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Dear All,

This may sound daft, but can anyone please tell me why local authorities are able to dictate what we charge??

Dear Towag,

This was taken from the Dft Best Practice, you could also look at both the 1976 and 1847 act that relate to Taxis and PH.

Regards
BB

Taxi Fares
36. Local licensing authorities have the power to set taxi fares for journeys within their area, and most
do so. (There is no power to set PHV fares.) Fare scales should be designed with a view to
practicality. The Department sees it as good practice to review the fare scales at regular intervals,
including any graduation of the fare scale by time of day or day of the week. Authorities may wish to
consider adopting a simple formula for deciding on fare revisions as this will increase understanding
and improve the transparency of the process. The Department also suggests that in reviewing fares
authorities should pay particular regard to the needs of the travelling public, with reference both to
what it is reasonable to expect people to pay but also to the need to give taxi drivers sufficient
incentive to provide a service when it is needed. There may well be a case for higher fares at times of
higher demand.

So in other words, we don't really have any powers to charge what we think appropriate to the journey involved..... We can charge less than the maximum metered fare but not above it!! 

When this situation occurs, which is very often in Winchester, where the journey undertaken is so short and the return journey to a specified rank is three times the distance back, because the one way system makes it so, is very frustrating, pointless and a complete financial loss,....... Yet we are suppose to swallow it!! 

Under present economic pressures it is totally unfair that we as Hackney Licensed drivers should be made to do this.....

The Council here (Winchester) always drag their feet over fare rises and quite honestly seem to think that we run as individual  charity organisations..... Our last one was 6 months late!!

There is no real association as such and as is only exists for the person running it  (who it seems was self appointed and acts as our unofficial representative) we ask and get no answers....

There is a meeting with Licensing, it seems in early October..... when?...... nobody seems to know?

I have proposals to make to licensing but I don't think they will wear it.....

Most of the drivers here are of Asian extract and by the most are decent fellas.....They want an increase now but are just too scared to get anything organised as they are quite honestly shit scared of our overbearing licensing officer, who does jump on them (and me) for the slightest misdemeanor, which incidentally are usually fare related..... The latest trick is that we all suddenly rush off to the loo when a nuisance fare walks round the corner! as we are so pissed off with having to do them!!  I know this is naughty but it does have the desired effect of them walking off to another rank to find exactly the same!!! Such is our frustration and anger at our licensing officer, which to us is the only way we can get back at him for our plight!! And of course he can't stop us from having to answer a call of nature now can he?

Does this bring thoughts to all you Guys & Gals out there?

Love to hear them and any advice as to how we get some decent representation down here..... and any other ways we get round nusiance fares would be most welcomed!

Many Thanks!!

Tony   Towag!!

 

Hi Towag,

I have heard of similar stories around the country, The GMB PDB is currently active in many area's empowering and assisting drivers to get organised. If you and your colleges are interested in having a meeting please email a contact number and we will contact you.

Regards
BB

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