Missing firm owes /11,000
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• Three North-East hauliers owed more than £17,000 by a haulage firm which "disappeared" last month have discovered that the company was linked with Chris Simpson, a haulier who was forced into bankruptcy when his firm, Chris Simpson International, failed.
The three operators believed they were working for Middlesbroughbased Mortimer European Services; they claim that the firm was acting as a front for CMS European Services— another local firm set up by Simpson but forced into liquidation in March.
Euroccid International (owed £7,500), Aardvark International Transport (£7,000) and JAM Transport (23,000) say they became suspicious when Mortimer's Emma Vasey offered them work, as she had previously worked for Simpson.
However, after Vasey assured them that Simpson had no connection whatsoever" with Mortimer, and that the managing director was Alan Elliott, they agreed to pick up refrigerated loads from Almeiria, Spain.
Ian Ogden of Eurocold says: '1 knew something was wrong when I noticed that we had paid an invoice from CMS for work which I had given to Mortimer."
Ian Miller of JAM European Transport has also discovered that CMS had invoiced for a job which he thought he was doing for Mortimer.
According to the official receivers for CMS European Services, Simpson resigned as a director last June. Companies House lists Mortimer's Alan Elliott as director of CMS. Elliott is also listed as director of Preston-based Temperature Controlled Logistics.
CM was unable to reach Vasey, Elliott or Simpson for their comments,
• Contact the official receivers for CMS European Services on 01253 830700.