Terms & Conditions

Community Transport Terms and Conditions of Use

  1. Bookings for the vehicle will only be accepted for passengers who are registered with Borders Wheels.
  2. Before agreeing to transport a passenger for the first time, Borders Wheels will carry out a risk assessment where needed. No bookings will be confirmed until a risk assessment has been completed, if necessary.
  3. Passengers must live in the local area at the time of use.
  4. Passengers must have a disability, ill health, be disadvantaged, have rural isolation, or be elderly, and be unable to use public transport. Passengers may also use our services if it prevents or relieves poverty, or advances education.
  5. For all bookings, journeys made must always begin or end at the location of pick-up.
  6. Borders Wheels reserves the right to reject any booking which is inconsistent with the aims, objects and rules of Borders Wheels.
  7. To make a booking, Borders Wheels should be contacted in advance. A minimum of at least five working days is advisable.
  8. If a driver is required, the booking will be subject to driver availability. Borders Wheels will make every effort to find a driver and will inform the passenger/hirer of the outcome as soon as possible.
  9. A family member, friend or carer may drive the vehicle on behalf of a passenger, but only after the appropriate checks have been completed and they have undergone training. Only drivers approved by Borders Wheels may drive the vehicle.
  10. Borders Wheels is unable to offer an escort service. It is therefore the responsibility of the passenger/hirer to provide a competent and reliable escort if the passenger requires assistance at any time whilst travelling with Borders Wheels, including escorting to and from the vehicle. An escort is compulsory if children or other vulnerable passengers are to be carried, and must be arranged independently of Borders Wheels. The escort is usually expected to remain with the passenger at all times whilst they are travelling in the vehicle. Borders Wheels reserves the right to refuse a booking if a suitable escort cannot be found.
  11. Borders Wheels is unable to transport any child under the age of three. If a child aged three or over will be travelling in the vehicle, Borders Wheels must be informed at the time of booking, and a regulation car seat must be provided and installed by the client. All liability for child car seats resides with the client.
  12. In all circumstances, the transporting of passengers is at the discretion of the drivers, and should they feel it necessary, the final decision to cancel a journey lies with them. Drivers will only be expected to carry passengers in the vehicle for whom safe transport can be provided.
  13. On occasion, Borders Wheels may need to cancel or vary a booking, including a regular booking. In the event of a cancellation or change to a booking by Borders Wheels, no liability can be accepted by Borders Wheels for any loss, financial or otherwise, arising from Borders Wheels’ failure to provide transport.
  14. Should the client cancel any booked journey, the following charges will apply: full charge on the day; 50% charge with 24 hours’ notice; no charge if cancelled 48 hours in advance.
  15. Passengers must not make unreasonable requests of drivers — for example, they must not request a driver to pick up more passengers than the agreed number at the time of booking. Drivers reserve the right to refuse requests they believe to be unreasonable.
  16. For family members, friends or carers driving the vehicle, any fines resulting from illegal parking, etc. (including misuse of the Blue Badge), will be passed on to the passenger/hirer. Borders Wheels reserves the right to pay any fines incurred and then recover the amount from the passenger/hirer. All parking costs are to be borne by the client.
  17. Invoices will be sent out at the end of each calendar month and must be paid on receipt. Non-payment of invoices will jeopardise future use of the vehicle. If a user has two or more unpaid invoices, or outstanding invoices totalling £250 or more, all future bookings will be cancelled. Bookings may recommence once the account has been cleared.
  18. Passengers are not permitted to smoke, drink, or eat takeaway meals in the vehicle.
  19. The vehicle should be left in a clean and tidy state, and any litter belonging to users must be removed from the vehicle at the end of the journey. Otherwise, Borders Wheels reserves the right to make a charge for clearing up. A standard clean will be charged at £20 and a deep clean at £80.
  20. It is the responsibility of the individual making a self-hire booking to return the vehicle in the same condition. You will have to pay if:
    • it is excessively dirty and requires more than a standard pre-hire clean;
    • you have damaged the inside or outside of the vehicle;
    • you have lost parts, or wrongfully refuelled the vehicle;
    • the fuel is brought back lower than the level at which you received it;
    • you have allowed the vehicle to overheat and damaged the engine through neglect;
    • you have allowed the vehicle to run low on oil or water, and consequently caused damage to the vehicle;
    • there is damage to glass, tyres, punctures, or wheels;
    • there is any damage to bodywork (scrapes and dents), mirrors, tail lift, seats, belts, or controls/buttons/knobs;
    • you do not refill the vehicle with fuel before returning it — the vehicle must be returned with a full tank.
  21. Please note that oxygen cylinders cannot be carried in the vehicle.

Charges

You will pay the following charges:

  1. Additional insurance charges.
  2. All fines and court costs for parking, traffic, speeding or other offences (including any costs which arise if the vehicle is clamped or impounded). You must pay the appropriate authority any fines or costs; if you do not, you will be responsible for paying our administration charges, which arise when we deal with these matters.
  3. Any loss-of-income charge. We will charge you this if we cannot rent out the vehicle because it needs to be repaired, or if it is a write-off.
  4. Any charges made by Customs and Excise as a result of seizure of the vehicle by them, together with any loss-of-income charge whilst the vehicle is unavailable for hire.
  5. If the overdue amount is not settled by the agreed date, we will inform our debt collection team, and you — the consumer or company — will be held liable for all costs incurred.
  6. VAT and any other taxes on any of the charges listed above, as appropriate.
  7. Insurance excess.