Letter To Taxi Leaks : Non compliance and double standards by Tfl true or false

Incredible though it seems, Tfl are blind to the fact that Uber and others within the PHV market appear to be above reproach....and the law. Some of these operators have even been handed awards by Tfl for excellence and innovation.

Note to self, more sponsorship next quarter I may even win an award.

So let's accept the fact they are being allowed to ply for immediate hire (electronically), which is illegal.

Let's swallow the fact that they charge their tariff on time and distance basis, using "a meter" with a twist, SURGING the price when busy, which although is not illegal, is immoral. 

Here is the latest scandal:

http://ift.tt/2bCG7w3

There are calls to ban car sharing but one dead victim, a passenger in a Tfl approved car, is just another "Body" perhaps.  

Collateral damage in the grand scheme of things between Tfl and the PHV industry:

We've seen the shocking statistic on sexual assaults including rapes. In addition, there's a plethora of other criminal offences being  committed 24/7 by minicab drivers. Not to mention road traffic acts offences, touting, harassment, personal fraud and the hacking of some individuals or company's accounts.

Uber do not have a suitable operators center in London. They have no landline for bookings, for assistance or complaints, again a non starter for applying for a PHV operators license. 

Fast tracked minicab drivers obtain a London license from Tfl in a heartbeat. By design, our Yellow badges suburban drivers are restricted to work locally, which is there choice and what they've worked to achieve. But when an Uber driver is licensed by Tfl, he can then, under cross boarder hiring rules, work all around the Uk. TfL know this but say nothing. They just keep dishing out the paper and taking in the money.

Here's another fact :

Why do tfl put a "STOP notice" on a Taxi  (takes you off the road, until you comply and represent your Taxi to their testing centres paying even more money into their coffers) for not having three of is it five 'No smoking' stickers in the cab. Yet if you present your cab without ashtrays, you fail their inspection. It just doesn't added up.

Any tolerance here? .... not even 1%

PHV owners pay their money and then do as they please.

Be lucky 

Tom Scullion

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Whatever you do, do not get into the back of the cab with a passenger' ....by I'm Spartacus.

Those words ring in our ears as loud today as they did when the head of the PCO gave out badge over many years.

So fast forward to the current passenger compartment Credit Card fiasco orchestrated by TfL which means that's exactly what will be  required if a card won't swipe, or been rejected etc. etc.

Sure it's a great idea that very cab should accept credit cards, most drivers do now with mobile terminals, as in use in millions of shops, restaurants and cabs worldwide, but somehow the world's no 1 Taxi trade can't be trusted.

What's not a good idea is that the driver will have to enter the passenger compartment to resolve a problem or retain a stolen card.

So here are some questions needing answering by TfL:

1. Where is the Health & Safety risk assessment for this proposal and what are the control measures for the increase of the risk?

2. Where are the results of any consultations carried out with working cab drivers, passenger groups etc insisting on a fixed terminal in the passenger compartment?

3. Why did you retreat from your original policy of capping charges to the driver yet insisting we had to absorb whatever any company wished to charge us?


Here's another couple for the under fire General Secretary of the LTDA Mr S McNamara:

1. You have stated  'it's a done deal', quite with who and who did you 'do a deal with?

2. What consultation did you have with your membership apart from those who are retained at Woodfield Road or on stand down at LAP etc?

3. How much advertising revenue is expected from fixed terminal companies in TAXI magazine?

If any of the other UTG (LCDC, UNITE) want to answer the same questions don't hold back, we are all interested.

So before someone is assaulted or a malicious allegation made, We demand the Deputy Mayor Val Shawcross intervenes TODAY, so that full and meaningful consultations and assessments can be carried out before any implementation date.

Happy to comply with the requirement to take CC on mobile units that the trade have used hundreds of thousands of times without query or complaint.

In short 'what was broke that needing fixing'?

I'm Spartacus

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Why 10 told Boris to go easy on Uber : Connecting the dots Uber Freight, Uber Personal Mobility

     

Unsolicited pop up add on the Uber App. Uber doing the government a favour...but at what cost?Uber's partner in the voter mobilization initiative, Bite the Ballot, is supported by none other than City law firm Hogan Lovells. This just happens to be the same firm that, in representing Uber, managed to persuade a High Court judge that Uber's measurement of time and distance billing is not, errrmm, a time and distance meter.  Hogan Lovell's Yasmin Waljee is a Trustee of the Bite the Ballot campaign.

We now know why number 10 told Boris to go easy on Uber. Even though they knew that Uber had been licensed illegally, their campaign had intentions to use the App, which has an alleged 1 million down loads, to encourage hipsters to register to vote in the Brexit election. 

