How Hiring Works (Tool Hire in Doncaster)
This guide explains how tool hire works at L.F. Hire — including how to book online, delivery & collection, ID requirements, deposits, breakdowns, and our Loss or Damage Waiver.
If you still have any questions, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Quick Navigation
- How to Book
- What Happens Next
- Delivery & Collection
- ID & Deposits
- Payments & When Deposits Are Taken
- Extending Your Hire
- Breakdowns & Faults
- Loss or Damage Waiver
- How to Use the Website
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Book
Booking online is quick and secure:
- Choose your hire dates (calendar at the top)
- Browse our hire equipment range
- Select the item you need
- Add to basket
- Proceed to checkout and complete your booking
Pro tip: Choose your dates first — prices and availability update instantly for that hire period.
What Happens Next
After you place your booking:
- We review the booking details and confirm availability
- We prepare and check the equipment before dispatch
- If delivery is selected, we schedule delivery within our delivery window
- If any extra information is needed (such as confirming ID details or address), we will contact you
We aim to keep everything simple and hassle-free, so you can focus on your job.
Delivery & Collection
We offer local delivery across Doncaster and surrounding areas.
Delivery Window
Deliveries are typically made within our 9am – 11am delivery window (unless otherwise agreed).
Kerbside Delivery
All deliveries are kerbside only. This means the equipment is delivered to the nearest safe point outside the property or site.
Collection
Collection is included in the delivery charge. We will collect the equipment once your hire period has ended.
- The equipment is accessible and ready for collection
- Any accessories supplied are returned with the item
- The equipment is returned in a safe condition
If no one is available to receive the delivery: in certain pre-agreed circumstances we can deliver to a safe place. If a delivery has been scheduled and no contact has been made to change it, the delivery may be classed as a failed delivery and charged in line with our cancellation policy.
If we arrive to collect and no one is available: An additional delivery/collection charge may be applied and the hire may be extended until we can retrieve the equipment. Under the hire contract terms & conditions, we may have the right to retrieve our equipment (including forced entry as a final resort). This would only ever be used as a last resort.
ID & Deposits
Identification is required for all hires.
Limited Company bookings: we will confirm the booking directly with the company. The person collecting or receiving the equipment must present valid photo ID to the hire desk or delivery driver.
What ID is required?
- Valid photo ID (driving licence or passport)
- Proof of address (utility bill or similar) may be required in some cases
Deposits
A refundable deposit applies to all hires unless stated otherwise (for example, approved trade credit accounts).
Important: When a Loss or Damage Waiver is added, deposits can often be capped at a lower level based on the total value of the equipment hired:
| Agreed Loss Value | Excess / Deposit Cap (with Waiver) |
|---|---|
| Up to £2,500 | £100 |
| £2,501 – £5,000 | £250 |
| £5,001+ | £500 |
A booking for 10 Acrow Props and 10 Strongboys would normally require a £400 deposit. If a Loss or Damage Waiver is added, the deposit can be reduced to a capped amount (for example £100) depending on the total value of the equipment.
Note: Because deposits can depend on the full basket contents, deposit caps are confirmed by our team after checkout and before the hire goes out.
Payments & When Deposits Are Taken
Yes — unless you have an approved trade credit account.
Why isn’t the deposit always taken online at the time of booking? Online card processing and refunds create extra fees. In most cases we ask for the deposit to be paid in person at the hire desk, or at point of delivery (by card where possible). We can take deposits via phone in certain circumstances.
Deposit refund method: deposits are refunded in the exact way they were paid (cash stays cash, card stays card).
Extending Your Hire
If you need the equipment for longer, extensions are usually simple.
Please contact us as early as possible to request an extension. Extensions are subject to availability, especially during busy periods.
Breakdowns & Faults
If equipment fails during hire, contact us immediately.
- We’ll assess the issue
- Arrange a replacement or repair where possible
- Advise the quickest solution to minimise downtime
Out of hours: please call and leave a clear message with your name, contact number and the equipment hired. We will do our best to respond and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Important: do not attempt repairs yourself unless advised — this can cause further damage and may affect liability.
Loss or Damage Waiver Agreement
Underlying agreement: The basis of our contract with you is a hire contract under the “Hire Association Europe” (HAE) terms & conditions, or other equivalent standard hire industry terms and conditions, for hiring goods.
Waiver agreement: We have agreed with you that the hire contract conditions are varied by this Waiver Agreement under which you are relieved of your responsibility to us for loss of or damage to plant hired to you. The Waiver Agreement is subject to the terms specified below.
