Union Canal Carriers BookingConditions

These terms were last updated on31^st December 2024.

CONTENTS

1.       Introduction  

2.       Your use of our boat(s)

3.       Website details

4.       Making your booking

5.       Payment           

6.       Deposit

7.       Pricing 

8.       Changing your booking

9.       Customer cancellations

10.    Changes by us

11.    Cancellations by us  

12.    Boat rules

13.    Complaints

14.    Privacy

15.    Other terms

1.    Introduction

Weare Union Canal Carriers Ltd(“we”, “our”, “us”) of Dark Lane, Braunston,

Northamptonshire,NN11 7HJ. Ourcompany registration number is

00941092and our VAT registrationnumber is GB 121 3420 32.

By booking with us, you confirmthat you accept these booking conditions

and you are entering into alegally binding contract

2.    Your use of our boat(s)

The boat(s) that we advertise can only be used for holiday letting forthe period of your booking, and you have no further rights. No booking is an‘Assured Shorthold Tenancy’ or protected under the Protection from Eviction Act1977, or any similar applicable legislation.

Our booking with you is only available for your personal, non-commercialuse only. You may not offer for resale any bookings.

3. Website details

3.1. Brochure / Website descriptions and photos are intended to present a general ideaof the boat(s). There may beslight variations differences between the actual boat(s) and its description.

3.2. Wi-Fi availability is providedfor pleasure, not for business use, and is subject to network conditions and isnot guaranteed.

3.3. We are not responsible for inaccurate or misleading information aboutthe boat(s) unless we have been negligent. We will correct any knowninaccuracies promptly.

4.Making your booking

4.1. You must;

(i) beat least 18 years old at the time of booking

(ii) be authorised to make the booking by all adult party members; and

ensure that they are aware of, and agree to comply with, these bookingconditions

4.2. You are responsible for making all payments to us on the dates quoted onconfirmation booking emails.

4.4. You must ensure that all information you provide to us is true,accurate, current and complete. You must update us promptly if your detailschange.

4.4. You are responsible forsatisfying yourself that the boat(s)meets your party’s needs before booking.

4.5. You must inform us in writing of any medicalcondition or disability affecting you or any party member, and any specialrequests, before confirming your booking. We cannot guarantee that suchrequests will be met otherwise. If we cannot accommodate your needs or meet anyspecial requests, we may cancel your booking without any liability to you.

4.6. Once we have received the Hirer Full Name, Address and contact detailsalong with required deposit payment from you, we will send you a confirmationemail of your booking. This is when your bindingcontract with Union Canal Carriers begins.

4.7. If you book through athird-party, we will send your booking confirmation to them, but any furtherbooking documentation will be sent to the lead name on the booking form.

4.8. We reserve the right to refuse any booking before we send writtenconfirmation. If we do so, we will promptly let you know and refund you anypayments made, but we will then have no legal or financial responsibility toyou.

4.9. As soon as you receive your confirmation, please check the detailscarefully and let us know immediately if anything is incorrect.

4.10. Even if we have sent you a written confirmation we have the right tocancel a booking where there are reasonable grounds to believe that

(i) the booking is not legitimate;

(ii) you are likely to breach these booking conditions, or anyrestrictions or requirements stated on the boat accommodation advertisement;

(iii) you have provided incorrect information;

(iv) you have behaved in a vexatious, abusive or unlawful manner to ourstaff.

If we cancel your booking in these circumstances, we will tell you inwriting

and we will have no legal or financial responsibility to you.

4.11. We recommend that you take outtravel insurance to cover you and yourparty’s needs for your total stay.

5.Payment

5.1. When youbook, you must pay

i) the deposit due or full amount see clause 6 (Deposit)

5.2. We mustreceive your balance payment on the final payment date 56 days beforecommencement of hire.

5.3 If youbook after the applicable final payment date notified to you, we must receivefull payment of the total cost when making the booking.

5.4. Failure topay by the final payment date will result in your booking being

cancelledimmediately and the provisions of clause 9 (Customer Cancellations) will apply.