Pundits said the more people from this demographic that voted, the more chance the government had of winning the vote to remain.

But don't just take my word for it. See the archived post on the UPHD blog. http://ift.tt/2bGtfE0;

This is definitely worth a read: Posted on the 28th May 2016.

Uber has started pushing messages to passengers in app to register for eligibility to vote in the upcoming EU referendum. According to the Guardian Uber is partnering with the mega cool Bite the Ballot campaign to get hipsters to care more about politics with messages like: 'But Politics needs rebranding!'

Don't get me wrong, UPHD is far from cynical about the importance of democratic participation and mobilizing the vote but context is key in understanding some of the motives beyond the virtue. Consider the following:

• The FT reports that Uber got involved in this initiative after attending a meeting at Number 10 Chaired by Daniel Korski calling on tech companies to do more to mobilize 16-24 year old's to vote. This demographic is, according to the Electoral Commission, twice as likely not to be on the register as the general population. Polls also show this group is more likely to back a Cameron led Yes vote. Now this is the same Daniel Korski who was caught red handed arranging a cozy chat with TfL's Leon Daniels and London Deputy Mayor Isabel Dedring last October to discuss issues of pressing national importance such as 'Uber Freight potential' and 'Uber personal mobility'. All of this was going on in smokey Whitehall backrooms, though later uncovered in an FOI disclsoure, while the rest of us were allegedly having our say in the private hire regulatory review consultation. In light of Korski's enthusiastic support of Uber, planting a pop up message to get out the EU referendum is but a small ask of Uber from Downing Street.
• Uber's partner in the current voter mobilization initiative, Bite the Ballot, is supported by none other than City law firm Hogan Lovells. This just happens to be the same firm that, in representing Uber, managed to persuade a High Court judge that Uber's measurement of time and distance billing is not, errrmm, a time and distance meter.  Hogan Lovell's Yasmin Waljee is a Trustee of the Bite the Ballot campaign.
• Uber has a history of picking sides and muscling in on political decision making to get its way even at the cost of other vulnerable stakeholders. It did so on the issue of a cap in New York, it rallied customers to back its selfish interests in the TfL private hire regulatory review. In the Mayoral election Uber strong armed drivers into sending a letter to Zac Goldsmith supporting poverty inducing services like Uber Pool where Uber reduces the fare by 25% and increases its commission share from 20% to 35% leaving the driver with crumbs. The point is, Uber cannot now credibly support a neutral get out the vote campaign when its politics have been so partisan. Will the company continue to support such a campaign in the future if the demographics are likely to run against its own corporate agenda?

In summary, great work Uber in getting out the vote. We just hope the price of the favour done for Korski and Number 10 does not come at the cost of  upholding worker rights for 105,000 private hire drivers now in a hunger games race to survive on starvation wages due to Uber's business model.

   

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Taxi Charity Receives Much Deserved International Coverage.

Recently the press has not been the best friend of the cab trade.  Reporting is often biased and sloppy, and journalists persist in printing outdated stereotypes of the trade, so unlike the trade that we know and love.

However, the press has rallied somewhat in the coverage that has been given to the Taxi Charity and I thought readers might find it interesting to know which parts of the media have written about our veterans, their wonderful skydives and the work of the charity.

The coverage began in France, when Fred Glover and Ted Pieri, both WWII veterans from the Airborne Division, revisited Normandy and carried out a tandem skydive in aid of the Taxi Charity. Interestingly the Evening Standard also carried a piece. 

Fred, Ted, Graham Pike (a Taxi charity committee member) and I followed up the Normandy jump with a skydive with the Red Devils on 25th August.  

Naturally the veterans were again deservedly newsworthy, and we have coverage for both events ranging from the Jersey Evening Post, the Daily Mail, and People magazine’s website in the US.

Yet more publicity has been in the Worthing Herald, Guernsey Press, Irish Independent, West Sussex Gazette, Ouest france, the Celebrity Auction, Forces TV, MOD blog, Belfast Telegraph, Forces TV, BT.com, the Times, Mature Times.

Now we have been able to announce the thrilling news about winning the final of the National Lottery awards, and the Standard has published our entire press release.  Of course everything becomes yesterday’s news in the shortest possible time, but as ever, I hope that some of this coverage will resonate with the public and remind them of all the wonderful things that London’s finest do for them    

-- 

Frances Luczyc Wyhowska

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As More Evidence Racks Up Against TfL And Uber, Taxi Orgs Go Into Silent Mode.....Why The Inaction?

