Haulier counts cost of charity
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• A Christmas mercy mission has left a Cambridge haulier £1,200 out of pocket after it helped a charity.
CDS Transport proprietors Glynis and Vernon North were so shocked by the tragedy in Bosnia in 1992 that they jum d at the chance to help when they were approached by Londonbased charity, the Serious Road Trip. They offered their Iveco Ford Cargo 16-tonne reefer to transport food to the staving population just before Christmas that year. But the truck didn't make it back, having broken down at Calais. The Norths were told by the charity that an engineer was going out to repair it and later that the charity wanted to buy it. The Norths were sent a cheque, which bounced, although subsequent ones issued by SRT's trading company called Matters Ltd were honoured.
In all, they received £500 with 21,200 owing. But at the start of this year, they were contacted by the receiver for Matters Ltd saying it had gone bust and asking them to submit a claim. They wrote back saying the debt was owed by the Serious Rood Trip according to their paperwork. The Norths contacted SRI but the couple says their enquiries were met with rudeness and evasion.
The Serious Road Trip refuses to comment, saying the matter is in the hands of its solicitor following publicity the story received in Time Out magazine. SRT's solicitor Tim Devas says his client does not dispute the main facts but felt a very onesided account had been given. "The matter is in the hands of the receiver. If the Norths feel they were rudely treated, it is a matter of regret."