Payment Terms:

Deposits are required to confirm all our coach hires and are non-refundable. All enquiries you make with us are noted in our system as a quotation. Quotations do not reserve a coach, it is only once we have received your deposit that we are able to confirm your booking and allocate a particular vehicle· Full payment is required prior to travel. Silver Fern Coachlines reserves the right to pursue the Client directly for payment should the Customer fail to make payment in full and on time.

All Silver Fern Coachlines’ quotes are based on the most logical route unless otherwise requested. Where itinerary (route and time) changes are made, Silver Fern Coachlines may adjust the quoted rate. Where payment has not been received by the due date, Silver Fern Coachlines reserves the right to engage another agency for the purpose of debt recovery. The Customer acknowledges that full cost of that debt collection will be incurred by the Customer.

Cancellation Policy:

1. Cancellations received more than four weeks prior to your booking date will lose the deposit paid.

2. Cancellations received between one and four weeks prior to your booking date will lose the greater of your initial deposit and 50% of your value, if we are able to resell your day and time of hire for a booking of the same or greater value, we will refund any cancellation charge over your initial deposit.

3. Full payment is required for cancellations received less than 7 days prior to your booking. If we are able to resell your day and time of hire for a booking of the same or greater value, we will refund any cancellation charge over your initial deposit.

Postponement Policy:

In some circumstances, if possible, we can move your booking to a new date.

1. If your cancellation is made more than seven days prior and we are able to resell your day and time of hire for a booking of the same or greater value, there will be no postponement charge and all payments will be held for the new date.

2. If your cancellation is made more than seven days prior and we are not able to resell your day and time of hire for a booking of the same or greater value your initial deposit is held as a cancellation charge and the balance of payments will be held for the new date.

3.  Cancellations made with less than seven days’ notice will be at the discretion of Silver Fern Coachlines.

4. If for any reason we need to send your debt to a debt collector, you will be charged debt collection fees.

Away Charters

• Where an itinerary requires an overnight stay, all meals and accommodation will be covered by Silver Fern Coachlines and incorporated into the quote, unless otherwise agreed.

• Where accommodation is supplied by the ‘Customer’ it must meet minimum standard levels being a single motel/hotel room with its own toilet and shower facility. Silver Fern Coachlines does not permit their Drivers to share a room with Tour/Charter Leaders or ‘Passengers’.

• Meals must be of an acceptable standard.

What if something goes wrong on the day?

Things can go wrong that are outside our control. In the unlikely event something does go wrong, such as an equipment failure that does not affect the safety or ability for the coach to continue on its journey but will severely be a detriment to your trip you have the choice to either;

a) send the coach away and discuss a refund with the office on the next business day (there is no refund if you simply decide not to use the vehicle, the full charter amount will be payable).

b) wait for a suitable replacement vehicle. (Additional time will, where possible, be made available to you on the day).

c) choose to use the existing coach to complete the service.

Please note that if you choose on the day to use the vehicle or wait for a replacement, we do not give a cash refund for the service however we are happy to discuss other options as compensation. Staff onboard the coaches do not have the authority to make decisions on these matters. Please get in touch with the office at your earliest convenience (business hours) if this event occurs. Your journey is our priority and we want you to be happy with our service. Remember we are a transport company, and our main service is getting you to where you are going.

Where can you be picked up from?

Please keep in mind that you are booking a large passenger vehicle, we are not always able to pick up from your doorstep. If you are on a dead-end road not suitable for a coach to turn around we will need to park at the top of your road ready for collection. Drivers aim to get as close as safely possible to your address, but many factors can impact how close a coach can get e.g. parked cars, overhanging trees, narrow streets. If you are unable to see your coach and driver from the road the driver will give you a call or advise you where they are located.

Lost Property:

We take no responsibility for any items left on our coaches, however, any items that are found will be kept in our office for seven days for safekeeping. After this period, we reserve the right to donate or dispose of the items accordingly.

Bookings:

Charter bookings are subject to availability at the time confirmation is received. Our coaches are not able to travel down clients’ driveways and if you live on a dead-end street, it will be the discretion of our operations team or drivers regarding if it is safe to travel down this road as they need sufficient space to safely turn the vehicle around. We will endeavour to advise you prior to your event date if we are unable to get close to your address however, we are only able to see so much on google maps so it will be up to the driver on the day.

Departure Times:

The pickup time booked is the planned arrival time of the vehicle booked. We give our drivers sufficient time to arrive at their destination on time and ready to depart, however, if there are circumstances beyond our control, we cannot be held liable for these delays.

Repairs and Cleaning:

Depending on the hire there is an expected level of cleaning. If a greater level of cleaning is required, you may be required to pay for this. If a member of your group is sick on the bus, there will be a $100 cleaning charge. Any damage to the vehicle caused by the passengers will be charged to the organiser.

General Terms:

• The rate charged is appropriate to coach capacity, kilometres travelled, and time incurred. Any changes to the above on or before the day of hire by the hirer may result in the rate being adjusted accordingly from the original quote. The quotation is given on the understanding that the driving hours comply with current legislation. These regulations determine that a driver cannot be on duty for any more than 13 hours, before he/she must have a 10-hour rest break. Those 13 hours include the time he/she needs to get back to or from our depot, or to and from a hotel and drivers must have half an hour break every 5.5 hours worked as in accordance with NZ Work Time Rule for commercial drivers.

• Silver Fern Coachlines Drivers cannot undertake requested itinerary changes from any member of the Group, including the Person in Charge, without prior approval from Silver Fern Coachlines operations/ management.

• Quoted rates are net rates in New Zealand currency ($NZD) plus GST unless otherwise stated. Payment, in full is required prior to departure of service unless by prior arrangement. Settlement must be made by the 20th of the month following the debit of the charge. For any International Bank Transfers a applicable bank fee will be charged. Credit Card Payments incur a 3.5% additional fee. 

• Silver Fern Coachlines accepts no responsibility caused by delays or unusual circumstances which are out of our control. The company reserves the right to substitute alternative equipment at its option in the event of unanticipated circumstances which necessitate a change.

• Section 38 of the Summary Offences Act 1981 states that “there is a total ban on the consumption of alcohol on any passenger service vehicle including charter vehicles”. Smoking and vaping is prohibited on all Silver Fern Coachlines vehicles under the provisions of the Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act 2003.

• Silver Fern Coachlines Drivers reserve the right to refuse to carry members of the ‘Group’ who choose to break the obligations outlined in these Terms and Conditions of Carriage.

• Silver Fern Coachlines Drivers are responsible for the safety of the vehicle and ‘Passengers’ and therefore have the final say as to whether it is safe for the vehicle to travel parts of the itinerary.

• Silver Fern Coachlines cannot be held responsible for any loss, injury or damage resulting from any activity associated with the charter. This includes, but is not limited to: loss, injury or damage as a result of civil disturbances, act of terrorism, theft, road closure, itinerary changes, adverse weather, natural disaster or any costs associated with late arrival to drop off locations.

• Silver Fern Coachlines cannot be held responsible for damaged luggage, luggage left behind on the vehicle, or theft of luggage that is directly the result of passenger interference.