Trading Terms & Conditions

INTRODUCTION:

This company endeavours to maintain the highest standards of technical competence in the arboricultural industry. Should you wish to know more about us please visit our website. (www.kingscutstreeservices.co.uk)

DEFINITIONS:

1. The Client: Being the person or persons who has requested a quotation for works/authorised the works to proceed and will normally be the owner of the trees specified or will be the owner’s representative in whatever capacity with regard to said trees.
2. The Quotation: Being the written specification and costing for works as inspected and/or discussed on site and sent to the client. Quotations are valid for 4 months from the date of the survey after which period we reserve the right to amend costs/submit a new quotation.

3. The Works: Being the tree work operations as detailed in the written quotation.

4. The Contract: Being the works in the quotation requested/accepted/agreed by the client in writing.

5. The Contractor: Being Kings Cuts Tree services (KC)

GENERAL:

6. Tree Preservation Orders/ Conservation Areas: If the trees detailed in the quotation are covered by individual or group Tree Preservation Orders or are located within a Conservation Area the Contractor can/will obtain any necessary Local Authority consents for work on behalf of the client on written acceptance of the contract at an additional cost to the client.
7. Standard of Tree Work: All tree work will be undertaken in accordance with the British standard: BS 3998.
8. Insurance: The Contractor is covered by £10,000,000 Public Liability Insurance. Copies are available for inspection on request.
9. Additional Works: If during the execution of the contract additional works are requested by the client which are outside of the original quotation, then their cost can be agreed on site (and signed in confirmation by the client on the quotation sheet) or an additional quotation can be prepared which may necessitate a further site inspection(s) by the original estimator.
10. Emergency call out: Set rates apply and are chargeable from time of instruction.
11. Cancellation: 48 hours notice of agreed cancellation of scheduled works is required, otherwise client(s) incur a cancellation charge of 50% of the quotation price agreed on their written specification. Cancellation charges have a minimum cap of £120.
12. Neighbouring Trees: If works are to be carried out on a client’s neighbour’s trees which necessitate access to their property, then written consent from the owner will be required. Any works carried out on a client’s neighbouring trees which do not necessitate access to their property do not need written consent, but it is deemed prudent to inform them of proposed works. All the above are the sole responsibility of the client
13. Parking requirements: If there are parking restrictions or costs relating to parking, the client will be responsible for the costs and chargeable to the client.
14. Day/Hourly Rate: Where applicable day/hourly rates will be quoted on a man-hour basis and will cover traveling time in addition to time on site.
15. Weekend/Public Holiday Rate: Works undertaken on Saturdays are subject to a 25% surcharge, works undertaken on Sundays/Bank Holidays are subject to a 35% surcharge.
16. Payment: Payment is due upon the satisfactory completion of the contract, unless otherwise agreed. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Kings Cuts Trees” and posted to us or passed to the foreman on site. Payments may also be made by BACS using the account details denoted at the footer of all invoices.
17. Late Payments: If we do not receive payment within 31 days from the original invoice date, charges will apply and will be added to your final bill. Where payments are not made on the due date, KC TREES will be entitled to interest on the amount that is overdue at Metro Bank base rate prevailing for the period for which such monies are overdue together with 4% calculated on a day-to-day basis compounded with quarterly rests. The payment of such interest shall be without prejudice to any other rights or remedies of KC TREES. Any legal or other charges incurred in the recovery of money or equipment shall be paid by the Customer.
18. Complaints: Any complaints/queries relating to the satisfactory completion of works must be raised with our office within 24 hours of receipt of invoice, otherwise the contractor reserves the right to charge additional fees for further works/attendance/amendments.
19. Settlement of disputes: The contractor will do everything possible to resolve any misunderstandings arising from contract works to the satisfaction of both parties. If agreement cannot be reached, then a suitable third party for mediation/resolution purposes will be sought.
20. The business has access to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service for our domestic installation, service, repair and maintenance contracts as part of the Which? Trusted Traders Endorsement. If you choose to, you can refer your complaint to Which? Trusted Traders’ Alternative Dispute Resolution. You will need to contact Which? Trusted Traders on 02922 670 040 who can explain if you are eligible to use their Alternative Dispute Resolution.”

