Haulier hit with trailer firm's legal bill
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A South-East Pauller whose driver was caught carrying five illegal immigrants has been hit with a penalty notice for £10,000 and a huge bill for legal costs from the trailer hire company.
The partners of the small Dover-based firm, which prefers not to be identified, were angry to receive a bill for .£4,021 to pay for TIP Europe's legal representatives after TIP was also served with a fine.
The invoice outlines 23 hours of work which includes "researching into the Immigration and Asylum Act... preparing a notice of objection...and drafting correspondence to Mr Jack Straw", A TIP spokesman says it asked for legal assistance from the haulier but when none was forthcoming instructed its own lawyers to research an appeal. It says it is justified in asking the haulier to cover the costs under the terms and conditions of the contract.
The driver was delivering a jet engine and parts to an aero space firm in Caerphilly, Wales when he was stopped at Dover by immigration officers.
He had been loaded at a secure Customs area at Luxembourg airport but had not made full checks before boarding the ferry in Calais. However, French security officers at the port had checked and told him that all was in order.
"We are only a small company with eight vehicles on the
road at the moment, so you can imagine what this will do to us," says one of the partners.
In April, TIP Europe was served with a penalty notice after four stowaways were caught in a trailer hired by Oldham-based JP Trans.