Terms of Service
HAT MOVERS AND SUPPORT SERVICES INC.
MOVING SERVICES TERMS & CONDITIONS
Effective Date: [Insert Date]
These Terms & Conditions apply to moving, loading, unloading, transportation, packing, and related services provided by Hat Movers and Support Services Inc. (“Hat Movers,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By booking, accepting, or using our services, the customer (“customer,” “you,” or “your”) agrees to these Terms & Conditions, subject to any applicable rights and protections provided by law.
1. BOOKING AND ACCEPTANCE
A booking is considered confirmed once the customer has accepted the quoted services, pricing, date, and general terms provided by Hat Movers.
The customer is responsible for providing accurate information about the move, including addresses, access conditions, stairs, elevators, large or unusually heavy items, approximate volume, parking requirements, and any other circumstances that may affect the move.
Quotes and estimates are based on the information provided by the customer and may be adjusted if the actual circumstances of the move differ materially from the information provided.
2. RATES AND MINIMUM CHARGES
Services are billed at the hourly rate agreed upon at the time of booking.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, a 2-hour minimum charge applies to moving labour services.
Additional time beyond the minimum is billed according to the applicable hourly rate.
Hourly charges may apply to loading, unloading, setup, reasonable handling time, and travel between locations where applicable.
If additional labour, equipment, time, or services are requested by the customer during the move, those services may be added to the final invoice at the applicable rate.
3. PAYMENT TERMS
For direct bookings, payment is due immediately upon completion of the moving services unless otherwise agreed in writing.
For U-Haul-referred bookings, payment is handled according to the payment arrangement established through U-Haul.
Where a direct-booking invoice remains unpaid, the customer must pay the outstanding balance within 14 calendar days of the invoice date.
Any unpaid balance remaining after 14 calendar days may accrue interest at 18% per annum (1.5% per month) on the outstanding balance from the date it becomes overdue until payment is received in full, subject to applicable law.
Hat Movers reserves the right to suspend or decline future services for customers with overdue balances.
Any collection or legal costs will only be charged to the customer to the extent that such costs are legally recoverable.
4. PAYMENT METHODS
Hat Movers accepts the payment methods specified on the customer’s invoice.
Current payment methods may include:
Interac e-Transfer
Cheque payable to HAT MOVERS AND SUPPORT SERVICES INC.
Credit card
Credit card processing fees may apply where permitted and will be disclosed to the customer.
5. CANCELLATIONS AND RESCHEDULING
Customers should provide as much notice as possible if they need to cancel or reschedule a booking.
Hat Movers will make reasonable efforts to accommodate rescheduling requests, subject to availability.
A cancellation or rescheduling fee may apply where the customer cancels or substantially changes a booking with insufficient notice, where such fee was disclosed or otherwise agreed to before the booking.
If a crew has already been dispatched, or costs have already been incurred on the customer’s behalf, the customer may be responsible for reasonable and legally recoverable costs arising from the cancellation.
Nothing in this section limits any cancellation rights the customer may have under applicable Alberta or Canadian law.
6. CUSTOMER ACCESS AND PREPARATION
The customer is responsible for ensuring that the crew has safe and reasonable access to the property and the items being moved.
The customer is responsible for:
Providing access to the property at the scheduled time.
Securing necessary parking or loading/unloading permissions where applicable.
Ensuring elevators are booked or available when required.
Ensuring hallways, stairways, doorways, and pathways are reasonably clear.
Informing Hat Movers in advance about stairs, elevators, narrow access points, long carries, restricted parking, or other access limitations.
Being present during the move or having an authorized representative available.
If the crew is delayed because the property is inaccessible, parking is unavailable, elevators are unavailable, items are not ready, or the customer or representative is unavailable, additional billable time may apply.
7. PACKING AND PREPARATION OF ITEMS
Unless professional packing services have been specifically arranged with Hat Movers, the customer is responsible for properly packing and securing items before the move.
Hat Movers may refuse to move items that are improperly packed, unsafe, leaking, unstable, or otherwise unsuitable for transportation.
Boxes should be properly sealed and strong enough to withstand normal handling.
The customer should clearly identify fragile, valuable, or special-care items before the move.
8. FRAGILE, VALUABLE, AND SPECIAL ITEMS
Customers must notify Hat Movers before the move about unusually valuable, fragile, oversized, heavy, awkward, or difficult-to-handle items.
