Terms and conditions

The company HOUCI TRANS, trading under the name Houci Transport, registered in the trade and companies register, whose registered office is at 12 rue du 8 mai 1945, 33140 Villenave d'Ornon, and registered in the register of private hire vehicle operators held by the Ministry of Transport under number EVTC033162007, offers businesses and private individuals the sale of a service of “hire of a passenger car with driver, hire of a transport vehicle with driver”.

These terms and conditions are entered into between:

On the one hand, the company HOUCI TRANS, hereinafter referred to as “the Seller”, “the Provider” or “Houci Transport”.

And on the other hand, any natural or legal person wishing to use the services of Houci Transport, hereinafter referred to as “the Client”.

Together referred to as “the Parties”. Passengers are also referred to as “the Client”.

The Seller reserves the right to modify or adapt these terms and conditions at any time and without notice, in particular in order to bring them into line with statutory and regulatory provisions. The Client is therefore invited to consult them regularly and before booking any service.

However, the general terms applicable to each service shall be those in force on the day the service is definitively confirmed by the Client.

These terms and conditions define the respective rights and obligations of the contracting Parties in connection with the sale of the services provided by Houci Transport.

By signing the agreement, the quotation or the order form, or by accepting the order confirmation, the Client expressly acknowledges having read these terms and conditions and having accepted them. Only departures agreed to in writing by the Seller may alter the application of these general terms.

The Seller carries on the activity of private hire vehicle operator. In the course of this activity, seeking customers on the public highway, otherwise known as “plying for hire”, is prohibited, and transport services within the scope of this activity are provided by advance booking only.

The service of hiring a passenger car with driver provided by the Seller consists in making a passenger vehicle available, inseparably combined with the services of a driver.

The following are included in the price:

• Unlimited professional liability insurance for the persons transported
• Fuel
• The wages of the qualified driver as required by the regulations
• Maintenance of the vehicle, save as otherwise provided herein
• The kilometres and the time as per the quotation (departure and arrival)
• Toll charges
• Carriage of the Client's luggage

The following are not included in the price:

• Entrance fees to sites and public or other places (monuments, museums, exhibitions, shows, etc.)
• Telephone calls made or received by the Client using the communication facilities of the vehicle and/or of the driver, where these are provided
• The driver's meal costs, where the service takes place during meal times, on the terms set out below

For any service lasting more than 4 (four) hours, where the service takes place wholly or partly during the usual lunch hour (between 12.00 and 14.00) and/or the dinner hour (between 19.00 and 21.00), a driver's meal allowance is charged at a flat rate of 20 (twenty) euros including VAT per meal.

The driver's accommodation costs in the event of a long journey. Where the journey is long, the driver must rest along the way, in order to ensure the safety of the Client and of the vehicle and to comply with the regulations in force.

If the driver's service includes an overnight stay, the rest hours (for example: from 00.00 to 07.00) are included in the price of the service as quoted to the Client. However, the Client must bear the cost of accommodation and breakfast. Accommodation in the event of an overnight stay and/or the driver's meal will then be charged at a flat rate:

• For accommodation: 100 (one hundred) euros including VAT
• For breakfast: 12 (twelve) euros including VAT

Likewise, before setting off and after dropping the Client at their destination, the driver may be obliged to take a night's rest. The hotel night will then be charged at 100 (one hundred) euros including VAT as a flat rate, and breakfast and/or dinner will be charged at a flat rate of 20 (twenty) euros including VAT.

The mileage and the time are counted on the basis of the Client's place of departure and destination. Any pricing unit (kilometre, hour) started is payable. Any additional services requested by the Client (extra kilometres, additional hours, etc.) that were not provided for in the initial quotation will be the subject of a supplementary invoice.

If the Seller collects the Client from an airport or a station, the driver waits for the Client, as far as possible, at the exit of the terminal or of the train once the Client has collected their luggage and cleared customs where applicable. The driver may also wait in the car park notified to the Client, if he has a contact number. Where necessary, the driver will hold a welcome sign bearing the name of the Client or that of their guests.

In the exceptional event that the Client does not see the driver, the Client undertakes to contact the driver on the following number: +33 6 71 34 98 81. If the Client does not contact the Seller, the latter will consider that the Client has not turned up and the transfer will be cancelled. Such cancellation will be governed by the provisions of article 7.1 below.

An allowance of 20 (twenty) minutes of waiting time from the arrival time of the train or the flight as stated by the Client at the time of booking is included in the price. Beyond that, any waiting time will be invoiced to the Client in addition.

