More French resistance
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by Rob Witlock • French authorities are doing their best to force hundreds of British hauliers to drop their compensation claims for the 1996 blockades by overcomplicating the procedures, then rushing them through.
The Department of Transport's International Road Freight Office met French officials again last month. In a letter to claimants it says: "Real progress was made in refining procedures so that outstanding claims can be dealt with quickly and sympathetically."
But in return the authorities in France have nego tiated that renewed claims must be made immediately, or not at all. The IRFO continues: "It is important that you write within the next few days to the Prefecture handling your claim."
So after 15 months of procrastinating, the French are now harrying hauliers into the difficult task of proving actual financial harm, demanding documentary evidence of unfulfilled contracts or loss of turnover. Few operators working in general haulage are able to substantiate the value of lost contracts, and new suggestions that meaningful figures can be drawn from annual accounts showing a reduction in turnover are being dismissed as "a complete nonsense".
However, the Freight Transport Association says there is some cause for optimism.
"We feel the French authorities' anxiety to sort this out is genuine. Yes, the procedures are complex and it's going to mean hurried work, but it's not an impossible window," says the FTA.
• Judith Eastwood, company secretary of Browns Transport of Ash, is sceptical: "We have no real proof of our losses," she says. "Hauliers don't work on contracts—it's all load by load."
Browns anticipated the French attitude and sent its original claim off in French...but it was still thrown out.
"We know they're not going to pay—it's obvious," Eastwood adds. "The whole thing's a waste of paperwork and I've got better things to do with my time."
• Colin McKay, managing director of Siitingbourne-based Fast Forward International, is dropping his £2,500 claim.
"With just one criterion the French have managed to absolve themselves of 99% oF the responsibility and leave hauliers footing the bill," he says. "This removes about £2,400 of our company's claim and makes it pointless pursuing the balance. So, what are we left with after all this form Filling and waiting? Bugger all—except a reinforced belief that French bureaucracy has won the day, as we always knew it would."