Courier Business Stuff

VOSA to target illegal vehicles using Civica and Applied Traffic’s VIPER ANPR/WIMS solution… Here

It doesn’t automatically fine you – it just ‘suggests’ to the people at the checkpoint up ahead that it would be a good idea to stop a certain vehicle rather than pulling one at random.

It’s been used for the last 2 years apparently. A brilliant system as far as I can see.

Now I wonder how long it will be before they start using ANPR to catch drivers over their hours.

Posted under Weight Limits for Vans

Yes Warren, unless you’ve agreed with the supplier in advance that payment will depend on a POD. It sounds ridiculous but unless you’ve specified in advance that a POD is required then you’d have no grounds to refuse payment.

You could maybe dispute that the work had been carried out but without any grounds you’d probably just end up losing a court case if it came to that.

Many courier companies have the right to leave parcels without signature written into their Conditions of Carriage.
 

Posted under Courier Basics, Legal Issues

I’m not going to go off on one of my legal rants here – honestly.

I’ll just mention how important it is, when dealing with consumers rather than other businesses, that you have watertight AND FAIR Conditions of Carriage and that you can prove that the customer has had the opportunity to examine your Conditions before the service is supplied.

It’s also particularly important to examine and record the condition of any items collected as part of a transaction between two parties that may well be unknown to each other. Punter A may say that his shite piece of furniture left his house in perfect condition, whil punter B will notice the scratches.

You’ve also got the issue of consequential loss. Your T&Cs might (should) exclude it, but unless you can prove that the punter has agreed to you T&Cs then you could be held liable for unlimited amounts. Even if they’ve agreed then unfair contract terms can be overturned very easily in court.

It’s an absolute minefield and in my opinion you’re all best off steering well clear of business with private individuals.

Now ignore me and carry on and I’m sure everything will actually be OK.

Posted under Courier Basics, Legal Issues

You pay it, and the accountant reimburses any penalties or interest that’s due, assuming that it’s his fault.

Do you mean your own personal tax and NI from self-employment, or the company’s PAYE and NIC? If the latter I suppose it must be for your employees rather than the directors? If that’s the case then have the deductions from the employees been made properly?
 

Posted under Uncategorized

Corporation Tax increase for small businesses again. Just what we needed to encourage entrepreneurs and kickstart the economy. 

Posted under Courier Financial Issues

PLEASE will people put the correct postage on their invoices. So far this month we’ve paid out nearly £15 to recover underpaid mail. We’re going to have to start charging it back to people if this carries on.

And thanks to the North-East based company who just didn’t bother to put a stamp on the envelope. I don’t know whether to put that down to tight-fistedness or senility.

Don’t forget that we’re happy to receive invoices and PODs by fax or email.

Posted under Uncategorized

Don’t forget to tell Customs & Excise every time you return from Europe. Only fuel carried in the manufacturers standard factory-fitted tank is exempt from extra duty on entry to the UK.
 

Posted under Legal Issues, Vans

To the person who was asking me about the probable outcome – I’m told that there’s every chance that there won’t be a prosecution for a first offence. Don’t quote me on that though.

Posted under Legal Issues, Vans