5.5. You mustpay by bank transfer, debit or credit card, we only accept payment in poundssterling. There is no charge for debit or credit card

payments.However, you are responsible for exchange rates or bank charges

should yourbank refuse to make payment for any reason, an administration

charge of£35 will apply.

5.6. If you booka boat through a third-party, they may collect

paymentdifferently. Please check with them before you make your booking.

6.Deposit

6.1. To secureyour booking you will need to pay anon-refundable standard

deposit.You will be told what the deposit is before making your booking.

6.2. If you book a boat with a deposit that is lower than the standarddeposit, you agree to pay the difference between the amount paid and thestandard deposit. You must make this additional payment either by the time thedeposit payment is due or before the balance payment date.

7.Pricing

7.1. The pricescharged are constantly under review. Prices of unsold boat holidays mayincrease or decrease at any time, and we may also correct mistakes in thepricing of unsold boats at any time. The confirmed price will be provided by usupon booking.  

7.2. All quotedprices include any taxes and charges which may apply at the

time ofbooking. Any changes in tax rates or government charges may result

inadditional amounts becoming payable post-booking. Including increase of

fuel dutyor rises in fuel costs of more than 15% since December 2024. 

8.Changingyour booking

8.1. Contact usby email or phone to tell us about changes as soon as possible, during officehours Monday – Saturday 9am– 5.30pm.

8.2. If we agreeto your change, an administration charge of £35is applicable

for eachchange of dates or £60 foreach change of boat.

9.Customercancellations

9.1. No refundsare payable if you cut short your stay or reduce the number of guests on thebooking.

9.2. You mustnotify us if you wish to cancel a booking after it has been

confirmed.This should be done as soon as possible by phone and followed up

via email.Notice to cancel will be processed on working days (Monday –

Saturday) cancellations sent after 5pm onSaturday will be processed Monday.

9.3. Unless clause 9.8 applies, you will have to pay a cancellation charge

based onthe number of days before your booking that we receive notice, as

shown inthe tables below. If you have not paid the total booking cost by the

time ofyour cancellation, you may have to make a further payment to cover

thecancellation charge.

9.4. In the tables below, total accommodation cost means boat rental price

excludingany extra items charged by us such as charges for pets, welcome packs or cotsbut not including any insurance premiums, booking fees, handling fees oradministration fees charged by us.

9.5. 3rd partyinsurance premiums, booking fees, administration or handling fees, arenon-refundable.

9.6. If you havebooked through a third-party, the term ‘total accommodation

cost’ inthe tables below does not include any charges made by that agent or

anyone elsefor booking fees, travel, other travel services or any other amounts not paidto us, and you maybe liable to pay such charges in the event of  cancellation.

9.7. The cancellation charges below have been calculated as a genuine pre-

estimate of the losses incurred in the event you cancelled your booking withinthe stipulated time period.

9.8. If you cancel or cut short yourbooking due to one of the qualifying

reasonslisted below, and if authorised by us, the cancellation charges set out

in clause9.7 will be waived and you will be entitled to a refund or pro-rata

refund(where you curtail your booking) of the amount you have paid for the

boat(s),less a £60 administrative charge and any previously

paidamendment/handling fees (if applicable).

(i)To rely on this clause9.8, you mustcancel the entire booking for a qualifying reason at any time after we acceptyour booking and before you leave home to start your booking, or where youcurtail your booking, you must do so at any time before the last day of yourbooking. In either case, the cancellation or curtailment must before everyonein your party such that the boat(s) is left vacant.

(ii)  The qualifying reason cannothave been in existence at the time of making your booking.

(iii) You must provide us withsatisfactory documentary evidence of the qualifying reason at your own expenseand within 12 weeks of the date of cancellation. You will also need to completea cancellation form that we will send you on request. If your claim is based onclause 9.8(vi)(a), the claim form or evidence submitted by you must becompleted, signed and stamped by a medical professional or issued on hospitalletterhead, including all relevant details.