Let's just recap for a moment:

TfLTPH's Twitter account frequently post that Uber met all the requirements for licensing, when first licensed in 2012.

And still do....

REALLY?

Uber have never had a required landline for pre booking.

Uber has never had a landline for customer services. 

Uber have operated from premises with no current operators license variation!  

When challenged over Uber's move from NW1 to N1, TfL compliance gave them a six week grace period to sort out a licence, even though the staff manual states their licence should have been revoked immediately there and then (yes I still have the emails Helen).

Leon Daniels states to the GLA Transport Committee, Uber drivers have on/off insurance!

Association of British Insurers state no such policy exists.

Sir Peter Hendy tells GLA Uber has a landline but he didn't have it with him!

Daniels states Uber has landline for bookings, gives number to GLA.

Number turns out to be Jo Bertram's private number!

TfL denfend Uber's phone used as a Taxi meter, in the high court.

Judge declares its not a meter!

Gran Davis states publicly, Boris told him that "number 10 had told him to go easy on Uber".

 

Emails emerge...Daniels alleged to be coaching Uber's Jo Bertram!

FOI request shows serious sexual assaults through the roof. 154 from Feb 2015- Feb 2016 with Uber drivers alleged to be responsible for 32 attacks!

Met Police admit only 10% of all sexual attacks are reported. 

TfL put pressure on LTDA to dumb down statistics on AddVan and remove TfL logo!

Record of multiple phone calls between Daniels and Bertram emerge!

Toronto case: 

Uber admit they don't take required pre bookings anywhere in the world including London. They state on oath that jobs go straight to the drivers phone where the driver then accept the Job!

Uber confirm they've never taken pre bookings by announcing they have future plans to take pre bookings using the app not a required landline!

Hundreds of sexual assaults, thousands of traffic accidents, multiple road deaths and two murders!

And now, Just when you thought there could be no more corroborating evidence that TfL are colluding with Uber's operation.....this!

Complaint made to TfL :

"Today Monday 29 August at 12-55 at Bus stop H Wilton Road by Victoria Station, I witnessed a TFL bus Marshall openly promoting Uber to the travelling public.

A man and his son were asking for information and she asked if he had the Uber app.

I think that this is an utter disgrace as there is a Taxi rank just down the road.

It makes you wonder if backhanders are being dished out from the top of TFL to the bottom.

I await your reply, also I shall consider taking this to the press.

You have seven days to give me an appropriate response".

Complaint posted on FaceBook Save Black Taxis Group

Posted with full permission. 

With all the evidence that's come to light over the last few months, you may like to ask your representative group, why they have been so silent of late

Ask the org or union who take your money for representation, what they intend to do with this plethora of information and evidence that alleges malfeasance.

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Use TAXIAPP....Take A Black Cab....Its The Thinking Person's Choice.

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TfL Charging Passengers For Using Free Replacement Buses....And They Know They're Doing It.

Kingston and Richmond bus users could have payed out of hundreds of pounds unnecessarily after being charged full fare for free buses — and Transport for London knew it was happening.

The 65 and 371 routes from Petersham Road, between Sandy Lane and Star and Garter Hill, and into Kingston have been diverted or cancelled because of utility works that started on July 31.

Three replacement services, the 565, 571 and 572, are running in their place.

The TfL replacement buses are advertised as free during the five week-long roadworks and posters state: "Passengers will still need to tap in but will not be charged."

But anyone using a contactless Visa card instead of an Oyster card will see the full £1.50 fare come from their account.

Siobhan Pestano, who was travelling to Kingston from Ham, noticed she had been charged after boarding the 371 replacement.

She said: "When I noticed the money had come out of my bank account I rang TfL to complain and was told that it was because I'd used my [Visa] card and not an Oyster.

"Well that really set me off because they knew it was happening. I was completely furious.

"Why are there no posters saying 'Oysters only' if they know other cards will be charged.

"These works are happening in the summer holidays when families tend to use the buses much more.

"There will be people who can't afford the charge if they were expecting not to pay.

"Others will not have time to call up TfL for a refund."

Anyone using a contactless payment card twice a day, five days a week on the supposedly free routes would be eligible for a £75 refund after the five weeks of works. TfL cap all bus journeys in London at £4.40.

Emma Smith also found she had been charged when she used her contactless card on the 565 route. She claims she spent 15 minutes on hold to TfL before giving up on getting a refund.

She said: "It was only £3 so I just thought it wasn't worth my time in the end.

"But I bet there are a lot of people using the buses everyday that are racking up a fortune."

A spokesman for TfL said passengers were asked to tap in for security and data collection purposes.

