Mayfair Mob : Doing What They Do Best, Getting The Job Done... By Jim Thomas

Marshals on Taxi ranks, that have no power to keep the rank clear of touts and parked cars....unless they are going to do the job properly, what's the point ?

It's no good just standing there drinking coffee and chatting.

Over the last few weekends, the LTDA have been placing marshals at popular Taxi ranks. Looking at the @TheLTDA Twitter feed, they now put out little else.

Occasionally supported by the AddVan, they  tweet every few minutes in what appears to be a massive PR exercise. 

But the problem is, with little to no training, no power, no official support, the whole exercise has become some what embarrassing for them.

Saturday night saw Hakkasan's Taxi rank in Bruton Street, completely lost to touts while LTDA Marshals stood in attendance, not knowing what to do next. Same thing happened when they decided to moved round to Nobu's rank in Berkeley Street.

Last night, the Mayfair Mob showed the trade how it can be done properly. 

Just before midnight, a general tweet exclaimed that Hakkasan's  rank had been over run. 

I was the first cab to arrive and parked opposite. Camera in hand, I approached the cars with roundels and explained TfL had told me to ask them to move, but if they refused, to photograph their vehicles and send details to the @TfLTPH Twitter account which (they claim) is monitored over night by compliance. 

Others Taxis from the Mayfair Mob soon followed, to provided back up.

Most of the PHVs moved immediately, claiming they had only stopped there as the signage is confusing and the rank has no road markings. 

Obviously the odd car, having nothing to fear from LTPH, refused to move. But by making a 101 call in the presence of the driver saying, the old bill are on their way, they don't normally hang about too long.

 

It took less than 10 minutes to clear the rank and for the rest of the evening Taxis were able to service.

This is what the Mayfair Mob do, not just for photo opportunities, but every night! .... and for free. 

  

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Uber Cashing In On Bomb Explosion, Charging Double To Take Terrified New Yorkers Home

Cocked a deaf un!.... That's how our fathers would have called TFL's recent reply.!

The Political arm of TFL is the Mayor, so while he delves into religious politics in the US...and additionally says London is open for business ..its not a real surprise to see his appointee addressing our concerns regarding the steam roller issue of isolated card readers in the rear of our vehicles with an undeserved and flippant attitude particularly from a non front line member who is securely protected member of TFL staff answering the mayors enquiries

They have hit on the technique of basing demonstrative points to balance actionable decisions so bearing that important point in mind:

Why can't TFL demonstrate a few examples of legal statistics themselves under the UK law of the land on this precise matter such as:

 1. Please Can TFL show anywhere in the whole of the UK (excepting TFL) wherby a licensing authority has forcibly imposed a mandatory card processing requirement and where failure to comply that mandate would directly result in a suspension or revoking your current license entirely on that basis ?

 2. Please Can TFL also provide any legal English statutes of law which enforces the acceptance of any card payment against a merchant ( taxi driver) other wise punishable in UK courts?, and separately what basis is a card payment accredited and recognised under UK consumer law in terms of legal tender ?


THESE ARE STATISTICS TFL SHOULD IMMEDIATELY DISCLOSE! (and as they have enough highly paid in-house lawyers to able them to provide this information it could be provided easily)

A simple point of asking the Taxi trade to provide statistics proving taxi drivers are daily being attacked by drunken passengers is a cunning attempt by TFL to "normalise" drunken dissent or violent behaviour as a risk of our job and will therefore be unlikely increase with card processors as being extra risk within the business we do...its a pathetic ploy so im not at all surprised it was asked by TFL in the first place

If TFL does want true statistics about drunken violence against taxi drivers all they have to do is google it,,,, or ask the metropolitan police, so stop wasting our time with this time wasting question and abolish the whole ill dreamt up idea, and concentrate on looking after the licencees who pay their licences to fund their own Licensing authority to act in their interests particularly where safety is concerned, and not for political ideology of the crazy kind.

All drivers must keep the pressure on their MP's Unions and GLA members as any card processors you already have and use should be perfectly acceptable to do your job efficiently and safely particularly as it is fully in your control so not be scrapped for anything else....period!

Be Lucky

greenbadgejohn 

The Metropolitan Police estimate only 10% of sexual attacks in PHVs are actually reported.

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Have You Been Attacked By Drunk Or Awkward Passengers? Apparently TfLTPH Have No Data On This.

Letter from Alan Fisher, editor of Dial a Cab's Call Sign

Finally got a reply from the Mayor's office regarding the placing of credit card readers in the passenger compartment. Unsurprisingly, it came from someone writing "on behalf of the Mayor" and shows how little these people know about the best taxi service in the world. In response to drivers not wanting to leave their safety in the front to have to get into the rear at 2am, it says:

Dear Mr Fisher

Under no circumstances would we expect a driver to leave their cab should a problem with the payment machine arise. First of all, the driver should ask the passenger to try again. If the fault persists, they should contact the payment device supplier for support and see whether they can fix the fault or take an over-the-phone transaction. Once a fault has been acknowledged, the vehicle should be taken out of service until it's fixed.

If the card is declined or faulty then a common sense approach should be taken and an alternative means of payment agreed upon. If a passenger refuses to pay and an amicable agreement cannot be found, this should be treated like any other instance whereby a passenger refuses to pay a fare.

>>>

Isn't that great??? 