As regards vehicle-with-driver hire by the hour, the assignment begins at the departure address at the agreed time. The end of the assignment is deemed to be the driver's arrival at Houci Transport's registered office. Where the last journey causes the driver to arrive later than the scheduled time, a supplement may be charged. All this information is given by the driver.

The Seller may engage providers external to the Seller's business. The subcontractor will be under the Seller's direction.

All the routes of the transport services requested, and accordingly their mileage, are calculated using applications such as Michelin, Mappy and the GPS built into the driver's vehicle. Our prices are determined on the basis of these sources.

An exact departure and arrival address must be provided in order to calculate the route, and accordingly the mileage, as accurately as possible. An exact address must take the following form: number, street name, full name of the municipality with the postcode and the country. Where no complete address is given, the furthest point of the municipality, district or street provided will be taken into account.

Route changes and detours resulting from events beyond the Client's control (such as, in particular, roadworks, bad weather, diversions, traffic jams or accidents) will not be invoiced to the Client. Such events cannot constitute grounds for dispute or complaint.

Route changes and detours made at the Client's request are not permitted. However, the driver, in agreement with the Seller's management, may accept such a request if it has no bearing on the proper running of the business, such as a delay in picking up a subsequent client or compliance with employment regulations. Any route change or detour requested by the Client will be the subject of an additional invoice, the amount of which will be set according to the distance and the time spent.

A service may be booked either by telephone on +33 6 71 34 98 81, or by email at houci.trans@gmail.com, or via our website houci-trans.com.

Booking by telephone must take place at least 2 hours before the start time of the transport service (this period may be reduced at the Provider's discretion depending on vehicle availability).

As soon as the booking request is received, a quotation will be sent to the Client. Quotations are valid for 30 (thirty) days from their date of issue, unless the resources provided for in the quotation are no longer available.

The booking of the service will become contractual and will be considered firm and final between the Parties once the Client has returned the quotation accepted with the words “bon pour accord” (agreed) and signed.

The Client must board the vehicle as soon as it arrives at the pick-up address, or at the agreed time in the case of a booking. If the Client is absent 15 (fifteen) minutes after the arrival of the vehicle with its driver or after the agreed time, the vehicle with its driver is authorised to leave without prior warning.

The prices stated by the Seller are expressed in euros, inclusive of VAT and of any other duties or taxes.

Any transport service is payable in cash to the driver once the destination has been reached, by the following means of payment: cash, bank card or payment link.

Where a deposit has been received by the Seller at the time of booking the service, it will not be refundable and will be retained as a flat-rate indemnity.

Any service that has begun is payable in full. A deposit equal to 40% of the total amount of the intended service may be required for services of more than 100 €. This deposit must be paid no later than when the Client sends the quotation accepted, signed and bearing the words “bon pour accord” (agreed).

The balance is to be paid to the driver once the destination has been reached, or at the pick-up place, by the same means of payment as indicated above.

In the event of late payment, a flat-rate indemnity for recovery costs of 40 (forty) euros, together with late payment interest equal to 3 times the statutory interest rate, will be payable as of right and without prior formal notice (article 121-II of Act no. 2012-387 of 22 March 2012).

Where the Parties so agree, for business customers invoicing may be carried out on a monthly basis on the basis of the transport slips drawn up for each service, and must be settled within a maximum of 30 days from the date of issue.

Any late payment or failure to pay may automatically entail:

• The immediate payability of the remaining sum due.
• The calculation and payment of late payment penalties calculated as interest at a minimum rate equal to 3 times the statutory interest rate in force on the date of invoicing of the sum due. Once the payment period provided for by the contract or, failing that, stipulated in these terms and conditions has passed, the Client is automatically placed in default, without prior reminder.
• The suspension of the performance of current and future services entered into with the Client.

Cancellation of the service must be sent to the Seller in writing, either by WhatsApp or by email. In the event of cancellation of a service by the Client, cancellation charges will be payable on the following terms:

For a service of less than 500 € including VAT:

• 50 % of the amount including VAT in the event of cancellation less than one week before the start of the service.
• 100 % of the amount including VAT in the event of cancellation less than 48 (forty-eight) hours before the start of the service.

For a service of 500 € including VAT or more:

• 50 % of the amount including VAT in the event of cancellation less than 10 (ten) days before the start of the service.
• 100 % of the amount including VAT in the event of cancellation less than 5 (five) days before the start of the service.

The service may be cancelled by the Seller if no available driver is found. The same applies in the event of force majeure or for any other reason preventing the said service from being carried out. The Client will be informed as soon as possible and by any means available to the Seller. No amount may be claimed, either by the Client or by the Seller.

The Seller has taken out insurance with:

Managed by:

As the drivers' liability is engaged during the period of the services, they are under instructions to comply with, and to ensure compliance with, the road traffic regulations and the laws in force.

