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Subbies hunt Atlas

21st August 2003
Page 7
Page 7, 21st August 2003 — Subbies hunt Atlas
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords :

• Subbies owed money by defunct freight firm UK Forwarding are upset that the firm's directors have formed a new company which is carrying out the same work.

Atlas Shipping was created on 10 July and its first directors, Simon Nutt and Tony Payne, were both directors for UK Forwarding and Centurian Systems.

Somerset-based UK Forwarding experienced severe financial problems in January, running up debts in excess of £250,000 (CM13-20 Feb); it has now effectively ceased trading.

At the time, hauliers working for the firm complained they were not being paid, but then seemed to be thrown a lifeline by another of Nutt and Payne's firms, Centurian Systems.

This company provided work for UK Forwarding customers, despite Nutt's insistence it was merely a windows firm and had nothing to do with the haulage industry Subcontractor Kevin lnkley, from Ridgeway Storage and Distribution, has taken Centurian Systems to court over a 23,000 bill that was not paid by either Centurian or UK Forwarding. lnkley says the court has rejected Centurian's defence that it was unconnected with haulage or the invoice, and says he is now waiting for ajudgment to be passed.

"We never got paid a penny; I will go after [Atias1 if nothing comes of this," he says.

Alan Carrington, owner of AJ Carrington & Sons, says he is owed £1,300 from Centurian Systems, UK Forwarding and ECC Shipping—of which Payne was also director, along with Matt Elliott who was involved in the E&C Transport and Forwarding fiasco (CM 3-9 May).

Amazingly he recently received a fax from Nutt and Payne offering work carrying timber for Atlas Shipping.

Payne says problems with UK Forwarding occurred after he had left the company—to join Centurian Systems. He says Nutt has now left Atlas Snipping, though he was unable to explain why Nutt is still listed as director on Companies House.

He continues to deny Centurian's involvement with haulage, but refused to comment on the failure of its defence in court.

Nutt was unavailable for comment as CM went to press.