehicle.

11.6 - Notwithstanding the above, in the event that the Operator or any of its servants or agents are found to be liable for any loss or damage caused to any passenger’s property it is expressly agreed by the Hirer that the Operator’s liability for any loss arising shall be limited to £100.00 per item, with an overall maximum claim limit of £500.00 per passenger.

11.7 - Any item of lost property will be held at the company’s registered office for a period of one month in accordance with the terms of the Public Service (Lost Property) Regulations 1978, as amended. After this time the item or items will be disposed of.

12. General Passenger Conduct.

12.1 - It is the responsibility of the Hirer to ensure that staff: child ratios are observed in line with the legislation in place at the time of the booking and that this is maintained at all times. Supervising adults must be seated throughout the vehicle and not all congregated in one area. It is also a condition of hire that We also request that a member of staff is seated near an emergency exit in order to assist with emergency evacuation also to ensure no tampering with the door occurs.

12.2 - In the interest of other passengers, no radios, musical instruments or any other audio devices are to be played without the permission of the driver.

12.3 - Only lightweight items may be placed in overhead racks and passengers are asked to place briefcases, laptop bags and other heavier items of personal luggage on the floor within their seat space. Where space permits, large items of luggage will be accommodated in the under-floor or rear luggage holds upon request to the driver.

12.4 - It is strictly prohibited, at any time, for any passenger to carry or consume illegal drugs on the vehicle.

12.5 - Smoking of any form is strictly prohibited, including the use of substitute products such as electronic cigarettes.

12.6 - The driver is responsible for the safety of the vehicle and may remove or prevent from boarding anyone whose conduct is in breach of the Public Services Vehicle (Conduct of Driver, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990 This includes any passengers who are abusive to anyone or whose behaviour is considered unacceptable by the driver. The Hirer is responsible for the conduct of the passengers and also for damage caused by the passengers during the hire.

12.7 - In addition to 10.7 above, the Hirer agrees that any of the Operator’s management or supervisory staff or the vehicle driver is empowered to refuse travel, or to require leave the vehicle, any passenger whose behaviour is deemed to be dangerous (either to themselves, the driver, other road users or other passengers). Such behaviour shall include the excessive consumption of alcohol, excessive noise, acts of vandalism to the vehicle including its fixtures and fittings, littering, unpleasant language or abusive or threatening behaviour to the driver, other road users and other passengers.

12.8 - It is the Hirer’s responsibility to ensure that passengers take all reasonable steps to avoid causing damage to the vehicle, to include its fixtures or fittings. The Hirer agrees that the driver shall be permitted to refuse further travel to any passenger who fails to take all reasonable steps to avoid causing damage to the vehicle, or who is found to be wilfully or deliberately causing such damage.

12.9 - It is the Hirer’s responsibility to ensure that passengers do not contribute to any activity which may distract the driver or affect the safe driving of the vehicle at any time while they are driving. The Hirer agrees that the driver shall be permitted to refuse further travel to any passenger who fails to take all reasonable steps to avoid causing distraction to the driver.

12.10 - It is the Hirer’s responsibility to ensure that passengers follow all reasonable instructions given by the driver at all times during the course of any journey to which these conditions relate. The Hirer agrees that the driver shall be permitted to refuse further travel to any passenger’s failure to follow the driver’s reasonable instructions.

12.11 - Should any passengers be refused travel or further travel pursuant to any of conditions 10.6 to 10.11 above the Hirer agrees that no claim shall be made against the Operator by either the Hirer or the Hirer’s passengers for any costs incurred as a result any decision requiring any passenger or passengers to depart the vehicle, to include claims made by the departed passenger and claims made by the remaining passengers arising out of any delay or change to the itinerary necessitated by the requirement to refuse travel.

12.12 - The Operator will, on request, provide a contact number for the driver throughout the period of the hire. The Hirer must agree that the number will only be used for the purpose of contacting the driver throughout that period. Thereafter, the Hirer agrees to destroy/delete that number in line with all current data protection guidelines.

13. Alcohol & Refreshments.

13.1 - No alcohol is permitted to be consumed or carried on the vehicle without the prior, written consent of the Operator. It is illegal to consume or carry alcoholic drinks on a coach travelling to or from a sporting event and the Hirer is required be fully aware of the regulations in this regard in accordance with the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act 1985.

13.2 - The Hirer shall be responsible for any costs, fines, expenses or other losses incurred by breach of the above act by any passenger.

13.3 - Passengers are not permitted to not consume any food or drink (other than confectionary), including alcohol, without prior agreement by the Operator, or in the case of food and non-alcoholic beverages, with the driver

14. Damage and Soiling.

14.1 - The Hirer is responsible for any damage or soiling to the vehicle by any passenger during the time of the hire. A minimum charge of £100.00 will be made if the vehicle is soiled or damaged. Soiling includes but is not limited to food and drink spillage or vomiting. Should any soiling or damage cause the vehicle to be out of service for any length of time due to soiling or damage, the Operator reserves the right to charge the Hirer a minimum of £500.00 per day or part thereof for which the vehicle is out of service.

15. Cancellation by the Hirer.

15.1 - Cancellation by the Hirer of any booking for any reason must be communicated to the Operator initially by telephone and must then be followed up in writing.