This may include, but is not limited to:
Pianos
Safes
Large appliances
Heavy exercise equipment
Pool tables
Antiques
Artwork
Glass items
Large mirrors
Extremely heavy furniture
Items requiring special disassembly or equipment
Hat Movers may decline to move an item if, in our reasonable judgment, it presents an unreasonable safety risk or requires specialized equipment or expertise that has not been arranged.
9. APPLIANCES
Customers are responsible for preparing appliances for transportation unless appliance preparation has been specifically included in the services.
Where applicable, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and other appliances should be disconnected and prepared before the crew arrives.
Hat Movers is not responsible for damage resulting from appliances that were not properly disconnected, prepared, emptied, or secured.
10. HAZARDOUS OR PROHIBITED ITEMS
Hat Movers will not knowingly transport hazardous, illegal, or unsafe materials.
This may include, but is not limited to:
Explosives
Flammable materials
Fuel
Propane or compressed gas cylinders
Toxic or hazardous chemicals
Illegal substances
Other materials that may create an unreasonable risk to people or property
The customer is responsible for identifying and removing prohibited or hazardous items before the move.
11. FURNITURE DISASSEMBLY AND REASSEMBLY
Basic furniture disassembly and reassembly may be provided where agreed upon and where the item can reasonably be handled using standard moving practices.
Hat Movers is not responsible for damage to furniture resulting from pre-existing weakness, defective construction, improper assembly, or deterioration.
Specialized assembly or disassembly may require additional charges or may need to be completed by a qualified third party.
12. STAIRS, ELEVATORS, AND DIFFICULT ACCESS
Customers must disclose known stairs, elevators, long carries, narrow hallways, restricted access, or other conditions that may materially affect the move.
Additional labour time may be required for difficult-access moves.
Where an elevator is required, the customer is responsible for arranging access and any required booking or building permissions unless otherwise agreed.
13. TRUCK AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
Where a moving truck is included in the customer’s booking, truck availability is subject to the availability and terms of the applicable rental provider.
For U-Haul truck rentals, the customer may be responsible for complying with U-Haul’s rental requirements and policies where applicable.
Truck rental charges, fuel, mileage, insurance, deposits, or other third-party charges may apply depending on the booking arrangement and will be disclosed where applicable.
Hat Movers is not responsible for delays caused by third-party truck rental companies, mechanical problems, traffic conditions, road closures, weather, or circumstances outside our reasonable control.
14. PARKING AND LOADING ACCESS
The customer is responsible for providing reasonable access for loading and unloading.
Where parking permits, building permissions, loading-zone reservations, or other access arrangements are required, the customer is responsible for arranging them unless otherwise agreed.
Any additional time caused by unavailable or restricted parking may be added to the customer’s bill.
15. DELAYS AND ADDITIONAL TIME
Moving times are estimates and may vary depending on the volume of belongings, access conditions, stairs, elevators, packing, traffic, parking, weather, customer readiness, and other circumstances.
Hat Movers does not guarantee a specific completion time unless a guaranteed completion time has been expressly agreed to in writing.
Additional time beyond the estimated duration may be billed at the applicable hourly rate.
16. CUSTOMER-PROVIDED LABOUR OR ASSISTANCE
Customers may assist with a move only where doing so is safe and reasonable.
Hat Movers may ask a customer or other person to stop participating if their involvement creates a safety risk or increases the likelihood of damage.
Hat Movers is not responsible for damage caused by customer handling, customer instructions, or assistance provided by persons who are not part of the Hat Movers crew.
17. PROPERTY CONDITION AND PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE
Customers acknowledge that furniture and other belongings may have existing scratches, dents, weaknesses, loose parts, wear, or structural defects that may not be immediately visible.
Hat Movers is not responsible for pre-existing damage or damage resulting from an item’s existing condition, structural weakness, defective construction, or normal deterioration.
Where practical, Hat Movers may identify obvious pre-existing damage before handling an item.
18. DAMAGE CLAIMS
Hat Movers will take reasonable care when handling customer belongings.
If the customer believes an item or property has been damaged during the service, the customer should notify Hat Movers as soon as possible.
Damage claims must be submitted in writing within 24 hours of completion of the service, with reasonable details and photographs or other supporting information where available.
Hat Movers will review claims in good faith and determine appropriate next steps based on the circumstances and applicable law.