He added: "We appreciate this matter being drawn to our attention.

"We’re looking into it, but in the meantime customers concerned they have been charged should contact our customer services on 0343 222 1234 or email customerservices@tfl.gov.uk."

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Man charged with manslaughter after 23-year-old dies following incident in Farringdon Street

A 32-year-old old has been charged with manslaughter following the incident on August 26.

Alexander Bruce Thomson, 32, of Wandsworth has been remanded in custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 29.

The victim, who died the day after the attack, was travelling with four other passengers in a mini-cab through the City following a night out. The men got into the cab near Farringdon station.

We want to hear from anybody who might have been in Farringdon Street and who may have seen what happened as the cab pulled up and stopped.

– DETECTIVE INSPECTOR KAZIM TOPRAK

At around 11.20pm the driver stopped the car and called the emergency services and the victim was taken to hospital. 

His immediate next of kin are aware, but are in the process of informing other close family members. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

The City Of London Police have put out his appeal on their website:

A 32-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter after a man died following an incident in a minicab in Farringdon Street on Friday, 26 August.

The victim, a 23-year-old man from London, was pronounced dead on Saturday evening, 27 August.

His immediate next of kin are aware, but are in the process of informing other close family members at this time. A post-mortem examination has been scheduled to take place at St Pancras mortuary in due course (date to be confirmed).

Alexander Bruce Thomson (23.02.1984) of Broomwood Road, Wandsworth was charged with manslaughter on Saturday 27 August and he has been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday 29 August.

Detectives from the City of London Police continue to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident which happened after a minicab stopped in Farringdon Street on Friday night.

The victim was travelling with four other passengers following a night out having got into the cab near to Farringdon station.

At approximately 23:20hrs, the driver stopped the cab near to a bus stop by the junction with Old Seacol Lane, just north of Ludgate Circus, and emergency services were called. Both police and London Ambulance Service attended and the victim was taken to hospital, where he later died.

Officers arrested one of the passengers at the scene on suspicion of GBH and he was subsequently charged with manslaughter as above. No other arrests have been made at this time.

Detectives are urging any witnesses or anyone with information who may have been in Farringdon Street at the time the cab stopped to get in touch with them.

Detective Chief Inspector Perry Stokes, from the City of London Police said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victim’s family at this time. This was a tragic incident where a young man has gone to enjoy a night out, but sadly he will not be returning home.

“I would urge anybody who was in the Farringdon Street area on Friday night who witnessed the minicab stopping and what happened after to get in contact with us to help with our enquiries. The area where the cab stopped was not far from Ludgate Circus and there would have been other people making their way home at the time who may have information that could help us piece together what happened.”

Anyone with information should contact the City of London Police on 0207 601 2222 or call Crimestoppers, which is completely anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

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Economic Terrorism : 'To alter the order of society by non democratic means'

So here we have it, a non domiciled tax avoiding company using the odd bedfellows of Goldman Sachs and Saudi Arabia to fund a financial model that exploits the drivers and the benefit system this company contributes virtually nothing to, to crush all others in the market and when the desired monopoly exists to gouge the passenger.

Otherwise, there would be no other point to it all...would there?

Of course any kind of regulatory requirement to provide safety, adequate insurance or the ability to communicate to a standard, brings forth a lobbying effort and social media campaign on a massive scale, the same story repeats itself over and over worldwide.

So what's to do?

Well for a start, let's have some flyers funded (without any trade org logos) to hand out to everyone you see in an uber car, this needs three bullet points as follows:

1. The driver of this vehicle is likely to be earning less that the minimum wage, driving hours way beyond safe limits.

2. The company you are travelling with is losing billions to subsidise fares to destroy legitimate British tax paying businesses, their intentions are obvious.

3. You might be saving a few pounds today but if they succeed in their plans your ride will inevitably cost much more and you will have NO choice but to pay up.

                      'Think about it'!
                 .………………………………

Of course 90% won't give a monkeys, but some will at least pause and it may change their behaviour.

Every percentage counts and we are targeting the right audience.

I wil be asking my union to get behind this, ask yours please?

I'm Spartacus

   

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The London Taxi Benevolent Association for War Disabled

The London black cab trade has experienced some very disheartening times over the last couple of years so to be able to give out positive news is a true delight for me.  

It seems a long time ago that I put out a number of tweets asking the trade to support us in our bid to win our section of the National Lottery Awards and you did not let us down. 

Readers – we WON!!

 

Out of 600 applicants in the Charity/Voluntary section we did it and much of this success is down to all of you who got behind us.  By the time you read this the results will have been shown on the BBC in a prime time slot.  

