Terms, Privacy
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Terms of Service

Applies to all services provided by East Coast Mechanics. Effective from March 2025.

1.1 Definitions

In these Terms, the following definitions apply:

• "Company" means East Coast Mechanics, a vehicle recovery and repair business operating in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
• "Customer" means any individual, business, or organisation that requests, books, or receives Services from the Company.
• "Services" means any recovery, towing, winch-out, repair, mobile mechanic, low loader transport, or associated service provided by the Company.
• "Vehicle" means any vehicle, machinery, plant, equipment or other property in respect of which Services are requested or provided.
• "Operative" means any employee, contractor or agent of the Company attending to provide Services.
• "Site" means this website, eastcoastmechanics.ie, and all associated pages.

1.2 Formation of Contract

A binding contract between the Company and the Customer is formed when the Company confirms acceptance of a booking by telephone, email, text message or other written communication. Submission of a quote request via this website does not itself constitute a binding contract — it constitutes an invitation to treat only. No operative deployment or service commencement constitutes acceptance of terms not expressly agreed in writing.

Where a Customer authorises an Operative to proceed with a Service verbally at the scene, this constitutes acceptance of these Terms and agreement to pay the applicable charges.

1.3 Eligibility

• The Customer must be aged 18 or over to engage our Services.
• The Customer must be the registered owner of the Vehicle, have the registered owner's permission to authorise the Service, or have a lawful right to request recovery or repair of the Vehicle (such as a fleet manager, insurer, or authorised agent).
• The Company reserves the right to request proof of ownership or authorisation at any time. If satisfactory proof cannot be provided, the Company may decline to proceed or may retain the Vehicle pending verification.
• The Customer warrants that all information provided to the Company — including vehicle location, condition, make, model, weight and dimensions — is accurate and complete. The Company accepts no liability for loss, delay or damage arising from inaccurate information provided by the Customer.

1.4 Right to Refuse Service

The Company reserves the absolute right to refuse, decline, suspend or terminate any Service at its sole discretion, including but not limited to circumstances where:

• The operative reasonably believes the situation presents an unacceptable risk to health or safety;
• The Customer's behaviour is abusive, threatening or unreasonable;
• The Vehicle contains illegal substances, weapons or materials;
• The site or scene presents hazards that the Company's equipment cannot safely address;
• The Customer is unable to demonstrate authority over the Vehicle;
• Payment cannot be confirmed or secured prior to or during the Service.

In such cases, a callout fee may still be charged to cover mobilisation costs incurred prior to refusal.

Scope of Services

What the Company will and will not do.

2.1 Service Description

The Company offers the following categories of service, subject to availability and to these Terms:

• Light vehicle recovery (cars, vans, motorcycles and light commercials)
• Heavy vehicle recovery (HGVs, buses, coaches, heavy plant)
• Winch-out and vehicle extraction from off-road or difficult terrain
• Mobile mechanic and on-site vehicle repair
• Mobile roadside breakdown repair
• Low loader transport of vehicles, machinery and plant

2.2 Service Limitations

The Company does not guarantee that any requested Service can be completed. In particular:

• Recovery or repair may not be possible due to road conditions, weather, regulatory restriction, vehicle condition, or other circumstances beyond the Company's control;
• Mobile mechanic and roadside repair Services are provided on a best-efforts basis. The Company does not guarantee that a roadside repair will resolve the underlying fault or that the Vehicle will be driveable following the visit;
• Winch-out Services involve inherent risk. While every effort is made to minimise additional damage, the Company cannot guarantee that extraction will be damage-free, particularly where a Vehicle has already sustained structural damage or is positioned in exceptionally difficult terrain;
• The Company does not provide accident management, legal services, or insurance advice. Customers should contact their insurer directly regarding accident claims.

2.3 Customer Obligations During Service

• The Customer must provide accurate details of the Vehicle's location, condition and any known hazards at or around the scene;
• The Customer must ensure safe access to the Vehicle and the recovery site;
• The Customer must inform the Company of any hazardous materials, loads or modifications to the Vehicle before the Operative attends;
• The Customer must follow the instructions of Operatives on site in the interests of health and safety;
• The Customer must not interfere with or obstruct the work of Operatives.

