Articles
This site contains a substantial collection of writing on credit hire law and practice, developed over the past decade. The emphasis is practical: what the authorities mean, how the rules operate and where the real risks lie.
The latest specialist analysis appears below. If you are looking for a particular issue, the four gateways provide a quicker route into the archive.
Older articles should be read in the context of the law at the date of publication.
Damages
Impecuniosity, basic hire rates, need, period, mitigation and the recoverable measure of loss.
Agreements & Regulation
Enforceability, contractual liability, misrepresentation, credit hire and credit repair agreements, illegality and regulatory issues.
Evidence & Commercial Vehicles
Witness and documentary evidence, procedure, dishonesty, taxis, private hire vehicles, fleets and profit-earning chattels.
Evidence & procedure · Dishonesty & fraud · Taxi, fleet & commercial
Appeals & Costs
Appellate principles, QOCS, non-party costs orders and the procedural and costs consequences of credit hire litigation.
Recent analysis
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The fast and the furious
One of the more interesting areas of costs work that I undertake from time to time, is that of applications for non party costs orders (NPCOs). I have been undertaking work in this area for many years, and have watched the number of such applications ebb and flow, over the years. For the last couple…
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Personal Injury Costs Webinar
I have returned from my Easter break, relaxed and refreshed, ready for the fray this summer. From the western Caribbean, to the burning deserts of Dubai, it has been quite a year already. Next week I am undertaking the annual Personal Injury Costs webinar with Craig Ralph on Tuesday 6th May at 4pm by Zoom.…
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You are the hero
Welcome to 2025. I hope you all had a good Christmas. One of my Christmas presents this year, was the book “You are the hero” by Jonathan Green, an engaging history of the Fighting Fantasy hobby of the 1980s. Growing up in a decrepit seaside resort in southern England, there was precious little to do…
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The living legends
Next week, on 5th November, Steven Turner and I will be delivering a Zoom seminar on the fascinating and difficult area of non party costs Orders, the law and practice which applies to this jurisdiction, together with our practical perspective derived from 60 years of combined litigation experience. Join us for a few fireworks! Link…
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Conker season
Autumn has arrived. The time for crumpets and bramble jelly, and bracing walks amongst the leaves. Games of conkers, and old chestnuts coming around again. One of these, in the context of credit hire claims is the presentation of successive claims arising from a single accident. Insurance companies often take umbrage at such cheek, and…
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Michaelmas Term
I am off for a long weekend shortly, and when I return next week, the new working year will begin in earnest, although the formal start of the legal year is the commencement of Michaelmas Term on 1st October. As I noted in the previous article, I have taken the opportunity to interrogate ChatGPT about…
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Metamorphosis
The long summer slowdown is finally coming to an end. Michaelmas Term formally begins on 1st October this year, but the reality is that when the children go back to school next week, the new work year will have begun. In this calm before the storm, I have taken the opportunity to interrogate ChatGPT about…
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Wasted costs
On 23rd July 2024, the living legend that is Paul Hughes and I will be conducting a Zoom seminar on the subject of “Wasted Costs”. A particularly fraught area of costs litigation, we shall be looking at key issues and recent case law. There are still a few places left, so if you would like…
Researching an issue in a current case?
If the point arises in substantial litigation or an appeal and you would like specialist advice, please contact my clerks at Hailsham Chambers.