Terms and Conditions of Service – First4Drains Ltd
- Acceptance of Quotation
Acceptance of any quotation, whether in writing, electronically, by issue of a purchase order, or by instruction to proceed, constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
All works will be carried out in accordance with the quotation and any agreed written variations.
- Purchase Orders and Cancellation
Where works are instructed via purchase order, the purchase order constitutes a binding agreement.
A minimum of one full working day’s notice is required to cancel or postpone any confirmed works or issued purchase order.
Where sufficient notice is not provided, First4Drains Ltd reserves the right to charge in full for the scheduled works, or apply a stand down fee equivalent to the full value of the order. This is to cover labour, vehicle allocation, equipment preparation and loss of operational time.
- Access to Site
The client is responsible for ensuring safe, suitable and unobstructed access to all required work areas for personnel, vehicles and equipment.
This includes:
- Suitable access for drainage vehicles
- Disclosure of any height, weight or width restrictions
- Clear access to all inspection chambers, manholes and entry points
- Removal of vehicles, materials or obstructions
If access is restricted or works cannot proceed upon arrival, First4Drains Ltd reserves the right to charge for the visit in full.
- Parking and Traffic Management
The client must ensure suitable parking arrangements within reasonable proximity to the work location.
Where permits, suspensions, traffic management or permissions are required, these must be arranged by the client in advance unless agreed otherwise.
Any associated costs, penalties or fines incurred will be recharged.
- Abortive Visits and Stand Down Charges
If works cannot proceed due to circumstances outside the control of First4Drains Ltd, including but not limited to:
- Unsafe or restricted access
- Site not ready
- No access to required drainage points
- Absence of client or tenant where required
- Lack of water supply (where applicable)
- Obstructed or buried access points
A full abortive visit charge will apply, including labour, travel time, equipment and loss of working time.
- Water Supply for Jetting
Where high pressure jetting is required, the client must provide access to a suitable water supply.
If this is not available, delays and additional costs may apply.
- Existing Drainage Conditions
All drainage systems are underground and largely concealed. Quotations are based on visible conditions and information provided at the time.
First4Drains Ltd accepts no liability for previously undiscovered defects including, but not limited to, collapsed pipework, structural failures, buried assets or unforeseen site conditions.
Any additional works required will be quoted separately.
- Blockages and Recurring Issues
Drain clearance removes the blockage present at the time of attendance only.
No guarantee or warranty is provided against future or recurring blockages, as these are outside of our control.
- CCTV Surveys
CCTV surveys are limited to accessible and passable sections of the drainage system at the time of inspection.
Obstructions, debris, standing water, collapses or access issues may prevent full survey completion and may result in an abortive charge.
- Materials and Manufacturer Warranties
All materials and products supplied are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty only.
First4Drains Ltd accepts no liability for manufacturer defects beyond those warranties.
- Health and Safety
We reserve the right to refuse or suspend works where site conditions are unsafe or where adequate health and safety provisions are not in place.
- Damage and Liability
Drainage systems may be fragile or compromised prior to attendance.
Mechanical cleaning and high pressure jetting may expose pre-existing defects such as cracks, fractures or collapses.
First4Drains Ltd accepts no liability for failures or damage arising from pre-existing conditions.
- Working Hours and Delays
Quotations are based on standard working hours and normal site conditions.
Delays caused by access issues, site readiness, third parties or other external factors may result in additional charges.
- Waste Disposal
Waste will be handled in accordance with current regulations.
Additional charges may apply depending on waste type, volume and disposal requirements.
- Payment Terms
Payment terms are strictly as stated on the quotation or invoice.
First4Drains Ltd reserves the right to:
- Charge interest on overdue accounts in line with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act
- Recover all reasonable costs associated with debt recovery
- Suspend ongoing or future works until payment is received
- Variations
Any works outside the original scope will be treated as a variation and charged accordingly.
- Client Responsibilities
The client must ensure that:
- Accurate and complete site information is provided
- All access points are identified and accessible
- Relevant services and utilities are disclosed
- The working area is safe and ready
Failure to provide accurate information may result in delays and additional charges.
- Force Majeure
First4Drains Ltd shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform works due to events outside of its reasonable control, including severe weather, utility failures, access restrictions, or third party actions.
- Title and Risk
All materials supplied remain the property of First4Drains Ltd until paid for in full.
Risk passes to the client upon installation or delivery.
- Governing Law
These terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
