Altered Images – Tampering With Photographic Evidence
This post is unrelated to an early 1980’s Scottish new wave/post-punk band, fronted by singer Clare Grogan. When a Highways England contractor repairs damage, for example to a barrier, usually they take photographs of the pre-repair state and of the completed restoration (post-repair). But are the images accurate, for the incident subject of the claim or […]
Kier Highways at it Again
A contractor having had their knuckles wrapped for adding a 10% ‘admin’ fee to claims (HHJ Godsmark – para 40): The additional 10% Administration Charge is not a reasonable addition to the CECA rates and would thus lead to an unreasonable repair total. It is disallowed. we now note Kier Highways, using in part CECA […]
Who is in charge?
It appears the Green Claims department at Highways England is not managed and struggling. The ‘Green Claims’ team handle those claims the Authority makes against drivers who cause damage to the Strategic Road Network (SRN). As opposed to Red Claims, which are where drivers make a claim against Highways England. An example of a Green […]
Highways England Reverts to Unreasonable Rates for DCP Works
Seemingly unable to find a single schedule of Damage to Crown Property (DCP) rates in 2018 for any of their Asset Support Contracts (since 2012), in 2019, Highways England compiled the NSoRC – National Schedule of Repair Costs. Not just any schedule, but a ‘reasonable‘ set of rates to be applied across all Areas. How […]
161121 Highways England’s ‘Effort’ to Address Costs
21/11/2016, Highways England’s CEO, Jim O’Sullivan, wrote to us: ‘I also want to ensure that drivers only pay appropriately for the damage they do to Crown property. I’m sure the current process could be simpler and I know Tim and Nick will be working to achieve this. We are certainly putting a lot of effort […]
Kier Charging for Costs Not Incurred
In some Highways England Areas, if the repair cost following Damage to Crown Property (DCP) is: over £10,000, Highways England is billed by Kier and it is the Authority who pursues the insurer, fleet, haulier or driver for reimbursement of the outlay. below £10,000 Kier are responsible for the bill; Highways England pays nothing and […]
Highways England Unable or Unwilling to Stop Inflated Claims?
3 years ago … November 2016, Jim O’Sullivan Highways England’s CEO: ‘Thanks for your note. I also want to ensure that drivers only pay appropriately for the damage they do to Crown property. I’m sure the current process could be simpler and I know Tim and Nick will be working to achieve this. We are […]
Highways England’s Permission To Appeal REFUSED
It is troubling to have someone deem a FoIA request ‘vexatious’ but this is the approach Highways England adopted when I sought Damage to Crown Property (DCP) rates in 2017. It causes further soul-searching when such a description of an application is supported by the ICO. However, having more recently discovered the Information Commissioner adopts […]
Highways England – 2 Years for an ‘Urgent’ reply?
Rates that were the subject of ‘a lot of effort’ by the Authority in late 2016 and in respect of which we wrote in 2017, are finally (2019) being considered by Highways England who is attempting to introduce a ‘National Schedule of Repair Costs for Network Damage (Green Claims)‘. So far, 3 months, 3 versions! […]
BBMM Wanting Their Cake & to Eat It
2012 to 2019 BBMM Area 10 claims saw the contractor use CECA rates when billing Third Parties (drivers, fleets, hauliers & insurers) on claims under £10,000 but ‘mates rates’ (far lower figures) when invoicing Highways England for attendance & repair when the bill was over £10,000. Same operatives, plant and materials … differing rates. Why? […]