Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Rapid Logistics Ltd ("Rapid Logistics", "we", "us", "our"), a company registered in England and Wales under registration number 15295820, with its office at Unit 12, Buzzard Creek Industrial Estate, River Road, Barking IG11 0EL, provides quotations, freight forwarding and associated logistics services. Please read them carefully before requesting a quotation, confirming a booking or handing goods or vehicles to us or our appointed carriers. By instructing us, you confirm that you accept these terms.

In line with common practice among UK freight forwarders, we act as an agent arranging carriage with shipping lines, airlines, hauliers, port operators and customs brokers, unless we expressly agree in writing to act as principal. Where the British International Freight Association (BIFA) Standard Trading Conditions, or the conditions of a carrier, apply to a particular movement, those conditions will be referred to in your written confirmation and will take precedence where they conflict with this page.

1. Definitions

• Customer means the person, business or organisation instructing us, including any agent acting on their behalf.
• Goods means any cargo, vehicle, container, personal effects, packaging or equipment that we are asked to handle, store, transport or arrange carriage for.
• Services means quotations, booking, collection, packing, loading, carriage, customs documentation, clearance, insurance arrangement, storage and any related service.
• Carrier means any shipping line, airline, road haulier, rail operator, terminal, warehouse or other third party engaged to perform any part of the Services.
• Written confirmation means a booking confirmation or invoice issued by us by email or in writing.

2. Quotations

1. Quotations are based on the information the Customer supplies, including dimensions, weight, value, commodity, collection address and destination. Inaccurate information may lead to revised charges.
2. Unless stated otherwise, quotations are valid for 14 days and are subject to space availability with the carrier at the time of booking.
3. Ocean and air freight rates are subject to carrier surcharges beyond our control, including bunker adjustment factors, currency adjustment factors, peak season surcharges, war risk premiums, security fees and emergency charges. Where these change between quotation and shipment, the revised amount will be passed on at cost.
4. Unless expressly included, quotations exclude import duties, taxes, VAT, destination terminal handling, demurrage, detention, storage, inspection fees, fines and any charge levied by an authority.
5. Indicative prices shown on this website are guides only and do not constitute an offer capable of acceptance.

3. Bookings and confirmation

1. A booking becomes binding only when we issue written confirmation. Submission of any form on this website does not create a booking.
2. Sailing, flight and collection dates are estimates provided by carriers. We do not guarantee departure, transit or arrival dates, and carriers may roll, delay or re-route shipments.
3. The Customer must ensure that Goods are ready for collection or delivered to the agreed terminal by the agreed cut-off time. Failed collections, waiting time or missed cut-offs may incur additional charges.

4. Customer obligations

The Customer warrants that:

• they own the Goods or are authorised by the owner to accept these terms;
• all descriptions, values, weights, dimensions and documents supplied are complete and accurate;
• the Goods are properly packed, labelled and suitable for the intended carriage;
• no dangerous, prohibited, restricted, illegal or undeclared items are included, unless declared in advance and accepted in writing;
• vehicles are delivered with no more than a quarter tank of fuel (or as the carrier requires), with batteries secured, alarms disabled, and free of personal effects unless agreed;
• they will comply with all export and import laws, sanctions, licensing and customs requirements.

The Customer is responsible for any cost, fine, delay, damage or loss arising from breach of these warranties, including costs incurred by us or any carrier.

5. Payment

1. Unless credit terms are agreed in writing, freight and associated charges are payable in full before the Goods are released for shipment, or before loading, whichever is earlier.
2. A deposit may be requested to secure space. The deposit amount will be stated in your written confirmation.
3. Charges incurred at destination that are payable by the consignee remain the Customer's responsibility if the consignee fails to pay.
4. We may charge interest on overdue sums at 8% above the Bank of England base rate under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 for business customers.
5. We may exercise a general lien over any Goods in our possession for sums owed on that or any other shipment, and may sell such Goods after reasonable notice to recover unpaid amounts.

