Crosshire

On the move at last

Executive Hire News, June 2009             Go to main Crosshire page

  
Things are on the move at last. My staff have been workingsome overtime for the first time since Christmas, a couple of local competitors have abandoned four-day working becausethey have experienced increased demand, and the number ofenquiries is measurably up since Easter.

Despite the inevitable drop in attendance, SED did produce much-needed orders for some of our suppliers and it is apparent that our industry is at last considering some renewals of older equipment. One of the biggest challenges facing the equipment suppliers is what to do with the old kit that we all want to trade in. The ‘problem’ of yards full of old metal is not going to go away. Perhaps our discredited politicians could be persuaded to stump up a couple of grand bounty for each item of ten-year old plant that we scrap?

Our industry associations all seem to have woken up to the fact that communication and interaction with members is vital to enable us all to tackle the challenges of the future. IPAF has started regional meetings for hirer members, and there are revived initiatives promised from HAE for restoring regional events. The recent HAE AGM was held at the Association’s brand new offices but, sadly, was poorly attended by rank and file members. If the HAE is serious about communication, the AGM should be moved back to its historical venue at our industry’s leading exhibition. Demands on our time just do not allow for a special trip to an AGM but, as many members will be at the exhibition anyway, they will spare an hour to attend it and, hopefully, to contribute to our industry’s future.

A classic example of why we all need trade associations has recently manifested itself with the introduction of new rules for disputed debts. Where were our industry bodies on this one? The Ministry of Justice is concerned that the courts are being clogged up with debt disputes and wants us all to try to resolve the problem without resorting to legal action! Get real guys, most of the debts we take to court are professional
evaders of payment. If the law will not allow us to employ a few large gentlemen in expensive Italian suits to charm our cash out of the low life and assorted miscreants that take advantage of us, we need a no-nonsense, fair legal procedure.

The courts should not pander to the well rehearsed whimpering of those who have no intention of paying. Law abiding businesses expect to go to court in the hope that justice will prevail. The new Pre-Action Protocol is a charter for those who owe us money to continue to do so until we get fed up and go away. Sanctions against the claimant can now be awarded, and claims for interest struck out if we have the temerity to try to recover our cash without allowing the poor defendant to hide down numerous new legal boltholes. All because the courts are clogged! If your debtor is a consumer you - yes you, the claimant - must let the poor debtor know where he can obtain free impartial debt advice. How the hell did all the trade bodies and chambers of commerce let the Government get away with this without a fight?

Those harassed hiremen who may get time to watch TV may have spotted an advert sponsored by the DVLA showing a hapless spotty youth watching his car being crushed for not having it taxed. We are told that no one is safe from the DVLA’s crusher - or are they? Would one of our trade associations stick its head above the parapet on our behalf and request details of exactly how many untaxed itinerant owned vehicles have received the Goldfinger treatment? I predict it will be the same number that has been dealt with for running on red diesel - a nice round figure.

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