Terms & Conditions

 

1.1 “We” means The Goat Removals, and “Us” and “Our” mean the same;

1.2 “You” means the person who is entering into this agreement with Us, including the person to whom Our quote is sent and the person who signs the acceptance, and “Your” means the same;

1.3 “Ancillary Services” means services related to the main services but which We do not offer, like transportation by sea, rail, or air, and moving vehicles, trailers, caravans, boats, and animals;

1.4 “Goods” means all furniture and other items that We will handle;

1.5 “Services” means all the work We will do related to the Goods, including moving and (if needed) storing them;

1.6 “Subcontractor” means any person who is not one of Our employees and who, under any agreement with Us, does all or part of the Services;

1.7 “Third Party Provider” means any person We hire to provide Ancillary Services;

1.8 Words that are singular also include plural forms, and words in one gender also include all genders.

2. We are not Common Carriers

We are not common carriers, meaning we do not have to carry goods for everyone. We can choose who we want to quote and what goods we will carry.

3. Your Responsibilities and Promises

3.1 Information You Provide. You promise that any information You give to Us, which We use to quote or estimate the resources needed for the work, is correct.

3.2 Owner or Authorized Agent. You promise that You are either the owner of the Goods or have permission from the owner to act on their behalf.

3.3 Being Present at Loading/Unloading. You will make sure that You or someone on Your behalf is there when the Goods are loaded or unloaded, unless they are being unloaded or loaded from storage.

3.4 Dangerous Goods. You promise that the Goods do not include any dangerous, explosive, or harmful items unless You tell Us in writing about them before We handle the Goods. If We find such items after receiving the Goods, We can take any reasonable action, including destroying or disposing of them, without being responsible to You.

3.5 Fragile Goods and Valuable Items. Before We start, You will tell Us in writing about any fragile items or valuable Goods worth more than $1,000.

3.6 Goods that can Stain. Before We start, You will tell Us in writing about any Goods that can be stained and confirm that You want them to be wrapped extra. We are not responsible for stains that may happen during the move from dust or dirt.

3.7 Goods Left Behind or Taken by Mistake. You will do Your best to ensure all Goods to be removed (other than those from storage) are taken by Us and that nothing is taken by mistake.

4. Method of Carriage, Subcontractors, and Ancillary Services

4.1 Method of Transport. We can carry or arrange to carry the Goods by any reasonable route and by any means, including by sea, rail, or air. We can hire a Third Party Provider to help with this.

4.2 Subcontractors. We can use a Subcontractor to do some or all of the Services, but We will still be responsible to You for the work done.

4.3 Liability of Subcontractors and Employees. Any limits to Our responsibility also apply to Our Subcontractors and employees. We are acting as their agent and they are considered part of this agreement.

4.4 Ancillary Services. If You ask Us to arrange Ancillary Services with Third Party Providers, We are not responsible for any loss or damage that happens during these services.

5. Procedures

5.1 Before the Start Time. Our team will be informed about the job based on the information You provided. Once we agree on a time for your move, we will give you an estimated arrival time (ETA) for that day. The Team will contact you when they are 5 minutes away, so you can be ready to show them where to park and explain the job.

5.2 Start and Finish Times.

– Time starts when the team arrives at the Pick-Up address. This means time spent finding parking will be included in the quote, so please have that ready.

– Time ends 15 minutes after we drop off the last item. (This is the average time to get back to our next job).

This is not our only job for the day. We have set time frames for each job. If you need us for the whole day, the minimum charge is for 5 hours. We work Monday to Saturday.
5.3 Safety. You will make sure that every location is safe for our team to work. We will not be responsible for damages if there are wet floors, broken items, or unsafe conditions. You can supervise our team and truck at any time to ensure safety.

5.4 Complaints about Service. Any complaints about the service must be made during the job so we can address the issue on site. We won’t accept complaints about the service (like being too slow or careless) after the job is done because you did not give us the chance to fix the problem while we could.

6. Delivery

We will not deliver the Goods unless it is to You or someone You have authorized in writing to receive them. If We cannot deliver the Goods because no one is there to receive them or we cannot access the premises, we can unload the Goods into a storage area and charge you for storage and re-delivery. If this happens, We will try to contact You for alternative instructions.

7. Storage Conditions

We will prepare an inventory of Goods we receive for storage and will ask You to sign it. You will get a copy of the inventory. If You sign it or don’t sign it and don’t object to its accuracy within 7 days, the inventory will be considered correct. The inventory will only show visible items and not their contents unless You ask for the contents to be listed, in which case We will charge a reasonable fee.

8. Quotes

Our quote is for our minimum booking time and is not a guarantee of how long the job will take. Our rates may be higher on Fridays and Saturdays.