(iv) If you are unable to providesatisfactory documentary evidence for your qualifying reason or you do notcomply with any of the requirements of this clause 9.8, and you cancel orcurtail your booking nevertheless, clause 9.1 to 9.7 will apply. 

(v)  You and your party must atall times take reasonable care to safeguard against loss, damage, accident,injury or illness.

(vi) A qualifying reason is any one ormore of the following occurring to you or to a party member:

a)  death, bodily injury, illnessor hospitalisation, pregnancy of you, a party member, the immediate family ofyou or a party member, provided that the cancellation or curtailment iscertified as medically necessary by a qualified medical practitioner (seeclause 9.8(iii)). For these purposes, "immediate family" includes apartner, child, grandchild, sibling, parent, grandparent, or anyone listed asnext of kin on legal documentation. Please note that we will not refund forpregnancy if the relevant person was pregnant before the booking was made andwe will not make a refund if the woman is due to give birth within 14 weeks ofthe arrival date.

b) compulsory quarantine or travelbeing prevented by local, national or international government or healthorganisation.

c)  redundancy qualifying forpayment under any applicable statute (notified to you or the party member afterhaving made the booking).

d)  jury or witness service during thebooking period (in a court of law).

e)  unexpected posting by HMForces or cancellation of leave by HM Police (unless the cost of the lost tripis recoverable from another source).

f)   not being able to traveldue to adverse weather conditions, during the booking period, either i)fromhome, or ii) to the location of the booked boat(s).

g)  police requiring attendance ofyou or the party member, during the booking period, following theft of your ortheir home or usual place of business; or

h)  damage rendering your or theparty member’s home uninhabitable.

(vii) The following do not constitutequalifying reasons: suicide or attempted suicide, deliberate self-injury,pre-existing illnesses, the effect of alcohol or drugs or any other reasonwhich is not specifically referred to in clause 9.8(vi).

10.Changesby us

10.1. We reserve the right to make changes to yourbooking. If there is a

mistake, including pricing, wereserve the right to adjust the price to correct

the mistake. If you choose notto accept this, then the contract between us will

be invalid and you will beentitled to a refund. You won’t, however, be entitled

to compensation, nor to have thestay at the lower price.

10.2. If we needto make changes to your booking, we, will contact you by

phone or byemail as soon as is reasonably practical. We will explain what has

happenedand let you know about the change; however, if you do not want to

accept thechange we will refund the full amount and we will have no further

legal orfinancial responsibility to you.

11.Cancellationsby us

11.1. If we mustcancel your booking you may choose to:

(i)   accept alternative boat(s)–you may have to pay anydifference in price if the cost of the new boat(s) is higher or you will bereimbursed the difference if the cost of the new boat(s)is lower.

(ii)   request a voucher forthe amount you have previously paid toward the booking – the voucher terms andconditions will be available before you make your choice; or

(iii)  obtain a refund of theamount already paid by you for the booking.

12.Boatrules

12.1. Arrival anddeparture: You may arrive to collect your boat any time after 3pm on the firstday of your booking and must leave by 9.30am on the last day (unless we tell youotherwise). If your arrival is delayed beyond 6pm on the start date, you mustnotify the office 01788 890784. Failure to do so may result in difficultyaccessing the boat(s). If you fail to arrive by 12 noon on the second day ofyour booking and haven't informed us of your late arrival, we, may consideryour booking cancelled by you, with no refund payable. Unless we say otherwise,

12.2. Youmust return the boat in a clean and tidy condition before 9.30am

on the lastday of hire (otherwise a cleaning charge may be added). Boats

are to bereturned only to our boatyard in Braunston, otherwise you may be

charged forcollection of the boat.

12.3. Security deposits: Somebookings require payment of a security

deposit. If applicable, Details regarding the amount, payment method andrefund process will be provided at the time of booking.

12.4. Behaviour: We can deny access to the boat(s) orend your stay if anyone in your party behaves unreasonably, causes offense ordamage, disrupts others, or violates booking conditions or restrictions on theboat(s) advertisement. If we believe this is likely or if any such behaviouroccurs, the contract will end, you must leave immediately, no refund will begiven, and you may be responsible for any costs incurred by us due to yourbehaviour. We will not have any further responsibility to you.

