Terms and Conditions

Unless otherwise agreed to in advance and in writing, Terms & Conditions apply. Total charges incurred and billed to the client’s credit card unless invoice arrangements have been made in advance or there is an existing corporate billing account. North Hills accepts VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards. Checks or cash may also be accepted subject to an authorized credit card guarantee and identity validation for security purposes. Checks may be required to be received in advance in order to clear prior to date(s) services are rendered. New and one time clients will be required to present their card for imprinting. Additional ID verification may also be necessary.

Service Performance

North Hills will use reasonable efforts to ensure that the service is provided as booked. North Hills will not be liable for any loss or costs clients incur through any reasonable or unavoidable delays and it is the client’s responsibility to ensure that the client booked the service to collect the passenger(s) in time. North Hills will not be responsible for any losses the client suffers (including for example, any missed meeting or flights) due to client’s failure to allow sufficient time for passenger(s) journey.

Airport Transfers

North Hills provides a reasonable rate for airport pickups and drop-offs to or from RDU International Airport. The airport transfer rate is based upon a pickup and drop-off without any associated delay or waiting time exceeding thirty (30) minutes. Your vehicle is dispatched according to the flight’s estimated time of arrival as provided to North Hills by each respective airline’s automated system (North Hills is not responsible for delays caused by the airline’s automated system or otherwise). Billing shall revert to the prevailing hourly rate in the event the client is delayed, or the waiting time is exceeded, beyond the allotted thirty (30) minutes.

Point to Point Transfers

North Hills may provide point to point transfer rates for local pickups and drop-offs within the triangle area. Wait time beyond the fifteen (15) minute “grace” period, as well as for extra stops or indirect routing, are charged additionally, or charges may revert to the prevailing hourly rate. Hourly Service North Hills provides an hourly rate for all other service based on a three (2) hour or more minimum charge. Hourly or “As Directed” services allow for multiple stops and wait time as directed by the client. Vehicle will stay with the client or at their stop locations (as parking availability allows) for the entire rental time. Travel time may be charged on a “place-to-place” basis and is made a part of the respective three hour’s minimum.

Deposits

  • On Wedding and Special Events
    Since many of our vehicles are booked a year in advance, a deposit of 50% of the total price and a signed contract are required to hold the vehicle.
  • Airport, fixed price transfer or directed services
    Due to the fact that many of our costs are committed well in advance, a deposit of 50% of the total cost is required upon the reservation made.
    *Note: Deposits are non-refundable if the client requested a cancelation a week after the reservation has been made for a month later job/contract. Deposits are non- refundable if the reservation made for within a week to a month job/contract

Cancellation and Changes

North Hills understands that cancellation and charges are sometimes necessary and unavoidable. However,

  • On Wedding and Special Events
    After paying the deposits for a month later job/contract, if the client wants to cancel the reservation (within 30 days of the event), the client will be responsible for the entire balance of the job/contract.
    After paying the deposits for a week to a month job/contract, if the client wants to cancel the reservation, the client will be responsible for the entire balance of the job/contract.
  • Airport, fixed price transfer or directed service
    North Hills accepts cancellations on airport, fixed-price transfers or directed services without charging the remaining balance, if the client requests a cancellation two (2) hours before the scheduled pickup time on all vehicles, except buses. Minibuses require no less than a six (6) hour cancellation notice.
  • Time changes made with less than the required notice above will still result in additional, and possibly, full charges.
    Example: At 1:30 PM, a requested change in pick-up time from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM will result in a full charge for the 2:00 PM trip and a new charge for the 4:00 PM trip.

No-Shows

If you do not see your chauffeur, please call our office immediately at (919) 810-4166 to avoid the full-charge “no-show” fee. North Hills generally includes STC and recommended 20% chauffeur gratuity in the minimum no-show fee for the client’s convenience, however, gratuity amount is always 100% at the client’s discretion. The Client may increase, decrease or have the tip removed entirely. A client may advise North Hills about the amount of gratuity they wish to pay, if any.

For point-to-point and Airport service, a fee equal to the base fare, wait time, STC and recommended chauffeur gratuity (gratuity amount at client’s discretion), will be charged when the client does not show at the pre-arranged pick-up location. For Hourly Service, a fee equal to three (2) hours of service, STC and recommended gratuity (gratuity amount at client’s discretion) will be charged when the client does not show at the pre-arranged pickup location.

Again, to avoid a no-show fee, please call our office locally at (919) 810-4166.

E-mail Communication

Generally, North Hills accepts new reservations, changes and cancellations by e-mail with adequate notice. Although American Choice operates 24/7, 365 days a year, it is recommended that the client verbally confirms any request sent after normal business hours and on major holidays.