9. Charges and Payments

9.1. Payment. Once the job is done, Our team will let Us know and We will request the payment to mark the job as Completed. The team will not leave until the payment is made. We do not accept late payments. This process should take no more than 5 minutes; if it takes longer, this will be added to the total cost of the job.

9.2 Extra Charges.

Extra time is charged in 15-minute increments. This means that if we go over the estimated time, there will be an extra charge every 15 minutes.

We start charging overtime after 5 pm, at a rate of 1.5 times the hourly rate.

– Parking tickets are not included in our quote. The customer will pay for any parking costs during the move. We cannot park illegally and will not risk a parking fine. If we get a parking fine due to illegal parking authorized by the customer, the customer will be responsible for it.

If the customer allows illegal parking to speed up the job, the customer will be responsible for any fines or accidents (like other cars colliding).

10. Loss or Damage – Removals and Storage
10.1 Australian Consumer Law. This agreement adheres to the guarantees under sections 60, 61, and 62 of the Australian Consumer Law, which include assurances that services will be provided with due care and expertise. The following terms in this clause will apply accordingly.

10.2 Negligence. Our liability for loss or damage to the Goods is limited to the extent caused by Our own negligence (including that of any subcontractor). We are not responsible for any loss or damage caused by You or by third parties not legally accountable to Us.

10.3 Exclusions. We are not liable for any loss, damage, or delay due to circumstances beyond Our control, including issues arising from ancillary services provided by third-party providers.

10.4 Damage to Goods – Packaging. If Goods are damaged due to inadequate or faulty packing/unpacking, and this was not performed by Us or a subcontractor, We cannot be held liable.

10.5 Damage to Goods – Inherent Risk. Certain items, such as electronic appliances, computers, scientific tools, and musical instruments, are particularly vulnerable to damage during transport. Unless such damage is due to a lack of due care and skill on Our part, We are not liable. TVs should be secured in a protective box; although we can wrap them in bubble wrap and blankets, responsibility for any resulting damage is limited unless they are packed in a proper TV box.

10.6 Damage to Goods – Furniture Items. To document the condition of Your property, please take photos of items and furniture the day of or prior to the move, ensuring these items are located where Our team will encounter them. Without such evidence, neither We nor Our insurer can take responsibility for any damages. We are accountable only for items We transport; responsibility is not assumed if third parties are involved. If We are found responsible for damage to Goods, replacement may occur within 2-3 weeks. Items damaged due to excessive weight in Taxi Boxes or storage are not covered by Us.

10.7 Lost, Stolen or Misplaced Items. Our liability for lost, stolen, or misplaced items is limited to boxes, unless You have provided a detailed inventory with a valuation for each item in the box before transit or storage. In such cases, We must have failed to reasonably secure the items under Our care. We encourage You to conduct a thorough inspection before leaving the drop-off location to ensure nothing is left behind. This includes checking all furniture, lights, doors, windows, and plants.

10.8 Notification of Loss or Damage. You must verify that all Goods have been delivered, with no items missing and all Goods in acceptable condition. Claims for any loss or damage should be made in writing or by phone (and later confirmed in writing) promptly after delivery, ideally within 24 hours, as this enables Us to better locate lost items or investigate causes of damage. Claims for damages, including items damaged during the move, must be submitted within 5 business days following the move. Special circumstances for delayed notification may be considered if advance notice is provided that photographs cannot be taken within 24 hours.

11. Insurance
11.1 Our Insurance. We offer to arrange insurance for Goods during transit and storage, with Public Liability coverage up to $10 million and Goods in Transit up to $10,000.

11.2 Conditions Report. For all moves handled by Us, a “Conditions Report” from You, listing all items with clear photos of their condition, must be emailed to Us before the move date. Claims cannot be made if this report was not submitted before the move. Additionally, unclear photos or those lacking visibility of damage may be excluded from future claims.

11.3 Other Insurance. You are free to arrange insurance through a provider of Your choice.

11.4 Safe Environment. Clients must ensure a safe environment for Our team and their belongings. This includes preventing harassment, threats, discrimination, or undue pressure, and ensuring the property is free of hazards like loose screws, broken glass, or exposed wires. We will not be liable for damages if conditions are unsafe.

12. Disputes
12.1 Notification of Dispute. If either party considers a dispute has arisen under this agreement (whether during or after the Services), written notice of the dispute should be provided. Both parties must continue to fulfill any remaining obligations under the agreement, even if notice of a dispute has been issued.

12.2 Dispute Resolution. If We cannot resolve the dispute with You directly, You may refer it to the Australian Furniture Removers Association (telephone 1800 671 806) for resolution, and We will be bound by their decision.

13. Variation and Notice
13.1 Variation. These terms may be altered only with mutual consent, evidenced in writing and approved by one of Our directors, proprietors, or managers.

13.2 Notice. Any notice from Us to You may be sent personally or via electronic mail.

14. Applicable Law
The governing law of this agreement is the law of the location where the agreement was made.