Terms and Conditions
Introduction
These conditions explain the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of all parties to this Agreement.
Where we use the word ‘you’ or ‘your’ it means the Customer: ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’ means the
Remover. These terms and conditions can be varied or amended subject to prior written agreement.
Your attention is drawn to Clauses 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12 which set out our liability to you for loss of or
damage to goods and property. Before placing an order, requesting a quote or making a booking,
please read through these terms and conditions and print a copy for future reference. By placing an
order or making a booking, regardless of the method used to make the booking, you agree to be
legally bound by these Terms and Conditions.
1 Our Quotation
1.1 Our quotation, unless otherwise stated, does not include customs duties and inspections or any
other fees or taxes payable to government bodies. It does include us accepting liability for your
goods, subject to clauses 2.2, 3.2, 5.2, 5.3 and the provisions of Clauses 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
1.2 We may change the price or make additional charges if circumstances are found to apply which
have not been taken into account when preparing our quotation and confirmed by us in writing.
These include:
1.2.1 You do not accept our quotation in writing within 28 days, or the work is not carried out or
completed within three months.
1.2.2 Our costs change because of currency fluctuations or changes in taxation or freight charges
beyond our control.
1.2.3 The work is carried out on a Saturday, Sunday, or Public Holiday or outside normal hours
(09.00-17.00hrs) at your request.
1.2.4 We have to collect or deliver goods at your request above the ground floor and first upper
floor.
1.2.5 If you collect some or all of the goods from our warehouse, we are entitled to make a charge
for handing them over.
1.2.6 We supply any additional services, including moving or storing extra goods (these conditions
apply to such work).
1.2.7 The stairs, lifts or doorways are inadequate for free movement of the goods without
mechanical equipment or structural alteration, or the approach, road or drive is unsuitable for our
vehicles and/or containers to load and/or unload within 10 metres of the doorway.
1.2.8 We have to pay parking or other fees or charges in order to carry out services on your behalf.
1.2.9 There are delays or events outside our reasonable control which increase or extend the
resources or time allowed to complete the agreed work.
1.2.10 We agree in writing to increase our limit of liability set out in clause 9.1.1
1.3 In any such circumstances, adjusted charges will apply and become payable.
1.4 We reserve the right to change the price or quotation prior to an order being placed or a booking
made. In the event of this occurring we will inform you, and you have the right not to proceed with
placing an order or making a booking.
1.5 Although we do not usually request a deposit to be made in order to secure a booking, we do
reserve the right to request a deposit. At our discretion, this may be in the form of part-payment on
the day of removal, by cleared funds and before the service is commenced. Deposits are nonrefundable.
2 Work not included in the quotation
2.1 Unless agreed by us in writing, we will not:
2.1.1 Dismantle or assemble unit or system furniture (flat-pack), fitments or fittings.
2.1.2 Disconnect, re-connect, dismantle or re-assemble appliances, fixtures, fittings or equipment,
including but not limited to, washers, dryers, dishwashers, cookers, fridges, freezers, televisions,
electrical goods and other white goods.
2.1.3 Take up or lay fitted floor coverings.
2.1.4 Move items from a loft, unless properly lit and floored and safe access is provided.
2.1.5 Move or store any items excluded under Clause 5.
2.2 Our staff are not authorized or qualified to carry out such work. We recommend that a properly
qualified person is separately employed by you to carry out these services.
3 Your responsibility
3.1 It will be your sole responsibility to:
3.1.1 Declare to us, in writing, the value of the goods being removed and/or stored. If it is
subsequently established that the value of the goods removed or stored is greater than the actual
value you declare, you agree that our liability under clause 9.1 will be reduced to reflect the
proportion that your declared value bears to their actual value.
3.1.2 Obtain at your own expense, all documents, permits, permissions, consents, licences, customs
documents necessary for the removal to be completed.
3.1.3 Be present or represented during the collection and delivery of the removal.
3.1.4 Ensure authorized signature on agreed inventories, receipts, waybills, job sheets or other
relevant documents by way of confirmation of collection or delivery of goods.
3.1.5 Take all reasonable steps to ensure that nothing that should be removed is left behind and
nothing is taken away in error.
