Customer

In order for a transport company to provide you with an accurate quote it is imperative that you complete the collection & delivery details in full.

In addition to the address details you can also specify the dates for both collection & delivery in this section.

If there is restricted access you must provide details in this section as this will enable the transport provider to determine the most appropriate vehicle to use. For example: If the collection or delivery address is accessed via a narrow lane with low over hanging trees then it won't be suited for a large heavy goods vehicle.

Finally, if you require any form of handling equipment, such as a vehicle with a tail lift and pallet truck, please detail it in this section.

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When providing quotes transport companies will require detailed information on the consignment, including information on the size of the consignment, its weight, and the way in which it is packaged (i.e. pallets / boxes etc.).

For shipping, air freight and haulage quotes it is imperative that this information is as accurate as possible as it will determine the mode of transport, as well as the associated cost.

In most cases, if you are arranging the collection of goods from a third party supplier they will provide you with a detailed packing list outlining the way in which the goods are packaged, as well as the weight & dimensions of each individual item within the consignment.

With courier quotes, which are often used for the collection / delivery of household items and personal effects, we understand that you may not know the exact weight & dimensions, particularly if you are arranging the collection of an item that you may have purchased from a private individual.

In these circumstances simply click on the button labelled 'Unsure of dimensions & weight?' and then enter your best estimates. We will then inform the transport company that these are estimated dimensions and weight.

In such circumstances to assist the transport provider you have the opportunity of uploading a photo of the consignment. This will provide the transport provider with a clearer idea of the type of vehicle required and the overall cost of delivery.

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Hazardous materials are classified as any goods that pose a risk to people, property or the environment. These could range from those which are highly dangerous (such as flammables, explosives, and acids) to everyday products such as paints, pesticides and solvents. When transported these goods need to be packaged correctly for each mode of transport as laid out in the various international and national regulations in order to minimise the risk of an incident.

For further information on the transportation of hazardous goods or materials refer to the Department for Transport website: www.dft.gov.uk

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If you are transporting an unusual item, or one which you find difficult to describe you have the option of uploading an image. As well as attracting more bids, uploading images of your consignment can provide the transport company with a far clearer indication of the size of the item and therefore the most appropriate vehicle.

When uploading an image please ensure that:

• It is in an image format (e.g. .gif, .jpg, .bmp, .png etc...)
• It is no larger than 1 Mb

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Sometimes, after listing a consignment you may find an error, or omission which you need to change. To edit a listing please follow the steps outlined below:

1. Make sure you are logged into deliveryquotecompare.com by going to: http://www.deliveryquotecompare.com/login.
2. Select 'Active listings' on the left hand side of the page
3. Under the listing in question, click on the edit link
4. Make any changes to the listing & click save all changes at the end.

Please note you can only edit active listings. Completed or inactive listings cannot be edited.

If you have already received quotes on your listing and are making significant changes such as changing the collection / delivery address; the weight & dimensions of the consignment, or the dates etc then all current bids will be declined.

If however you are only making minor changes such as uploading additional images, or adding to the description, then all current bids will remain active.

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If you no longer require a delivery quote for whatever reason please delete your quote request from the site. To delete a listing please follow the steps outlined below:

1. Make sure you are logged into deliveryquotecompare.com by going to: http://www.deliveryquotecompare.com/login.
2. Select 'Active listings' on the left hand side of the page
3. Under the listing in question, click on the delete link

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If you have received a quote from a transport provider and wish to ask them a question you can do this through our secure messaging system.

1. Make sure you are logged into deliveryquotecompare.com by going to: http://www.deliveryquotecompare.com/login.
2. Select 'Active listings' on the left hand side of the page
3. Click on the listing in question and click on the 'View bids' button
4. Click on the 'view details' button against the transport provider you wish to ask a question
5. Type your question in the message box on the right hand side of the quote details section

Once your question has been submitted the transport provider will be alerted by email and will respond as quickly as possible. Once they have submitted a reply we will send you an email alert.

