Terms and Conditions of Service

Oxford Carriage Company Ltd (OCC)

Effective Date: November 2024.

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern the services provided by Oxford Carriage Company Ltd (“OCC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) to our customers (“Customer,” “you,” or “your”). By booking, using, or engaging in our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. OCC reserves the right to amend these Terms, with the most current version available on our website.

1. Service Provision1.1 Pre-Booked Services Only:
   OCC provides taxi and chauffeur services on a pre-booked basis, subject to vehicle and driver availability. Walk-in bookings services are not available. However, sometimes, you can find our cars at the taxis ranks in Abingdon, Botley, Farringdon or Wantage or they can be flagged down in the Vale of White Horse District.

1.2 Licensing and Compliance:
OCC vehicles and drivers are fully licensed and comply with all relevant UK laws, including but not limited to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and local authority regulations. We conduct services in a safe, legal, and responsible manner in accordance with industry standards.

1.3 Service Limitations:
We reserve the right to decline or cancel a booking at our discretion if it conflicts with our operational capabilities, company policies, or the law.

2. Bookings, Cancellations, and Amendments2.1 Booking Confirmation:
   Bookings are confirmed upon receipt of a written or electronic confirmation from OCC. It is the Customer’s responsibility to check all booking details for accuracy.

2.2 Customer Amendments:
Any requested changes to confirmed bookings (e.g., pick-up time, location) must be made with at least 3 hours’ notice and may be subject to availability and additional charges.

2.3 Cancellation Policy:

• Standard Cancellation: Bookings cancelled more than 72 hours before the scheduled pick-up time will be refunded in full.
• Late Cancellations: Cancellations made withing 48 hours will incur 50% of the fare or cancellations made within 24 hours of the scheduled pick-up time may incur a cancellation fee up to 100% of the fare.
• Special Bookings: Bookings for special events (e.g., weddings, corporate bookings) may have separate cancellation terms. These will be provided at the time of booking.

2.4 No-Show Policy:
A booking is considered a no-show if the Customer fails to appear at the pick-up location within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, without prior notification. OCC reserves the right to charge up to the full fare in no-show situations.

3. Customer Responsibilities and Conduct

3.1 Accurate Information:
Customers must provide accurate information when booking, including pick-up/drop-off locations, times, and any special requirements. OCC is not liable for delays or issues resulting from inaccurate or incomplete information.

3.2 Conduct and Behaviour:

• Passenger Conduct: Passengers must behave respectfully towards drivers and comply with reasonable requests. OCC reserves the right to refuse or terminate service if a passenger is disruptive, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or poses a risk to safety. Termination of service due to unacceptable conduct may result in a charge for the full fare.
• No Smoking, Alcohol, or Drugs: Smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs, and other prohibited substances are not permitted in OCC vehicles under any circumstances, unless expressly agreed upon prior to the trip. Consumption of food and drink in OCC vehicles is also prohibited unless prior approval is obtained from OCC at the time of booking.
• Zero Tolerance for Racism and Aggression: OCC maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of racism, discrimination, verbal or physical aggression towards our drivers or office staff. OCC reserves the right to immediately terminate service or refuse future service to any individual displaying such behaviour.
• Political Neutrality: OCC is a politically neutral company and does not endorse or represent the personal political views of our drivers or any member of our staff. Customers are requested to refrain from political discussions with drivers that may create discomfort or lead to conflict.
• Right to Refuse Service: OCC drivers reserve the right to refuse or end the journey if any prohibited behaviour, including racism, aggression, or disruptive conduct, is observed. In such cases, the Customer may be liable for the full fare.

3.3 Damage to Vehicles:
Customers will be held responsible for any damage to OCC vehicles or property caused by them or their guests. Costs for repair or cleaning required due to passenger actions, including smoking, spillage, or damage, will be charged to the Customer.

4. Fares, Payment, and Charges4.1 Fare Quotation:
   OCC will provide a fare quotation based on the journey details supplied by the Customer. Additional charges may apply for waiting times, route deviations, tolls, and congestion charges if these were not covered in the initial fare.

4.2 Waiting Time:
OCC allows a complimentary waiting period of 15 minutes for non-airport bookings and 30 minutes for airport bookings (from actual landing time). Additional waiting time will be charged in 15-minute increments at rates specified in the booking confirmation.

4.3 Payment Terms:
Payment is due at the completion of the service unless agreed otherwise. OCC accepts cash, credit/debit cards, and approved digital payment methods. Additional 2.5% will be added for payment by American Express. For certain high-value bookings, pre-payment or a deposit may be required.

4.4 Late Payments and Recovery of Costs:
In cases of overdue payments, OCC may charge interest and recover costs as permitted by UK law. We reserve the right to pursue legal action for recovery of unpaid amounts.

5. Liability and Limitations5.1 Service Interruptions:
   While OCC strives for punctuality, we are not liable for delays due to traffic, weather, mechanical failures, or other events outside our control. We will inform Customers promptly of any significant delays.

5.2 Limitations of Liability:
OCC’s liability is limited to the value of the booked service. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential losses, including missed flights, missed connections, or missed events due to delays.

5.3 Exclusions of Liability:
Nothing in these Terms limits OCC’s liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence or fraud, in accordance with the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977.

5.4 Loss of Personal Property:
OCC is not responsible for loss or damage to personal property left in our vehicles. Customers are encouraged to check for belongings before leaving the vehicle.

6. Insurance6.1 Passenger and Vehicle Insurance:
   OCC vehicles are insured in accordance with UK law, covering driver liability and passenger injury during the journey. However, this insurance does not extend to personal belongings.

6.2 Customer Responsibility:
Customers are advised to have personal travel insurance for coverage of items and personal effects during the journey.

7. Privacy and Data Protection7.1 Customer Information:
   OCC collects and processes Customer data in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR. Information is used solely to fulfil booking requests, maintain customer records, and improve services.

7.2 Data Security and Retention:
OCC employs secure data storage and retention policies. Customer data is retained only as long as necessary for business and legal purposes and is never shared with third parties except as required by law.

7.3 Customer Rights:
Customers have the right to access, correct, or delete their data in accordance with data protection law. Requests can be submitted by contacting OCC at the details below.

8. Governing Law and JurisdictionThese Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Both OCC and the Customer agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales for any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms.
9. Contact InformationFor any questions or concerns regarding these Terms, privacy, or service issues, please contact us at:
   Oxford Carriage Company Ltd
   Email: mail@oxfordcarriage.co.uk
   Phone: +44 1865 423264

Acceptance of Terms
By booking or using OCC services, you acknowledge and accept these Terms and Conditions in their entirety. These Terms are available on our website and may be updated periodically.