General terms and conditions of sale

1. Scope and service provider

These general terms and conditions of sale apply to all passenger transport services provided by MEDITERRANEE PRESTIGE VTC, a French SAS with a share capital of €1,000, registered office at 6 avenue du Grand Large, 34300 Agde, France, registered with the Béziers Trade and Companies Register under no. 842 795 254 and with the register of chauffeur-driven car operators (VTC) under no. EVTC 034240238 (the “Provider”).

These terms can be consulted at any time on the website, and a link to them is included in the booking confirmation. Any booking implies the client's acceptance of these terms; the terms that apply are those in force on the date of booking. Specific conditions agreed in writing, in particular with business clients, may supplement or amend them.

2. Booking

Under the French Transport Code, every journey in a chauffeur-driven car (VTC) must be booked in advance. Clients book by phone, WhatsApp or email, stating the pick-up date and time, the pick-up and drop-off addresses, the number of passengers and pieces of luggage, the flight or train number where applicable, and any special requirement (child seat, pet, planned stops).

The booking is firm once the Provider has confirmed it in writing (text message, WhatsApp or email) with the agreed price. The client checks the details in the confirmation and reports any error without delay. The Provider may decline a booking, in particular when unavailable.

Any change (time, address, number of passengers) must be requested as early as possible and only applies once accepted by the Provider. It may change the price.

3. Price

The price of each journey is given and accepted before pick-up. Prices shown by the website's estimate tool are indicative: only the price confirmed by the Provider is binding. Prices are in euros, all taxes included.

Unless otherwise stated in the confirmation, the price includes the agreed journey, the driver, the vehicle, fuel and tolls. The following may be added if they were not planned at the time of booking: waiting time beyond the time included (article 6), stops or detours requested during the journey, parking fees and, where applicable, cleaning or repair costs (article 9). The client is informed of any such extra.

4. Payment

Payment can be made by card (on board, on the card terminal, or through a secure payment link), by bank transfer or in cash. Cheques are not accepted. A summary receipt is given to the client before payment, in accordance with consumer information rules; an invoice is issued on request.

For weddings and events, hourly hire and long-distance journeys, a deposit may be requested at booking; its amount is stated in the confirmation. Sums paid in advance are a deposit on account (acompte), not a forfeitable deposit (arrhes). The booking is then only firm once the deposit has been received. The balance is paid at the end of the service at the latest. For other journeys, payment is made at the end of the trip.

Business clients: invoices are payable within the period stated on the invoice and no later than 30 days after its date. Any late payment automatically incurs penalties at the interest rate applied by the European Central Bank to its most recent refinancing operation plus 10 percentage points, together with a fixed recovery fee of €40 (articles L.441-10 and D.441-5 of the French Commercial Code). No discount is granted for early payment. Pricing terms for business clients are provided on request.

5. Cancellation

By the client. Cancellation is free of charge up to 48 hours before the pick-up time; any deposit paid is then refunded in full. Between 48 and 24 hours before pick-up, 50% of the price of the journey is due. Less than 24 hours before pick-up, or if the client does not show up (article 6), the full price of the journey is due. Cancellations must be made in writing (text message, WhatsApp or email).

By the Provider. If the Provider has to cancel a confirmed journey, the client is informed as soon as possible and, wherever possible, offered a partner driver on the same terms. If the client declines this solution or none is available, all sums paid are refunded in full. In addition, if the cancellation occurs less than 48 hours before pick-up, other than in a case of force majeure, the Provider pays the client compensation equal to the amount the client would have owed had they cancelled at the same time.

The right of withdrawal for distance sales does not apply to passenger transport services (article L.221-2, 9°, of the French Consumer Code).

6. Punctuality, waiting time and no-shows

The driver arrives at the agreed time. Some waiting time is included in the price:

• airport: 30 minutes from the actual landing time of the flight, which the driver tracks in real time;
• train station: 15 minutes after the actual arrival of the train;
• other addresses: 10 minutes after the agreed pick-up time.

Beyond that, waiting time is charged at the rate given at booking. The client informs the driver of any delay (luggage, checks, unexpected events). If the client does not show up and cannot be reached by the end of the included waiting time, the journey is considered cancelled by the client and remains due in full.

The Provider makes every effort to keep to schedules. The Provider cannot be held liable for a delay due to a cause beyond its control (traffic, roadworks, accidents, weather, checks by the authorities). Clients are advised to allow enough time before a flight, a train or an appointment.