Quotations & Pricing

3.1 Quotations

All quotations provided by the Company — whether by telephone, email, text, online form or otherwise — are estimates only unless expressly stated in writing to be a fixed price. Quotations are valid for 48 hours from the time of issue unless otherwise stated.

Quotations are provided on the basis of the information supplied by the Customer at the time of request. Where the actual situation, vehicle condition, location, access or complexity of the work differs materially from that described, the Company reserves the right to revise the quoted price before or during the Service. The Customer will be notified of any revised price before additional work proceeds.

3.2 Additional Charges

The following charges may apply in addition to the quoted or agreed Service fee:

• Callout fee: A callout charge may apply where an Operative is dispatched and the Customer cancels after dispatch, provides an incorrect location, or is not present at the agreed scene;
• Waiting time: Where an Operative is required to wait at the scene beyond a reasonable period, waiting time charges may apply at the Company's prevailing rate;
• Out-of-hours surcharge: Services provided between 22:00 and 06:00, on Sundays or on public holidays may attract an out-of-hours surcharge;
• Specialist equipment: Where additional specialist equipment is required due to conditions not disclosed at the time of booking, additional charges apply;
• Access charges: Toll charges, ferry costs, or access fees incurred during the Service will be charged to the Customer;
• Storage fees: As set out in Section 8 below.

All prices are exclusive of VAT (where applicable) unless expressly stated otherwise.

3.3 Pricing Transparency

The Company will always endeavour to provide a clear price or estimate before commencing work. If the Customer proceeds with a Service having been informed of the price, they are deemed to have accepted that price.

Payment Terms

4.1 Payment on Completion

Unless a credit account or alternative payment arrangement has been expressly agreed in writing with the Company in advance, payment for all Services is due in full at or before the time of completion of the Service. The Company may require full payment or a deposit before mobilising an Operative.

4.2 Business Accounts

Where a credit account has been approved in writing, invoices are payable within 30 days of the invoice date. The Company reserves the right to withdraw credit account facilities at any time.

4.3 Late Payment

Interest shall accrue on overdue amounts at the rate of 8% per annum above the base lending rate of the Central Bank of Ireland (for Irish customers) or the Bank of England (for UK customers), calculated daily from the due date until actual payment. For business-to-business transactions, the Company reserves all rights under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 (UK) and the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012 (Ireland).

4.4 Lien Over Vehicle

Where a Vehicle remains unpaid and uncollected, the Company reserves the right to exercise its legal rights, including the right to apply to a court for an order permitting sale of the Vehicle in satisfaction of outstanding charges, in accordance with applicable Irish and UK law.

4.5 Accepted Payment Methods

The Company accepts payment by cash, bank transfer (EFT/IBAN), debit card, and credit card. Cheques are not accepted. The Company does not store card details. All card transactions are processed securely through a third-party payment provider.

Vehicle Condition & Pre-Existing Damage

5.1 Declaration of Pre-Existing Damage

The Customer is required to disclose all known pre-existing damage, defects, modifications and conditions affecting the Vehicle prior to the commencement of any Service. This includes but is not limited to:

• Bodywork damage, dents, scratches or structural damage;
• Mechanical faults, seized brakes, failed steering or non-functioning transmission;
• Non-standard modifications, lowered suspension or aftermarket body kits;
• Flat or damaged tyres;
• Hazardous cargo, fluids or materials;
• Any condition that may affect safe loading, towing or transport of the Vehicle.

5.2 Vehicle Inspection

Prior to commencing a Service, the Company's Operative will carry out a visual inspection of the Vehicle and may record its condition using photographs or video. The Customer is entitled to be present during this inspection. Where the Customer is not present, the Operative's record of condition shall be deemed accurate and conclusive absent clear evidence to the contrary.

The Customer's acceptance of a delivery receipt or job completion sheet without notation of dispute shall be taken as confirmation that the Vehicle was returned in the condition received (subject to the work carried out).