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to exclude liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.
19. CUSTOMER PROPERTY AND PREMISES
The customer is responsible for identifying and protecting areas of the property that require special protection.
Where reasonable and appropriate, Hat Movers may use moving blankets, pads, straps, dollies, or other standard moving equipment.
Customers should identify fragile flooring, walls, doors, railings, or other property features that require special care before the move begins.
Hat Movers is not responsible for damage caused by pre-existing defects, unsafe property conditions, inadequate protection requested or provided by the customer, or circumstances beyond reasonable control, subject to applicable law.
20. PERSONAL AND HIGH-VALUE BELONGINGS
Customers are encouraged to personally transport cash, jewellery, important documents, passports, medication, irreplaceable items, and other highly valuable or personally sensitive belongings.
Hat Movers may decline responsibility for items that the customer chooses to personally transport or that are not disclosed to the company before the move.
21. WEATHER AND UNCONTROLLABLE EVENTS
Hat Movers may delay, reschedule, modify, or cancel services where conditions create an unreasonable safety risk.
This may include severe weather, unsafe road conditions, emergencies, natural disasters, government restrictions, building closures, vehicle breakdowns, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
Where reasonably possible, Hat Movers will communicate with the customer and attempt to reschedule affected services.
22. SAFETY
Hat Movers reserves the right to stop or refuse work where conditions are unsafe.
This may include unsafe stairs, unstable structures, aggressive behaviour, hazardous materials, extreme weather, dangerous animals, unsafe lifting conditions, or other circumstances that may reasonably endanger customers, workers, third parties, or property.
Customers must treat Hat Movers employees and contractors respectfully. Threatening, abusive, discriminatory, or unsafe behaviour may result in the service being stopped.
23. SUBCONTRACTORS AND MOVING CREW
Hat Movers may use employees, independent contractors, subcontractors, or other service providers to perform moving services.
All persons performing services on behalf of Hat Movers are expected to follow applicable company procedures and safety requirements.
24. ESTIMATES AND FINAL CHARGES
Any estimate provided before the move is based on information available at the time and is not necessarily a guaranteed final price unless expressly identified as a fixed-price quotation.
The final invoice may differ from an estimate where the actual time, labour, services, access conditions, volume, or other circumstances differ from the information originally provided.
The customer will be informed where reasonably possible if circumstances are expected to materially increase the estimated cost.
25. DISPUTES AND INVOICE QUESTIONS
Customers should contact Hat Movers promptly if they believe an invoice contains an error or if they have a genuine dispute regarding the services provided.
Any undisputed portion of an invoice remains payable according to the applicable payment terms.
Hat Movers will make reasonable efforts to resolve genuine billing or service concerns directly with the customer.
26. REVIEWS AND CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
Hat Movers welcomes honest and genuine customer feedback.
Customers are free to provide reviews and feedback based on their actual experience. Nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to restrict any rights a customer may have under applicable consumer protection legislation.
27. COLLECTION OF OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTS
If an account becomes overdue, Hat Movers may take reasonable steps to collect the outstanding balance.
Where legally permitted, Hat Movers may seek recovery of the outstanding principal, applicable interest, and reasonable legally recoverable collection or legal costs.
Hat Movers reserves the right to decline future bookings from customers with unresolved overdue accounts.
28. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS
Hat Movers may update these Terms & Conditions from time to time.
The Terms & Conditions applicable to a booking are generally those provided or made available to the customer at the time of booking, unless a subsequent change is agreed to by the customer or is otherwise permitted by law.
29. GOVERNING LAW
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws applicable in the Province of Alberta and the applicable laws of Canada.
Any dispute will be handled in accordance with applicable Alberta and Canadian law.
30. CONSUMER RIGHTS
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to remove, restrict, or waive any rights or protections that cannot legally be waived under applicable Alberta or Canadian legislation.
If any provision of these Terms & Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.
31. AGREEMENT TO TERMS
By booking, accepting, or using Hat Movers and Support Services Inc.’s services, the customer acknowledges that they have had an opportunity to review these Terms & Conditions and agrees to be bound by the applicable terms, subject to any rights provided by law.
Hat Movers and Support Services Inc.
Interac e-Transfer: payments@hatmoversandhelpers.com
Cheque payable to: HAT MOVERS AND SUPPORT SERVICES INC.