On a personal note I could not be more thrilled that the media and the public have had a timely reminder of what wonderful people you, the proud members of this exceptional trade, are, and what you represent.  I will never tire of writing about the loyalty, patriotism, generosity and kindness that epitomises the vast majority of London’s cab drivers.

 

It is always risky to single out names for particular thanks, but I am going to take a chance here.  If I omit anyone who really went the extra mile then I can only apologise.  All the orgs got behind us and we received good coverage in the relevant publications. It goes without saying that the charity’s committee worked hard to achieve this result.  Hailo, cab:app, and Ubiquitous all played their part.  Our brilliant volunteer drivers backed us to the hilt.

 

However there are some others that gave us absolutely key support:  Michael Calvey, cab driver and ex-para Pat G, the Mayfair Mob, London Taxi Radio, Millwall FC, UCGup and TaxiLeaks. You were behind us all the way and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Not only is this a victory for the charity,but for the trade as well. Enjoy the success – you earned it.

Frances Luczyc Wyhowska.

   

 

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Credit Card Readers In Passenger Compartment. An Open Letter From Alan Fisher.

Credit card readers in the passenger compartment

I wrote the following letter 7 weeks ago and emailed it to London Mayor Khan, Deputy Mayor for Transport Val Shawcross, London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon, Minister of Transport Chris Grayling, London’s transport Commissioner Mike Brown, MP for Kensington and Chelsea Lady Victoria Borwick, TfL General Manager Helen Chapman as well as TfL’s Leon Daniels, Garrett Emerson and Peter Blake. A copy was also sent to the Dial-a-Cab Board and DaC driver David Lessman as a former Chairman of children’s charity, LTFUC. It was also published in the last issue of Call Sign...

I am addressing this email to everyone named above and would hope that my case is written clearly enough to understand. If it isn't, that is due in totality to the anger I feel towards Transport for London with regard to the appalling treatment given to Dial-a-Cab by an organisation that I have always assumed wanted all transport vehicles under its umbrella to work in a safe environment.

But apparently that doesn't apply to London's taxi fleet, justifiably said to be the world's best. And much thanks for that must go to TfL's predecessors, the Public Carriage Office. Yes, there was a certain amount of fear attached to their presence, but that was in addition to respect.

The fact that I edit Dial-a-Cab's in-house magazine, Call Sign, comes second to my pride at being a licensed London taxi driver for over 45 years. However, I’m also ashamed to be connected to an organisation like TfL who have shown beyond doubt that they care not a jot for this trade and that if any of our number were to be attacked and hurt, then that is nothing to do with them.

In other words, TfL doesn't care if we get hurt and they are attempting to prove it because if their plans go through, then some of our number will be hurt - possibly seriously.

What I'm talking about in case some on this list don't know - and I have no doubt that not everyone does - is all to do with TfL's insistence on London taxi drivers accepting credit cards.

That decision is undoubtedly correct. Like many on Dial-a-Cab, I have already been carrying out CC rides for years via our system and with street CC trips for several years ever since we have had fixed CC readers (PEDS) fitted into our taxis with the holster placed handily by our left shoulder and easily fitting through the gap in the partition for the passenger to put in the card and insert their pin.

But astonishingly, even though it was TfL that passed the DaC PED in that position some five years ago at a substantial cost to DaC, I have now been informed that TfL want the PED to be placed in the passenger compartment. That would mean that if three semi-drunk passengers at two in the morning said that the PED wasn’t working, then the driver will have to get out and check it.

I’m sure I don't need to explain what that could mean to any driver being put into that position. Robbery? Bruising? Stabbing? I'm not interested in whether it has or hasn't yet happened. It will somewhere down the line. But why? The PED is excellently placed in a safe position and all it needs is an approved sign on the passenger side of the partition that says the driver accepts credit cards. Why should we be put in danger every time someone comes up with a problem? Most are genuine and I am usually able to sort them out fairly easily, but there is no way on God's earth that I am going to get into the back of my taxi with people I may not even trust.

I often get out to help passengers with bags or women with babies and prams. But would I get into the back of a taxi with an unaccompanied female passenger and take the chance of being accused of an offence against her person? No I wouldn't in either case and I won't. If that means going to court to explain why I don’t want to put myself in danger when it is totally unnecessary to do so because our current system caters for all eventualities, then that is what I will have to do. I have already upset my wife when telling her what TfL wants us to do.

