Terms and Conditions for Barking Carpet Cleaners

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Barking Carpet Cleaners provides domestic and commercial carpet cleaning services, together with related upholstery, rug, stain treatment and fabric care services where agreed in writing. By making a booking, confirming an appointment, or allowing our operatives to begin work, the customer agrees to be bound by these terms. If any part of these terms is unclear, the customer should ask for clarification before the service begins.

In these terms, references to “we”, “us” and “our” mean Barking Carpet Cleaners, and references to “you” or “the customer” mean the person or business requesting the service. These terms apply to all standard carpet cleaning bookings, including one-off cleans, end-of-tenancy cleans, office carpet cleaning, stain removal, deodorising, and any additional treatments requested and accepted by us.

We may update these terms from time to time. Any changes will apply to new bookings made after the updated version is issued. For existing bookings, the version in force at the time of booking will normally apply, unless a change in law or regulation requires otherwise. The customer is responsible for reading and understanding the terms before confirming any appointment.

1. Booking Process

Bookings are accepted subject to availability and are only confirmed once we have acknowledged the appointment request and agreed the essential service details. These details usually include the type of carpet or fabric, approximate room count or area, access arrangements, parking considerations, the requested date, and any specific issues such as heavy staining, pet odours, water damage, or delicate materials. A booking may be refused if the work is outside our service scope or if the premises are unsuitable for the service requested.

The customer must provide accurate and complete information at the time of booking. This includes any known hazards, fragile items, prior treatments, or restrictions that may affect the cleaning process. If information supplied before the appointment turns out to be inaccurate or incomplete, we may revise the quotation, adjust the service plan, or withdraw from the booking where necessary. Any such changes may affect timing, price, or the outcome of the work.

We will use reasonable efforts to arrive within the agreed time window, but arrival times are estimates only and may be affected by traffic, weather, access delays, equipment issues, or earlier jobs running longer than expected. Time is not of the essence unless expressly agreed in writing. If the customer needs to reschedule, they should notify us as soon as possible so that we can offer an alternative slot if available.

2. Service Conditions and Customer Responsibilities

The customer is responsible for ensuring that the premises are ready for the service. This includes providing suitable access to the work area, clearing personal belongings where possible, ensuring that the area is safe to work in, and advising us of any obstacles that may hinder cleaning. Unless agreed otherwise, the service price assumes normal access and an ordinary domestic or business environment.

We may move light furniture as part of the service if it is safe and reasonable to do so. However, we are not required to move heavy, fixed, awkward, or high-value items such as beds, wardrobes, pianos, electronics, large cabinets, or wall-mounted fixtures. The customer should remove small valuables, loose items, and fragile objects before the appointment. We accept no responsibility for items left in the cleaning area that are damaged, lost, or displaced where the customer has not removed them.

Any pre-existing wear, stains, fading, fibre distortion, dye instability, or previous improper cleaning may affect the final result. Carpet cleaning is a restorative service, not a guarantee of complete stain removal or full return to original condition. Where a stain is particularly old, set in, or caused by substances that have permanently altered the fibres, the best possible result may still fall short of full removal.

3. Pricing and Payments

The price will be based on the information provided at booking and may be quoted as a fixed fee, a room-based rate, an area-based rate, or a time-based rate, depending on the nature of the job. Any quotation is valid only for the period stated, or if no period is stated, for a reasonable period based on the circumstances. Unless explicitly stated, quotations are subject to inspection of the premises and the actual condition of the items to be cleaned.

Additional charges may apply if the work differs from the description provided at booking, if extra rooms or items are added on the day, if particularly heavy soiling requires more labour, or if specialist products or extended drying methods are needed. We will explain material changes to the price where reasonably possible before carrying out the additional work. If the customer does not agree to the revised price, we may complete only the originally agreed scope, provided it is practical and safe to do so.

Payment is due on completion of the service unless a different arrangement has been agreed in advance. We may accept card payment, bank transfer, cash, or another permitted method, but availability of any particular payment option is not guaranteed. For business customers or larger jobs, we may request a deposit or part payment before attendance. All fees must be paid in full without deduction, set-off, or withholding unless required by law.

Late payments may result in recovery action and the customer may be liable for reasonable administrative costs and interest where permitted by law. Any invoice dispute must be raised promptly and in good faith. Undisputed sums remain payable by the due date even where a separate issue is under discussion.

4. Cancellations, Postponements and Right to Refuse

The customer may cancel or postpone a booking by giving reasonable notice. Because an appointment reserves time, staff, and equipment, short-notice cancellations may attract a charge. Unless a different notice period is stated at booking, cancellations made less than 24 hours before the agreed arrival time may be charged in full or in part to reflect lost capacity, travel planning, and preparation costs. Deposits may be retained to the extent reasonably necessary to cover administrative and operational loss.

If we need to cancel or postpone due to illness, weather, safety concerns, vehicle failure, equipment malfunction, or circumstances beyond our control, we will aim to offer a new appointment as soon as reasonably practicable. Our liability for such cancellation is limited to rebooking the service or refunding any amount already paid for the cancelled element, unless a greater remedy is required by law.

