Destruction by Design? ... By I'm Spartacus.

To absolutely no surprise to the Taxi trade, it's been exposed that not only Private Hire topographical testing is worthless, the medicals are equally so.

As Taxi Drivers, we all can only go to our own GP, why the difference for Private Hire drivers TfL? 

What excuse can there be for endangering the public in this way?

GREED pure and simple.

All this followed up by synthetic outrage from Uber, the very same company that fights every regulation tooth and nail.

We are also expected to swallow that TfL weren't aware of any of this, well if they didn't then it's at best incompetence, at worst a deliberate strategy designed to destroy the world's No1 taxi trade by creating a cesspool as regulation is unenforced as a matter of POLICY!

Well boys and girls if you want something to get behind, it's as follows:

1. An immediate enquiry into TfL and LTPH by the very least an eminent QC, it's relationships with operators, actions and inactions etc etc.

2. Immediate suspension of further PH licensing until a 'fit for purpose' licensing regime is in place after 3 below is conducted

3. An audit of all current licence holders (include us if you need, we ain't got nothing to hide) by an independent certification body (Lloyds Register, Bureau Veritas etc.) to international ISO standards with full disclosure of the results.

4. Revocation for any driver that have obtained their licence by fraudulent means and prosecution for fraud do them and their 'aiders and abetters'

5. Revocation and if necessary prosecution for any operator that have encouraged or failed to have shown 'due diligence' in recruiting drivers with bogus documentation.

So then LTPH your 'empire' built on sand has been shown for the shambles we all knew it was.

Recruiting more unwarranted compliance officers is a complete waste of time and money, the will to enforce doesn't exist at TfL.

'Gold standard licensing authority' says your publicity, Fools Gold more like.

'One strike and your out' more PR hogwash.

We ain't going nowhere, you won't destroy us!

Over to you Mr Mayor!

I'm Spartacus. 

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LTDA AGM Written Questions Not Answered....by Sean Paul Day.

The questions below were presented to the auditors and COM of the LTDA at the AGM on the 16th September. No answers were forthcoming. 

Steve Mac made assurances that all the questions would be answered at latest by last Friday, again no answers were forthcoming. 

The LTDA should not see these questions as intrusive, but as an opportunity to nurture a more transparent and inclusive relationship with its member base.

It's worth noting that the questions were the result of findings made by two independent, highly regarded accountants.

 

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CMT Freedom Solution, Boot Up Bug Fix....by Jim Thomas

                   
  

If you have the CMT Freedom solution fitted in your Taxi, you may have had occasions where the system fails to boot up, using the reboot option from the off switch doesn't help.

It's very annoying, as you then have to park up, switch every thing off and wait for the card reader in the rear to go dark. Speaking to other users, this is common. 

CMT have set up a 24/7 number to take card payments over the phone, should your equipment fail completely. Most customers appear not to be too enthusiastic about this option.

I have spoken to CMT and they have sent me a quick fix solution, that doesn't involve parking up, switching off and wasting time. It can be done on the go.

Below is CMT'S solution:

Hi Mr Thomas,

Firstly here's our Out Of Hours number: 0203 608 1341. Their primary roll is to take payments if needed, but they can also advise on technical queries.

Now to the system reset. If your screen is saying 'waiting for communication' there will be a Config button on the bottom right. The other way of reaching this point is by pressing Menu from the Map screen. The process is:

Config (or Configuration)

Peripherals

TaxiLinq (with a blue box by it, situated at the bottom of the screen)

Then choose any of the options and press Reset. Message will read TaxiLinq is being restarted.

Then press Menu, followed by Map. You'll see the 9 icons drop away to 4 and gradually re-establish themselves and turn green with the final icon, which represents the pinpad, the last to go green. If any don't go green it points to where the fault lies.

This resets the communication between every element of the system. In addition to this, ensuring you sign off before powering off the tablet every evening will help the general health of the tablet ... as with all such devices it benefits from being powered off completely.

Hope that's all clear.

Nick, CMT. 

As luck would have it, the night after I receive this email, my system failed to boot up, and so I was able to try the fix. It worked. 

For those of you who find I written instructions confusing, I've made a short video, running through the process. 

Hope this helps. 

    

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TfL Treats Veteran Cabby With 58 Years Service Deplorably.

     LONDON TAXI DRIVER. DENNIS DURACK.

I thought you might like to know the high esteem that TFL hold for the London cabbies.

I decided to retire from driving a cab in London after 58 years ( I got my badge in 1958 ), so I wrote to TFL to inform them expecting to get a polite letter back asking for the return of my licence, and what do I get.

I received a letter DEMANDING I returned my licence or action would be taken against me.

Not only that, they got my licence wrong and classed it as a private hire licence.

So after 58 years you get brushed aside with an insult.

Editorial Comment: 

Dear Dennis

On behalf of my colleagues in the London Licensed Taxi Trade, I would like to personally thank you, for the 58 years of excellent service you've given to the traveling public in our great city. 