7. Passengers, children and luggage

The vehicle seats up to 7 passengers. The number of passengers and pieces of luggage may not exceed what was stated at booking without the Provider's agreement. Every passenger must wear a seat belt.

Under the French Highway Code, children must travel in a restraint system suited to their age and weight. Clients must therefore mention any children at booking (age and weight): child seats and boosters are provided on request, for an extra charge. The driver cannot carry a child without a suitable restraint. Unaccompanied minors are only carried with the Provider's prior agreement and written permission from a parent.

Luggage remains the client's responsibility. Carrying dangerous or illegal items is prohibited. Items left in the vehicle are kept and returned on request; any shipping costs are paid by the client.

8. Pets

Pets are accepted if requested at booking and agreed by the Provider, in a suitable basket or carrier, or on a lead for larger animals. Guide dogs and assistance dogs accompanying a person with a disability are always accepted, free of charge.

9. Conduct on board, alcohol, soiling and damage

Rules on board. Smoking, vaping and taking drugs are not allowed in the vehicle, nor is drinking alcohol unless the driver has agreed beforehand. Passengers treat the driver with respect, do not interfere with driving and keep their seat belts fastened throughout the journey.

Alcohol. The driver may refuse to pick up, or ask to leave the vehicle at a safe place, any passenger who is obviously drunk when their condition puts safety, the smooth running of the journey or the cleanliness of the vehicle at risk. In that case, the full price of the journey remains due.

Aggressive or abusive behaviour. Any assault, threat, insult or disrespectful behaviour towards the driver or other passengers ends the service immediately: the driver may stop the journey at a safe place and ask the passenger(s) concerned to leave the vehicle. The full price remains due, with no refund. The Provider reserves the right to call the police and to file a complaint.

Vomiting and soiling. In the event of vomiting or significant soiling in the vehicle, the client pays for full cleaning of the vehicle at actual cost and compensates for the time the vehicle is out of service and for journeys that could not be carried out during that time, all on presentation of proof. The driver may stop the journey to have the vehicle cleaned; the journey remains due.

Damage to the vehicle. Any damage caused by a passenger to the vehicle or its equipment (seats, upholstery, windows, accessories, on-board equipment) is charged to the client: repair or replacement costs at actual cost on presentation of the invoice, compensation for the time the vehicle is out of service and, where applicable, the insurance excess. Damage is recorded on the spot, with photographs, in the client's presence whenever possible.

Groups. For groups (weddings, hen and stag parties, evenings out, seminars), the person who made the booking is the Provider's contact and ensures that all passengers follow these rules. The costs mentioned above are payable by the person at fault and, failing payment by that person, by the person who made the booking.

10. Liability and insurance

The Provider is insured for paid passenger transport and holds professional liability insurance. The Provider is responsible for the proper performance of the service, unless the failure is due to the client, to the unforeseeable and unavoidable act of a third party, or to force majeure.

Force majeure includes in particular severe weather, natural disasters, road closures, general strikes and decisions by the authorities. In such cases, the Provider informs the client as soon as possible and any sums paid for a service not performed are refunded.

11. Personal data

The data collected at booking is used only to organise the journey and issue the invoice. To find out more and exercise your rights, see our privacy policy. Discretion is part of the service: the Provider never discloses the identity of its clients.

12. Complaints and mediation

Complaints should be sent in writing to contact@mediterranee-prestige-vtc.com or to the registered office address. We undertake to reply as quickly as possible.

If the complaint is not resolved, consumer clients may refer the matter free of charge to the Provider's consumer mediator, within one year of their written complaint: CM2C (Centre de la Médiation de la Consommation de Conciliateurs de Justice), online at www.cm2c.net, by email to contact@cm2c.net, by phone on +33 1 89 47 00 14 or by post: CM2C, 49 rue de Ponthieu, 75008 Paris, France.

13. Governing law and disputes

These terms are governed by French law, without prejudice to any more protective mandatory provisions of the law of the consumer's country of habitual residence. In the event of translation, only the French version is binding. Failing an amicable settlement, consumer clients may bring proceedings, at their choice, before any court with territorial jurisdiction under the French Code of Civil Procedure or before the court of the place where they lived when the contract was concluded or when the damage occurred (article R.631-3 of the French Consumer Code). Between businesses, the Béziers Commercial Court has exclusive jurisdiction.