Terms and Conditions
A GUIDE TO WORKING WITH EAST COAST TREE SERVICES
East Coast Tree Services endeavour to provide high-quality services whilst achieving positive customer satisfaction. If choosing our company, please spare a few minutes to read the terms and conditions of our contract below. By accepting your estimate, you are also agreeing to these terms and conditions.
INSURANCE
All works carried out by East Coast Tree Services shall be covered by £5,000,000 Public Liability Insurance policy.
SAFETY
Our work is highly dangerous, and the safety of our customers and our team is our number one priority. An onsite risk assessment will be conducted at the start of each day. If an issue arises that compromises our safety in any way, work will cease immediately, be reassessed, and could potentially be postponed or cancelled. East Cost Tree Services will accept no liability or provide any compensation in these circumstances.
ESTIMATES
Estimates are conducted at ground level and may not reveal all aspects of the work required or hidden issues. Whilst every effort is made to be accurate with our estimates, this is not always possible. This may result in changes to the work estimated, the job time scale or if the work can be completed at this time. This will be discussed with the customer before any changes are made.
Arial assessments can be conducted, but this is at an additional cost and is still not guaranteed to reveal all issues.
STANDARD OF WORK
Works shall be completed in accordance with BS 3998 (Recommendations for Tree Work) where appropriate unless the customer instructs otherwise. All works undertaken will be completed in a competent manner, to the specification provided on the company’s estimate.
WILDLIFE & BIOSECURITY
East Coast Tree Services follows the latest industry guidelines in relation to wildlife and biosecurity. If wildlife or biosecurity issues are found, we will stop all work and seek advice from the relevant guiding body. Work may need to be postponed or cancelled to which East Coast Tree Services will not be held liable or provide compensation.
MEASUREMENTS
All measurements mentioned in any correspondence are to be treated as approximate.
ADVICE
Our team has a wealth of knowledge in arboriculture and are happy to give advice on all aspects of tree care, but all advice is circumstantial, and we will not accept any liability for issues arising from our advice.
BREAKS
Our work is highly strenuous and physically demanding. Our team will take breaks at regular intervals throughout the day. Our team is fully self-sufficient, but tea and coffee are welcome.
DAY RATE CHARGES
Certain work may be charged at a day rate price. This will be discussed with the customer and specified on your estimate. We aim to work 8-hour days, but this is not always possible due to weather, daylight hours etc. Therefore, we will charge for the hours worked per day, with a minimum charge of 4 hours per day. Please note site clearing, waste transportation etc. are all hourly chargeable services. A report of the days work and a breakdown of charges will be sent at the end of each working day and invoiced upon completion. We will attempt to give the customer an estimated time scale of the work, but this is an approximation and will be updated whenever possible.
FIXED RATE
All estimates are on a fixed rate unless otherwise stated. Any reasons for a change in the price due to time, unforeseen circumstances, additional work etc. will be discussed with the customer and a solution agreed before continuing any work.
PERMISSION
The trees within an estimate specification may be within a Conservation Area and subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or require a felling licence from the Forestry Commission. Upon our preliminary site inspection, we will perform a check for the presence of legislative protections and offer advise where necessary. It is the customers responsibility to apply for any relevant permissions. We are happy to make an application of your behalf, but we would advise that a charge may be made for this service, but no additional charges shall be applied to these works without first seeking customer acceptance.
Investigation of Private Covenants shall be the responsibility of the Owner and no liability shall attach to East Coast Tree Services for breaching any such Covenant.
JOB TIME SCALE
We will attempt to provide an estimate of the time scale required to complete the work. We aim to complete our services efficiently and within the time estimate quoted. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, such as but not limited to, the weather, unforeseen circumstances within the tree, safety issues, mechanical & plant failure, illness & injury etc. works may overrun or may prevent us from working to time, dates, and proposed plans of action.
East Coast Tree Services will consult the customer if changes need to occur and reserves the right delay, cancel, or change the plan of action at any time. East Coast Tree Services will not provide any form of compensation for any cost incurred, loss of earnings etc. by the customer.
TEAM ARRIVAL
The earliest the team will arrive is 9 am. However, please be aware that in the case of smaller contracts, we may not be able to provide an estimated arrival time until 24 hours before the work is scheduled and then can only advise of either a morning or afternoon arrival. We will endeavour to make every effort to cater for clients who specifically require a morning or afternoon arrival.
WEATHER
Certain weather conditions are unsafe for us to conduct our work. Strong and gusty winds, heavy rain etc. can cause serious safety concerns. An assessment will be made based on the weather forecast and if needed the work will be postponed or potentially cancelled. East Coast Tree Services reserves the right to do this on short notice and no compensation will be given.
DISPOSAL OF WASTE
All waste material from site is considered property of the customer and management of this is chargeable. If arisings are to be removed, it will be specified in the estimate and charged where appropriate. If customers wish to keep woodchip as useful garden mulch, please request this with the team. Timber can be left as per customer request, however, it is not normally left in sizes “ready for the fire” unless specified in the quotation.
NEIGHBOURS
In some cases, it is necessary to have access to a neighbouring property, particularly where branches overhang. It is the customer’s responsibility to inform relevant parties of their intention to carry out works, the date on which it shall take place and any necessary permissions needed. While every effort shall be made to avoid any damage to neighbouring property East Cost Tree Services excepts no liability for minor damage caused up to the value of £250 and will be the responsibility of the customer.
