000695 - Cross Hire 25/9/08 18:50 Page 1
CROSSHIRE
THE BANDWAGON IS ROLLING
It’s a pity that it takes challenging times to get a bandwagon to compensate us for stolen assets. We are all charged under
rolling. Judging by feedback from my missive last month, a lot our insurance policies to take reasonable steps to mitigate the
of you are sick of being the victims of equipment theft. chances of a claim.
Many readers have queried the use of the ‘askmid’ website –
www.askmid.com - because the site publishers warn that the In my book, the use of ‘askmid’ data is in the interests of both
data may only be accessed by certain categories of user and the hire and the insurance industries. Crosshire has contacted
they quote Data Protection as their reason. the web site owners to point out the benefit of giving their
blessing to the site being used “to obtain information for lawful
My view is that any internet site that allows free and open purposes in the interests of crime prevention”. Despite
access is available to all, provided that the data obtained is sympathetic ‘off the record’ comments from its staff, I am still
used legally and responsibly. Legitimate businesses are being waiting for an official reaction. A number of you have already
targeted by criminals who have no compunction in using any said that you are using this information as an added weapon
means to further their objectives including the obnoxious to fight prospective crime and that, until the facility is
human rights laws, which have become a refuge for all types withdrawn or a legal big stick is waved, you will continue
of unsavoury individuals to hide behind. doing so.
Our hire industry is being systematically robbed of resources Readers may be interested to learn that since I wrote last
by villains, many of whom appear to be above the law. month’s article, I have checked on over a dozen vehicles
The information that can be obtained from the ‘askmid’ site driven by itinerants. NONE were insured, and two did not
does not, in itself, breach Data Protection laws, as it does not match the vehicle description. The authorities should stop
give any ownership information. It simply confirms whether or pussyfooting around. ANY vehicle that is uninsured, untaxed,
not a particular registration number is insured on the day. running on red diesel or has the wrong identity should be
It also gives the identity of the vehicle. seized and, if good reason and back payment of duties are not
forthcoming, CRUSH 'EM.
As far as Crosshire is aware, vehicles are not in themselves
subject to Data Protection!! Like any information obtained from The debate this issue has generated illustrates my earlier
the internet, the data is only a useful guide to be judged in comments that the greatest weapon we can deploy against
context with other information you may have. It is possible that criminals is information. In the early days of our industry,
a particular vehicle may have only just been insured, is part of HAE organised meetings on a regional basis that were forums
a block policy that has not been entered correctly or, with over where staff from hire companies could meet and exchange
30,000,000 records, a mistake has been made. ideas and information. Concerns were shared with local
colleagues on issues of interest. The need to interact and
BUT if you already have doubts about an unknown punter and exchange ideas and solutions has never been greater.
you are aware the vehicle he has driven into your yard is
possibly not insured, will that affect your judgment? If you are EHN has now launched an initiative that draws on the
looking at a tatty old white van and the web site claims it is a successful parts of the old regional formula and combines it
combine harvester, you with the internet to bring hirers together in order to
may pause for thought! engage in dialogue that should benefit us all. Launched
in this issue,
Legitimate, taxpaying the Executive Hire
businesses are Club deserves our
entitled to use any support. Whilst we
information that is can’t afford to
freely available to waste time, neither
protect themselves and can we ignore the
their staff. If you are challenged about your use of the ‘askmid’ need to support each other through the tougher times that
data, I suggest that you contact your insurers. The ultimate inept politicians and an irresponsible national press have led
‘askmid’ paymasters are the Insurance Industry. This is the us to. As the prophet said “It’s good to talk.” Perhaps it needs
same industry that is paying out a few million quid every year times like these to bring out the best in us.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52