15.2 - In the event of cancellation by the Hirer of any booking for any reason (including due to inclement weather) the Operator reserves the right to retain the Hirer’s deposit and the Hirer agrees that charges on the basis of the following scale shall apply in relation to the total coach hire charge:

Notice Given Coach Hire Charges
More than 14 days before departure Deposit only
Less than 14 days but more than 48 hours before departure 50% of the total cost of the hire
Less than 48 hours before departure 100% of the total cost of the hire

15.3 - The Hirer shall also be liable to reimburse the Operator for the cost of any other services which have already been purchased by the Operator at the request of and as the agent of the Hirer in relation to the booking, including but not limited to the costs of any accommodation, tickets or meals.

15.4 - A request for variation of a confirmed booking shall be treated as a cancellation. The Operator retains a strict discretion to agree to make variations to bookings without imposing the terms of condition 14.1 - 14.3 above.

16. Cancellation by the Operator.

16.1 - In the event of any emergency, force majeur, riot, civil commotion, strike, lock out, stoppage or restraint of labour or on the happening of any event over which the Operator has no control (including adverse weather and road conditions) or in the event of the Hirer taking any action to vary the conditions unilaterally, the Operator may, by returning all money paid without further or other liability, cancel the contract.

16.2 - Without any liability on the part of the Operator to the Hirer or to any of the Hirer’s passengers, the Operator reserves the right to cancel and or amend any aspect of the excursion or tour itinerary including the whole of the excursion or tour in the event of there being found to be any epidemic or health risk including but not limited to risk of contagion or natural or nuclear disaster or threat of or actual terrorist activity at any point either prior to the date of departure or during the period of hire itself.

17. Liability

17.1 - It is the responsibility of the Hirer and the Hirer’s passengers to ensure that they carry comprehensive travel insurance to cover themselves for all risks including but not limited to loss of property, loss of holiday, loss of enjoyment, the need for full medical cover including the costs of medical (including surgical) treatment and or emergency repatriation, damage to property and personal injury. The Operator most strongly recommends that all Hirers and passengers take out such insurance.

17.2 - The Operator will not accept any liability in respect of illness or injury caused or contributed to by the negligent and or wilful acts or omissions of the Hirer or one or more of the other passengers.

17.3 - The Operator will not accept any liability in respect of illness or injury caused or contributed to by any pre-existing medical condition of one or more of the other passengers.

17.4 - The Operator will not accept any liability for any damage and or injury and or illness caused by the acts or omissions of any third party including in connection with the supply of accommodation, to include damage by infection contracted during any part of an excursion or tour.

17.5 - Notwithstanding anything contained in these conditions, the Operator’s liability to the Hirer and or any of the Hirer’s passengers in contract, tort (including negligence or breach of statutory duty) or howsoever otherwise arising, shall be limited to the cost of the hire and any ancillary services supplied by the Operator.

17.6 - In the event that the Hirer and or any passenger(s) of the Hirer is killed or injured or becomes ill as a result of transport by ship or train or coach any liability which the Operator may have to pay compensation is limited in line with the Athens Convention and or the Berne Convention and or the Geneva Convention.

17.7 - In the event that the Operator makes any payment to the Hirer or to any passenger(s) of the Hirer it will only do so on the basis that the person(s) to whom any such payment is made assigns to the Operator or to the Operator’s insurers the rights to take action against the person or organisation responsible for causing the death or personal injury or illness.

17.8 - It may be that the Operator’s suppliers (such as accommodation or transport providers) will have their own booking conditions or conditions of carriage and that these conditions may be binding between the Hirer and or the Hirer’s passengers, and the supplier. Such conditions may limit or remove the relevant supplier’s liability to the Hirer or any passenger(s) of the Hirer. If requested to do so the Operator will use its reasonable endeavours to provide the Hirer and or any passenger(s) of the Hirer with a copy of such terms and conditions.

18. Complaints

18.1 - In the event of a complaint about the company’s service, the Hirer should endeavour to seek a solution at the time by seeking assistance from the driver, or from the Operator by calling the Operator’s office on 01922 406469. If this does not provide a solution, complaints should be submitted, in writing and within 14 days of the termination of the hire or the completion of the service (whichever happens first). The Operator shall use its best endeavours to acknowledge all complaints within 48 hours of receipt of the complaint and reply in full, in writing, within 7 days.

19. Liability

19.1 - Any notices given under this agreement by the Hirer to the Operator shall be deemed to have been served on the first working day after the day upon which they are received by the Operator. All such notices must be in writing.

19.2 - The Operator does not accept service by email, facsimile transmission or by any other electronic form.

19.3 - Any notices given under this agreement by the Operator to the Hirer shall be deemed to have been properly served on the second working day after the date of posting provided they are sent by first class post.

19.4 - The Operator may also serve the Hirer with written notices by facsimile transmission or email. Any notices served by the Operator by facsimile transmission or email shall be deemed served on the day when they are sent.

20. Miscellaneous

20.1 - The headings in this agreement shall not affect its interpretation.

20.2 - If any term or provision in this agreement shall be held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under any enactment or rule of law or for any other purpose, such term or provision shall to that extent be deemed not to form part of this agreement but the validity and enforceability of the remainder of this agreement shall not be affected.

21. Applicable law

21.1 - Any contract made between the Operator and the Hirer under these conditions shall be considered a contract made in England and shall be governed in all respects by the law of England and the parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

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"I would highly recommend Adams Tours for their exemplary professionalism. They are always efficient and most helpful to oblige and assist with times required for all bookings. We have used them for ten years and find all the staff highly motivated and co-operative on every occasion."
Walsall Academy

"Adams Tours have provided us with an excellent coach service for over ten years. They are very reliable, professional and friendly. One of their strengths is flexibility - they will always try to accommodate your requirements. We would not hesitate to recommend them."
Shelfield Community Academy