Feel free to look at my record as a taxi driver, which actually goes back several years before my May 1971 taxi beginning encasing my time with London Transport. I give you all permission. You won't find one complaint. You won’t find me down as a trouble maker; I am just a taxi driver who believes that this is the best taxi service in the world and who does his best to provide an excellent service to his passengers.

But apparently TfL are going to force me into deciding whether my safety is as important as credit card acceptance. I want to accept CCs but not if there is the possibility of putting myself in danger.

I also know of one case where a passenger that had failed to secure their seat belt was catapulted forward hitting their head onto a PED case in the rear. It was only at the driver’s insistence that he should have buckled up that a complaint didn't go any further. But that isn't my complaint; I am purely pointing it out as a secondary reason. Perhaps there have been no official reports of it happening, more because our drivers are excellent and unlike the competition, do not need to look at satnavs rather than the road ahead.

But that is a million miles from unnecessarily insisting that drivers may have to go into the passenger compartment if the passenger says there is a problem with the PED. As I have said, it won't be me and if I am forced to do as TfL insist, then the world will know how I feel via our justice system and the newspapers - one of which reported on the 154 alleged sex attacks on their passengers by cab drivers and of whom I would stake my house on that none were taxi drivers. However, I would expect the number of taxi drivers being attacked to go up after being lured into the rear of the cab under the pretence of the CC PED not working.

I find it so difficult to understand that our so-called licensing authority is happy to put us in danger, because an excuse that it hasn't happened yet is just not good enough. It will happen.

I used to write to TfL whenever one of my Call Sign readers asked me a question that I believed they could answer, but I cannot remember the last time anyone from that organisation bothered responding to me. However, my views are now known and hopefully will at least be read and the feelings of myself and many other drivers will be looked at sympathetically, because I just cannot believe that any organisation would do what TfL are proposing.

I have sent this lengthy email to several people including Deputy Chair at Transport Val Shawcross, TfL, Caroline Pidgeon at the Transport Committee, the Mayor's office, two former Chairman of the London Taxi Drivers Fund for Underprivileged Children, Victoria Borwick as a hopefully interested MP and former member of the Transport Committee and someone who knows much about how this trade operates. I have also forwarded it to members of the DaC Board of Management who in all fairness should know my views as Editor.

Alan Fisher

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Uber Driver Who Assaulted Taxi Driver, One Year suspended sentence, Fined £880, Ordered To Do 150 Unpaid Hours....Report from Marc Turner.

Yesterday (August 25th) at Highbury Magistrates Court, Uber driver Mohammed Dalim was found guilty by District Judge Nicholas Rimmer of One count of assault by beating.

Dalim was fined £680 Court costs and £200 compensation to Jon Cox, the Taxi driver Dalim punched in the back of the head at Kings Cross on 23rd March, this year. Dalim was given a one year suspended sentence and also ordered to serve 150 unpaid hours of work by 27 August 2017.

The hearing lasted approx two hours. 

Judge Rimmer deliberated for approx thirty minutes.

It was an intriguing case. At one point the Judge asked the temperature be lowered when Jon Cox locked horns with defending lawyer Joseph Lawrence. 

Star of the  proceedings was witness for the prosecution cabbie Lee Barron. Lee not only witnessed the accident, but intervened by braking up the fracas. 

Lee's performance was spellbinding. 

He made the defence lawyer look like an amatuer. Even the Judge looked impressed, and in his summing up spoke of how credible the prosecution witness was. 

Another nail in Dalim's coffin was a statement read out by the arresting officer PC Francis, who described the altercation as "one taxi driver punched another" (which just goes to show, even the police can't distinguish between Taxi & PH).

 Interestingly in Dalim's statement to Police on being read his car registration, he replied "I 'think' that's correct".

 Finally Mohammed Dalim, took to the stand. Previously a bus driver of twelve years, he explained he'd been with Uber for just over a year. But, in giving his side of events, he seemed to suffer persistent 'amnesia'. 

Prosecuting lawyer Lorna Ewen made short shrift of him.

Judge Rimmer described his testimony as 'vague'. 

Dalim's evidence appeared to revolve around a conspiracy theory, explaining "Everybody knows there's a war between Black Cabs & Uber, and I am a victim of this".

His delusion went as far as believing that Mr Barron and Mr Cox had coluded to set him up. 

No doubt he thought the police were in on it as well!! 

John Cox, Marc Turner and Sean Paul Day, outside the court

On a lighter note, the Clerk of the Court approached the press section of the gallery and exclaimed "I've never seen so many members of the press, why so much interest in my court"?...There was Steve (LTDA), Gregg (The Sun), Marc Turner (Call Sign) and the irrepressible Sean Paul Day from London Taxi Radio. 