5.3 Inherent Risk of Recovery

The Customer acknowledges that vehicle recovery, winch-out, and extraction services involve inherent risk of minor incidental damage. The Company takes all reasonable care in the provision of Services, but the following are specifically excluded from the Company's liability:

• Damage consistent with the pre-existing condition of the Vehicle;
• Damage to bodywork, underside or mechanical components that is unavoidable given the position or condition of the Vehicle;
• Damage caused by the Customer's failure to disclose relevant information about the Vehicle;
• Tyre, rim or suspension damage arising from winch-out or extraction of a Vehicle already in a position of distress;
• Loss of Vehicle contents or personal possessions.

Limitation of Liability

6.1 Cap on Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company's total aggregate liability to the Customer for any and all claims arising out of or in connection with any Service — whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise — shall not exceed the lesser of:

• The total fees paid by the Customer for the specific Service giving rise to the claim; or
• €10,000 / £10,000 (whichever currency applies to the transaction).

6.2 Exclusion of Consequential Loss

The Company shall not be liable under any circumstances for:

• Loss of profit, revenue, business or goodwill;
• Loss of use of a Vehicle (including hire car costs);
• Any indirect, special or consequential loss;
• Losses arising from delay (including missed appointments, missed deliveries, or missed ferry or flight connections);
• Loss of, or damage to, personal possessions or cargo within or on a Vehicle;
• Costs arising from a Vehicle being declared a total loss following recovery;
• Any loss caused by reliance on information provided on this website.

6.3 No Limitation for Death or Personal Injury

Nothing in these Terms shall limit or exclude the Company's liability for death or personal injury caused by the Company's negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by applicable Irish or UK law.

6.4 Consumer Rights

If the Customer is a consumer under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (UK) or the Consumer Protection Act 2007 (Ireland), statutory rights are not affected by these Terms. The Customer may have additional rights under applicable consumer law that cannot be excluded.

6.5 Indemnity

The Customer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, employees, operatives and agents against any and all claims, losses, damages, costs (including legal costs) and liabilities arising from:

• Inaccurate or misleading information provided by the Customer;
• The Customer's failure to comply with these Terms;
• Any third-party claim arising from an action or omission of the Customer;
• The Customer's breach of any applicable law.

Cancellation Policy

7.1 Cancellation by the Customer

The Customer may cancel a booking at any time prior to Operative dispatch free of charge. Once an Operative has been dispatched, the following cancellation charges apply:

• Cancelled after dispatch but before arrival: A callout fee of €75 / £65 applies to cover mobilisation costs;
• Cancelled on arrival: The full agreed or quoted Service fee is payable;
• Cancelled after work has commenced: The full Service fee plus any additional costs incurred are payable.

7.2 Consumer Cooling-Off Rights

Where a Service is booked online or by telephone by a consumer (not a business), a right to cancel within 14 days may apply under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 (UK) or the European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013 (Ireland). However, by requesting that Services commence immediately or urgently, the Customer acknowledges that this cooling-off right is waived in full once performance of the Service has begun. Emergency recovery services are, by their nature, immediate-commencement services.

7.3 Cancellation by the Company

The Company reserves the right to cancel any booking at any time due to operational constraints, equipment availability, safety concerns, or other circumstances. In such cases, the Company will provide as much notice as reasonably practicable and no cancellation fee will be charged. The Company's liability in the event of cancellation is limited to a refund of any deposit paid — no further compensation is due.

Storage & Abandoned Vehicles

8.1 Vehicle Storage Charges

Where a Vehicle is recovered to the Company's premises or to a storage facility arranged by the Company, and is not collected within 48 hours of notification to the Customer, storage charges will begin to accrue at the Company's prevailing rate. The Customer will be notified by telephone or email of the storage charges applicable.

8.2 Notification and Collection

The Company will make reasonable efforts to notify the Customer that a Vehicle is ready for collection. The Customer must arrange collection within a reasonable time. Failure to collect within 14 days of notification may result in the Vehicle being treated as abandoned.

8.3 Abandoned Vehicles

Where a Vehicle remains uncollected and all reasonable attempts to contact the Customer have been exhausted, the Company shall be entitled to treat the Vehicle as abandoned and to exercise its legal rights accordingly, including (where applicable under Irish or UK law) to apply for court authorisation to sell the Vehicle in satisfaction of outstanding charges. Net proceeds of any such sale, after deduction of all outstanding fees, storage charges, and costs of sale, will be held for the Customer for a period of six years from the date of sale.