We may refuse, pause, or discontinue work if the premises are unsafe, if the customer behaves abusively, if access is denied, if the provided information was materially inaccurate, or if the condition of the items makes cleaning impractical or potentially damaging. In those circumstances, any charge already incurred may still be payable. Where we stop work because it is unsafe or unlawful to continue, this will not be treated as a breach by us.

5. Liability and Limitations

We will carry out our services with reasonable care and skill. If we fail to do so, the customer may be entitled to a remedy under applicable law. However, our liability is limited to losses that are foreseeable and directly caused by our breach or negligence. We do not exclude liability where exclusion would be unlawful, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited.

Cleaning can involve the use of moisture, agitation, heat, and chemical products. While we take reasonable precautions, some materials may react unpredictably. We are not liable for damage caused by hidden defects, manufacturing faults, colour fastness issues, pre-existing deterioration, unsuitable care labels, or instructions not to clean that were not disclosed to us. The customer remains responsible for informing us about special materials, previous treatments, or any manufacturer guidance.

If an item is damaged as a direct result of our proven negligence, our responsibility will normally be limited, at our option, to re-cleaning the affected area, carrying out reasonable remedial work, or paying compensation up to the lower of the actual loss suffered and the value of the specific item or service in question. We do not accept responsibility for indirect or consequential losses such as loss of profits, loss of business, inconvenience, or alternative accommodation costs, except where such exclusion is prohibited by law.

The customer should inspect the work promptly after completion. Any concern about the service should be raised as soon as reasonably possible and, in any event, within a reasonable time so that we can investigate. Failure to report an issue promptly may affect our ability to verify the cause and may limit available remedies.

6. Waste Regulations and Environmental Compliance

We operate in accordance with applicable UK waste management and environmental requirements. This means that waste generated through our service, including used cleaning solution residues, collected debris, removed contaminants, packaging, and any waste materials we are responsible for, will be handled in a lawful and responsible manner. We will not knowingly dispose of waste in a way that breaches environmental rules or local waste control obligations.

Where we remove waste from the property as part of the service, the customer agrees that it may be segregated, transported, stored temporarily, and disposed of by lawful means. Some materials may require special handling, especially where they are contaminated, wet, odorous, or potentially hazardous. We may refuse to remove any item or residue that we reasonably believe cannot be disposed of safely, lawfully, or without specialist treatment.

The customer must not ask us to dispose of prohibited, dangerous, or regulated materials unless we have expressly agreed and are legally permitted to do so. If the customer provides contaminated items, infested materials, sharps, bodily fluids, or other items that require specialist disposal, we may decline the work, apply additional charges, or ask the customer to arrange appropriate disposal. The customer is responsible for declaring any such risks in advance.

Any waste transfer or collection activities we undertake will be limited to what is necessary for the cleaning service and in accordance with relevant rules. We may ask the customer to retain ownership of certain waste items until appropriate disposal arrangements are confirmed. If any local or national regulation requires separation, consignment, or documented handling, the customer agrees to cooperate reasonably with those requirements.

7. Insurance, Force Majeure and Data Use

We maintain insurance cover that is appropriate for the nature of our business, although insurance does not create rights beyond those set out in these terms or required by law. If a claim is made, the customer should preserve the relevant item or area, avoid further interference where possible, and allow us a fair opportunity to inspect the alleged issue before remedial steps are taken. Any temporary repair or replacement should only be undertaken where necessary to reduce further loss.

We are not liable for delay or failure to perform our obligations where the delay or failure results from events outside our reasonable control, including severe weather, accident, industrial action, fire, flood, supply disruption, government action, or emergency safety concerns. Where a force majeure event occurs, we may suspend the affected booking, rearrange it, or cancel it if performance becomes impossible or impractical.

We may record and store information relating to bookings, service history, invoices, access notes, and complaint handling for business administration and legal compliance. Any personal data will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection law. We will only use information where we have a lawful basis to do so and will retain it for as long as reasonably necessary for service delivery, record keeping, and dispute resolution.

8. Governing Law and General Provisions

These terms and any dispute or claim arising from or in connection with them are governed by the law of England and Wales. If the customer is based elsewhere in the United Kingdom, the mandatory consumer rights or local legal protections that apply may still remain unaffected to the extent required by law. Any dispute shall be resolved by the courts having appropriate jurisdiction in England and Wales, unless another forum is required by statute.

If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force. A failure or delay by us in enforcing any part of these terms shall not be treated as a waiver of our rights. No person other than the customer and us has any right to enforce these terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, unless expressly stated otherwise in writing.

These terms form the full agreement between the parties concerning the service, unless varied in writing by an authorised representative of Barking Carpet Cleaners. Any verbal statement, estimate, or explanation given before booking does not override the written terms unless confirmed in writing. By proceeding with a booking, the customer confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted these conditions in full.

For clarity, our service is intended to be professional, reasonable, and transparent. We aim to provide a reliable carpet cleaning service while maintaining safe working practices, lawful waste handling, fair pricing, and proper respect for the customer’s property. These terms are designed to protect both parties and to ensure that expectations are clear from booking through to completion.