3.1.6 Arrange proper protection for goods left in unoccupied or unattended premises, or where
other people such as (but not limited to) tenants or workmen are, or will be present.
3.1.7 Prepare adequately and stabilize all appliances or electronic equipment prior to their removal.
3.1.8 Empty, properly defrost and clean refrigerators and deep freezers. We are not responsible for
the contents.
3.1.9 Provide us with a contact address for correspondence during removal transit and/or storage of
goods.
3.1.10 Allow us to carry out our responsibilities. Should you assist with any aspect of the moving of
items and damage is caused during this assistance then no liability shall be held by us.
3.1.11 Provide us with any information reasonably required, to assist with the free movement of
items to be moved, and to advise of any special requirements or care of particular items.
3.1.12 Arrange for suitable protection or coverings for carpets and other floor coverings.
3.1.13 Ensure there is suitable parking available within 10 metres of an appropriate doorway.
3.1.14 Comply with such other requirements as may be set out in the Proposal or otherwise agreed
between the parties.
3.1.15 Dismantle any items that were previously assembled in the room the item is in, due to the
size, weight or nature of the item prohibiting it being able to be moved into, out of, and throughout
the property without being dismantled, unless agreed by us in writing.
3.1.16 Ensure that the goods are adequately packed or packaged for Transportation.
3.2 Other than by reason of our negligence or breach of contract, we will not be liable for any loss or
damage, costs or additional charges that may arise from failure to discharge these responsibilities.
3.3 We reserve the right to refuse or stop the service or job, at any point, if our staff are abused,
verbally or otherwise.
4. Our responsibility
4.1 It is our responsibility to deliver your goods to you, or produce them for your collection,
undamaged. By “undamaged” we mean in the same condition as they were in at the time when they
were packed or otherwise made ready for transportation and/ or storage.
4.2 In the event that we have undertaken to pack the goods, or otherwise make them ready for
transportation and/or storage, it is our responsibility to deliver them to you, or produce them for
your collection, undamaged. Again, by “undamaged” we mean in the same condition as they were in
immediately prior to being packed/ made ready for transportation or storage.
4.3 If we fail to discharge the responsibilities identified in clause 4.1 and 4.2, we will, subject to the
provisions of clauses 9, 11 and 12, be liable under this agreement to compensate you for such
failure.
4.4 We will not be liable to compensate you where clauses 2.2, 3.2, 5.2 and 5.3 apply unless loss or
damage occurred as a result of negligence or breach of contract on our part.
4.5 If you do not provide us with a declaration of value of your goods, or if you do not require us to
accept standard liability pursuant to clause 9.1 we will not be liable to you for failure to discharge
the responsibilities identified in clause 4.1 and 4.2, unless that failure was caused by negligence or
breach of contract on our part.
4.6 The amount of our liability under this clause shall be determined in accordance with clauses 9
and 11.
5. Goods not to be submitted for removal or storage
5.1 Unless previously agreed in writing by a director or other authorized representative, the
following items must not be submitted for removal or storage and will under no circumstances be
moved or stored by us. The items listed under 5.1.1 below may present risks to health and safety
and of fire. Items listed under 5.1.2 to 5.1.6 below carry other risks and you should make your own
arrangements for their transport and storage.
5.1.1 Prohibited or stolen goods, drugs, pornographic material, potentially dangerous, damaging or
explosive items, including gas bottles, aerosols, paints, firearms and ammunition.
5.1.2 Jewellery, watches, trinkets, precious stones or metals, money, deeds, securities, stamps,
coins, or goods or collections of any similar kind.
5.1.3 Plants or goods likely to encourage vermin or other pests or to cause infestation or
contamination.
5.1.4 Perishable items and/or those requiring a controlled environment.
5.1.5 Any animals, birds or fish.
5.1.6 Goods which require special licence or government permission for export or import.
5.2 If we do agree to remove such goods, we will not accept liability for loss or damage unless we are
negligent or in breach of contract, in which case all these conditions will apply.
5.3 If you submit such goods without our knowledge we will make them available for your collection
and if you do not collect them within a reasonable time we will apply for an appropriate court order
to dispose of any such goods found in the consignment without notice. You will furthermore pay to
us any charges, expenses, damages, legal costs or penalties incurred by us.
