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Terms and Conditions

The Partners trading as A1 Taxi Service

Office: 3 Straight Bit, Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire, HP10 9LS

VAT Reg No: 385 6355 17

  1. DEFINITIONS

“The Partnership”, “We”, “Us” refers to The Partners trading as A1 Taxi Service.

“The Customer”, “You” refers to the person or entity booking the service.

“The Driver” refers to the licensed private hire or hackney carriage driver allocated to your booking.

  1. STATUS OF THE CONTRACTOR (AGENCY & PRINCIPAL)

2.1. Bookings fulfilled by Employed Drivers

When a booking is allocated to an employed driver (whether Private Hire or Hackney Carriage) using a vehicle owned by the Partnership, A1 Taxi Service acts as the Principal.

In this instance, the contract for the journey is between you (the Customer) and the Partnership trading as A1 Taxi Service. We are responsible for the provision of the transportation service and VAT will be charged at the current standard rate.

2.2. Bookings fulfilled by Self-Employed Owner-Drivers

A1 Taxi Service acts as a disclosed agent for self-employed drivers.

When your booking is allocated to a self-employed owner-driver, the contract for the journey is strictly between you (the Customer) and the Driver.

  • The Driver is the Principal.
  • Payment: All self-employed drivers are equipped to accept both cash and credit/debit card payments directly in the vehicle. You agree to pay the Driver directly upon completion of the journey, unless payment in advance is requested. As the Principal, the Driver reserves the right to request full or partial payment prior to the commencement of the journey.
  • A1 Taxi Service will only process payment (acting strictly as a collection agent on the Driver’s behalf) in instances where direct payment to the Driver is not possible.
  • The receipt issued will indicate that the Driver is the Principal.
  • VAT is not chargeable on these journeys unless the individual driver is VAT registered.

2.3. Authorised Account Customers (Credit Terms)

For all bookings made by authorised account customers where credit terms have been agreed and an invoice is raised by A1 Taxi Service:

  • A1 Taxi Service contracts as the Principal for the journey, regardless of whether the vehicle is operated by an employed driver or a self-employed owner-driver.
  • The contract for the transportation service is between the Account Customer and the Partnership trading as A1 Taxi Service.
  • VAT at the standard rate will be added to the total cost of all account journeys.
  • A VAT invoice will be issued by A1 Taxi Service in accordance with UK tax law.

2.4. Allocation

Unless explicitly specified at the time of booking, A1 Taxi Service reserves the right to allocate either an employed driver, a self-employed owner-driver, or a hackney carriage driver to your booking based on availability. By proceeding with the booking, you agree to this allocation and the resulting contractual status.

2.5. Dispatch to Hackney Carriages

From time to time, A1 Taxi Service may dispatch your booking to a licensed Hackney Carriage driver. In these instances:

  • The Meter: The Driver is legally required to engage the taximeter in their vehicle at the start of the journey. The meter calculates the fare in accordance with the current Buckinghamshire Council Hackney Carriage Fare Chart.
  • The “Lower Fare” Guarantee: To protect you from traffic delays, the fare payable by you will be either the metered fare displayed at the end of the journey or the fixed price quoted by A1 Taxi Service at the time of booking, whichever is lower.

  1. AIRPORT TRANSFERS & PARKING CHARGES

3.1. Quotes & Drop-Off Charges

  • Drop-Offs: All quotations sent via SMS, email, or given verbally include the standard terminal drop-off charge imposed by the airport. You will not be asked to pay any extra fees at the barrier when being dropped off.
  • Collections: Unless explicitly stated in writing as “Fixed Price including Parking,” quotes for airport collections (pickups) are for the journey fare only. The price shown in your booking confirmation text message excludes the car parking costs incurred during the pickup.

3.2. Customer Liability for Parking (Collections Only)

As the exact duration of parking for a collection cannot be determined in advance (due to variables such as the time taken for luggage delivery, queues at passport control, and other airport formalities), the Customer is responsible for paying the actual cost of the car parking ticket on the day.

