Taxi Driver Online

A Birmingham-based luxury chauffeur firm has closed its doors, leaving scores of drivers owed thousands of pounds in unpaid wages.

Manhatton Transfers, whose clients included the Belfry, the Forest of Arden Country Club and Birmingham Airport, has ceased trading, it was revealed today.

The collapse of the VIP firm, which ran a fleet of luxury vehicles including top-of-the-range Jaguars and Chrysler Grand Voyagers, has left up to 50 drivers and administrative staff facing the dole queue.

Insolvency experts Begbies Traynor were called in and the firm's offices at Kingsbury Road, Erdington, left vacant.

The company had been run by business entrepreneur Tim Hatton, initially from premises in Sutton Coldfield before moving to Kingsbury Road, but closed after falling into apparent cash difficulties.

Former Night Operations Manager Simon Clements said: "Most of the drivers are owed between £2,000 and £2,500. A friend of mine who worked for them is going to lose his house as a result of this.

"When it first started, it was a very, very good company and they were awash with money but it's all gone pear-shaped. They set up a taxi company to no avail.

"There were around 50 admin staff and drivers in total and there are also a lot of small companies who have lost business through this."

Mr Clements said many staff had been unable to trace Mr Hatton to ask about their wages. One ex-driver, who asked not to be named, said: "I worked there on and off for three years and I'm owed £2,500 for six weeks' wages. I received a phone call saying not to come into work. It has left me in very difficult circumstances."

A notice from insolvency experts Begbies Traynor in the front window of Manhatton Transfers' premises in Kingsbury Road says: "The above company has ceased trading and is proceeding to go into liquidation."

Mr Hatton could not be contacted for comment.

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