LTI Recall Statement
3rd October, 2008
Since the last update on the 26th September 2008, LTI have been progressing the overall recall process with all the parties concerned and this has meant finalising details such as:
• Developing a production EGR pipe heat shield
• Accelerating the delivery of the heat shield from suppliers
• Perfecting the rework process in workshop conditions
• Training Sigma operatives
• Liaising with Regional licensing officers
• Concluding the PCO agreement allowing the vehicles with suspended licences back on the road
• Discussions with Edinburgh, Manchester and other licensing bodies who have suspended vehicle licences to agree the process for allowing them back to work
Comprehensive 24-hour working has been successfully established at Mann & Overton London during the past week and so far all the work carried out has been devoted to staff technical training. Over 60 extra staff are being contracted in to be trained and such training is essential if LTI are to deliver the highest standards in quality of workmanship.
LTI are now able to issue a further update on the latest situation with the TX4 recall. LTI and VOSA have issued a recall notice on all TX4s, to have work carried out including the fitting of a new EGR pipe with heat shield. This recall and the lead up to it including the initial investigation, has been carried out in line with VOSA best practise and with VOSA full awareness of the actions being taken. The recall notice is issued under VOSA’s recall guidelines. For more details please visit www.vosa.gov.uk.
It is important that all concerned understand that the recall on TX4s has not been mandated by VOSA as being necessary to have vehicles taken off the road. The decision to take vehicles off the road has been taken by the individual licensing authorities concerned.
The recall will be conducted as a staged process and will begin with the earliest VIN first and then worked through in ascending order to ensure the vehicles are dealt with in build date order. This is important to capture the earliest vehicles first which are also the vehicles that have had their licences suspended.
LTI will be sending out letters to customers with vehicles in the VIN range 200000 to 201500 during the course of the next few weeks and expect to complete the rework following that, depending on parts availability. After the initial batch of letters have been issued we will review the programme before continuing with contacting the next batch of customers for the rework to be carried out on their vehicles.
Outside of London the procedure for contacting drivers following the issue of the recall letter will be carried out by the supplying dealer and in most cases the work will be carried out by trained staff at those dealers. Some other regional locations may be utilised once technical training has been completed. If drivers are in doubt they should either contact their supplying dealer or the LTI call centre on 0121 322 0710 or 0121 322 0709.
In London, drivers will be contacted by Mann & Overton London in VIN order to book time slots for the work to be carried out. Once the work has been completed, Mann & Overton will issue a stamped certificate and the vehicle licence will be reinstated. This has been agreed today, 3rd October, with London’s Public Carriage Office who have issued a Notice to all taxi owners affected by the suspension.
We are starting to receive a few requests to consider compensation. This is understandable.
Our whole focus has been, rightly, on trying to resolve the issues as quickly and effectively as possible. Now that we have announced measures to deal with those issues we can now start to look at where responsibility lies for the losses that various parties (including LTI) have suffered.
In the event that any person believes that they have suffered loss as a result of the recent events we suggest the following practical actions: -
• Record and keep evidence of all losses;
• Do what you can to reduce losses, e.g. sharing/hiring a taxi when your usual vehicle is actually affected;
• Consider who has actually caused the losses to occur;
• Wait until the losses have come to an end (or at least can be determined) before making a claim, so that, if recoverable, some of the losses are not missed by making a claim too soon;
• In any letter of claim set out in as much detail as possible the following: -
o Details of the vehicle affected and in particular the Vehicle Identification Number (“VIN”);
o The circumstances of the claim, for example the date and time when the vehicle is alleged to have been out of use;
o Any alleged losses; how they were calculated; and documentation in support;
o Servicing history;
o Receipts of purchase.
Once again LTI would like to thank drivers for their patience during this difficult time and can assure them that all possible progress is being made to get them back to work as soon as possible