Our Approach to Returns
This policy explains your rights when buying from ATC Shipping Containers Ltd (company number 15617678, registered office 124–128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX). Nothing in it limits your statutory rights.
Consumer Purchases
If you buy as a consumer — wholly or mainly outside your trade, business, craft or profession — you are protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and, where you buy at a distance or off-premises, by the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.
Your 14-day right to cancel
Where you order online, by telephone or by email without meeting us face to face, you may generally cancel within 14 days without giving a reason. The period ends 14 days after the day you, or a person you nominate, take physical possession of the goods; for orders in separate consignments it runs from the last item. Tell us in writing before it expires, by emailing sales@atc-shippingcontainers.com or writing to our registered office. Refusing delivery without contacting us is not sufficient notice.
Returning the goods and refunds
If you cancel, you must return the goods or make them available for collection within 14 days of telling us. Containers cannot be returned by post, so we arrange collection and, as the Regulations permit, you bear the direct cost of return, confirmed in writing before booking.
You may inspect the container as you would in a shop, but if its value is reduced by handling beyond that — cutting, drilling, painting, welding or permanent siting — we may make a proportionate deduction. We refund all payments received, including the standard delivery charge, within 14 days of receiving the goods back or of you evidencing their return. Where you chose express delivery we refund only our standard rate.
Bespoke, Modified and Made-to-Order Goods
The 14-day right does not apply to goods made to your specification or clearly personalised. This exclusion under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 covers containers we cut, weld, insulate, line, wire, partition, fit with doors, windows or shutters, or paint to your chosen colour, plus office and guard booth units built to specification. Once fabrication begins, such orders cannot be cancelled and are not refundable except where the goods are faulty or not as described.
Business (B2B) Purchases
If you buy in the course of a business, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 do not apply. Business sales are governed by our Terms and Conditions and the Sale of Goods Act 1979 as amended, and there is no automatic right to cancel or return. We may at our discretion take back an unused, unmodified stock container, in which case restocking and transport charges apply and must be agreed in writing beforehand.
Faulty, Damaged or Misdescribed Goods
Goods supplied to consumers must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. If they are not:
- Within 30 days of delivery you have the short-term right to reject and obtain a full refund.
- Between 30 days and six months you may require repair or replacement; if that fails or cannot be done without significant inconvenience, you may claim a price reduction or reject the goods. In this period a fault is presumed present at delivery unless we show otherwise.
- After six months you retain rights but must show the fault existed at delivery. Claims may generally be brought for up to six years from delivery in England and Wales.
Used containers are second-hand goods, so surface rust, dents, scratches and patch repairs are normal characteristics of the grade, not defects. What matters is that the unit matches the grade sold: wind and watertight units must be sound and weather-sealed, cargo-worthy units certified fit to carry freight.
How to Start a Return or Claim
- Email sales@atc-shippingcontainers.com or call +44 20 7946 0000 as soon as possible.
- Quote your order number, delivery date and the container number (its ISO 6346 marking).
- State whether you are cancelling under the 14-day right or reporting a fault.
- Send photographs of any fault plus a wide shot of the container, and note visible transit damage on the delivery paperwork within 48 hours.
- Do not modify, repaint or repair the unit before we have inspected it, as this may affect your remedy.
We aim to acknowledge claims within two working days and to give a decision or inspection date promptly. If a claim is upheld, collection and remedial costs are ours.