  • Direct Payment: The Customer must pay the car parking charge directly to the airport operator (e.g., at the payment machine or exit barrier) before or upon leaving the car park.
  • No Reimbursement: The Driver will not pay the car park exit fee on your behalf to be reimbursed later. Please ensure you have a valid payment method available to pay the airport barrier charge upon exit.

3.3. Meet & Greet

For collections, our drivers will park in the designated short-stay car park and meet you in the Arrivals Hall. The parking charge covers the duration required for the driver to enter the terminal, meet you, and return to the vehicle.

  1. WAITING TIME CHARGES

4.1. General Journeys (Non-Airport)

The scheduled pickup time is the time you selected when booking. The application of waiting time charges is decided on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of A1 Taxi Service.

  • Calculation: Where waiting time is applied, it is charged at a rate of £30.00 per hour, calculated in 5-minute intervals.
  • Grace Period: There is no automatic grace period for general journeys; passengers are expected to be ready to depart at the booked time.

4.2. Airport Collections

We monitor official flight arrival times. We instruct the Driver to park and meet you inside the Arrivals Hall at an agreed length of time after the flight has landed (usually either 20 minutes or 45 minutes after landing, as requested at the time of booking).

  • Application of Charges: The application of waiting time charges is decided on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of A1 Taxi Service.
  • Reasons for Charge: Generally, waiting time charges will be applied where delays are caused by factors outside the control of A1 Taxi Service or the Customer (e.g., delayed baggage delivery, lost luggage, or long queues at passport control).
  • Calculation: Where waiting time is applied, it is charged at a rate of £30.00 per hour, calculated in 5-minute intervals.
  • Note: This waiting time charge is for the driver’s time and is separate and in addition to the car parking costs described in clause 3.2.

4.3. Payment of Waiting Time

Waiting time charges will be added to the total journey fare at the end of the trip and are payable directly to the Driver (or via invoice for Account customers).

  1. LUGGAGE, PASSENGERS & CHILD SEATS

5.1. Luggage Capacity

The vehicle allocated to your booking will be based on the information provided by you. It is the Customer’s responsibility to ensure the vehicle booked can accommodate their luggage.

  • Safety: The Driver reserves the absolute right to refuse to carry any luggage that exceeds the capacity of the vehicle’s boot or that would render the vehicle unsafe or illegal to drive.
  • Liability: While we take every care, property is carried at the Customer’s own risk. We recommend that you check for all personal belongings before alighting.

5.2. Passenger Numbers

The number of passengers must not exceed the legal licensed capacity of the vehicle.

  • Infants: Under UK law, infants and children count as individual passengers.
  • The Driver will refuse to carry passengers in excess of the vehicle’s licensed limit.

5.3. Child Seats

  • Customer Responsibility: A1 Taxi Service does not provide child safety seats. It is the Customer’s responsibility to provide and fit their own child seats if required.
  • Legal Exemption: Under UK law, in a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle, if a child restraint is not available then the child may travel in the rear seat without a child restraint (using an adult seat belt if aged 3 or over, or without a seat belt if under 3).
  • Recommendation: Notwithstanding this legal exemption, for the safety of your child, we strongly recommend that you provide and use appropriate child seats for all journeys.

  1. PASSENGER CONDUCT, SOILING & DAMAGE

6.1. Soiling Charge

The Driver reserves the right to charge a “Soiling Fee” if a passenger creates a mess that requires the vehicle to be taken out of service for cleaning (e.g., vomiting, food/drink spills, or staining upholstery).

  • Charge: The standard soiling charge is up to £100.00 to cover the cost of valet cleaning and the Driver’s loss of earnings while the vehicle is off the road.
  • This charge is payable immediately to the Driver.

6.2. Damage to Vehicle

The Customer is responsible for the full cost of repairing any damage caused to the vehicle by them or their party (e.g., damage to interior fittings, scratching paintwork, or breaking door mechanisms).

6.3. Right to Refuse Carriage

The Driver has the absolute right to refuse carriage to any passenger who is visibly intoxicated, under the influence of drugs, abusive, threatening, or behaves in a disorderly manner. In such instances, the full fare for the journey may still be charged if the Driver has attended the pickup.