6. Ownership of the goods
6.1 By entering into this Agreement, you guarantee that:
6.1.1 The goods to be removed and/or stored are your own property, or
6.1.2 The person(s) who own or have an interest in them have given you authority to make this
contract and have been made aware of these conditions.
6.1.3 You will pay us for any claim for damages and/or costs brought against us if either warranty
6.1.1 or 6.1.2 is not true.
7. Charges if you postpone or cancel the removal
7.1 If you postpone or cancel this Agreement, at our discretion we may charge you according to how
much notice is given. “Working days” refer to the normal working week of Monday to Friday and
excludes weekends and Public Holidays.
7.1.1 More than 10 working days before the removal was due to start: No charge.
7.1.2 Between 5 and 10 working days inclusive before the removal was due to start: not more than
50% of the removal charge.
7.1.3 Less than 5 working days before the removal was due to start: not more than 80% of the
removal charge.
7.2 You will not benefit from a right to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations.
8. Payment
8.1 Unless otherwise agreed by us in writing:
8.1.1 Payment is required by cleared funds immediately upon completion of the removal or in
advance of the storage period.
8.1.2 You may not withhold any part of the agreed price. This will also apply if there has been any
loss, damage, breakage or if there is any dispute between you and us.
8.1.3 In respect of all sums which are overdue to us, we will charge interest on a daily basis
calculated at 4% per annum above the prevailing base rate for the time being of the Bank of England.
8.1.4 Cheques are not accepted as a form of payment.
9. Determination of amount of our liability for loss or damage
9.1 Standard Liability.
9.1.1 If you provide us with a declaration of the value of your goods, and subject to clause 3.1.1, the
amount of our liability to you in the event of loss or damage to those goods in breach of clause 4 will
be determined in accordance with Clauses 9.1.2, 9.1.3 and 11 below, subject to a maximum liability
of £50,000. We may agree to accept liability for a higher amount, in which case we may make an
additional charge.
9.1.2 In the event of loss of or damage to your goods in breach of clause 4, our liability to you is to
be assessed as a sum equivalent to the cost of their repair or replacement whichever is the smaller
sum, taking into account the age and condition of the goods immediately prior to their loss or
damage, and subject to the maximum liability of £50,000 referred to in clause 9.1.1 (unless we have
agreed a higher amount with you).
9.1.3 Where the lost or damaged item is part of a pair or set, our liability to you, where it is assessed
as the cost of replacement of that item, is to be assessed as a sum equivalent to the cost of that item
in isolation, not the cost of that item as part of a pair or set.
9.2 Limited Liability.
9.2.1 If you do not provide us with a declaration of value, or if you do not require us to accept
Standard Liability pursuant to clause 9.1, then our liability to you is to be determined in accordance
with Clauses 9.1.3, 9.2.2 and 11.
9.2.2 In the event of loss of or damage to your goods caused by negligence or breach of contract on
our part, our liability to you is to be assessed as a sum equivalent to the cost of their repair or
replacement, taking into account their age and condition immediately prior to their loss or damage,
subject to a maximum liability of £40 per item. Your attention is drawn to clause 11.1 which applies
to Limited Liability.
9.3 For goods destined to or received from a place outside the UK
9.3.1 We will only accept Standard Liability if you provide us with a detailed valuation of your goods
on the valuation form which we provide. All other provisions of Clause 9.1 will apply.
9.3.2 We do not accept liability for loss of or damage to goods confiscated, seized, removed or
damaged by Customs Authorities or other Government Agencies unless we have been negligent or in
breach of contract.
9.3.3 We do not accept liability for loss of or damage to goods occurring in certain overseas
countries, including Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Libya, Lebanon, Angola, Cambodia, Vietnam, N.
Korea and Former States of the USSR, unless we have been negligent or in breach of contract. This
list is not exhaustive, and we will advise you at the time of quotation if this exclusion applies.
We will accept liability for loss or damage
(a) arising from our negligence or breach of contract whilst the goods are in our physical possession,
or
(b) whilst the goods are in the possession of others if the loss or damage is established to have been
caused by our failure to pack the goods to a reasonable standard where we have been contracted to
pack the goods that are subject to the claim.
In either circumstance clause 9.1 or 9.2 above will apply.
