AskPOB - Please take one minute to help shape services within the trade

Dear driver,

AskPOB is an independent trade consultancy which establishes driver opinion on all taxi related topics. AskPOB is conducting an independent survey to establish driver opinion on the latest app to enter the market, Karhoo, the viability of a taxi delivery service and also driver feedback on the London Taxi Radio service.

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Kind regards,
 
Perry Richardson

AskPOB.com

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Posted On Behalf Of The NPHA

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Letter To The Board Of TFL : Shows The Woeful Inadequacies Of TfL's Legal Team.

                    IS THIS TOUTING?

Back in November 2014, the LTDA posted a video on YouTube. An employee of RD2.com was seen asking passers by if the wanted a minicab. The LTDA handed over all evidence to TfL, who took this case to court.

This was a water tight case, the evidence spoke for itself. You would have to find a legal team of complete idiots who could actually loose such a case. But don't take our word for it, watch the video evidence here below and judge for yourself: 

      

As we said, only a team of complete idiots could loose such a case....step forward TfL's legal team.

Below is an extract of a letter, recently sent to the board of TfL by Vijay Khakhria of RD2.com.

....................

 Your colleague Steve Wright MBE immediately consulted us as an LPHCA member and as the licensed in‐venue PH operator concerned, seeking the facts. The featured individual is a former employee, Mr Dean Back, who was subjected to a wholly unnecessary prosecution on 27th November 2014 at North London Magistrates Court for the alleged touting incident at the venue, One New Change. The case was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)1. I have forwarded correspondence with Ms Sonya Foxsmith, the Magistrates Court Clerk in the case, confirming her perceived understanding that the CPS withdrawal was due to Mr Back being situated inside the boundaries of the licensed in‐venue private hire operator centre2. TfL Board Members will, no doubt, be aware that “...touting consists of soliciting persons to hire vehicles...” by “...approaching people on the street...”

Far from demonstrating touting as alleged, the real facts are:

The case was tried; after due consideration no offences were found to have been committed and charges were withdrawn;

No enforcement action was taken by TfL against either Mr Back or Ride 2.

..............

Another shinning example of the wonder team that is TfL's legal team....the case against Diamond chauffeurs Ltd where senior members of TfL's staff were openly touted by a clipboard man

Another open and shut, water fight case???

>Click Here to read full account of case<

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VERIFONE LAUNCH NEW TfL COMPLIANT DRIVER PACKAGES.

Following the recent TfL ruling regarding card payments in taxis, Verifone have now announced the driver packages that come into effect from 2 April.

A new ‘Capital Package’ fee of 3.95% applies to all transactions. The Capital package features:

Zero upront costs

Zero monthly rental charges

Zero data costs. 

Drivers do not need to use their own mobile phones as a SIM card is included in the Verifone equipment at no additional cost to the driver.

Card fares normally take 48 hours to process and Verifone pay drivers every day during the week, with the option to schedule just three payments per week if preferred. Jon Wheeler and his team at Verifone are confident that the Capital Package provides drivers with a competitive and accountable solution.

 “We looked at numerous financial models before agreeing this package. Drivers don’t want complicated tariffs with upfront costs, monthly rentals or unpredictable extras. Ours is simple, transparent and hard to beat. When you consider the driver support and technical facilities we have too, we really believe that our service is second to none.”

The Verifone transaction rate is reduced to 3.25% for drivers who upgrade to the ‘Icon Package’ with a one-off fee of £299. All Verifone Capital and Icon drivers also qualify for free upgrades to ensure compliance with TfL requirements for equipment to be fixed in the rear and provide passengers who request them with printed receipts.

All services are capable of meter integration, a service that provides quicker job processing and secures customer satisfaction, and is subject to on-going consideration by TfL. Verifone fixed systems have included both receipt printer and meter integration since they launched in London in 2010.

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As expected, TfL Board Bottle It Over New Private Hire Regulations...by Jim Thomas

As expected, the board of Transport for London yesterday took a soft approved with plans to curb the soaring number of Uber cars and minicabs. New regs on Operator Fleet Hire and Reward insurance and curbing satellite offices with clipboard johnnies, we're not carried through.

Potential minicab drivers will now have to take basic English language and “Knowledge-lite” style geography tests before driving in the capital. The scandal of taking the test in the language of your choice with the answers to the questions in front of you, will now have to stop.

Although Minicab drivers face a crackdown on insurance requirements to ensure passengers are covered for accidents, TfL fell way short of introducing the requirement of fleet operator Hire and Reward insurance.

