Evri suing BBC for £1.2m over Panorama programme | Money News

Delivery company Evri is suing the BBC for about £1.2m over a Panorama programme featuring complaints by drivers and customers.

The firm claims it was libelled in a 15-minute section of Evri: Where’s My Parcel?, which aired in December.

Evri says the segment wrongly suggested it used “exploitative business practices” and misled a parliamentary committee by giving assurances its couriers weren’t paid under the minimum wage.

The firm denies the claims and says in High Court documents it suffered “serious financial loss” and lost contracts worth more than £1.1m as a result, as well as other sums.

It also wants an injunction to stop the BBC repeating the claims.

The BBC has not yet filed a defence and has said it doesn’t comment on ongoing legal cases.

However, a note on the programme’s iPlayer page advises viewers: “This broadcast is the subject of a libel claim by Evri Limited, who says it makes defamatory allegations about it.”

The description adds: “Panorama goes undercover to investigate the pressures of working in one delivery unit, speaking to unhappy customers as well as couriers who say they struggle to make a living.

“Evri disputes these claims and says it provides a fast, reliable and cost-effective delivery service. It also says its couriers earn more than the national minimum wage.”

Barrister for Evri, Hugh Tomlinson KC, said the programme caused the firm to lose “prospective contracts which would have generated profits, presently estimated at £1,164,434 pre-tax”.

His court submission said clients had “referred to the broadcast as the reason why it did not wish to contract with the claimant”, and management had spent nearly £33,000 explaining to clients and customers why the claims were false.

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Mr Tomlinson added it was “highly likely” that Evri’s recruitment of couriers would be affected as the programme would make them worried about their potential earnings.

“This impact is highly likely to lead to future financial losses,” he said.

A hearing in the case is yet to take place.