Suppliers have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket after a sale of the assets of online airport transfer company Taxi Transfers.
Taxi Transfers is to appoint liquidators today. It sold its website and forward bookings to UK taxi booking company Cabfind on April 14, but Cabfind said it was not liable for Taxi Transfers’ debts.
Transport providers in Spain and Greece are furious after being told their outstanding balances would not be paid.
Jacqui Birch, owner of Alicante-based transport company Angel 25 Tour, said she is owed 12,000 euros and is consulting a lawyer.
“Agents should make sure they work with companies who pay their suppliers,” she said.
“The transfer is the first thing clients see when they land on foreign soil; if the transfer goes wrong it makes a bad impression.”
Michalis Vamiedakis, chief exective of Greek transfer supplier Deltanet, said: “The amount they owe us is relatively small, but I understand they have big debts in the Balearics and Spain. I was informed the new firm was taking on the bookings but not the debts.”
Mark Sutton, former managing director of Taxi Transfers, has been employed by Cabfind. He said: “There are no changes to the way we work with agents and suppliers. Our current database of travel agents are looking forward to working with us selling the extra product we can now offer.
“We are now the largest transfer company in the UK. The acquisition has opened doors for us into corporate travel. We are striving to take on as much business as possible and want to work with more agents.”
All seven staff from Taxi Transfers – set up as part of Freedom Direct, which failed in April 2009 – are being retained and will remain in the existing call centre in Newcastle.
Cabfind has set up a new company called Cabfind Taxi Transfers Ltd. Operations director Tim Jordan said: “We feel sorry for the suppliers but we believe we can offer them a good future.
“Cabfind’s payment record to suppliers is exemplary. We’re going to add some stability to the situation.”
Cabfind, part of the Davy Liver Transport Group, supplies Virgin Trains and The First Group with taxi management services.