CERTIFICATED bailiff and debt-collection company Collect Services is swapping its vans for cars for its 35-strong road team because cars are less prone to damage than light commercials.

The Ickenham, Middlesex firm has chosen Toyota Corolla 1.4S three-door hatchbacks to replace the Citroen Berlingo diesels it has been using for the past two years. Its drivers cover an average of 35,000 miles a year, making up to 60 calls a day across England and Wales. The cost of repairs to careless damage is deducted from drivers' bonuses. 'They seem to have more accidents in small vans,' director David Rayner said. 'Often it's damage to the lower areas of bodywork when they hit posts and so on.'