Terms and Conditions for Tree Surgeons Cranford

These Terms and Conditions apply to all services provided by Tree Surgeons Cranford in connection with tree surgery, tree maintenance, pruning, crown work, hedge cutting, stump-related services, site clearance, and associated arboricultural works. By making a booking, accepting a quotation, or allowing work to commence, the customer agrees to these terms. These conditions are intended to set out the basis on which services are delivered, including the booking process, payment obligations, cancellation rules, liability limits, waste handling, and the law that applies to this agreement.

The words we, us, and our refer to Tree Surgeons Cranford. The words you and your refer to the person, business, or organisation booking the work. Where a quotation is issued, it is based on the information available at the time. If the actual conditions on site differ from those described during the booking process, we may need to revise the price, scope, or schedule before work continues.

These terms are written for general legal use and should be read alongside any written quotation, job specification, invoice, or agreed variation. If there is any conflict between these terms and a specific written agreement signed by both parties, the written agreement will take priority to the extent of that conflict. Nothing in these terms affects any rights that cannot lawfully be excluded under UK law.

1. Booking Process

To arrange work, you must provide accurate details about the property, the trees or vegetation involved, access arrangements, and any known risks or restrictions. A booking may be made after an initial enquiry, site visit, photograph review, or other assessment. Any quotation given by Tree Surgeons Cranford is typically valid for a stated period, unless withdrawn sooner due to changes in circumstances or material errors in the information supplied.

A booking is only confirmed when we acknowledge acceptance of the quotation or otherwise agree in writing to carry out the work. We may request a deposit or advance payment before reserving a date. We also reserve the right to refuse or cancel a booking if the work appears unsafe, unlawful, beyond our capability, or impossible to complete under the available conditions.

2. Site Access and Customer Responsibilities

Before the agreed start date, you must ensure that the site is reasonably accessible and that we can work safely and efficiently. This includes providing access to gates, driveways, yards, and other relevant areas, and removing or clearly identifying obstacles where possible. If the work requires parking arrangements, utility coordination, or special permissions, you are responsible for arranging those matters unless we have expressly agreed otherwise.

You must notify us of any underground services, overhead hazards, weak structures, nesting birds, protected species, contamination, or other relevant issues that could affect the work. Where the customer fails to provide accurate or complete information, we may need to suspend or alter the service and charge for any additional time, labour, or equipment required as a result.

We may use subcontractors or suitably qualified third parties to assist with the delivery of the service. However, any such arrangement will remain subject to our standards, and we will remain responsible for the services we contract to provide, subject always to these terms and any lawful limitations.

All prices are stated in pounds sterling unless otherwise agreed. Unless expressly included, quotations may exclude VAT, traffic management, parking charges, permit fees, specialist equipment, emergency call-out charges, and any additional works not described in the original scope. If the work changes after the quotation is issued, the price may be adjusted to reflect the revised requirements.

Payment terms will be confirmed at the time of booking or on the invoice. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment is due immediately upon completion of the work or within the period stated on the invoice. For larger projects, staged payments, deposits, or partial upfront payments may be required. We may also request payment in advance where materials must be ordered or where the booking blocks a significant amount of time.

Where payment is not made by the due date, we reserve the right to charge interest and compensation in accordance with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 where applicable, or to take other lawful recovery action. We may also suspend any further work, withhold waste removal, or refuse to issue additional services until outstanding sums are paid in full.

Any disputed invoice items must be raised promptly and in good faith. You must still pay any undisputed portion of the invoice by the due date. A dispute does not entitle you to withhold all payment unless required by law or specifically agreed by us in writing.

3. Cancellations, Rescheduling, and Delays

We understand that appointments may need to change. If you wish to cancel or reschedule, you should notify us as soon as reasonably possible. If cancellation occurs with sufficient notice and we have not incurred costs, a refund of any deposit may be offered at our discretion or as required by law. However, where materials, permits, staff time, or specialist equipment have already been committed, those costs may be retained or charged.

If you cancel within a short period before the scheduled date, or if our team attends site and cannot proceed because of access problems, safety concerns, incorrect information, or lack of permission, we may charge a cancellation fee or call-out charge. Any such charge will be reasonable and proportionate to the loss we have actually suffered or the costs we have incurred.

We may need to postpone work due to severe weather, unsafe conditions, plant failure, staff illness, local restrictions, or other events beyond our reasonable control. In such cases, we will try to offer an alternative date. We are not liable for delay caused by events outside our control, provided we act reasonably and keep you informed where practicable.

If the work is delayed because you have failed to prepare the site, obtain consent, or provide access, any additional waiting time, repeat attendance, or rebooking may be charged. Where a tree surgeon has to stop work for safety reasons, our decision on site safety is final for that visit.

4. Performance of the Service

Tree surgery and arboricultural work can involve natural variation, and outcomes depend on species, condition, age, weather, access, and structural factors that may not be fully visible before work starts. We will use reasonable skill and care in carrying out the services and will aim to perform them in line with the agreed specification. However, you acknowledge that living trees are dynamic and may respond unpredictably to pruning, reduction, or removal.

