Storage Maryland Service Terms and Conditions
These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Storage Maryland provides removal, transport and storage services in the United Kingdom. By placing a booking or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before confirming any booking.
1. Definitions
In these Terms and Conditions, the following expressions have the meanings given below:
1.1 Company means Storage Maryland, the provider of removal and storage services.
1.2 Customer means the person, firm or organisation requesting the services of the Company, including any authorised representative.
1.3 Services means any removal, transport, packing, loading, unloading, storage or related services provided by the Company.
1.4 Goods means the items and personal property which the Customer asks the Company to handle, transport or store.
1.5 Contract means the agreement between the Company and the Customer for the provision of Services, incorporating these Terms and Conditions and any written quotation or confirmation issued by the Company.
1.6 Service Area means the geographic locations in which the Company normally provides its Services within the United Kingdom.
2. Scope of Services
2.1 The Company provides domestic and commercial removal and storage services, including loading, transport, unloading and short or long term storage, subject to these Terms and Conditions.
2.2 All Services are provided only as described in the Company’s written quotation or booking confirmation. Any additional Services requested by the Customer are subject to availability, additional charges and written agreement.
2.3 The Company reserves the right to decline to provide Services where access, safety, legal restrictions or practical constraints make the work unreasonable, unsafe or unlawful in the Company’s reasonable opinion.
3. Booking Process
3.1 A booking is initiated when the Customer requests a quotation for removal or storage Services, whether by form, letter, or other written method accepted by the Company.
3.2 Quotations are based on the information supplied by the Customer, including but not limited to: the list of Goods, property access details, distances, any special handling requirements, and requested dates.
3.3 The Customer must ensure all information provided is accurate and complete. The Company is not responsible for extra costs or delays arising from inaccurate or incomplete information.
3.4 A Contract is formed only when the Company issues a written booking confirmation to the Customer. The Company is under no obligation to accept any booking request.
3.5 Any changes to dates, addresses, inventory, access requirements or other details after the booking has been confirmed may affect availability and pricing. The Company will notify the Customer of any revised charges and, if agreed, will issue an updated confirmation.
4. Service Area and Access
4.1 The Company normally operates within its defined Service Area in the United Kingdom, which may vary from time to time. Services outside the usual Service Area may be offered at the Company’s discretion and may incur additional charges.
4.2 The Customer is responsible for ensuring suitable access for removal vehicles at both collection and delivery addresses, including but not limited to parking permissions, road access, and any restrictions on vehicle size or loading times.
4.3 Any parking charges, permits or penalties incurred due to inadequate arrangements by the Customer will be the responsibility of the Customer and may be added to the final invoice.
4.4 Where access is restricted or more difficult than reasonably indicated in advance, the Company may charge additional fees to cover extra time, labour or equipment required.
5. Customer Responsibilities
5.1 The Customer must ensure that all Goods are properly packed, labelled and ready for collection in accordance with any guidelines provided by the Company, unless packing services have been specifically included in the Contract.
5.2 The Customer must remove or safely isolate any fixtures, fittings or appliances that require disconnection before the commencement of Services, unless otherwise agreed.
5.3 The Customer must not include any prohibited or hazardous Goods, such as explosives, flammable materials, illegal items, perishable goods, plants, animals, or items requiring specific licences or special handling not agreed in advance.
5.4 The Customer is responsible for adequately insuring high-value or fragile items where they exceed the Company’s standard liability limits, unless the Company has agreed specific insurance arrangements in writing.
6. Payments and Charges
6.1 All prices and charges are stated in pounds sterling and are exclusive of any applicable taxes unless otherwise indicated.
6.2 Payment terms will be specified in the quotation or booking confirmation. Unless otherwise stated, payment for removal Services is due in full prior to or on the day of the move, and payment for storage Services is due in advance for each storage period.
6.3 The Company reserves the right to request a deposit to secure a booking. Deposits are non-refundable unless otherwise set out in these Terms and Conditions or required by law.
6.4 Where Services are extended or additional work is requested by the Customer, the Company may invoice for the extra charges at its prevailing rates.
6.5 If the Customer fails to make any payment on the due date, the Company may charge interest on the overdue amount and may suspend or refuse further Services until payment is received in full.
7. Cancellations and Postponements
7.1 The Customer may cancel or postpone a booking by providing written notice to the Company. The effective date of cancellation is the date on which the Company receives the written notice.
7.2 The following cancellation charges may apply, calculated as a percentage of the agreed quotation for the Services:
a) More than 14 days before the agreed service date: no cancellation charge, but any non-refundable third party costs may be retained.
b) Between 7 and 14 days before the agreed service date: up to 30 per cent of the agreed quotation.
c) Less than 7 days before the agreed service date: up to 60 per cent of the agreed quotation.
d) Less than 48 hours before the agreed service date or on the service date itself: up to 100 per cent of the agreed quotation.
7.3 The Company may waive or reduce cancellation charges at its discretion, but is under no obligation to do so.
7.4 If the Company is unable to perform the Services on the agreed date due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including severe weather, road closures, accidents, industrial action, or other events of force majeure, it will seek to rearrange the Services. The Company shall not be liable for any loss arising from such delay or rearrangement, but the Customer will not be charged additional cancellation fees.