6.4. Equality Act & Assistance Dogs

In accordance with the Equality Act 2010, we welcome Guide Dogs and other Assistance Dogs.

  • Assistance dogs will be carried free of charge.
  • They are allowed to travel in the vehicle with their owner and are exempt from the “Right to Refuse” clause above, unless the Driver holds a valid medical exemption certificate.
  1. CANCELLATIONS AND NO-SHOWS

7.1. Cancellations

You may cancel your booking without charge provided that sufficient notice is given and the vehicle has not been dispatched to the pickup location.

  • Charges: If the vehicle has already been dispatched to the pickup location at the time of cancellation, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee (up to 100% of the journey fare).
  • Method: Cancellations must be made by telephone to our office. Email cancellations are only valid once acknowledged by our team.

7.2. No-Shows

A “No-Show” is defined as a passenger failing to appear at the designated pickup location within 15 minutes of the scheduled time without contacting our office.

  • Charge: All No-Shows will be charged the full journey fare plus any waiting time and car parking fees already incurred by the Driver.
  • Driver Action: If the Driver cannot locate the passenger and is unable to make contact via the phone number provided, the Driver will be released from the booking and the full charge applied.

7.3. Refunds

Where a booking was pre-paid by card and is validly cancelled within the notice period, a refund will be processed to the original payment card. Please allow 3-5 working days for the funds to clear.

  1. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY & DRIVER STATUS

8.1. Independent Status (Owner-Drivers)

You acknowledge that self-employed owner-drivers carrying out bookings for A1 Taxi Service are independent self-employed principals and are not employees or subcontractors of the Partnership.

  • Contractual Status: For the purpose of VAT and contract law, the Driver is the Principal provider of the transport service and contracts directly with you.
  • Responsibilities: Self-employed drivers are solely responsible for the maintenance, insurance, and taxation of their own vehicles.
  • Service: A1 Taxi Service acts purely as a booking agent for these drivers. As such, we accept no liability for any negligence or omission by any self-employed driver contracting directly with you, except where such liability cannot be excluded by law.

8.2. Regulatory Compliance

As a Private Hire Operator licensed by Buckinghamshire Council, we strictly adhere to our licensing obligations.

  • Checks: We take all reasonable measures to ensure that every driver and vehicle dispatched by us holds a valid Private Hire Driver’s Licence, Private Hire Vehicle Licence, DVLA Driving Licence, valid MOT, Road Tax, and appropriate insurance at the time of dispatch.
  • Limitation: Our checks are based on regular audits of driver documentation. To the best of our ability and knowledge, all drivers are compliant. However, A1 Taxi Service cannot be held liable for the invalidity of a driver’s documents in instances where the driver has failed to notify us of a change in status (e.g., insurance cancellation or licence suspension) or has provided false information, provided that we have carried out our standard regulatory checks.

8.3. Force Majeure

Neither A1 Taxi Service nor the Driver shall be liable for any delay or failure to perform the service due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: traffic delays, road closures, adverse weather conditions, mechanical breakdown, or flight delays.

8.4. Maximum Liability

In the event of a valid claim against A1 Taxi Service (where we act as Principal) or the Driver (where they act as Principal), liability shall be limited to the cost of the journey fare paid. We do not accept liability for consequential losses (e.g., missed flights, trains, or meetings).

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions attempts to exclude or limit liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or that of the Driver, nor for any other liability which cannot be excluded by law.

  1. DATA PROTECTION & PRIVACY

9.1. Data Processing

A1 Taxi Service is committed to protecting your privacy. We process your personal data (including name, telephone number, and address) in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

9.2. Sharing of Data

Your data is used solely for the purpose of fulfilling your booking.

  • Drivers: We share your name, pickup location, and destination with the allocated Driver to enable them to provide the service.
  • Phone Numbers: A masked number or your direct contact number may be provided to the Driver to facilitate meeting at the pickup point.
  • We do not sell your data to third parties.

  1. GOVERNING LAW

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions.