An auto-electrician accused of overcharging coach and bus firms has been told by a judge to pay £3,774 after losing several legal counter claims.
Gray Coe, 50, of Basildon, Essex, was engaged on a contract by W Wilson Auto Electrical Services of Chingford to carry out work for a number of coach and bus firms, including Chartwell Bus & Coaches, Express Coaches and Sullivan Bus & Coach.
The family firm engaged Mr Coe for five months, from January-June 2017.
Mr Coe was paid £18 an hour and part of his job was to fit trackers to vehicles.
The tribunal heard that Mr Coe could earn up to £720 a week by working an eight-hour day.
But an East London tribunal heard he was sacked by Wilson’s firm after being accused of overcharging clients, exaggerating claims for time spent on work and failing to attend work for a week. He denied all allegations.
Mr Coe made legal claims against Wilson’s for breach of contract, unfair dismissal and a claim under Working Time Regulations.
But the firm successfully opposed the claims and made a counter-claim against Mr Coe.
As a result Judge Prichard rejected all of Mr Coe’s claims after hearing evidence from Wilson’s and approving the counter claim.
Because Mr Coe had only been engaged for five months, the judge said the short term did not qualify him for a legal claim for unfair dismissal.
“This was an extraordinary and hard-fought case,” said the judge.
“Mr Coe was dismissed by letter without notice pay and a major source of controversy was that there was no written contract.”
The judge told Mr Coe he must pay £1,940 to Wilson’s in overpayment in wages, £1,075 for rectification at Sullivan’s, £500 for rectification at Express Coaches and £300 for rectification at Southdown PSV. There was also £41 less credit for expenses.