8. Storage Terms
8.1 Where storage Services are provided, the Company will store Goods in a suitable facility, using reasonable care to protect them from damage, theft and unauthorised access.
8.2 The Customer must not store any perishable, illegal, flammable, explosive, corrosive or otherwise hazardous goods, nor any goods which are likely to cause damage, infestation or contamination.
8.3 Storage charges are payable in advance for each storage period, as set out in the Company’s quotation or invoice. Failure to make timely payment may result in refusal of access to the stored Goods and may give the Company the right to exercise a lien as described below.
8.4 The Company may periodically review storage charges and will provide reasonable notice of any changes for ongoing storage contracts.
9. Lien and Disposal of Goods
9.1 The Company has a legal right to withhold Goods, including those in storage, until all sums due under the Contract and any other contracts between the Company and the Customer have been paid in full.
9.2 If any amounts remain unpaid for an extended period, the Company may, after giving reasonable written notice to the Customer, sell or otherwise dispose of some or all of the Goods to recover the outstanding sums and reasonable costs of sale or disposal. Any remaining balance after deduction of such costs will be held for the Customer.
10. Liability and Limitations
10.1 The Company will exercise reasonable care and skill in providing the Services. However, the Company’s liability for loss of or damage to Goods is limited as set out in this section.
10.2 The Company will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from:
a) Inadequate or improper packing by the Customer, unless packing has been carried out by the Company.
b) Fragile or high-value items that were not disclosed to the Company in advance.
c) Normal wear and tear, ageing, deterioration or atmospheric or climatic conditions, including damp, condensation or temperature changes.
d) Goods not prepared for transport or storage in accordance with recommended standards.
e) Losses arising from the Customer’s failure to remove or secure personal documents, money, jewellery, valuable collections, or items of special value not specifically declared and agreed in writing.
10.3 The Company’s total liability for loss of or damage to Goods, whether arising from negligence or otherwise, shall be limited to a reasonable per-item and per-consignment amount as specified in the Company’s quotation or standard limits, unless a higher level of cover has been agreed in writing and any additional charges paid.
10.4 The Company shall not be liable for indirect or consequential losses, including loss of profit, loss of income, loss of use, or any other consequential loss arising from delay, loss or damage, except where such liability cannot be lawfully excluded.
10.5 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall exclude or limit the Company’s liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.
11. Insurance
11.1 The Customer is encouraged to maintain adequate insurance cover for Goods during removal and storage, including any additional coverage for high-value items.
11.2 Any insurance offered by the Company will be subject to separate terms and conditions, and may carry its own exclusions, limits and requirements for claim notification.
12. Waste and Environmental Regulations
12.1 The Company operates in accordance with applicable waste and environmental regulations and is committed to complying with relevant laws and guidance relating to the carriage and disposal of waste.
12.2 The Customer must not present waste materials, including construction debris, hazardous substances, or items designated as controlled waste, for collection as part of standard removal Services unless this has been expressly agreed in advance and any required documentation and charges have been arranged.
12.3 Where the Company agrees to remove items for disposal, the Customer warrants that they have the right to dispose of those items and that they are not hazardous or prohibited under applicable regulations.
12.4 Any costs, penalties or legal liabilities arising from the Customer’s failure to comply with waste or environmental regulations, including incorrect description or presentation of materials, may be charged to the Customer.
13. Delays and Force Majeure
13.1 The Company will make reasonable efforts to carry out the Services within agreed timeframes, but timings are estimates and cannot be guaranteed.
13.2 The Company shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform the Services where such delay or failure is caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, traffic incidents, public disturbances, industrial action, acts of war or terrorism, or failure of utilities or transport networks.
14. Complaints and Claims
14.1 Any visible loss or damage to Goods must be reported to the Company as soon as reasonably possible and in any event within a reasonable period after completion of the Services.
14.2 The Customer must provide reasonable evidence of any alleged loss or damage, including photographs, descriptions, and supporting information regarding value.
14.3 The Company will investigate all properly notified complaints and seek to resolve them fairly and promptly, subject to the liability limits and exclusions set out in these Terms and Conditions.
15. Data Protection
15.1 The Company will collect and process personal data only to the extent necessary for the performance of the Contract, the administration of the Services, and compliance with legal obligations.
15.2 The Company will take reasonable steps to safeguard personal data and will not share such data with third parties except where required for the provision of Services, compliance with law, or with the Customer’s consent.
16. Variation of Terms
16.1 The Company may amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in force at the time of the Customer’s booking will apply to that Contract.
16.2 Any variation to these Terms and Conditions agreed specifically between the Company and the Customer must be in writing to be effective.
17. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
17.1 These Terms and Conditions and any Contract between the Company and the Customer shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
17.2 The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions or their subject matter, formation, performance or termination.
18. General Provisions
18.1 If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is held by a court or competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
18.2 Failure or delay by the Company in enforcing any right or provision of these Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that or any other right or provision.
18.3 The Contract is between the Company and the Customer. No person who is not a party to the Contract shall have any rights under it.
By confirming a booking or using the Services of Storage Maryland, the Customer acknowledges that they have read, understood and agreed to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