Please note that for your privacy and security you must not include contact details such as telephone / fax numbers, email or address details in this section.

Your contact details are only exchanged with a transport provider if and when you accept a quote.

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To accept a transport providers quote please follow the steps outlined below:

1. Make sure you are logged into deliveryquotecompare.com by going to: http://www.deliveryquotecompare.com/login.
2. Select 'Active listings' on the left hand side of the page
3. Click on the listing in question and click on the 'View bids' button
4. Select your chosen quote by clicking on the green 'Accept bid' button on the right & follow the on screen instructions

Please note that in order to accept a quote it must be active. Declined or inactive quotes cannot be accepted.

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To decline a transport providers quote please follow the steps outlined below:

1. Make sure you are logged into deliveryquotecompare.com by going to: http://www.deliveryquotecompare.com/login
2. Select 'Active listings' on the left hand side of the page
3. Click on the listing in question and click on the 'View bids' button
4. Select the quote you wish to decline by clicking 'View details'
5. Click on the red 'Decline' button on the right & follow the on screen instructions

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When you accept a quote on deliveryquotecompare.com you need to pay a small booking fee in order to book the services of your chosen transport provider.

Once the booking fee has been paid your details and those of the transport provider are exchanged and an email is sent to the transport provider asking them to contact you to complete the transaction.

All booking fees are guaranteed in the unlikely event that a transport provider fails to complete the transaction as agreed.

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Deliveryquotecompare.com is a neutral channel allowing users of transport services and transport providers to enter into delivery agreements.

As we are not involved in the actual transaction between users and transport providers we have no control and therefore accept no liability regarding the quality, safety, or legality of the transactions themselves. Although we carefully select our transport partners and conduct checks to ensure their reliability we do recommend that you do the following prior to accepting any submitted quotes:

Check licenses:

A transport providers HGV and operator licenses can be checked at: http://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/VOSA_AnonymousOperatorSearch_New.asp

Check trade memberships:

If a transport provider claims membership of a particular trade association, visit the trade associations' website and check their online membership directory.

Check Companies House:

If a transport provider claims to be a limited company you can check at Companies House: http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/

Unless you are comfortable with the transport provider do not accept their quote / bid. If you feel that a transport provider has made false or misleading claims please report it to [email protected]

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To protect your privacy and security direct contact with a transport provider should not take place until you have accepted a chosen quote. If a transport provider suggests off-site communication by either providing their contact details or requesting yours, please report it to: [email protected]. To communicate with a transport provider before accepting a quote / bid, please refer to: Communicating with transport companies.

Once you have accepted a quote from a transport provider, your details and those of the transport provider are exchanged and an email is sent to the transport provider requesting that they contact you directly to complete the transaction.

If your consignment / shipment is urgent and you have not heard from them please contact the transport provider direct using the contact details sent in the quote acceptance email.

If you have misplaced these details they can also be found via your My Profile page:

1. Make sure you are logged into deliveryquotecompare.com by going to: http://www.deliveryquotecompare.com/login.
2. Select 'Completed listings' on the left hand side of the page
3. Click on the listing in question and click on the 'View contact details' link

If you have not received a response after a reasonable period of time, please email: [email protected]

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One of the most important tasks when arranging delivery of your consignment is to ensure that it reaches its final destination in perfect condition. The key to achieving this is to ensure that you get your packaging right. Failure to do this can result in the headache of disputes and insurance claims, which is why a small amount of time correctly packaging your goods is time well spent.

There are a huge range of packaging options you can use - from cartons and drums to wooden pallets and metal containers. As most transport providers will deal with the movement of goods day in day out they are well placed to advise you of the particular packaging requirements for your consignment. Always confirm with them the best method for packaging your consignment prior to collection.

As well as sufficiently packaging your consignment, you also have to check that it is appropriately marked or labelled to ensure it is handled correctly while in transit.