Marc Turner replied "This case has great significance and interest in the Taxi and Private Hire trades. 

The lady clerk questioned "Why"?.. Marc explained in hushed tones "Because the defendant's an 'Uber' driver". She came back with "Who's Uber"?.....To which Marc Turner declared his undying 'love' for her!!!! To laughs all round.

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Credit Card Mandate...And The Curious Case Of The MetroCab....Letter To Taxi Leaks.

I have to agree with Alan Fleming comment on the previous post, relating to tfl and the safety of cab drivers, but then did they ever have a clue on that matter alone? 

No of course not, just turn up at the office, draw their huge over costed salaries and whilst they sip their lattes cab drivers have stress coming though their veins at heart busting amounts...cycle lanes balls ups...Uber balls ups... no choice of cabs to replace the ones they currently drive (due to emissions, over complication on long term business prediction evaporations) and now this credit card school boy sticky tape ideology dream... completely pathetic.

Leon Daniels should be fired immediately and his pension should be given to the homeless. In my humble opinion, he  would never himself sign the type of deal he expects us to work by.

Example:
If you signed a contract with any supplier of goods, eg....Virgin Media (I know them well), you will be given a statement of contract such as, Length of term, cost of service (per month in this case) and very importantly, penalties for breaches by either side.... which basically means if you do not fulfill your side of the contract you will legally be in breach of contract with financial penalties forthcoming, and likewise if the supplier changes inherent details such as costs to supply, you will have automatic rights of cancellation without financial penalty. 

That is the basis of a two party contract.

TFL however fits into an intimidatory role within a two party contract with the term "Mandatory" which rewrites the initial contract in the suppliers favour simply because you must have this to operate your business of employment.

Take the current situation with the MetroCab. 

If you sign a three year contract (which seems to be the 'approved' non choice by Taxi world) and if after 6 months into your three year contract they decide to charge a monthly fee of £10, wouldn't that material change invalidate any signed contract signed 6 months earlier (like any UK supplier?). 

The simple answer is no... as currently, there is no other package out there approved by TFL.

If you did decide that they were taking the pee and bailed out of your contract, as you would have every right to do, TFL will be waiting to invalidate your licence for non compliance and as I've said this before, a complete act of contractual duress... as you have no other choices available as a Metrocab owner.

Where are all these so called legal representatives, many Licensed Cab drivers have paid for years to represent them?

Why is the whole credit card mandate so irreversibly flawed with such juvenile ineptitude?

Can this be the same legal set up due to be challenged by Uber later in court? ...my god help us!

Someone out there, Legal, union, TFL, anyone. 

How on earth has this issue spiralled out of all proportions to the stage we are now at when hundreds or maybe thousands of cabs will never be fitted with card processing equipment approved by an authority (TFL) unless they understand that in a two way contract, ...a supplier has to attract a willing customer, and a taxi user must have a willing participant of trade i.e. a card processing facility. Whatever pressures TFL apply, a whole litany of broken card machine excuses will hit our customers and damage the facility of choice and damage our user accessibility. This will clearly not do our trade any good.

So remove the red tape bureaucracy and help taxi drivers to be happy to take card payments without TfL's unwelcome meddling.

My advice is, don't sign any contract...unless you can leave without penalty if the supplier changes any of the financial detailing to suit themselves.

Be Lucky

greenbadgejohn (on twitter)
Always on the side of the cab driver

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Tomorrow, Friend Of The London Taxi Trade, Frances Wyhowska Skydives To Raise Funds For Normandy Trip

Tomorrow, friend of the London Taxi Trade, Frances Wyhowska will be doing a skydive of 12000 feet, with the Red Devils, in aid of the The London Taxi Benevolent Association for War Disabled, to raise funds for next year's trip to Normandy 

If you would like to sponsor Frances, this is the link. 

http://ift.tt/2aqhXBa

Please use the  hastag #Frances

Any help, no mater how small, will be gratefully received

Another committee member, Graham Pike and two veterans are also jumping

Two WWII veterans, Ted Pieri (90) and Fred Glover (92) are undertaking a tandem skydive with the Red Devils on Thursday 25 August 2016 to raise funds for next year’s Taxi Charity D-Day trip to Normandy. 

Ted and Fred will be joined by Taxi Charity committee members Frances Wyhowska and Graham Pike.

Ted, who lives in Erith, Kent, joined the 1st Airborne division in 1943. He did his first parachute jump in 70 years in 2015, and enjoyed the experience so much that he’s willing to jump again to raise money for the charity.