Waiver Terms — Loss or Damage Excess
You are responsible for the amount shown below of any loss or damage:
| Agreed Loss | Excess |
|---|---|
| Up to £2,500 | £100 |
| £2,501 – £5,000 | £250 |
| £5,001 plus | £500 |
Important: the excess applies per item and per incident.
Exclusions
You are responsible for:
- Any loss from a single cause in excess of £100,000 in respect of any single item.
- Continuing hire charges.
- Loss of or damage to attachments (cutting edges, tools, trailing cables or flexible pipes) other than the total loss of the complete item or attachments individually specified on the contract of hire.
- Loss or damage caused by or arising out of materials treated by the plant, or by foreign bodies entering the plant with such materials.
- Loss of the equipment only revealed when an inventory is made.
- Loss or damage or breakdown caused by your wilful act or wilful neglect.
- Loss or damage arising from failure to clean and conduct routine maintenance where you are responsible under the terms of the hire contract.
- Loss or damage of equipment from any unattended vehicle unless all doors are locked, all windows and openings fully closed and properly fastened, and equipment is out of view or securely mounted/fixed within the vehicle or in a suitable container.
- Loss due to, or exaggerated by, fraud by you or on your behalf.
- Loss or damage if the property is hired by you to another hirer (sub-hire).
- Replacement fuel due to misfuelling error.
Conditions
- You must take all reasonable measures to protect the property hired to you and ensure all statutory and other regulations relating to the plant are observed where it is your responsibility under the underlying hire agreement.
- Any theft must be reported to the police immediately and the crime reference number recorded.
- Any loss or damage must be reported to us as soon as reasonably practical and in any event within 7 (seven) days of the event.
- Take photos of the damaged equipment in situ, and/or any areas of damage to the site or property following theft or vandalism.
This agreement applies to: The specific hire as invoiced.
How to Use the Website
Our website is designed to make hiring fast and straightforward:
- Choose a category (Compaction, Drilling & Breaking, Cutting & Grinding etc.)
- Select your hire item
- Choose the hire dates you need
- Add the item to your basket
- Checkout securely online
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does my deposit take to come back?
Deposits are, in most cases, processed within 2 working days of the equipment being received back. This allows time for a thorough inspection.
Once processed, it normally takes 3–5 working days for your card provider to complete the refund. Some cards take longer than others.
Note: Complaints/disputes should not be raised with the card company until 10 working days have passed, as refunds can still be pending during that time.
Can I get a refund if I return my item early?
No. Once a booking is made, the item is reserved for you for that period of time.
You can usually edit and move bookings up until the time it is due to go out, in line with our cancellation policy.
What happens if I’m not there to receive my delivery?
In certain pre-agreed circumstances, arrangements may be made for delivery to a safe place.
If a delivery has been scheduled and no contact has been made to change it, the delivery may be classed as a failed delivery and charged as per the cancellation policy.
What happens if you arrive to collect the equipment and no one is there?
If we arrive to collect and no one is available, a further visit may be required. An additional delivery/collection charge may be applied and the hire may be extended until we can retrieve the equipment.
Under the hire contract terms & conditions, we may have the right to retrieve our equipment (including forced entry as a final resort). This would only ever be used as a last resort.
Do I have to pay the hire fee and the deposit up front?
Yes — unless you have an approved trade credit account.
Can I book over the phone?
Yes, absolutely. Call us and we can take your booking and advise the best equipment for the job.
Can I pay cash?
Yes. However, deposits may not always be able to be refunded immediately at the time of return, and you may need to come back into store at a later date to collect the deposit refund.
Can I get my deposit back in cash if I paid by card?
No — the deposit must be refunded in the exact way it was paid.
Why isn’t the deposit always paid online at time of booking?
Processing refunds costs us money through the card provider used for website and over-the-phone payments.
We can take deposits online in certain circumstances, but normally we ask that deposits are paid in person at the hire desk or at point of delivery (by card where possible).
Does the equipment come with fuel?
Small equipment with tanks under 5L will usually have some fuel in, however we do not fill these items and we do not expect them to be returned full. We do ask that there is enough fuel left for us to test the equipment.
Larger tanks (5L+) are typically sent out full and must be returned full. Failure to do so may result in refuelling fees.
Do I need to clean the equipment before I return it?
Yes — cleaning charges may apply for equipment returned dirty.
Do hire items come with blades, discs or drill bits?
In most cases, blades, discs and drill bits are not supplied as standard. These are available separately depending on the material being cut or drilled.
What happens if the tool is stolen?
You are responsible for the security of equipment during hire. Theft may be covered by the Loss/Damage Waiver if taken out at the time of hire, subject to the waiver conditions (including reporting requirements).
Still Need Help?
If you have any questions, contact us and we’ll be happy to advise you on the best equipment for the job.