8.4 Third-Party Storage

Where a Vehicle is stored at a third-party facility arranged by the Company, the relevant third party's own terms and conditions will apply to the storage element. The Company accepts no liability for loss or damage occurring while the Vehicle is in the custody of a third-party storage provider.

Force Majeure

The Company shall not be in breach of these Terms, nor liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations, where such failure or delay results from any event, cause or circumstance beyond the Company's reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Acts of God, flood, fire, storm, earthquake, severe weather or natural disaster;
• Epidemic or pandemic;
• War, terrorism, civil unrest, riots or government action;
• Road closures, motorway incidents, police restrictions or emergency services activity;
• Equipment breakdown, tyre failure or road traffic accident affecting Company vehicles;
• Fuel shortages or supply chain disruption;
• Industrial action.

In the event of a force majeure, the Company will notify the Customer as soon as reasonably practicable, and will use all reasonable endeavours to minimise the impact on the Customer's Service. If the force majeure situation persists for more than 48 hours, either party may cancel the booking without liability, subject to a refund of any deposit paid.

Governing Law & Disputes

10.1 Governing Law

These Terms and any contract formed between the Company and the Customer shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Ireland where the Service is provided in Ireland, and the laws of England and Wales where the Service is provided in the United Kingdom. The parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts or the courts of England and Wales respectively.

10.2 Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute, the parties agree to first attempt to resolve the matter informally by contacting the Company using the details in Section 15 below. The Company will acknowledge all written complaints within 5 business days and will endeavour to provide a substantive response within 14 days.

If informal resolution is not achieved within 28 days, either party may refer the matter to mediation before the Irish Mediation Association (Ireland) or CEDR (UK). Failing successful mediation, either party may pursue the matter through the courts.

10.3 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed from the remaining Terms, which shall continue in full force and effect.

10.4 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with any written quote, booking confirmation or service agreement issued by the Company, constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede all prior communications, representations and understandings, whether oral or written, relating to the subject matter.

10.5 Waiver

No failure by the Company to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right or remedy under these Terms shall operate as a waiver of that right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of any right or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise of that right or remedy.

10.6 Amendments

The Company reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. Any amendments will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of our Services after the date of any amendment constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how East Coast Mechanics collects, uses, stores and shares your personal data. We are committed to protecting your privacy in compliance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Irish Data Protection Act 2018, and the UK GDPR as retained in UK law by the Data Protection Act 2018.

11.1 Data Controller

East Coast Mechanics is the data controller for personal data collected via this website and in connection with our Services. You can contact us using the details in Section 15.

11.2 What Personal Data We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal data:

• Identity data: Name, as provided in booking or quote forms;
• Contact data: Phone number, email address;
• Location data: Vehicle location, home address, or destination address provided for the purpose of delivering a Service;
• Vehicle data: Vehicle make, model, registration number, and description;
• Transaction data: Service details, payment records, invoices;
• Communications data: Records of telephone calls, emails, text messages and form submissions relating to our Services;
• Technical data: IP address, browser type, and usage data collected via cookies (see Section 13).

11.3 How We Use Your Personal Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes and on the following lawful bases:

• To provide our Services (lawful basis: performance of a contract) — including scheduling, dispatch, and communication relating to your booking;
• To process payment and manage accounts (lawful basis: performance of a contract and legal obligation);
• To comply with legal obligations (lawful basis: legal obligation) — including tax, accounting and regulatory requirements;
• To respond to enquiries (lawful basis: legitimate interests) — when you contact us via our website, phone or email;
• To improve our Services (lawful basis: legitimate interests) — analysing how our website and services are used in aggregate;
• To send service communications (lawful basis: legitimate interests) — such as booking confirmations, reminders or follow-up messages directly related to your Service.

We do not use your personal data for automated decision-making or profiling.

We do not send marketing emails or promotional communications unless you have expressly opted in. You may withdraw consent at any time.

11.4 Data Sharing

We do not sell or rent your personal data to any third party. We may share your personal data in limited circumstances only:

• Service providers: Including subcontractors, storage facilities or third-party recovery operators engaged to assist in delivering your Service, who are bound by confidentiality obligations;
• Payment processors: Secure third-party payment providers process card transactions on our behalf — they do not retain payment data for our purposes;
• Legal authorities: Where we are required by law, court order, or regulatory authority to disclose information;
• Professional advisers: Including solicitors, accountants and insurers in the course of their professional duties.

