| Taxi Driver Online http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/ |
|
| Self-drive Limo scammers get fined http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10565 |
Page 1 of 2 |
| Author: | Sussex [ Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Self-drive Limo scammers get fined |
Firm fined over Bristol limo fire A company has been prosecuted after a stretch limousine caught fire while carrying a party of young friends and the group's ordeal was highlighted in the Bristol Post. Go-Stretch was ordered to pay a total of £5,190 in fines, costs and victim surcharge by North Avon magistrates in a case brought by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). The 70-year-old driver of the car, Robert Blight, was also fined £1,555 and ordered to pay £365 in costs and surcharge. Neither Scott or Julie Demaret, directors of Go-Stretch, nor Mr Blight appeared at the court in Yate but the magistrates agreed to proceed in their absence and found the case against the company and the driver proved. Richard Locke, prosecuting for VOSA, said all three had refused to attend interviews and claimed Mr and Mrs Demaret had led the agency a "merry dance" as it tried to carry out its investigation, in order to "create confusion". He said the limousine had been hired by Ellie Hayes, of Yate, to help celebrate her 21st birthday in April last year. She and 12 friends paid £180 to be picked up in Gloucester Road and taken to Clifton. But when they were on Circular Road on the Downs, the car caught fire. Mr Locke said: "No one was injured in the incident. The vehicle was evacuated and the fire service was called." But the magistrates were told the firefighters had to let the limo burn out after discovering it was powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Mr Locke said VOSA was alerted to the incident after a report about the friends' ruined night out appeared in the Bristol Post. In our report, Mr Demaret was described as company director of Go-Stretch and he was quoted as saying the vehicle was worth £74,000. Mr Locke said VOSA's dealings with Caldicot-based Go-Stretch led to various denials from the Demarets that they were involved. But he told the court Ms Hayes had entered into a contract with Go-Stretch to hire the vehicle, although she had to pay her cheque to Chauffeur4You, and Mr Blight had been driving the limo on the night of the fire. The court also heard the car was capable of carrying enough people to be classed as a passenger service vehicle (PSV) – it was advertised as a vehicle that could carry 14 passengers – and was being hired for reward. Both Go-Stretch and Mr Blight, also of Caldicot, were fined for a series of offences, including having no operator's licence, no certificate of initial fitness, no test certificate, no recording equipment such as a tachograph and no insurance. Mr Blight was also prosecuted for carrying more passengers than the number of seats available and failing to produce his licence and driver's card. As well as the fines, he was given six penalty points. In the Bristol Post's report in April, the terrified friends being carried in the limo told how they had to jump out of the car when smoke began streaming from the driver's compartment. They then looked on in horror as flames and thick black smoke billowed from the vehicle and windows smashed in the intense heat. Sian Barnett, 20, of Horfield, said they were choking on the smoke and some people became ill. She also said some of the friends had experienced health problems after the blaze. |
|
| Author: | Nigel [ Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Where there's blame there's a claim. |
|
| Author: | Sussex [ Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Nigel wrote: Where there's blame there's a claim.
I hope the insurers have to pay out big time for the damage and serveve stress this unlicensed vehicle fire has caused. Let's hope it goes in the 10s of thousands. Of course I hope they don't pay out a penny for the motor. 
|
|
| Author: | toots [ Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Quote: She also said some of the friends had experienced health problems after the blaze.
Of course they have 
Needless to say I applaud the courts decision and I hope that the licencing department will thoroughly check the business of Go-Stretch and Chauffeur4you and IMO VOSA should be called in to check all the vehicles involved with this company just to be on the safe side. |
|
| Author: | Nigel [ Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
toots wrote: Quote: She also said some of the friends had experienced health problems after the blaze. Of course they have Needless to say I applaud the courts decision and I hope that the licencing department will thoroughly check the business of Go-Stretch and Chauffeur4you and IMO VOSA should be called in to check all the vehicles involved with this company just to be on the safe side. toots wrote: She also said some of the friends had experienced health problems after the blaze.
