A luxury supercar hire company, Classic Parade Ltd, has been shut down by the High Court in London following an investigation by the Insolvency Service. The firm, which claimed to operate from a Knightsbridge office and offered high-end vehicles like Ferraris and Lamborghinis, is accused of taking thousands of pounds from customers for bookings that were repeatedly cancelled, with promised refunds never materialising.
The investigation uncovered a pattern where customers paid upfront fees and security deposits, only for their bookings to be cancelled at short notice. Reasons cited for cancellations included mechanical faults, engine management lights, or issues with insurance and security checks. At least 14 customers were identified by investigators who had paid for services never delivered. The company, incorporated in March 2023, also failed to meet its Companies House filing obligations, including submitting accounts or confirmation statements.
The impact on customers was significant, with many having booked vehicles for important personal occasions. Complaints to Action Fraud totalled at least 48, with alleged losses exceeding £220,675. These included a customer who had booked a Mercedes G63 AMG for his wedding day and another who arranged a luxury hire as a special gift for a terminally ill family member. Twelve County Court Judgments, amounting to £66,225, were registered against the company between September 2023 and October 2024 as customers attempted to reclaim their money.
Further scrutiny of the company's finances revealed that over £1.4 million passed through its bank accounts, yet the director failed to provide any explanation for these transactions. Investigators also found evidence of apparent personal spending, with payments of £28,154 made at luxury retailers such as Harrods, Gucci, and Prada. Additionally, £166,893 was paid directly to the director and a further £121,847 to what the Insolvency Service understands is his partner, without any evidence these were for legitimate business purposes.
Joanna Caswell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, highlighted that Classic Parade Ltd presented itself as a prestigious business but operated with a distinct lack of honesty and transparency. She emphasised that the winding-up of the company serves as a warning that the Insolvency Service will take action against businesses that fail to operate legitimately. The company also reportedly engaged in aggressive behaviour towards customers who posted negative online reviews, threatening legal action or even damaging reviews of the customers' own businesses.