11.5 Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, and in accordance with applicable legal requirements:

• Transaction and service records: 7 years (tax and legal obligation);
• Correspondence and communications: 3 years from last interaction;
• Website contact form submissions not resulting in a booking: 12 months;
• Technical/cookie data: As per Section 13.

11.6 Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, destruction or alteration. These include access controls, secure email practices and encrypted data storage where applicable. However, no transmission over the internet is entirely secure — you submit data via our website forms at your own risk, and we cannot guarantee absolute security in transmission.

11.7 International Transfers

We do not intentionally transfer personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom. Where third-party service providers (such as email or hosting providers) may process data outside the EEA or UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with applicable data protection law.

Your Data Rights

Under GDPR and the Data Protection Acts, you have the following rights in relation to your personal data.

12.1 Summary of Rights

• Right of access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you (Subject Access Request);
• Right to rectification: You may ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data;
• Right to erasure: You may ask us to delete your data where there is no longer a lawful basis for us to hold it;
• Right to restriction: You may ask us to restrict processing of your data in certain circumstances;
• Right to portability: Where processing is based on consent or contract and carried out by automated means, you may request your data in a structured, machine-readable format;
• Right to object: You may object to processing based on legitimate interests;
• Right to withdraw consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting prior processing.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us in writing using the details in Section 15. We will respond within one month. There is no charge for most requests, though we may charge a reasonable fee for unfounded or excessive requests.

12.2 Complaints

If you believe we have not handled your personal data in accordance with applicable law, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority:

• Ireland: Data Protection Commission — dataprotection.ie
• United Kingdom: Information Commissioner's Office — ico.org.uk

We would, however, appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns before you contact a supervisory authority.

Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, which cookies this website uses, and how you can control them. It complies with the ePrivacy Directive (EU), the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (UK PECR), and GDPR.

13.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are used to make websites function, improve performance, and provide information to website owners. Some cookies are essential for a website to operate; others are used for analytics or marketing purposes.

13.2 Cookies Used on This Website

13.3 Managing Your Cookie Preferences

When you first visit this website, a cookie consent banner will appear. You may choose to:

• Accept all cookies — including optional analytics cookies;
• Accept essential cookies only — the website will function normally but no analytics data will be collected.

You may change your preferences at any time by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting the site. You can also control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling essential cookies may affect website functionality.

13.4 Third-Party Cookies

Where Google Analytics is enabled, Google may set cookies on your device. Google's own privacy practices govern how that data is processed. You can opt out of Google Analytics across all websites using Google's opt-out browser add-on at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

This website uses Google Fonts (loaded from Google's servers). Google may process your IP address as part of delivering these fonts. We do not control this processing.

Website Disclaimer

14.1 Website Information

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. While we endeavour to keep all information accurate and up to date, we make no representations or warranties of any kind — express or implied — regarding the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability of the website or the information, services or related content contained on the website.

Any reliance you place on information from this website is strictly at your own risk.

14.2 Service Availability

The availability of our Services, response times, geographic coverage and pricing are subject to change without notice. Nothing on this website constitutes a guarantee of service availability or response time in any given location or at any given time.

14.3 Emergency Services

14.4 Third-Party Links

This website may contain links to third-party websites (including TowingIreland.ie). These links are provided for convenience only. The Company has no control over the content, privacy practices or availability of third-party websites and accepts no responsibility for them. The inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement of the linked site.

14.5 Intellectual Property

All content on this website — including text, images, logos, layout and design — is the property of East Coast Mechanics or is used with permission. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify or republish any content from this website without the Company's prior written consent. The East Coast Mechanics name and logo are protected marks.

14.6 Website Availability

The Company does not guarantee uninterrupted availability of this website. The website may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, technical issues or circumstances beyond our control. The Company accepts no liability for any loss or inconvenience arising from website downtime.

Contact Us — Legal Matters

For any queries regarding these Terms, your data rights, or to make a formal complaint, please contact us using the details below. All legal correspondence should be submitted in writing.