Unless otherwise agreed, we decide the safest and most appropriate method of working. That may include rope access, climbing, lowering equipment, mechanical plant, hand tools, or traffic control measures. We may stop or modify the work if continuing would create an unacceptable risk to people, property, wildlife, utilities, or our team.

Where a tree is subject to legal protection, including preservation orders, conservation controls, or ecological restrictions, it is your responsibility to ensure that the necessary permissions have been obtained before the work begins. We may request evidence of such permissions and may refuse to proceed if they are not available. If a job is started on the basis of incorrect or incomplete legal information, you may be liable for any resulting costs, fines, or losses to the extent permitted by law.

We may make minor changes to the scope of work where this is necessary to complete the job safely or professionally. Any substantial change will usually be discussed with you first, and additional charges may apply where the change requires extra labour, plant, or disposal arrangements.

5. Liability and Limitations

We will take reasonable care to avoid damage to property, surfaces, structures, lawns, fences, and features within the work area. However, you accept that tree surgery often involves heavy materials, falling debris, sawdust, cutting tools, and machinery, and some incidental impact may be unavoidable. Except for negligence or any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, we are not responsible for pre-existing defects, hidden structural weaknesses, or normal wear caused by the nature of the work.

Our liability for direct loss or damage arising from our breach of contract or negligence will be limited to the amount paid or payable for the specific service giving rise to the claim, except where a higher limit is required by law. We do not exclude or limit liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded under UK law.

We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses such as loss of profit, loss of business, loss of opportunity, or loss of enjoyment, where such exclusion is lawful. If you believe we have caused damage, you must notify us promptly and allow us a reasonable opportunity to inspect and, where appropriate, remedy the issue. Failure to do so may affect our ability to assess the claim.

Nothing in these terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer, if applicable. If you are contracting in the course of business, you confirm that you have authority to agree to these terms and that you will indemnify us against losses caused by inaccurate instructions, unlawful requests, or failure to obtain necessary permissions, subject to the limits of applicable law.

6. Waste Removal and Environmental Compliance

Where waste removal is included, any arisings such as branches, logs, foliage, woodchip, stump material, and general green waste will be handled in accordance with applicable waste regulations. We will transport, store, process, or dispose of waste using lawful methods and, where required, through licensed carriers or authorised facilities. We may retain timber, chip, or other by-products unless the quotation states otherwise.

You acknowledge that certain materials may remain on site if the service does not include full clearance. If you request that arisings are left for your own use, you accept responsibility for their storage and future handling. We may refuse to leave waste on site where doing so would create a safety hazard, breach environmental rules, or conflict with local authority requirements.

Any waste produced during the service becomes subject to the agreed waste arrangement once it has been loaded, transferred, or handed over in accordance with the job specification. You must not ask us to dispose of controlled, hazardous, or contaminated waste unless this has been expressly agreed and lawfully arranged in advance. If such materials are discovered unexpectedly, we may stop the work and charge for the additional measures needed to deal with them properly.

We will aim to minimise waste and recycle material where reasonably practicable. However, recycling, composting, or repurposing is not guaranteed, and we make no promise as to the final destination of any waste unless stated in writing. The customer remains responsible for disclosing any known contamination or special disposal requirements before the service begins.

7. Insurance, Warranties, and Complaints

We maintain insurance cover that we consider appropriate for the nature of our work. Evidence of insurance may be made available on request, subject to confidentiality and policy restrictions. Any warranty we provide will relate only to the specific work described and will not apply to natural tree movement, regrowth, seasonal changes, storms, disease, pests, or matters outside our control.

If you are unhappy with the standard of work, you should tell us within a reasonable time so that we can review the issue. Where a valid defect is identified, we may choose to re-perform the relevant part of the service, offer a partial adjustment, or take another reasonable step. This will be our first opportunity to resolve the matter, and you must not arrange third-party remedial work without first giving us a reasonable chance to respond, unless urgent action is needed to prevent harm.

Any complaint should be supported by clear information and, where appropriate, photographs or other evidence. We will consider the complaint fairly and within a reasonable time. This process does not limit any legal rights you may have, but it is intended to reduce unnecessary dispute and enable a practical resolution.

8. Governing Law and General Provisions

These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim arising from them or in connection with them, are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction, except where you are a consumer and any mandatory legal rule gives you the right to bring proceedings elsewhere.

If any part of these terms is found to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. No failure or delay by us in exercising any right under these terms shall operate as a waiver of that right. Any waiver must be in writing and shall apply only to the specific circumstances for which it is given.

We may update these terms from time to time to reflect changes in law, business practice, or service structure. The version in force at the time of your booking will usually apply to that booking unless a later version has been expressly agreed. By proceeding with a booking, you confirm that you have read and understood these terms and agree to be bound by them.