9.4 An Item is defined as :-
9.4.1The entire contents of a box, parcel, package, carton, or similar container; and
9.4.2 Any other object or thing that is moved, handled or stored by us.
10. Damage to premises or property other than goods
10.1 Because third party contractors are frequently present at the time of collection or delivery our
liability for loss or damage is limited as follows:
10.1.1 If we cause loss or damage to premises or property other than goods for removal as a result
of our negligence or breach of contract, our liability shall be limited to making good the damaged
area only.
10.1.2 If we cause damage as a result of moving goods under your express instruction, against our
advice, and where to move the goods in the manner instructed is likely to cause damage, we shall
not be liable.
10.1.3 If we are responsible for causing damage to your premises or to property other than goods
submitted for removal and/or storage, you must notify us in writing as soon as practically possible or
within a reasonable time. This is fundamental to the Agreement.
11. Exclusions of liability
11.1 In respect of Limited Liability, we will not be liable for loss of or damage to your goods as a
result of fire or explosion howsoever that fire or explosion was caused, unless we have been
negligent or in breach of contract.
11.2 In respect of Standard Liability and Limited Liability, other than as a result of our negligence or
breach of contract we will not be liable for any loss of, damage to, or failure to produce the following
goods :-
11.2.1 Bonds, Securities, Stamps of all kinds, Manuscripts or other Documents or Electronically held
Data Records, Mobile Telephones
11.2.2 Plants or goods likely to encourage vermin or other pests or to cause infestation or
contamination.
11.2.3 Perishable items and/or those requiring a controlled environment.
11.2.4 Furs exceeding £100 in value, Jewellery, Watches, Precious Stones and Metals, Money, Coins,
Deeds.
11.2.5 Any animals, birds or fish.
11.3 In respect of Standard Liability and Limited Liability, other than as a result of our negligence or
breach of contract we will not be liable for any loss of, damage to, or failure to produce the goods if
caused by any of the following circumstances:-
11.3.1 By war, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), civil
war, terrorism, rebellion and/or military coup, Act of God, industrial action or other such events
outside our reasonable control.
11.3.2 Loss or damage arising from ionising radiations or radioactive contamination
11.3.3 Loss or damage arising from Chemical, Biological, Bio-chemical, Electromagnetic Weapons
and Cyber Attack
11.3.4 Indirect or consequential loss of any kind or description
11.3.5 By normal wear and tear, natural or gradual deterioration, leakage or evaporation or from
perishable or unstable goods. This includes goods left within furniture or appliances.
11.3.6 By vermin, moth, insects and similar infestation, damp, mould, mildew or rust
11.3.7 By cleaning, repairing or restoring unless we arranged for the work to be carried out.
11.3.8 By change to atmospheric or climatic conditions.
11.3.9 For any goods in wardrobes, drawers or appliances, or in a package, bundle, carton, case or
other container not both packed and unpacked by us.
11.3.10 Loss of or damage to china, glassware and fragile items unless they have been both
professionally packed and unpacked by us or our Subcontractor. In the event of an accident involving
an owner packed container where damage would have occurred irrespective of the quality of the
packing, then our liability is limited to £100 or its actual value whichever is less.
11.3.11 For electrical or mechanical derangement to any appliance, instrument, clock, computer or
other equipment unless there is evidence of related external damage.
11.3.12 Loss or damage of motor vehicles caused by scratching, denting and marring unless you
obtain from us a pre-collection condition report.
11.3.13 Loss or damage to a vehicle whilst being driven or for the purpose of being driven under its
own power other than for the purpose of loading onto or unloading from the carrying conveyance or
container. Loss or damage sustained by accessories and removable items unless lost with the vehicle
11.3.14 For any goods which have a pre-existing defect or are inherently defective.
11.3.15 We will have no liability whatsoever for loss or damage caused by us in the course of
dismantling or reassembling self-assembly furniture, or any other furniture that we decide needs
dismantling or reassembling.
11.3.16 We will have no liability whatsoever for loss or damage to Goods caused by ordinary loss in
weight or volume, ordinary leakage, ordinary wear and tear, inherent vice or nature of the Goods.
11.3.17 We will have no liability whatsoever for loss or damage to Goods caused by delay.
11.4 No employee of ours shall be separately liable to you for any loss, damage, mis-delivery, errors
or omissions under the terms of this Agreement.
