FreightGuard Service Guarantee Terms & Conditions
1 June 2025
General
FreightGuard Service Guarantee Claims
4. Any claim under the FreightGuard Service Guarantee for damage to or loss of Goods ("Claim") must be submitted by the Claimant onto the FreightGuard Online Claim form via the relevant URL link: CLICK HERE for Claim Form
5. The Customer must notify First Light Couriers in writing of any Claim within the following time limits:
5.1 where the Receiver has indicated in writing on the consignment note or has records that they have informed First Light Couriers that loss or damage has occurred in respect of the Goods, within fourteen (14) days from the date of delivery of the Goods to the Delivery Address;
5.2 where the Receiver has acknowledged that the Goods have been delivered and received in good order and condition, within twenty-four (24) hours from the date of delivery of the Goods to the Delivery Address;
5.3 in respect of Claims for non-delivery, within fourteen (14) days after the date of dispatch specified for that consignment.
6. The Customer may only make one (1) Claim per consignment.
7. The Customer must provide to First Light Couriers with any Claim, documentary evidence acceptable to First Light Couriers (for example, receipt, valuation or tax invoice) as proof of value of the Goods.
8. Where the customer makes a valid Claim and there are outstanding amounts owed by the Customer to First Light Couriers, First Light Couriers reserves the right to pay the Claim either directly to the Customer or as a credit to the Customer's account.
9. Claims will only be paid by First Light Couriers in respect of any consignment after the Customer has paid all outstanding Freight Charges in respect of that consignment and where the Customer account with First Light Couriers has been paid in accordance with the credit terms extended.
FreightGuard Service Guarantee Limitations
10. The FreightGuard Service Guarantee is subject to the following limitations:
10.1 Claims are limited to loss of or damage to the Goods only. For the avoidance of doubt, the FreightGuard Service Guarantee does not cover any consequential loss or damage suffered by the Customer as a result of loss or damage to the Goods.
10.2 The maximum amount that may be claimed from First Light Couriers under the FreightGuard Service Guarantee is the lesser of;
10.2.1 the FreightGuard Service Guarantee Limitation Amount of R 5,000.00 (for the avoidance of doubt, where the FreightGuard Service Guarantee has been declined by the Customer, the FreightGuard Service Guarantee Limitation Amount shall be zero); and
10.2.2 the cost price of the Goods, as supported by documentary evidence acceptable to First Light Couriers (for example receipt, valuation or tax invoice from the seller of the Goods).
10.3 Freight charges relating to the consignment covered by the FreightGuard Service Guarantee shall not be included in the calculation of any amount payable under the FreightGuard Service Guarantee in respect of the Goods.
10.4 Where a claim has been paid in full for goods damaged, First Light Couriers reserves the right to take possession of the goods as salvage and to dispose of such goods as it sees fit.
FreightGuard Service Guarantee Exclusions
11. First Light Couriers will not be liable for any Claims made by Customers in any of the following circumstances:
11.1 Where the Customer has declined the FreightGuard Service Guarantee and has not paid the FreightGuard Service Guarantee charge;
11.2 Where the Customer fails to submit the Claim to First Light Couriers within the relevant time limits set out above;
11.3 Where First Light Couriers is in possession of an unendorsed proof of delivery form for the consignment;
11.4 Where the Goods consigned are Restricted Commodities, where “Restricted Commodities” means each of the following items:-
11.4.1 Tobacco products of all descriptions, Alcohol products, money, bullion, credit cards, pre-paid cards, jewellery, watches, precious stones, furs, treasury notes, securities, stamps, patterns or manuscripts, plans, designs, explosives and all livestock or plants. Guns, Ammunition, Hazardous goods and Dangerous goods / materials; negotiable instruments; gemstones; antiques; works of art; drugs; any liquids (metal or plastic containers) copper products; glass and glass products, furniture, household and personal effects; and any valuable documents; Second hand goods that have not been declared as such to First Light Couriers, who reserves the right to inspect second hand goods before acceptance and to delay the transit time by one day to effect such inspection.
11.5 Where First Light Couriers in its reasonable opinion considers the Packaging of the Goods to be inadequate for road transportation; in the event of a claim for damage, the receiver must retain all inner and outer packaging materials as well as the damaged goods. Failure by the receiver to retain the original goods and packaging at the original delivery location or the failure to make the delivered goods available for inspection, will invalidate the claim.
It is the customer’s sole responsibility to ensure that the goods are adequately prepared and packed for road transportation. This includes labelling for handling instructions and Dangerous Goods identification labels. First Light Couriers will not be held responsible for the repackaging or labelling of any goods.
11.6 Where the Goods are determined by First Light Couriers to have been defective prior to the Carriage;
11.7 Where damage, mechanical failure or other operational defect in the Goods could not, in the reasonable opinion of First Light Couriers, have been caused by the Carriage;
11.8 Where First Light Couriers fails, delays or is unable to carry out its obligations under this contract due to strikes and / or lockouts (whether of First Light Couriers own employees or those of others and whether or not First Light Couriers could have avoided the same by acceding to the demands of the employees responsible for such action), acts of God, war, terrorism, fire, flood, embargo, litigation, acts of government or any agency instrumentality or any political subdivision thereof or any other cause beyond the control First Light Couriers;
11.8.1 Where the goods have been lost or damaged as a result of derailments, collisions, overturning, armed robbery, forced entry or hi- jackings.
11.9 Where the Goods have not been packed in the original manufacturer's packaging or the equivalent;
11.10 Where the Delivery Address is a post office box, a roadside drop or postal mail box.
Amendments to Terms and Conditions of Contract
12. First Light Couriers reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions of contract from time to time, without prior notice to the Customer.
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