THE WORKSITE:

20. Site Conditions: The contract price is based on site conditions as inspected by the estimator. The contractor reserves the right to levy additional costs subject to the degree of additional obstruction or to delay, postpone or rearrange works as necessary. The works area must be accessible prior to commencement of works. The contractor does not accept any responsibility for any damage or loss incurred through the need to clear access for works.
21. Services: It is the responsibility of the client to inform the contractor of any underground services within the proposed area of works prior to commencement. The contractor will not accept liability for any damage to services not informed about and reserves the right to cancel works deemed a potential hazard. Any injury to operatives caused through contact with undisclosed services will remain the responsibility of the client.
22. Weather conditions: The contractor reserves the right to delay, postpone or cancel works affected by inclement/dangerous weather conditions and to resume works as soon as conditions allow.
23. Wildlife and Countryside Act: 1981/2000 & Crow Act (2000) Bats: The contractor shall take all reasonable steps to ensure the safe retention of any wildlife habitats and reserves the right to delay, postpone or cancel works accordingly and to resume works as soon as practical.
24. Site Clearance: The contractor shall take all reasonable steps to ensure the worksite is left clear and safe at days end and on completion of all works.

EXPLANATION OF TERMS:

Clean out crown: Being the removal of dead wood, dying, diseased, weak, suppressed, split, broken, hanging crossing and rubbing branches and epicormic growth (small shoots emanating from the main trunk and stems) from the crown.

Remove dead wood: Being the removal of all major dead wood in the tree down to 3-4cm diameter.

Formative prune: Being the minimal pruning of, usually, young trees to maintain optimum initial branch structure and crown balance in order to pre-empt potential future problems.

Trim/Shear/ Box Up: Usually refers to hedge trimming and shrubs both evergreen and deciduous. Being the pruning back to flatten off or round off growth to contain spread and maintain control/optimum visual appearance and shape.

Crown lift: Being the complete removal of lowest branches to main trunk and/or the reducing back in length of lowest branches thus increasing the height of the main crown line above ground level. Usually expressed in meters.

Crown thin: Being the removal of all branches as in ‘Clean out crown’ and the removal of further smaller diameter branches evenly throughout crown in order to lessen the crown density and thus improve light through the tree. Crown thinning will not result in any major alteration in the outline of the tree and will usually be expressed as a percentage.

Crown reduce/reshape: Being the all-round reduction of the crown size of the tree (not the trees’ overall height) unless otherwise specified. Usually expressed as a percentage. In some cases, only partial crown reduction is specified in order to clear buildings, street furniture etc. usually expressed in meters.

Pollard: Being the removal of all growth back to main trunk or trunk knuckles, unless otherwise specified.

Fell: Being the complete removal of a tree as near to ground or surrounding soil level as possible, leaving a stump in the ground. Usually entails the dismantling of the tree in sections.

Stump Grind: Refers to the stump at or near ground level being mechanically chipped out to a depth of 0.3metres below ground level only. The trees’ radial root spread remains intact unless otherwise specified. Arisings will be removed to leave area level, or the spoil may be mounded or spread out.

Grind out stump: In some cases, usually with smaller shallow stumps, it would be possible to grind out the whole stump. On larger stumps the grinding of radial roots down to a certain diameter may be specified.

Grub out: Refers to the stump and roots of a tree. Being the physical /manual digging out of a stump and its root system. Usually applies to smaller trees.

Winch out: Refers to the stump and roots of a tree being physically/manually excavated out of the area around the tree/stump, the severance of major radial roots and the mechanical winching out of the ground of the stump then the backfilling of the area where possible to level. Usually refers to larger trees.

Poisoning: Treating the stump to prevent re-growth. The poisoning of the stump at ground level following felling work effectively to prevent the tree from re-sprouting Product used: Amcide (or similar product); a systemic product which breaks down to a nitrogenous fertiliser after 6-8 weeks. Treated stump to be kept covered where possible by the client until such time.

Spraying: Tree/shrub spraying with insecticide/fungicide/herbicide will be carried out by staff who have the appropriate licence. KC Trees currently employs trained operatives with PA1 & PA6 spraying certificates.