We just need to tell the passenger to hang around while we try to contact the device supplier! 

No doubt they'll answer and send someone out in seconds at 2am (or any other time)! 

Then if they can't or won't pay, we just treat it " like any other instance whereby a passenger refuses to pay a fare."

Why didn't I think of that!

TfL are obviously a waste of time, even though as a woman you would have assumed that Helen Chapman would have been sympathetic, so we have to move to the next level. 

Editorial Comment :

At he LCDC AGZm on Tuesday Helen Chapman was asked about the drivers safety being compromised by rear placement of the PED's by Lenny Etheridge. 

She answered that TfL's data did not show this to be true, in regards to drunk or awkward passengers.  

Is there anyone out there who has been attacked by their passengers, please let us know by sending email to callsignmag@aol.com 

Excerpts from Commons debate on Taxis and Private Hire.

Daniel Zeichner shadow minister for transport and Louise Haigh, Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley in Thursday's debate in the commons. 

...

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Are TfL Bulldozing Their Way Through The Mayors Action Plan ? .. By Jim Thomas.

Here we go again, tucked away on page 10 paragraph 15, something else that seems to have escaped the representative orgs and unions notice. 

"Mandatory Card and Contactless payments options", (that's the word the mayor uses "OPTIONS") in Taxis from 31st October to make it even easier for customers to pay, while giving drivers the time they need to prepare, and working with card payment providers to get the best deal for the drivers.

But TfL haven't done this. They've bulldozed conditions of fitness through, without the use of common sense, conditions that could compromise drivers personal safety. 

They haven't given us the "OPTION" to make our own provisions to get the best deal possible for both driver and passenger.

As the LTDA's general secretary, Steve McNamara said "it's a done deal" ...... and not one that we (as independent traders) have been party to.

With just over 5 weeks left till the mandate deadline, it is up to our representative orgs to go back to TfL and demand a suspension, until the mayors words can be acted upon, giving drivers the right to make their own provision with providers. We must be allowed to get the best deal possible, not currently achievable under TfL's present conditions, which favour a handful of 'gold standard stakeholder' card payment suppliers.

Why should we be limited to TfL's favoured of providers?

We are independent sole traders. 

TfL's have no right to interfere with financial arrangements we deem to make with third parties. 

With thanks to Lenny Etheridge. 

This from Dads Defending Daughters:

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

CEASE FIRE!

On Tuesday, the Director of Service Operations TfL, Peter Blake handed me the 'Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan 2016', saying "It's all in here. All your demands are being met." I thought, 'Yeah, right.'

But to be honest, they all are ... almost.

Mayor Khan and Transport for London have put an excellent package together

To read the full article please use this link:

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TfL And The Mayor, To Lobby Government For Statutory Definition Of Plying For Hire.

Can't believe the orgs haven't made more from the statement put out by @TfLTPH 32 hours ago. 

Apparently, the Mayor's Action  Plan page 13 far right hand column says;

TfL and the Mayor of London will be lobbying Government for a statutory definition of Plying For Hire

On page 13 of the Mayors Action Plan, under the general heading " Lobbying for additional powers", it states: 

A statutory definition of plying for hire and pre-booked services – as the law stands, plying for hire is difficult to prove and requires significant enforcement resources. 

While we will continue to enforce to the full extent of our ability, along with the Mayor we are firmly of the view that a statutory de nition of plying for hire and pre-booked services will remove ambiguity and clearly define the difference between taxi and private hire services, maintaining the two-tier system

Isn't this what the RMT wanted all along ?

Images from Taxi And Orivate Hire Action Plan 2016.

It certainly looks like the orgs never bothered reading the publication through when it was launched. 

It's no secret they all got copies embargoed before the launch, so should of had plentry of time to read through. 

The only mention of defining plying for hire on social media I've seen so far, was from the LCDC Twitter account.

Should be very interesting to see what Uber AM, (sorry meant City Am) have to say about this, as it could crush Uber's operating platform if (and that's a big if) it goes our way.

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Letter To Taxi Leaks : Stop The Slagging Off And Work Together. Enough's Enough.

Hi Jim

I saw this posted by Lee Shepherd on social media earlier and I truly believe this needs a bigger audience. If you can, could you publish on Taxi a Leaks as I think this one post certainly puts across the way most of us ordinary drivers feel. 

We are sick and tired of our orgs bashing away at each other, it's got to stop if we are to have any chance of surviving. 

Be lucky 

Chris Murphy 

Morning all ! 

As someone who is working hard to raise the image, profile & perception of our great trade, through social media & other channels of advertising, it saddens me to see our very own trade representatives publicly arguing on social media about trade matters. Especially under the banner of their very own org, club, association, group etc. 

STOP !!

You are our trades representatives ! You are supposed to be the leaders of upholding & setting the standards of our trade ! Representing the image of everything to do with our service !

What you put on social media between yourselves is not for the world to see ! These issues should be spoken about behind closed doors and should include every single representative of our trade in discussing what is the best action to take for our trade as a whole, & not what's best for your own independent org etc in points scoring ! 

You all represent the very same ONE TRADE ! 

Start working together & help our points & views make a unified impact  & reflect the professional image that our 360 year history deserves. 

You set the standards of representing each & every Driver within our trade ! 

Raise your standards & think about the image the public are perceiving from you as our representatives. 

Enough is enough !

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