Many clients may be dealing directly with one of our staff members and e-mailing them individually. Staff members only have access to their e-mail during their regular office schedule. Although during normal weekday business hours, North Hills reasonably monitors “out-of-Office” staff e-mail, but is not able to monitor everyone’s individual e-mail around the clock. For shorter notice requests, always send those requests to , not to individual e-mail addresses. If that individual staff member is not in the office, your request may not be handled promptly. North Hills cannot guarantee cancellations, changes or new reservations, unless sent to with adequate notice. You should always get an e-mail confirmation for a new reservation, any changed reservation or cancelled reservation. If you do not receive such e-mail confirmation, please contact us right away.

Chauffeur Tip

It is customary to pay a tip to the chauffeur for services rendered. As a convenience to our clients, a recommended 20% tip that is paid 100% to the chauffeur is added to the client’s charges, unless the client’s corporate agreement states differently. Chauffeur tip is always completely at the client’s discretion and subject to the client’s satisfaction with the chauffeur’s service. The client may increase, decrease or eliminate the tip entirely. The client has the right to choose to pay a tip in a different manner. If the client approves an additional tip being added to the bill, the client has to confirm via signature and/or promptly via e-mail to , referencing the client’s reservation number, or call north Hills to adjust billing. Chauffeurs understand that all tips must be earned by providing outstanding service to our clients and their guests, and that the actual amount received is always up to the client.

Arrival Time

North Hills and its chauffeurs always prepare in advance to avoid unnecessary delays in arrival time. However, road, traffic and weather conditions are often beyond the reasonable control of the company and the chauffeur. No refunds can be given as a result of late arrival due to such conditions or other occurrences out of the reasonable control of the company or chauffeur.

Baggage and Other Property Transported

North Hills cannot assume responsibility for the handling or maintenance of any or other property, nor for any property left in the company’s vehicles. North Hills will do everything possible to secure and retrieve any belongings left in the vehicle. North Hills advises the client to check thoroughly prior to leaving the vehicle for all personal belongings.

Passenger Restraint System

All vehicles provided by North Hills will be equipped with seatbelts, and it’s the passenger’s exclusive responsibility to ensure they are worn at all times while in the vehicle. North Hills accepts no liability for loss, damage, death or bodily injury that can be attributed to a passenger’s failure to wear a seatbelt or other restraint device that was available for their use and in working order. When infants are traveling, it is the exclusive responsibility of the accompanying parent, guardian or caregiver to ensure that the infant is protected by a restraint system appropriate to the child’s age and size.

Passenger Conduct

North Hills reserves the right to refuse to transport people under the influence and/or in possession of illegal drugs, as well as those excessively intoxicated, in the possession of firearms or dangerous substances of any kind, those who are or are likely to become objectionable to other people or those causing the chauffeur to feel threatened in any way. Under no circumstances are minors allowed to consume or possess alcohol or illegal substances while in a company vehicle. The client shall not interfere with the chauffeur in the discharge of his/her duty or tamper with any apparatus or appliance on the vehicle. In such instances, services will be terminated immediately and no refunds will be offered.

Invalidity

To the extent that any provision of this agreement is found by any court or competent authority to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, that provision shall be deemed not to be part of this agreement, it shall not affect the enforceability of this agreement, nor shall it affect the validity, lawfulness or enforceability and that provision in any other jurisdiction.

Excess Cleaning and Damage

If, during or after the transportation service, the company is required to expend an extended amount of time and material to clean the vehicle, due to acts of the client or any passenger (i.e. spilling food and drinks, vomiting, prohibited smoking, excessive trash), the company, at its discretion, will charge the client additional fees to cover such expense. Damage to the vehicle in any way, caused by actions of the client or any passenger will be charged in full to the client. The minimum clean-up fee is $200.

Smoking Strictly Prohibited

Smoking in all vehicles is strictly prohibited. Smoking in the vehicle by the client or any passenger will result in an automatic $250 charge. Damage caused by smoking activity will also be charged to the client.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES


Wait Time (Airport and Point-to-Point Transfers)

For airport and Amtrak arrivals, American Choice offers a 30-minute grace period from the updated arrival time. Thereafter, wait time will be charged at $15 for each additional 10-minute period.

For all other transfers, a 10-minute grace period will be granted, thereafter, wait time will be charged at $15 for each additional 10-minute period.

Wait time past 30 minutes will revert the trip to hourly minimum pricing.

Stops (Airport and Point-to-Point Transfers)

Extra stops, including extra airline stops are charged a minimum $15 per “en route” stop and include a maximum 10-minute wait period at the stop. Additional wait time is charged at the prevailing hourly rate in quarter hour increments.

Other Charges

Other charges include reimbursement for tolls, parking and client-requested incidentals and amenities.

Meet and Greet Services

On request, meet and greet services will be charged at $10, plus the regular rate.

On request, curb side services will be the same as the regular rate.

Staff Accommodations

On occasions that require overnight travel for chauffeurs, on-site coordinators or other client-dedicated staff, lodging and meals should be arranged and provided for by the client.