Taylor North Shields salesman John Annan in dispute after bump outside premises

Aug 3 2008 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

NOT worth the paper it was written on! That’s my verdict on a promise to pay for alleged damage after an accident.

Nick Cotterill was told a cracked light on his old Jaguar would be replaced by a garage . . . there it is in black and white in a note signed by a salesman for Taylor North Shields, North Tyneside.

But the garage, which boasts it is one of the North East’s leading independent car retailers, is not prepared to meet the salesman’s commitment. And neither is salesman John Annan, who claims he made the promise under duress.

Nick told me how his car was bumped by John outside the garage premises in Queen Alexandra Road.

He said: “I was stationary at traffic lights outside the garage. A member of staff was parking a car and I believe he clipped the back of my vehicle smashing the rear light.

“He signed a letter saying the garage would replace the part.”

Nick, of North Shields, North Tyneside, paid £80 to obtain a replacement light from the internet.

Parts are not available new because the model, a Jaguar XJS made in 1991, is no longer manufactured. But when he presented the bill to Taylor North Shields no one was prepared to pay.

The note signed by John Annan confirms there was a collision between two vehicles. It says: “Damage caused to Jaguar rear light lense. To be replaced by Taylor North Shields.”

Garage owner Mel Watson said he did not know of the incident when I spoke to him. He said: “If Mr Cotterill has a problem it is with John Annan and not the garage.”

John Annan admitted there was a bump outside the dealership. He said: “I was moving a car at the time. The car I was driving was a friend’s car and the garage should not be involved.

“Who is to say the crack in the Jaguar’s light was not there in the first place? The man lives round the corner in a £200,000 house, he has two cars, what’s £80 to him?”

He claimed he signed the note under duress because Nick refused to leave the premises without it.

Nick, however, claims he did not make the salesman sign anything under duress and denies anything was damaged before the accident.