6. Cancellation policy

Cancellations must be made in writing to info@rapidlogisticsltd.com. The following charges reflect costs typically committed at each stage of a booking:

When you cancel	Charge
Before written confirmation is issued	No charge
After confirmation, more than 7 days before collection or delivery to terminal	Administration fee of £75 plus any non-refundable third-party costs already committed
Within 7 days of collection or terminal delivery	Administration fee of £150 plus all third-party costs incurred, including collection, cancelled space and carrier cancellation fees
After Goods have been collected, received at terminal or loaded	All costs incurred to date, including haulage, handling, storage, customs and return delivery, plus any carrier dead-freight charge
After departure of the vessel or aircraft	The full freight charge remains payable

Where a carrier cancels or cannot provide space, we will offer the next available departure or, if that is not acceptable to you, refund sums paid for the unperformed carriage less any non-refundable third-party costs.

7. Refund policy

1. Approved refunds are processed within 14 working days of our written agreement to the refund, to the original payment method wherever possible.
2. Customs duties, taxes, insurance premiums, inspection fees and charges already paid to authorities or carriers are refundable only if, and to the extent that, the relevant third party refunds them to us.
3. Deposits are refundable in full only when a cancellation is made before written confirmation, or when we are unable to provide the confirmed service.
4. Consumers who book at a distance may have a 14-day cancellation right under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. If you ask us to start services within the cancellation period, you will pay for services supplied up to the date of cancellation. The right does not apply once the service is fully performed, and some transport services on a specific date are exempt.
5. Nothing in this policy affects your statutory rights as a consumer.

8. Insurance

Goods are not insured by us unless you request marine or cargo insurance in writing and we confirm cover. Without insurance, compensation is limited to the carrier's liability under the applicable international conventions, which may be substantially lower than the value of the Goods. We strongly recommend insurance for all vehicles and valuable shipments. Claims under any insurance policy are subject to the insurer's terms, exclusions and excess.

9. Liability

1. Where we act as agent, our liability is limited to the exercise of reasonable care in the selection and instruction of carriers and third parties.
2. Where we are liable for loss of or damage to Goods, our liability shall not exceed 2 Special Drawing Rights per kilogram of gross weight of the Goods lost or damaged, or the value of the Goods, whichever is lower, unless a higher value has been declared and agreed in writing with an additional charge paid.
3. We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, loss of market, or losses arising from delay, except where required by law.
4. We are not liable for failures caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including weather, strikes, port congestion, war, pandemic, government action, sanctions or carrier failure.
5. Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any liability that cannot be excluded by law.

10. Claims and time limits

Visible loss or damage must be noted on the delivery receipt and notified to us in writing within 3 days of delivery. Concealed damage must be notified within 7 days. We shall be discharged from all liability unless legal proceedings are brought within 9 months of the date of delivery or the date the Goods should have been delivered. Carrier and insurer time limits may be shorter.

11. Customs and documentation

The Customer is responsible for the accuracy of commercial invoices, packing lists, V5C registration documents, export declarations and import permits. Where we lodge declarations on the Customer's behalf, we act as direct or indirect representative only on written instruction. Duties, VAT and penalties assessed by HMRC or any foreign authority are payable by the Customer.

12. Storage, abandonment and uncollected Goods

If Goods are not collected or accepted at destination, storage, demurrage and return costs will be charged to the Customer. Goods left uncollected for more than 28 days after notice may be treated as abandoned and sold or disposed of, with proceeds applied to outstanding charges.

13. Complaints

We aim to resolve complaints fairly and promptly. Please email info@rapidlogisticsltd.com with your booking reference. We will acknowledge complaints within 5 working days and aim to provide a full response within 28 days.

14. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, except that consumers resident in Scotland or Northern Ireland may bring proceedings in their local courts.

15. Contact

Rapid Logistics Ltd · Unit 12, Buzzard Creek Industrial Estate, River Road, Barking IG11 0EL · Phone: +44 20 3807 0489 · Email: info@rapidlogisticsltd.com