You and your party agree:

· to keep the boat(s)clean and tidy, and leave it in the samecondition as you found it (if, in our opinion, additional cleaning and/orrepairs are required, you will be responsible for the cost)

·   not to use the boat(s)for any illegal or commercialpurpose

·   not to sublet the boat(s)or any part of it or otherwiseallow anyone not in your party to stay

·   not to behave in an anti-social manner or act in a waywhich may disrupt or affect the enjoyment of others

·   to comply with any restrictions or requirements specifiedin the boat(s) advertisement, such as regarding party composition

Any failureto comply with the above will result in your booking being cancelled and wewill have no further legal or financial responsibility to you.

12.5Damage: You are responsible for theactions and omissions of all guests

staying onthe boat(s) during the booking and agree to pay us for all costs incurred by asa result of any breakage or damage in or to the boat(s) caused by you, yourparty or anyone you invite round. You may need to check and sign a contentsinventory on arrival. If you discover that anything is missing or damaged onarrival, please notify us immediately.

12.6 Non Refundable DamageWaiver and Insurance. is included in the Hire Charge. This coversaccidental damage of the boat, its equipment, and against the Hirer's liabilityto other parties, (Hirer's personal effects are not covered by this insurance). It does not cover damage or losses caused by negligence on the part of theHirer or the return of a boat late, or in an unclean condition, which willincur an extra payment.
12.7 Accidents. The Hirer must report immediately by telephone to theCompany any accident to the boat or its equipment, or to waterwayproperty, whether other craft are involved or not and shall proceed asinstructed by the Company. The Hirer shall not at any time admit anyliability for any accident to any third party and shall not put any repairsinto the hands of any firm without the Company's permission.
12.8 Loss of water. The Hirer may be responsible for charges made byWaterways Authorities in respect of loss of water or other damage to waterwayproperty arising through their own negligence.
12.9 Navigation. No boat may tow another, travelafter dark, or navigate any tidal waters without the prior permission of theCompany. The Hirer shall comply with instructions given to him by the Companyor Waterway Authorities.

12.10 Hirers property TheCompany accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to Hirer's property whilstupon the craft or premises of the Company, however caused.

12.11 Restricted cruising. TheCompany accepts no liability in the event of cruising waters being restrictedthrough repair work, floods, drought or any other cause beyond the control ofthe Company.

12.12 Breakdown. TheHirer shall have no claim upon the Company because of any breakdown or failureof the boat, or its engine or equipment and, where such breakdown is caused bythe negligence of the Hirer in failing to carry out instructions given to himby the Company, the Company shall have the right to

claim upon the Hirer in respectof expenses involved in rectifying the matter. 

12.13. Maximum occupancy: You and your party agree to follow themaximum occupancy for overnight stays as stated on the website and to obtainconsent for any visitors or events.  Youmust tell us before booking if your group booking is a stag/hen party.  We reserve the right to refuse these bookings.Failure to comply with these obligations could result in cancellation of yourbooking, refusal of entry to the boat(s) or repossession, with no refundpayable to you and no responsibility on the part of us.

12.14 Smoking(including e-cigarettes): is prohibited in all boats(s).

12.15 Pets: dogs (unless a registered assistance dog) a charge may be payable.  If you want to bring any other pet, you mustobtain our consent in advance. We can refuse to hand over the boat(s)to you, orcan repossess it, if you bring a pet with you, that we believe maybe dangerousor may disrupt or affect the enjoyment of others. You are responsible for thesupervision and behaviour of your pet at all times. Pets are not allowed onbeds or soft furnishings and must not be left on their own in the boat(s). Ifyou or any party member has a pet allergy, we cannot guarantee that pets havenot stayed in your chosen boat(s). We do not accept any responsibility for anypet related health reactions.