11.5 Our liability will cease upon handing over goods from our warehouse or upon completion of
delivery (see Clause 12.2 below).
11.6 We shall not be liable to you or any third party for any indirect or consequential loss of profit,
consequential or other economic loss suffered by you howsoever caused, as a result of any
negligence, breach of contract, misrepresentation or otherwise.
11.7 Advice and information in whatever form it may be given is provided by us for you only. Any
oral advice given without special arrangement is provided gratuitously and without contractual
liability.
11.8 In the event of claim, an administration charge of £100.00 for goods in transit claims and a
separate administration charge of £250.00 for public liability claims must be paid by you. We will
have no liability to reimburse the administration charge to you under any circumstances, whether
liability for any loss or damage has been accepted by us or not.
11.9 Should you not accept our recommendations then the items to be moved are moved at your
risk. We will not be liable for any damage caused whilst the item to be moved is under your
supervision.
11.10 Liability for damage will only be accepted if it may be proven without reasonable doubt we
have been negligent in the manner in which we have conducted the move.
12 Time limit for claims
12.1 For goods which we deliver, you must notify us in writing of any visible loss, damage or failure
to produce any goods at the time of delivery.
12.2 If you or your agent collect the goods, you must notify us in writing of any loss or damage at the
time the goods are handed to you or your agent.
12.3 Notwithstanding clauses 9, 10 and 11 we will not be liable for any loss of or damage to the
goods unless a claim is notified to us, or to our agent or the company carrying out the collection or
delivery of the goods on our behalf, in writing as soon as such loss or damage is discovered (or with
reasonable diligence ought to have been discovered) and in any event within seven (7) days of
delivery of the goods by us.
12.4 The time limit for notifying us of your claim may be extended upon receipt of your written
request provided such request is received within seven (7) days of delivery. Consent to such a
request will not be unreasonably withheld.
13 Delays in transit
13.1 Other than by reason of our negligence or breach of contract, we will not be liable for delays in
transit.
13.2 If through no fault of ours we are unable to deliver your goods, we will take them into store.
The Agreement will then be fulfilled and any additional service(s), including storage and delivery, will
be at your expense.
14 Our Right to Hold the Goods (lien)
We shall have a right to withhold and/or ultimately dispose of some or all of the goods until you
have paid all our charges and any other payments due under this or any other Agreement. (See also
Clause 23). These include any charges that we have paid out on your behalf. While we hold the
goods you will be liable to pay all storage charges and other costs incurred by our withholding your
goods and these terms and conditions shall continue to apply.
15 Disputes
If there is a dispute arising from this agreement which cannot be resolved, subject to the agreement
of both parties, either you or we may refer the dispute to an arbitrator appointed by the Chartered
Institute of Arbitrators. The cost of any such arbitration will be at the discretion of the arbitrator.
This does not prejudice your right to commence court proceedings.
16 Our right to sub-contract the work
16.1 We reserve the right to sub-contract some or all of the work.
16.2 If we sub-contract, then these conditions will still apply.
17 Route and method
17.1 We have the right to choose the method and route by which to carry out the work.
17.2 Unless it has been specifically agreed otherwise in writing in our Quotation, other
space/volume/capacity on our vehicles and/or the container may be utilized for consignments of
other customers.
18 Advice and information for International Removals
We will use our reasonable endeavours to provide you with up to date information to assist you with
the import/export of your goods. Information on such matters as national or regional laws and
regulations which are subject to change and interpretation at any time is provided in good faith and
is based upon existing known circumstances. It is your responsibility to seek appropriate advice to
verify the accuracy of any information provided.
19 Applicable law
This contract is subject to the law of England and Wales.
20 Your forwarding address
20.1 If you send goods to be stored, you must provide an address for correspondence and notify us if
it changes. All correspondence and notices will be considered to have been received by you seven
days after sending it to your last address recorded by us.
20.2 If you do not provide an address or respond to our correspondence or notices, we may publish
such notices in a public newspaper in the area to or from which the goods were removed. Such
notice will be considered to have been received by you seven days after the publication date of the
newspaper. Note: If we are unable to contact you, we will charge you any costs incurred in
establishing your whereabouts.
