I'm Spartacus Tells TfL, "Be You Ever So High...The Law Is Above You"

I am getting RSI, blogging, tweeting, speaking and writing to M.P.'s GLA members, Mayors etc etc, about the need for an enquiry into TfL over this and many years.

I see Margaret Hodge is looking into the Garden Bridge, well that's good but it's small beer compare to what's gone on at TfL : Cable Car, CSH, Bow Roundabout, Oxford Street's empty buses, Ubergate, Badgegate, Cash for renewals gate, engagement policygate, war criminals driving PH gate and Dear Jo'gate, etc etc

It's a big list of gates and I am thinking that's the "TfL master plan" plan....If there so much on the 'matters arising' on TfL no one will come near.

Be sure we ain't giving up taking them gates off the hinges, Windsor House!

     'Be you ever so high, the law is above you'

So there we are up at TfL for awarding of the world famous Green Badge, well done all, on the way out people given a 'goodie' bag.....from the LTDA.

Why are they the only organisation given access?

Why don't the UTG camp followers of the LCDC or UNITE say anything?

What's going on here, anyone know?

Does this special treatment come at a price of not questioning TfL, especially now since the 'Dear Jo' Sunday morning emails came to light?

I'm Spartacus.

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Is the tail wagging the dog? A Message From The UCG To Helen Chapman.

Taxi Leaks Editorial Comment :

Strong words from UCG vice chairman Trevor Merralls.

This is exactly what the drivers want to hear.

But we also want to hear this from all our representative orgs who take our hard earned money in subscriptions.

All this crap we've had about Credit Cards and where to site the PED reader, is not for anyone's benefit, it's been hyped up to keep us divided and fighting amongst ourselves, while Uber's Licence is renewed with as little fuss early next year. 

And it's working extremely well...

The trade can no longer afford to sit back and wait, the trade needs to fight. 

We want our orgs united in this fight....and to fight for us the drivers. 

No longer fighting each other for a place at the engagement table or a seat on TfL's board. This tribal mentality has bought us to the jaws of defeat, and it needs to stop before we are wiped out completely.

We want a public inquiry, and we want it now. 

An inquiry into Uber's cozy relationship with certain TfL officials. Plus, let's not forget the damage that was done by the ones who have moved on.

We want these people bought to justice and yes, we want this NOW. 

#StrongerTogether

Jim Thomas.

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Did TfL Relax Regulation On Landline To Assist Uber's Modus Operandi And Get Daniels Off The Hook ?... By Jim Thomas

In the light of the plethora of evidence published in trade journals about the collusion between certain TfLTPH officials allegedly bending over backwards, to help Uber circumnavigate the requirements laid down by the Private Hire Act 1998, you would have thought there would be no more skeletons in their closet. But you'd be wrong!

It's now crystal clear that LTPH have been secretly amending said legislation. 

Below is an email sent to one of our readers by TfL after he repeatedly asked about Uber's Original licence application. He says TfL only replied when he copied in his MP.

Part 1....

Part 2....

Apparently, TfL have a new interpretation of the requirement for a PH operator to have in lace a landline for taking bookings. 

They are now claiming it's no longer a regulatory requirement for an operator to maintain a landline once they are licensed an operational....REALLY ?

If that's the case, then this interpretation makes the initial PHV act laughable. It's like saying when you have your vehicle licensed, you must wear a red tie. But after the vehicle is plated, you can then discard that item. 

Many Taxi drivers are now concerned that this part of the act has been massaged by TfL to facility Uber's continuance as a PH operator, operating independently of statutory legislation. 

The old interpretation seemed to be firmly in place, until Leon Daniels was found to have lied to the GLA transport committee. Daniels presented the GLA with what he said was Uber's public landline. Turned out the number was Uber CEO Jo Bertram's private line.

Now it would seem, the requirement has been reinterpreted.

Again, drivers are concerned that this was done to get Daniels off the hook, and to keep Uber compliant.

The uncovered information was also past on to the LTDA back in June. Not only have they said nothing about this, they didn't even reply to the driver who copied them into the emails. 

Personally, I can confirm that this issue was not bought up by the LTDA at the all trade representative meeting at Taxi House, which I attended on the 3rd of August.

Minutes of this meeting will be posted later this week.

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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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