Haulier that used third party as phone contact loses 0-licence appeal
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ray es.brownfarbi.co.uk ROWLANDS TELECOMS has lost an appeal against the revocation of its 0-licence for failing to meet financial standing rules.
Upper Tribunal Judge Frances Burton dismissed the challenge from the Stoke-on-Trent haulier against the decision of West Midlands Traffic Commissioner (TC) Nick Jones, made at a public i
5 nquiry (PI) in April.
i; Nobody from Rowlands which E was authorised for one vehicle with one in possession turned up at the N.
The clerk attempted to contact the directors, but discovered that the mobile phone number given by the firm belonged to a management service connected to BT. Rowlands had previously held a contract with BT that had not been renewed.
The haulage firm had also listed its main operating centre as the same Stoke-on-Trent address of the management service provider.
Rowlands had failed to provide financial paperwork requested, including three months' original bank statements, up-to-date financial information, and other details such as an overdraft facility agreement and credit card statements.
During the P1, the TC said he had "disapproved" of Rowlands' use of a third-party mobile number as the operator should, he considered, be dealing with the "Traffic Area Office direct, not through a subcontractor".
The company appealed the decision, arguing that revocation of the licence was "disproportionate". However, the appeal judge said: The root cause of the revocation was the appellant company's failure to keep in touch with the TC, and failure to produce financial standing documentation in due form when requested."