TfL have been failing public safety by allowing vehicles to be licensed without the correct insurance being in place. This was recently highlighted by an undercover operation by LBC. 

The TfL board approved most of the proposals to crackdown on minicabs at their meeting yesterday afternoon, but plans to scrap “men with clipboards” outside nightclubs who were licensed to provide minicabs have been put on hold.  

The Mayor has come under growing pressure to do more to curb London’s 25,000-vehicle strong Uber, which the black cab trade claims is driving it out of business.

Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the London Taxi Drivers' Association (LDTA), said the changes didn't go far enough.

He said: "TfL has wasted a huge opportunity to improve standards within the private hire industry for the benefit of drivers, passengers and other road users.

"The review of private hire regulations was aimed at improving passenger safety, and most of the proposals were sensible and endorsed by the LTDA.

"We are pleased TfL has committed to taking some of them forward, but as result of undue influence, TfL has not gone anywhere far enough.

"Introducing Hire and Reward operator insurance is the only way to categorically ensure that all passengers travelling in a private hire vehicle (PHV) in London are covered in the event of an accident.

"The failure to take this proposal forward means uninsured PHVs will continue to operate in the capital, putting Londoners at risk. The next mayor needs to address this issue as a matter of priority.

The number of private hire drivers has grown from 59,000 in April 2010 to about 100,000 today, contributing to congestion, pollution and illegal parking. 

Mr Johnson has previously failed to persuade the Government to allow him to cap the number of minicabs.

    

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM "DADS DEFENDING DAUGHTERS"

PLEASE CUT'N'PASTE THIS LETTER AND EMAIL/POST IT TO YOUR LOCAL MP AND MAYORAL CANDIDATES.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

Dear .................

It is unacceptable that the government is doing nothing to stop Uber from destroying the licensed London Taxi trade, a national icon.

It has been reported in the press that Uber despite being a US$50bn US headquartered company and generating a lot of business in the UK pays less tax than just 4 individual London taxi drivers. I understand from an interview George Galloway did with Steve McNamara (General Secretary of the LTDA) that Uber has a company in the Netherlands where it benefits from lower tax rates. 

There are various OECD initiatives looking at similar tax structures of companies and understand that the UK has recently adopted new tax laws addressing them. It is difficult to understand why the government is so supportive of a company which is taking away business from lifelong UK tax payers when it hardly pays any tax in the UK.

Tfl which sets London Taxi fares argue that Uber is encouraging competition and giving consumers choice but this is at the expense of putting at risk the livelihood and eventual employment status of 25,000+ men and women who are licensed London Taxi Drivers. it is not only the drivers who are being affected but the manufacturers of London Taxis, mechanics, call centre staff and 'knowledge' trainers etc.

Tfl set licensed London Taxi fares high. Uber is aggressive with its strategy. It is offering extremely low prices, a 'race to the bottom '. This, unless stopped will leave Licensed Taxi Drivers unable to compete on price. Price is something which Licensed Taxi Drivers are unable to control. Unfortunately, as things stand, there is an obvious outcome- Uber will price so low until it is the only provider on the market. At that stage, it will be almost certain that Uber will increase its prices.

The Licensed London Taxi trade also supports the concept of Social Mobility. It is a qualification which many men and increasingly women from working class backgrounds go into.

The taxi drivers are hard working, have passed the 'knowledge' which requires high levels of skill, memory, dedication and commitment. The Licensed London Taxi trade provides good role models to future generations that perhaps without academic qualifications you can work hard to have a solid and previously secure lifelong profession. This opportunity for Social Mobility for Taxi Drivers and their families is being taken away by completely unfair competition.

The safety of London Uber customers seems to be a low priority of Tfl. Firstly, Licensed London Taxi Drivers are required to have an insurance policy (Hire and Reward) which covers passengers in the unlikely event of any accidents. Uber drivers are not currently subject to the same insurance requirements which is unsafe and irresponsible. They are merely required to have Third Party Fire and Theft policies in order to get passed as a licensed mini cab driver by Tfl. Such insurance only covers the third party and this lack of insurance protection allowed by Tfl is not in the best interests of the public.

Secondly it has been reported that Tfl are not keeping the public informed of the sexual attacks which are purportedly being carried out by mini cab drivers. By not sharing this information it is not allowing the public to make an informed choice about their transport options.

Finally, does it seem right that the head of our government is associated with senior Uber staff, given the involvement of the government in the support of Uber?

What do you propose to do to support the licensed London Taxi drivers?

Yours sincerely, 

......................................

ENDS.

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Totally Failing London : 500 New Routemasters Recalled Due To Battery And Steering Problems