21 List of goods (inventory) or receipt
Where we produce a list of your goods (inventory) or a receipt and send it to you, it will be accepted
as accurate unless you write to us within 10 days of the date of our sending, or a reasonable period
agreed between us, notifying us of any errors or omissions.
22 Revision of storage charges
We review our storage charges periodically. You will be given 3 months notice in writing of any
increases.
23 Our right to Sell or dispose of the Goods
If payment of our charges relating to your goods is in arrears, and on giving you three months’
notice, we are entitled to require you to remove your goods from our custody and pay all money due
to us. If you fail to pay all outstanding amounts due to us, we may sell or dispose of some or all of
the goods without further notice. The cost of the sale or disposal will be charged to you. The net
proceeds will be credited to your account and any eventual surplus will be paid to you without
interest. If the full amount due is not received, we may seek to recover the balance from you.
24 Termination
If payments are up to date, we will not end this contract except by giving you three months notice in
writing. If you wish to terminate your storage contract, you must give us at least 10 working days’
notice (working days are defined in Clause 7 above). If we can release the goods earlier, we will do
so, provided that your account is paid up to date. Charges for storage are payable to the date when
the notice should have taken effect.
25 Communications
You agree that email and other electronic communications can be used as a long-distance means of
communication and acknowledge that all contracts,notices, information and other communications
that we provide to you electronically comply with any legal requirement that such communications
be in writing.
26 Eligibility
To be eligible to request a quotation, or place an order or make a booking, and lawfully enter into
and form contracts with us, you must be 18 years of age or over and legally capable of entering into
a binding contract. If you do not qualify, you must not request a quotation, or place an order or
make a booking.
27 Force Majeure
27.1 We shall have no liability for delays or failures in delivery or performance of our obligations to
you resulting from any act, events, omissions, failures or accidents that are outside of our control
(‘Force Majeure’), which, without limitation, include:
27.1.1 Strikes, lock-outs or other industrial action.
27.1.2 Shortages of labour, fuel, power, raw materials.
27.1.3 Late, defective performance or non-performance by suppliers.
27.1.4 Private or public telecommunication, computer network failures, breakdown of equipment,
breakdown of vehicles or work tools.
27.1.5 Civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack, war (whether
declared or not) or threat or preparation for war.
27.1.6 Fire, explosion, storm, flood, earthquake, subsidence, epidemic or other natural disaster or
extreme weather conditions.
27.1.7 Impossibility of the use of railways, shipping, aircraft, motor transport or other means of
public or private transport. Acts, decrees, legislation, regulations or restrictions of any government.
27.1.8 Other causes, beyond our reasonable control.
27.2 Our performance will be deemed to be suspended for the period that the event of Force
Majeure continues, and we will have an extension of time for performance for the duration of that
period. We will use our reasonable endeavours to minimise any delay caused by Force Majeure. We
shall promptly notify you either by phone, in writing or by email of any Force Majeure event giving
details of it and (where possible) the extent and likely duration of any delay.
27.3 Where the period of non-performance or delay in relation to any event of Force Majeure
exceeds 30 days from the date of notice to you of the event of Force Majeure, either you or us may,
by written or email notice to the other, terminate the Contract with immediate effect upon service.
27.4 In the event that a Force Majeure event occurs, we may, at our discretion, try to assist you by
attempting to find an alternative Supplier, in order to minimise the impact of the Force Majeure
event. No guarantee of price or terms and conditions of the alternative Supplier can be made. If you
decide to use that alternative Supplier or make your own alternative arrangements, rather than
allowing us our extension of time for performance of our obligations, the contract with us is
terminated with immediate effect upon service. We shall have no further liabilities in this respect.
28 Severance
If any term or provision of these Terms and Conditions is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable for
any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction such provision shall be severed and the remainder
of the provisions hereof shall continue in full force and effect as if these Terms and Conditions had
been agreed with the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision eliminated.
Contact: office@northlondonremovals.com
29 Deposit
A 50% deposit is payable on agreement of the removals service. If you change or cancel this within 7 days of the moving date, the deposit, will be lost.
30 Delays
On the day of the move, if keys are not obtained by 4:00 P.M, there will be a £100 per hour charge on top of the original removals charge.