I was going to say the above but thought better not. |
|
| Author: | toots [ Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Nigel wrote: toots wrote: Quote: She also said some of the friends had experienced health problems after the blaze. Of course they have Needless to say I applaud the courts decision and I hope that the licencing department will thoroughly check the business of Go-Stretch and Chauffeur4you and IMO VOSA should be called in to check all the vehicles involved with this company just to be on the safe side. toots wrote: She also said some of the friends had experienced health problems after the blaze. I was going to say the above but thought better not. Chicken 
|
|
| Author: | no tips [ Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I cant wait for Grandads version, I expect the poor soles at Go-Stretch are being victimised and its all a mistake
|
|
| Author: | Sussex [ Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
no tips wrote: I cant wait for Grandads version, I expect the poor soles at Go-Stretch are being victimised and its all a mistake
The most telling part of all of this is that the scammers didn't want anything to do with trying to justify the scam. The took to the hills, and so they should.
|
|
| Author: | grandad [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
no tips wrote: I cant wait for Grandads version, I expect the poor soles at Go-Stretch are being victimised and its all a mistake
If you took the time to read the various reports on this incident that have appeared on the forum you would know that I have said before that Go Stretch were not operating correctly and deserve all they get. Unfortunatly as far as I am aware Scott and Julie have left the country months ago. By the way if any of you saw the sky programme Limo Fever, this company was featured on it. |
|
| Author: | JD [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self-drive Limo scammers get fined |
Sussex wrote: But he told the court Ms Hayes had entered into a contract with Go-Stretch to hire the vehicle, although she had to pay her cheque to Chauffeur4You, and Mr Blight had been driving the limo on the night of the fire.
So thats how it works. lol What's the watertight version like and when does it come under the scrutiny of the court? I was led to believe there is a case this month. Regards JD |
|
| Author: | grandad [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Self-drive Limo scammers get fined |
JD wrote: Sussex wrote: But he told the court Ms Hayes had entered into a contract with Go-Stretch to hire the vehicle, although she had to pay her cheque to Chauffeur4You, and Mr Blight had been driving the limo on the night of the fire. So thats how it works. lol What's the watertight version like and when does it come under the scrutiny of the court? I was led to believe there is a case this month. Regards JD Clearly not.
|
|
| Author: | wannabeeahack [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:01 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Sussex wrote: Nigel wrote: Where there's blame there's a claim. I hope the insurers have to pay out big time for the damage and serveve stress this unlicensed vehicle fire has caused. Let's hope it goes in the 10s of thousands. Of course I hope they don't pay out a penny for the motor. why do you think its a LIMITED company...... |
|
| Author: | wannabeeahack [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:05 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
they advertise a 28 seater coach, if they have an o-licence/etc for that surely vosa can intervene using the limo case as cause? http://www.go-stretch.com/party-limo-coach.htm Quote: SELF EMPLOYED PART –TIME CHAUFFEURS REQUIRED
Chauffeurs required to drive top of the range Stretch Limousines for weekend work, must have a good sense of humour and be prepared to work until late on a Saturday evening. Requirements Category D (for hire and reward) on your driving licence or Full PSV Licence Age 25+ for Insurance purposes. Please contact Scott on 07968 112704 for further information or send an email to info@go-stretch.com. |
|
| Author: | grandad [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Go Stretch no longer exist. They sold up just after the fire.
There is a topic on here somewhere that is about the decision to withdraw the company's operators license. |
|
| Author: | wannabeeahack [ Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:44 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
no accounts filed.... no tax to pay just walk away -------------------------------------------------------------- GO STRETCH LIMOS LTD 39 KINGSWAY OLDBURY B68 0QD Company No. 05507235 Status: Dissolved 07/05/2008 Date of Incorporation: 13/07/2005 Country of Origin: United Kingdom Company Type: Private Limited Company Nature of Business (SIC(03)): 6023 - Other passenger land transport Accounting Reference Date: 31/07 Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED) Next Accounts Due: Last Return Made Up To: 13/07/2006 Next Return Due: |
|
| Page 1 of 2 | All times are UTC [ DST ] |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|