Taxi Driver Online

Mum forced out of work after yobs torch her £20,000 taxi outside Blackley home







Tracy Birch (inset) and her £20,000 Mercedes minibus

A taxi driver says she has been forced out of work by arsonists who targeted her £20,000 minibus.

Single mum Tracy Birch, 44, was in bed when the private-hire Mercedes was set alight outside her home in Blackley, Manchester.

The fire was so severe that it smashed the window of a bedroom in the house.

Tracy fled the house with son Jordan, 20, daughter Jessica, 16, and parents Fred and Maureen Hall, aged 74 and 69, as smoke poured inside.

Tracy says she has been left unable to work because of the attack. She fears she will struggle to pay her mortgage and feed her children. Tracy said: “The people who did this are cowards.

“This could easily have been a murder investigation.

“I just heard a bang and woke up and the minibus was on fire on the drive.

“I’m just glad I hadn’t parked it close to the window. My dad parked it for me and didn’t park it as far up the drive as I usually do.”

Firefighters and police were called to Tracy’s home on Sandybrook Drive at 2am on June 18.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said the fire was being treated as arson and inquiries were continuing.

Tracy said: “I have a mortgage to pay and I’ve got to feed the kids. Now I’ve got no income whatsoever. How could somebody start a fire like this when people are in bed sleeping?”

Tracy had been planning to work for a new firm that is being set up called Citi Cars, but says insurers have told her she will not be able to make a claim until police secure a conviction.

source: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... ckley-home

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Is this the way that insurance works?

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Grandad,

I didn't think it worked that way

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

It doesn't, the fire crew investigation team investigates, if it finds evidence it was torched on purpose (which it was) they then look for linked evidence, if they find none the insurance pays out, as long as she had nowt to do with it she should get paid out,

Her best bet is to get the lab to swab her hands and those of the family so they can prove they haven't used any solvents lately.

When my phv was involved in an accident caused by a car being chased by the police the insurance company said they would pay for the vehicle but any injuries or loss of earnings would have to wait until the police report was filed with them and that wouldn't happen until they had concluded their court case......... 18 months later. I lost my no claims bonus as well, until after the court case, which was 1 week short of just 12 months worth on the day of the accident

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

read between the lines grasshopper......

hold on, her dad parked it, is he badged at 74?....was he insured?.....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

It was on the drive.

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Grandad,

COmplete non story tbh insurance will only not pay out if there's any suspicion she was involved

And as for supporting her family I'm sure there's a local ph firm who will rent her a car

just seems odd she has a £20,000 motor but was "planning to drive for a new firm"

are we to accept she would HAVE the vehicle already or place it with a brand new firm with takings unconfirmed but with HP and mortgage to pay? surely if you have a £20K motor its working anyway?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I think she was already using the car either on her own work or for another company and she was just changing the company she got work from. The new company may have been set up by someone who has contacts in many places and can get plenty of good work.

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Grandad,

so she would jump ship on a hope and a prayer with £20K of bus to pay for and a mortgage to pay on her own?....i dont think so, shes private hire (it says) so how bad is trade in manchester now?......

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Why do you always look for the negatives in everything? Why do you think the new company would be such a risk?

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Grandad,

This is one of those situations where the truth probably will never come to light why waste all these posts on pure speculation ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Because it is what we do best.

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Grandad,

I can wait till the charges (whichever) come about.......




as for "why", its cos ive seen so much i am almost physic now,and its the same with other drivers, i KNOW he wont signal and aint got a clue

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most