For further information on labeling your consignment please refer to consignment documentation.

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Although it isn't a legal requirement to carry documents when transporting goods within the European Union (EU), its good practice to do so and can often avoid costly delays, especially when transporting goods from one country to another.

The most common form of transportation documents used are despatch notes and packing lists, although some carriers will demand an invoice.

Invoices

When transporting goods outside the EU all consignments must be accompanied by an import / export declaration and another supporting document, most commonly an invoice. At a minimum the invoice should contain:

• A description of the consignment
• The consignment weight (in kilograms)
• The value of the consignment
• The country of origin
• A signature and date

It's also recommended to include the consignor and consignee details. Some countries have special requirements regarding invoice layouts. Your transport provider should be able to advise you further.

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Once a collection / delivery date and time has been agreed with the transport provider it is imperative that that the consignment is ready and that there is someone present to release / receive the consignment. Failure to do so could result in a failed delivery / collection which may result in additional charges.

If after arranging the collection / delivery you need to change the date, or time, you must contact the transport provider as quickly as possible. Most transport providers work on an increasingly tight schedule with collection and delivery routes planned well in advance. As such, should there be any changes in dates or time you must notify the transport provider immediately.

Some transport providers may have submitted a quote based on collecting / delivering on a specific date; a change in these dates could result in additional charges

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Most transport providers will offer some level of insurance. However, their liability level may be lower than the value of the consignment. When submitting a quote the transport provider will detail the type and value of insurance they provide. If it is lower than the value of your consignment ask if they can increase the level of cover. Some providers may be happy to do this for a small additional fee. If they are unable to do so there are many specialist insurance providers offering goods in transit insurance..

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For detailed information on who we are & what we do, please refer to About us and How it works.

Should you require any further information please contact: [email protected]

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Due to the nature of transportation it is almost impossible to provide an instantaneous online quote. The cost of transportation is determined by many different factors including the collection and delivery locations, the consignment dimensions & weight, the nature of the consignment and the mode(s) of transport required.

Accordingly it may take some time for a transport provider to provide you with an accurate quote. Sometimes it can be a matter of minutes; other times, with more complex routes, it may take a couple of days. As such, when using deliveryquotecompare.com registration is required so that we can alert you when a transport provider has submitted a quote or bid.

There are two options when registering with deliveryquotecompare.com. You can either register as part of the consignment listing process, or alternatively you can register first and then simply login and list your consignment at a later date.

Both ways are entirely free of charge, as is the process of receiving quotes.

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All aspects of your account can be managed from the My Profile section of the website. To access this section make sure you are logged into deliveryquotecompare.com by going to: http://www.deliveryquotecompare.com/login

Within this section you can do the following:

• View all of your active listings, including details of all quotes received, as well as edit / delete your listing
• View details of all completed listings, including contact information for the chosen transport provider
• View all inactive listings (i.e. those which have expired / been deleted)
• Update your personal contact information such as address, email, contact numbers etc.
• Change your password

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Contact information:

In order to use deliveryquotecompare.com you must first complete the registration form and create a username and password. This allows us to alert you when you receive quotes or bids, whilst at the same time protecting your privacy as your contact details remain hidden from transport providers, therefore eliminating any invasive sales calls or emails.

The only details a service provider receives is your username; all communication is handled via our secure messaging system and your personal contact details are only exchanged if and when you accept a transport providers quote / bid.

Payment information:

We hold absolutely no payment information such as bank or credit card details; when you make a deposit payment to book the services of a transport provider it is transacted via PayPal, a secure and reputable online payment processor.

Login:

By default you will remain logged into deliveryquotecompare.com until you log off. As such, to protect your account please ensure that you remember to log off, especially if you are using a public computer.

Password:

When choosing a password for your account we recommend that you choose something which is memorable to you, yet difficult for someone else to guess. It is also advised that you use a mixture of upper and lower case letters as well as including at least one number.

For added security it is advised that you do not share your password with another person.

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