Fred Glover was a member of 6th Airborne ‘A Company’ who were tasked with landing within the infamous Merville Gun Battery in 1944. This will be Fred’s first parachute jump since his time in Normandy.

Please watch this short video where London Taxi Driver Allan "Ossie" Osbourne,  talks about why he loves taking the veterans on these trips..

   

> Please Click On This Link To Donate <

The London Taxi Benevolent Association for War Disabled

>See more on YouTube<

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PayPal's Neat Solution To The Credit Card Mandate : Unit Fitted In TX4... By Jim Thomas.

Last night at the KXTC Camley Street, Mike Smith showed me his newly fitted rear compartment PayPal cradle. Apparently once you have the contactless unit, the total cost of cradle, printer and all the fittings is around £219 plus VAT. 

The unit was fitted at MAM electrical, unit 9 Mitre Way W8 (opposite ComCab's office), where he was charged £84 inclusive of VAT. Mike said he was really impressed at the standard of workmanship and how helpful this company was. 

Best attribute of this fitment is that you can take the unit out at night to discourage theft. But also you can use the unit  should you wish, with any of the other CC clearance companies who use this model. As you don't have to sign a contract you can just use the system that suits you the best. PayPal, iZettle and CabApp currently have the lowest transaction charges around 2.75%.

Another bonus with this system is the rear view is not impaired in any way, unlike the larger CC machines that block the view between the rear headrests. 

Mike has accounts and units with both PayPal and iZettle, so if there's a problem with one, he can just replace it with the other. Unfortunately this setup has not been approved in either MetroCab or Vito Taxis. Another woeful mess from TfLTPH. 

Under 5 weeks to go to the deadline and they the whole CC situation is in still in chaos. 

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Who Said Demos Don't Work? : St Pancras, Finally Gets Double Yellow Lines, Double Kerb Chevrons.

Last night, under cover of darkness, Camden Council's roads and highways department painted the new double yellow lines including double chevrons on the kerbside at the St Pancras Station drop off. 

The council team turned up complete with warden, moved off all the illegally plying for hire minicabs and painted the promised double yellow lines. Amazingly, some minicabs were reluctant to move, some vehicles were parked with no driver present and so a removal truck was called for. 

After the job was successfully carried out, many minicabs were returning, so the truck stayed behind. Car drivers were informed if they didn't move off, they would be lifted and taken away by Camden Council. 

This new trial has come after months of serious negotiation on behalf of the trade, by the Mayfair Mob's ranks and highways team. St Pancras drop off was bought to the notice of the council after a 5 day demo was called by Dads Defending Daughters and the Mayfair Mob, heavily supported by the RMT and the drivers from all orgs who turned up en masse for the five days to support the action.

  

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Police and TfL, Still Ignoring Assaults On Female By PHV Drivers In Harlington.

Dear Taxi Leaks 

Thank you for your comments supporting residents, and women in particular, who have to put up with this behaviour on a daily basis. 

I'm the woman who made the film and I'm pleased that so many people shared the video. After a few days, we hit 4,000 views. 

I received a call from the local police who arranged for me to visit this no-go area with a female PC to presumably show it was safe. 

In fact she was treated with total disrespect and the drivers laughed at her and she had to admit, as other officers have done, that it isn't safe for a woman to visit alone. 

After intimidation by the drivers and complaints that they were on YouTube, the PC advised them that they could complain and have the film removed because it identified them (a bit tricky to assault a woman filming you and not reveal your identity). 

  Aggressive Uber driver from the original footage.

As a result, Youtube took the film down but by then it had received around 7000 views and I have lots of requests to find a way to edit and repost. 

As far as I'm aware the police have taken no action against the men - although the local Inspector assured me he would do something before he moves on, having been promoted! 

I'm not holding my breath. Our GLA members (Whittle and Kurten) have raised our PHV issues with the London Mayor and lots of emails (& Twitter etc) have been copied to TfL. 

Hillingdon Council is currently running a consultation to give it more powers to tackle PHV abuse of our public parks (closes 23rd August). 

So thank you everyone, your support is important. While PHV drivers act like scumbags and their colleagues stand back and do nothing to clean up their act, I will keep plugging away. Thanks again. 

Editorial Comment :

Incase you missed the original article > Click Here<

Well done Christine, Taxi Leaks will assist you in anyway we can. 

If you do have the original footage, you can send it to us by email (taxileaks@mail.com) and we can add it to 7 FaceBook groups with over 18,000 members. 

It's scandalous to think that TfL haven't acted to help solve this problem as these aggressors are licensed by them.

Hope you get some satisfaction from the local police inspector, but as you say, I wouldn't hold your breath.

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