12.16 Right of Entry: We, reserves the right to enter theboat(s)

 i) without prior notice in specialcircumstances including emergency situations (for example if repairs need to becarried out) or if there is a breach, or suspected breach, of bookingconditions or any other applicable terms; and

ii) on reasonable prior notice to conduct inspections, including caseswhere you have reported issues with the boat(s). By agreeing to these terms,you consent to granting us such access.

12.17Safety: You must not operate the boat while under the influence of alcohol ordrugs or allow anyone else to-do so. For your safety, you must follow the UnionCanal Carriers safety instructions, particularly regarding wearing buoyancyaids or life jackets. Children and non-swimmers must be supervised at alltimes. We can refuse to allow you onto the boat or cut short your trip if youdo not follow our safety instructions, or you ignore other reasonable healthand safety concerns. You will not be refunded if this happens. If there is amechanical failure, we can delay your departure until a repair is carried out.This is for your safety.  In all cases,we will give you a demonstration and explain the controls of the boat and itsequipment.

You must notify us of any mechanical failure as soon as possible, sothat they can assist you.

13 Complaints

13.1Complaints about our booking process: You must tell us promptly (in writing)and before travelling about any complaints with our booking services. We cannotaccept liability where complaints are not promptly reported, or for complaintsfor which we are not given the time to respond. If we are found to be at faultin relation to our services, we will not be liable for more than the depositpaid.

13.2. Limitation:We do not exclude or limit what we will be legally responsible for, includingif death or personal injury is caused because of our, or our employees’,negligence, or for any criminal act we may commit. Neither we, can be heldresponsible for

i) noise or disturbance which comes from beyond the boundaries of theboat, or which is beyond our control,

ii) the failure of public utilities such as water, rubbish disposal

iii) changes or closures to local services or attractions mentioned onour website.

13.3. Complaintsabout your boat(s): If you have a complaint about your boat(s) or suffer anaccident in it, you must:

i) tell us promptly;

ii) allow us a chance to react/put right any issues before yourdeparture; and iii)communicate with the us directly about any follow up. If youcannot contact us, or you are dissatisfied with our response, then youmust put in writing your complaint before you leave the boatyard. This clausewill not affect your legal rights or any right you may have to bring legalproceedings against us.

13.4. Formalcomplaints: If having followed the procedure in 13.3 you feel that a complainthas not been resolved to your satisfaction, please put your complaint inwriting (with any photos). You must submit your complaint

within28days of returning from your stay. You can email us at

info@unioncanalcarriers.co.uk or post to Union Canal Carriers, Dark Lane,

BraunstonNorthamptonshire, NN11 7HJ marked for the attention of the

CustomerRelations Department. We do not accept formal complaints or

accidentnotifications by social media. Failing to follow the above complaints

process mayaffect your entitlement to claim compensation (if appropriate).

13.5. Events beyond our control:Unless otherwise stated in these booking

conditions, we are not responsible, nor will wecompensate you, for events

beyond our control which could not be avoided,despite reasonable

measures. Examples are warfare, terrorism, civilstrife, significant health risks

(e.g. epidemics, pandemics),weather, naturaldisasters, government or

authority actions, industrial disputes/strikes,failure of utility services, lock

closures, fires, leaks, unavoidable transportissues and similar events.

14Privacy

14.1. Please see the Privacy Notice on our website which explains how we will

process your personal information. By submitting your personalinformation to

us, you agree to our use of the information, for the purposes of theprovision

of the booking.

14.2. We may record telephone calls between us for monitoring and training

purposes. In the event of a dispute, we reserve the right to review anyrecorded

calls between us.

15 Other terms

15.1.   Any dispute, claim or other matter which may arise inrelation to your

bookingwill be governed by English law and you agree that any dispute will be dealtwith exclusively by the courts of England.

15.2.   If a court or regulatory agency with properjurisdiction determines that

a provisionof these booking conditions or any contract to which they apply is invalid,void, or unenforceable, that provision will be interpreted in a way to reflectas closely as possible the original intentions of the parties. If any provisionis found to be invalid, the rest of these booking conditions will remaineffective to the fullest extent permissible by applicable law.