News

Going Under the Hammer

Paul Cooper, Operations Director, CJM Asset Management

A number of cars seized by bailiffs from owners who have failed to pay their council tax are scheduled to go under the hammer at an auction in Scunthorpe next week.

Six seized vehicles are currently slated to be sold off by industrial auctioneers CJM Asset Management on Tuesday, on the instructions of various bailiff firms.

CJM Operations Director Paul Cooper said: “They’ve all been taken in respect of unpaid council tax debts, most of them I understand from the Grimsby area.”

“The owners do have the right to pay up ahead of the sale and recover their cars . . . replevied as it is called . . . but if they’re not replevied they’ll go under the hammer and make whatever they make.”

“Whilst half a dozen is rather a lot for a single sale it is not a particularly unusual event. Cars are sent to us on a fairly regular basis after being taken in these circumstances.”

Tuesday’s auction of plant, machinery and equipment extends to almost 700 lots.

Mr. Cooper said: “This sale has a particularly impressive selection of forklift trucks, mainly finance company repossessions, which have been sent to us from all over the UK.”

“The star lots include a one year old Cesab Blitz 320 electric forklift, a two tonne lift three-wheeler machine, that is expected to make £1,000 - £1,500. More unusual is a Translift Bendi, an articulated electric forklift with a three section mast that should make a couple of thousand pounds.”

“There is also some very good garage equipment wich has come to us from a variety of sources including a Blackhawk car repair jig, with a quantity of tools. It’s a precision measuring system used in straightening out cars which have been involved in accidents. As well as being arguably the best on the market, this one’s unusual in that it has eight arms, rather than the usual six. We’re expecting it to attract a lot of interest and make around £2,000 - £3,000.”

“There’s also a four post vehicle lift, complete with jacking beam, and various mechanics power tools.”

“However, perhaps the most unusual motor-industry related entry is a 7 metre by 7 metre steel frame mezzanine floor, with a full set of storage racking that goes beneath it. That’s been sent from a Citroen dealership in Cheshire and we know that it cost £19,000 new just two years ago.”

“There are also all the usual suspects including lathes, woodworking machinery, industrial knotting machines, not to mention computers and office furniture.”

The public viewing sessions for the auction are on Monday (17th October) 11am-6pm and on Tuesday morning from 8.30am until the start of the sale at 10 am. Catalogues are available from CJM or can be downloaded free of charge from the firm’s website: www.cjmasset.com

For further information or comment please contact Paul Cooper at CJM Asset Management on 01724-334411.            

David Newman - Newman Walker Associates - 10th October 2005