PROTECTION OF PROPERTY
Due to the nature of our work, damage is sometimes unavoidable we will make every effort avoid this wherever possible.
East Coast Tree Services follows industry good practice and code of conducts set forth by relevant industry bodies. East Coast Tree Services will not be held liable for work requested outside of these guidelines.
Our equipment is kept in the best possible condition and subject to weekly inspections and six monthly LOLER examinations. To the best of our knowledge and judgement our equipment will only be used within its safe working limit.
In certain circumstances damage to property may be unavoidable or considered very high risk. This will be discussed with property owner or agent during the initial estimate or if issues arise during the work. While every effort will be made to avoid damage East Coast Trees Services will accept no liability in these circumstances.
If assistance is provided by the customer or on behalf of the customer who is not employed or sub-contracted by East Coast Tree Services. East Coast Tree Services will not be held liable for any actions or outcomes from the assisting party under any circumstances.
Whilst our team operates with care and diligence, often our work involves carrying or dropping large and heavy material over lawns and past garden features etc. We would recommend that all vulnerable surfaces are adequately protected and fragile objects (i.e. pots) moved. We can provide boards to protect lawns, but this will be at an added charge and is not guaranteed to prevent damage. Our staff would be more than happy to move objects for those who are elderly or disabled. If our team are required to move any property while upmost care will be taken, we will not be responsible for any damages. Lawns are always damaged during tree work operations but tend to rapidly recover and wet weather can give rise to muddy conditions. Unless otherwise specified these repairs will be the responsibility of the customer.
UNDERGROUND AND OVERHEAD SERVICES
A visual assessment will be carried out, but it is the responsibility of the owner or agent to inform the team and provide any plans showing the exact location of underground pipes, wires or cables etc. prior to the formation of the estimate. We shall be under no liability for any damage caused as a result of work performed under the Contract to such pipes, wires or cables etc, or for any damage to property resulting there from, and the Owner of the land or his agent shall be solely liable for any such damage. Any charge for the removal of power lines or telephone cables or damage caused shall be the responsibility of the property owner and East Coast Tree Services will not be held liable for damages.
REPLACEMENT OF TREES/SHRUBS
Following planting, it is the customers responsibility to ensure that your new plantings are regularly watered and maintained. Trees and shrubs that fail due to circumstances beyond our control shall not be replaced by East Coast Tree Services. Please ask our staff for advice on looking after your new plantings if you have any queries.
STUMP GRINDING OR TREATMENT
No guarantee can be given to the efficiency of a pesticide after application due to conditions beyond our control.
Stump grindings will be used to backfill the resulting hole created when completing the stump grinding, and they will decompose rapidly. The chippings can be removed from site, but this will incur an additional cost. The team will grind the main tree stump and any large lateral roots in the main region of the stump. We will not chase every root back to the stump unless by prior costed agreement with the client.
SITE CLEARING
Our team will try to leave the site clean, tidy and safe wherever practicable at the end of each workday and upon completion of the work. Due to the nature of the work sawdust, small twigs, divots in the grass are considered acceptable and are to be expected.
ADULTS, CHILDREN AND ANIMALS
It is the customers responsibility to keep all adults, children and animals away from the working area. We understand our work to be interesting so please feel free to watch and ask questions etc. but do so from a safe distance and under instruction from our team. Our team will not work in unsafe and unhygienic conditions, it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure the site is tidy and free from animal waste before we start work.
PAYMENT
On completion of works, please advise the team leader if the job has been completed to your satisfaction. Please raise any queries with the team leader before completion.
You will receive your invoice within 7 days of job completion. All contracts and instructions are accepted based on full payment within 7 days of the date of the invoice. Where applicable, value-added tax (VAT) shall be charged at the current rate.
COMPLAINTS
In the unlikely event that you have any cause for complaint please contact Nick Clayton in writing by email ectreeserv@gmail.com or phone 07414 688712 within 7 days and we shall endeavour to correct the situation in a timely manner.
GENERAL
East Coast Tree Services shall not be liable for any damages or otherwise because of non-performance of a contract arising on account of adverse weather conditions, strikes, lockouts, civil commotion, lack or adequately skilled labour or due to causes beyond our control.
We retain the right to cancel the contract in whole or in part for any reason.
Completion dates shall be contingent upon weather conditions.
Six months after the submission of the quotation, we reserve to withdraw and re-price work, unless otherwise agreed in writing on acceptance of instructions from the Owner.
Quotations for tree felling are based upon the assumption of the trees being free from metal, stone or other hidden obstructions. In the event of a tree being impossible to fell in the normal way, East Coast Tree Services reserves the right to re-quote accordingly.
The estimate price is based on the site conditions existing at the time of the preparation of the estimate remaining unchanged.
ACCEPTANCE OF CONTRACT AND PLANNING OF THE WORKS
By accepting the estimate, you are agreeing to these Terms and Conditions.
All customers are entitled to a 14 day “cooling off” period following acceptance of the quotation. After this period, in the event of a cancellation at short notice, we may charge a percentage of the quotation to cover any preparatory work already undertaken and any costs already incurred. Amendments to the contract must be made in writing.
These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time.