CONDITIONS OF BOOKING
Revised November 2006
1. Availability of Courses
Booking is open to members and non-members for all courses in the main course programme. Applications are dealt with in order of receipt. For postal bookings each applicant must complete an individual form. All bookings are subject to the booking conditions current at the time of booking.
2. Enquiries, Reservations and Bookings
We are happy to answer your enquiries about availability, contents and requirements of courses and to make reservations by telephone or e-mail. Reservations will be held for 14 days. A booking can only be confirmed on receipt of the applicable deposit or fee.
The full fee or the deposit (non-refundable), optional insurance premium, plus relevant room supplements are due for each course at the time of booking. Your place will be confirmed in writing. Please check the details promptly, as corrections must be made within 14 days of the date of our acceptance letter. After that time we cannot accept responsibility for any incorrect details.
3. Part-time attendance
Part-time attendance on a course may be possible after consultation by BMT with the tutors. This will be charged at a rate in proportion to the standard fees.
4. Payment
The full balance is due six weeks before the start of the course. If the balance has not been settled a month before the course your place may become forfeit. Please note that receipts are not issued for balance payments unless specifically requested. Any alteration to a confirmed booking originated by a course member will be subject to a £15 administration fee. Sterling, cheques and all major credit/debit cards by personal, telephone or postal application accepted. We accept Eurocheques and bank transfers subject to current bank surcharges, please call for further details.
5. Insurance
Optional, non-transferable, non- refundable insurance is available (half- and one-day courses excluded). The premiums payable are shown on the booking form. If opted for, you may be entitled to a refund or transfer of money paid (excluding deposit and insurance premium) according to the conditions below. Insured events must occur after the acceptance of your booking and relate to the insured party. Insurance does not provide cover once the course has started. Documentary evidence may be requested. Each member of a pre-formed group is responsible for his or her own insurance cover.
6. Conditions of Insurance
The insurance covers your attendance at the course for which the premium has been paid, if you are unable to attend for any of the following qualifying reasons:
- Your death or illness
- Death or illness in your immediate family or pre-formed group
- Transport strike
- Exceptionally bad weather
- Pregnancy or childbirth
- Unexpected family commitments, relating to immediate family only
- Compulsory quarantine
- Jury service
- Unforeseen occupational posting
- Travel being prevented by Government restriction
- Fire, storm, flood, subsidence or malicious damage rendering the home of the named course member uninhabitable.
It does not cover the following reasons:
- Loss, damage or theft of personal belongings
- Your travel to and from the Trust
- Cancellation due to holiday commitments
- Any reason other than those above.
7. Cancellation procedure
Any cancellation must be made in writing prior to the start of the course. Refund is only due if an insured booking is cancelled for one of the qualifying reasons. Deposit and insurance premium are retained. Bookings cancelled fewer than six weeks before the course are charged an additional £20 cancellation fee unless a suitable replacement is provided.
8. Transfers
If you wish to transfer your booking to another course or your replacement person, the following conditions will apply:
- insured bookings for one of the qualifying reasons above: a £15 administration fee will be charged and the insurance premium retained
- uninsured bookings, or insured bookings without qualifying reason: we will retain the deposit and insurance premium
- bookings cancelled less than six weeks before the course begins: an additional £20 cancellation fee is due unless you can provide a suitable replacement
- for members of BMT only: the course fee can be transferred to a named, suitable substitute without any administration charge, providing all details are confirmed with the Trust.
9. Refunds
If you are entitled to a refund it will be made, where possible, by the original method of payment. We cannot give refunds for individual sessions or meals.
10. Bedrooms
Rooms are allocated in order of receipt. We cannot guarantee to meet your requested choice of room. If the allocated room-type is not acceptable, you must inform us within fourteen days. Priority is given to people with special needs. PLEASE NOTE that a reduction for sharing a room is offered only when the room is actually shared.
11. Special needs
Please inform us of any special dietary, physical or medical requirements you have at the time of booking, in order for us to try to meet them. If you wish to be allocated an en-suite bedroom with facilities specially designed for disabled persons, please indicate that on your booking form. En-suite supplement is not payable when allocated to disabled guests. We cater for dietary needs on medical and moral grounds, only when notified in advance and by prior agreement with the Trust.
12. Ensembles
As priority is given to complete ensembles, it is recommended that one member handle the applications for the ensemble, supplying all relevant details, deposits and supplements. Group reservations must include names of all persons attending. The Trust reserves the right to cancel a group reservation where deposits for all group members have not been paid within two weeks of the initial reservation. Individuals will only be accepted on formation of a suitable group.
13. Benslow Music Trust:
- Accepts no responsibility for loss, damage or theft of instruments or personal belongings.
- Reserves the right to alter advertised tutors but will, when possible, tell you if this proves necessary. If we are unable to replace an indisposed tutor and as a result the course cannot take place, we will refund any monies paid.
- Reserves the right to cancel any course. In this event we would hope to give you two weeks’ notice and we will refund any monies you have paid.
- Reserves the right to vary the programme without notice and to refuse any application for a course without giving a reason.
- Cannot accept children under the age of sixteen on any of our courses, unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
- Takes no responsibility for printing errors. Every effort will be made to ensure that all details are correct at time of going to print.
- Takes no responsibility for the quality of services or products from advertisers and vendors. Inclusion in the course programme or presence during a course is not a recommendation.
- Is not responsible for items reported lost which cannot be found. A minimum charge of £5 is made for return of lost property after your departure. Items can be held for a maximum of 1 month, or as agreed.
14. Complaints
In the unlikely event of a complaint please speak to any member of staff who will do his/her best to resolve the matter. If you are unhappy with the outcome please put your complaint in writing to the Chief Executive.