Under no circumstances may the Client require the driver to exceed the authorised speed limit or to commit road traffic offences. Likewise, drivers refrain from lending their assistance to any undertaking or action contrary to morality or public decency.

The Client undertakes to behave properly, not to smoke, and not to consume narcotics or alcoholic drinks inside the vehicle.

Wearing a seat belt, both in the front and in the rear, is compulsory throughout all journeys. Failure to comply with this rule releases the Seller from all liability in the event of an accident.

The Seller reserves the right to stop performing the service or to refuse access to the vehicle to any person behaving aggressively, disrespectfully, coarsely or insultingly towards customers, passers-by, road users or the driver. Such stopping or refusal of the service will result in the whole of the service being invoiced and will not give rise to any compensation.

Likewise, booking a vehicle does not guarantee access to the vehicle, as the driver is authorised by Management, for safety or health reasons, to refuse access to persons in a state of intoxication that he considers to be advanced or requiring specific care.

Damage caused to the vehicle by the Client, as well as to its equipment, will be borne by the Client. Any damage to the vehicle or harm caused by the Client opening doors or windows inadvertently will be invoiced to the Client. This is why the Seller asks the Client to let the driver open and close the vehicle doors.

Bringing in and consuming food and drink other than that made available to the Client by the Seller is not permitted in the vehicle without the driver's prior agreement.

No animal will be accepted in the vehicle except in a cage or a container specifically designed for that purpose. Acceptance of any animal in the vehicle remains entirely at the driver's discretion.

Tips are neither included nor compulsory. They are left to the Client's discretion.

Where the journey is long, the driver must take the breaks required by the regulations in force during the journey, in order to ensure the safety of the Client and of the vehicle.

The quantity of luggage carried is proportionate to the capacity of the vehicle's luggage boot. Consequently, luggage must fit in the rear boot of the vehicle and be of a reasonable size that does not jeopardise the safety of the passengers and of the driver.

The weight of luggage is limited to 25 kg per passenger. In the case of luggage exceeding the weight stated above, the Client must inform the Seller when booking the service.

Luggage must not present any risk of damage to the vehicle. Any damage to the vehicle caused by luggage will be invoiced to the Client.

Luggage kept in the passenger compartment with the Client remains the Client's responsibility. Luggage in the boot is insured up to 1 500 € by the company that insures the vehicle (the Client must declare if the value should exceed this amount; in that case, a surcharge will be requested). Under no circumstances may the Seller be held directly liable for damage. The insurer's details, as well as the policy, can be sent on simple written request.

Any fragile items contained in the luggage remain the sole responsibility of the Client. The Seller cannot be held liable in the event of loss of, or failure to take, luggage or any other item in the vehicle.

Any complaints must be made in writing within 8 (eight) days following performance of the service, by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt addressed to the Seller's registered office. After that period, no dispute will be taken into account.

Houci Transport cannot be held liable for the non-performance of the service or for delay in performing it where this results from a case of force majeure. In this respect, force majeure means any external, unforeseeable and irresistible event within the meaning of article 1148 of the Civil Code.

In the event that one of the clauses of these terms and conditions were to be declared unlawful or unenforceable, by a change in legislation or by a court decision that has become final, the nullity or unenforceability would be strictly limited to that clause, and would in no way affect the validity of the other provisions.

The Seller's failure to apply any of the provisions of these general terms does not amount to a waiver of its right to rely on them at any time and does not affect the validity of all or part of these terms.

These terms and conditions, as well as all the contractual relationships that may arise from them, are subject to French and European law.

In the event that a dispute arises between the Client and the Seller, the Parties undertake to seek an amicable solution, taking into account the interests of each of them, before bringing any legal action.

Failing that, no dispute or complaint may be taken into account unless it is made in writing and sent to the Seller within 8 days after the date of the service. In the event of a dispute, the Parties expressly agree to refer to the jurisdiction of the Bordeaux courts.

Wi-Fi* in the vehicles is made available to our customers free of charge and subject to 3G, 4G or 5G network coverage.

Houci Transport cannot be held liable for any deterioration and/or interruption of the Wi-Fi* network and is not in a position to guarantee compliance with any quality of service when a client connects to the Wi-Fi network provided in the vehicles.

The Client or any user of the Wi-Fi network made available in the vehicle acknowledges that the use of peer-to-peer software is prohibited and undertakes not to visit websites or to behave in a manner prohibited by law. In accordance with the law, the websites visited may be traced and passed on at the request of the courts.

* Wi-Fi: subject to 3G, 4G or 5G coverage.