Taxi Driver Online

LEFT IN LURCH AS LIMO FIRM FOLDS


Hundreds of party-goers have had their plans scuppered after a stretch limousine company was forced to cease trading. Go Stretch Limos was dissolved in May after failing to file its annual returns to Companies House in time. The move has left dozens of customers out of pocket and many more with bookings that now will not be fulfilled.

Louise Pullin, who runs the Hamilton pre-school at Holymead Junior School in Brislington, booked a £160 limo ride with Go Stretch for her 11-year-old daughter Paige and a group of her friends back in October.

Mrs Pullin organised the trip to celebrate their leaving Holymead Junior School on July 25 but when she called the company last week to pay the balance she was told it had stopped trading.

She said: "I phoned Go Stretch a couple of weeks ago to check where they would be dropped off, and nothing was mentioned then. "Then last week I rang to make the final payment, only to be told they had been wound up.

"The person who answered said Go Stretch was no longer in existence. She was from another limo company, and said there was nothing more she could do."

Mrs Pullin, who lives in Brislington, now expects to lose her £50 deposit. She said: "We have rung around, but every other company is booked as it is the last day of term. "There are 12 little girls who have just come back from a week at camp, and we have had to tell them that they aren't going to have their limo.

"They are devastated, and we have had a few tears and temper tantrums, but you can understand that. "I am fuming. They were so excited, and it would have been lovely for them to have had a limo trip before they go off to different schools."

The company is also currently being investigated by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency after one of its limos burst into flames on the Downs in April, forcing the party of girls inside to leap to safety from the £74,000 vehicle.

Its director, Scott Demaret, is being called to a public inquiry by the traffic commissioner for failing to fulfil the requirements of his public service vehicle licence. But he is thought to have fled to Cyprus and put his fleet of limos up for sale.

Efforts to contact Go Stretch and Mr Demaret by the Evening Post were unanswered. The Go Stretch website and phone line are now being run by another limo company, All-Stretched Out.

Simon Ringham, the director of All-Stretched Out, said his firm took over the website and phone line on July 1, and has also bought three of Go Stretch's vehicles - a pink and a white Hummer, and a white Chrysler.

Mr Ringham said: "We will honour any bookings on these three cars until the end of July, and then they will be sold. Since we took over the site and phone it has been a nightmare. We have had a lot of complaints."

A spokesperson for Companies House said Go Stretch had been struck off and dissolved on May 7 because of "non-compliance". She said: "The company didn't file its annual returns in time, so is no longer able to trade as a limited company."

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IDFIMH

Nuff said.

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IDFIMH

Very good Sussex. If you had printed the link to the article members would also be able to read the replies from people to the article. One of which is from Scott who is alive and well in BRISTOL and not CYPRUS as claimed in the story and also stating that the company accounts were in fact filed in time. He also gives the reason for the firm closing which I am suprised that you didn't pick up on because it would be right up your street.

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Grandad,

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Grandad,

From the replies.

I am Scott and I am here in Bristol as to why the paper says I have "fled to Cyprus" is absolutely beyond me! Go Stretch gave as much notice as possible to the party concerned & refunded all deposits. The parties above who have mentioned we cancelled have failed to mention the return of their moneys as unfortunately a lot of people enjoy causing trouble. The Limo which caught fire was not `under-insured` but due to depreciation the value paid out by the Ins Company was considerably less than the amount owing on the lease. Our accounts were filed on time without question and this statement is completely untrue. I would like to thank all our past customers for their business and confirm that I have no intention whatsoever of setting up another limo company due to the current legislation which is being implemented by VOSA which limousines whoever they belong to cannot comply and it is for this reason and this reason only Go Stretch decided to stop operating completely.
Scott Demaret, Bristol

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Grandad,

Interesting.
Let me see if I have this right. The the lady in the story is lying, his customers are lying, the newspaper is lying, companies house is lying, VOSA are intent on ruining him and everyone else, his insurance company shafted him and he is as pure as the driven snow?

BTW he could have posted that from anywhere, including Cyprus.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

According to the comments attributed to "All Stretched out Limos", no one has had their plans scuppered, "all" contracts will be honoured on the three "Go Stretch" vehicles until the end of July. Some people may have lost a deposit but to say their plans have been completely scuppered is not entirely true.



I don't see how the reporter can reconcile the above comment with the one directly below.



Most of us on TDO are under no illusion that at present the majority of limo owners with vehicles that carry 8 or more passengers have no licensing home, however, here is one operator who tried to do things legitimately but failed. Admittedly "perhaps" one or two people may have lost a deposit of 50 pounds or so but it would appear none have lost their booking. The lady who owns a prep school can put her 50 pound loss down to tax expenditure so there shouldn't really be a problem there.

We normally tend to highlight the activities of those persons who aren't licensed but to be fare to the owner of this limo company at least he tried to make a go of things under current licensing laws. I think we should take a step back and consider that fact and also consider the fact that sometimes even the best laid business plans and ideas go awry.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

First of all well done JD for a very balanced view of what may have happened.
, most customers who come across this sort of problem will make the facts fit their case, did she lose her deposit, did the other firm offer to do the job, did she try to get a minibus instead, the kids will have to learn that life is full of disappointments.
the newspaper will only print what IT thinks is of interest to the story, they never let facts get in the way of a good story and yes they do lie on a very regular basis, how many in recent months have won libel actions etc but not everyone has the money to take them on.

yes they might well be, happened to me once just because a clerk transposed the last figures on our reg no but as with most big depts one desk does not communicate with the one right next to it.
most small firms with the correct operator licensing are sick to death of VOSA constantly pulling you for every minor detail when the cowboys drive past without a second glance. How is it that I can see them, most other people see them EVERY day but VOSA cannot find them. Answer= VOSA work to targets, much easier to tick the box they have seen you and found two i not dotted a t not crossed. I had a vehicle examiner admit to me that as long as the paperwork looked correct and mileages etc seemed to bear out ok they would not have any reason to look too close at the actual vehicle but if you are a small outfit and have a vehicle fault put right but then have not brought the paperwork up to date because you are out driving the vehicle they will bounce on you. and yes some vehicle examiners are vindictive and they do get it wrong, I have personal experience of this and although you can get the action overturned you will not get an apology even when the person concerned is as they say on "extended leave".

nothing unusual in that, you try getting the full value of your "specialst motor" in a right off situation, not a chance and don't forget the insurance that you pay only covers the risk to the finance/lease company so you end up with nowt!.

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you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Fantastic posting !!!

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!