Here's hoping you enjoy every minute of your well earned retirement. 

Jim Thomas

Editir, Taxi Leaks.

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A Quickie Knowledge, Or A Two a Tiered Knowledge System?....by Jim Thomas.

Over the last few months, while the trade has again been decided over the intended CC mandate, transaction charges and siting of the machine, TfL seem to have used the oppotunity to slip in the frame a new form of Knowledge of London. 

It's recently been reported all over social media, new drivers at Heathrow have been asking for post codes of well established points around central London, such as the Ritz Hotel, Kings Cross and Euston stations. 

There have always been allegations that certain suburban drivers have been sharing friends or relations badges and bills to work the airport. 

Most of these claims were felt by the majority of the trade to be exaggerated. 

But when TfL compliance recently made checks out west, there was a noticed absence of so called 'new drivers' from the feeder park. 

However, drivers sharing documents such as badge and bill, is not the only problem that's currently surfaced out west. Many drives are refusing what they feel are unprofitable journeys by refusing to take card payments, or asking for exorbitant cash fares.

At a recent meeting between trade reps, HAL and TfL compliance, it's been revealed that knowledge students are no longer going out on the bike -a system proved over many years to be the most effective way of learning the Knowledge. 

TfL told the meeting that learning the knowledge from a computer screen in a classroom is now quite acceptable. 

HADTU have released a statement saying that in their opinion, this is not just a quickie knowledge, but a two tiered knowledge system. 

They say they will now be consulting with other trade groups regarding this issue. 

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The ongoing credit card saga...Letters from Tom Scullion and Dads Defending Daughters

Tfl in its infinite wisdom made a very hasty decision to make it compulsory to have fixed terminals in the back of London Taxis without consultation with the working Taxi drivers. 

Many of us have highlighted the dangers and the risk to helpful Cab drivers being lured into the back of our Taxis when the customer cannot process a card payment. 

Whilst we all agree that every Taxi should have means to take cards and the majority of us have a handheld devices, why would Tfl think that we should go to the expense of installing fixed units which are prone to 'Bugs" and system failures and if the unit doesn't work the driver is off the road until the equipment is functioning again.

Here are some other reasons why drivers should use hand held units:

In order to process an Amex card for example the driver is prompted to check the customers signature against the card, pretty difficult to do as the customers will process the transaction themselves in the back of the Cab, if the customer contacts their card company and say that's not my signature and request a refund the driver will loose the money.

Cards being left in the machines in the back of Cabs when the next passenger gets in and nicks the card they will have a field day with contactless transactions with purchases, goods or services below the £30 ceiling and guess who will get the blame for stealing the cards ? 

You guessed it the Cab driver.

Did you know you can use a stolen card for up to 5 months on contactless transactions even if the card has been reported as lost or stolen.

When a driver is trained on how to use their machine or device they are asked to check the name on the card so imagine the scenario, a Lady presents you with a card you check the name and its MR G Smith if the driver takes the payment and ignores this again there will be a charge back and once again the driver will be out of pocket and or accused of deliberately processing payments without the customer being present or taking fraudulent payments.

All of the above can not happen if the driver processes the payment with the customers card in the front of the Cab.

Be Lucky 

Tom Scullion

Comment From Dads Defending Daughters.

When Helen Chapman said there is no evidence of attacks on cabbies helping with CC machines, I answered that there isn't that many machines in the back of cabs yet, and half of them are not used (socks and bags covering them).

I pointed to the fire escape and said, no child has ever fallen from that fire escape, but would you allow a four year old out there unsupervised to play on it?
Not the greatest analogy, but it was off the cuff.
Do we have to wait for a rape or murder, before TfL deem it unsafe to get into the back of the cab with a stranger?

Uber waited until murder hit the headlines before they stopped Uberpool (although you can still put yourself in danger, if you're jumping in with strangers from the airport).
Khan said "One is one too many." when referring to TfL's PH rape record.
Obviously one is quite acceptable when it's Taxi drivers.
I have to get into the back with an unchecked stranger - sound familiar?

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A Request, To All Orgs From Lee Ward-ALPHA.

I am formally requesting that a committee of Associations be set up from across the country.

This committee will be a steering group for the whole industry, therefore representatives from both tiers are to be included.

This committee will not be for kudos or anything along the lines of 'we did this' 'we got that' it will be purely and simply a group of knowledgeable people who already run Associations, I am sorry but Unions need not apply, you are as bad as the politicians for kudos and no results.

This group will be from across the land, with no borders involved, its purely for the benefit of the trade and the recognition that it requires with the hierarchy.

Together, as a combined and knowledgeable unit we can work to put to bed the growing and desecrating industry issues that are before and upon us.

Please email me at ward.lee1969@gmail.com to show your interest in joining forces nation wide.

Time is now to unify and act, time tomorrow to reflect on what could have been achieved.

Thank you

Lee Ward

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