Inland Revenue takes action against FPI
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E by Melanie Hammond
First Point International (Europe) is almost certain to be wound up in three weeks' time. Several staff including its two main directors, have left the company—but FPI still insists that its programme of finding US jobs for UK truck drivers will "continue without interruption".
The Inland Revenue has been pursuing tie company, which promised British drivers a "new life in the USA", for non-payment of taxes since last November. Following a hearing last week where FPI (Europe) was not represented, an Inland Revenue official told CM that it would be "unusual" if the compulsory winding-up order was not granted at the next hearing in three weeks' time.
Despite these developments, the company says its programme will proceed; it has no plans to give clients their money back. In a written statement, FPI says: "All monies received have been expended and there is no cash
available for any refunds." It says it will announce "new arrangements" for its truck drivers' programme within three weeks.
Vice-president Philip Lyons. marketing director Susan Tindale and general manager Ian Marshall have left the company. Two new directors are now in place: former financial controller John Gillespie and Graham Copsey.
One client who recently visited FPI's London office reports: "It was much quieter than before. Most of the desks were empty and some of the computers weren't even plugged in.
Filing cabinets were stacked up in the main entrance and I couldn't see any literature about FPI in reception...it used to be littered with brochures."
The Department of Trade and Industry is still awaiting the outcome of an Employment Appeal Tribunal in which it sought to have FPI banned from