Greenbadgejohn writes in reply to 'Drivers Held To Ransom By Greedy Card Machine Suppliers.

Greenbadgejohn writes in reply to 'Drivers Held To Ransom By Greedy Card Machine Suppliers. 

On Sunday my son celebrated his birthday and I went along to the new Bang Bang Oriental food hall recently opened in Colindale besides the New Morrisons.

Not withstanding the fact of how enjoyable the experience was.... it really is a nice place to casually eat with a huge indoor oblong area of food vendors of every variery but one massive point to make.... 95% of them had Signs on their counter stating either "Sorry no credit cards" or "No credit cards today" or "Minimum card Payment is £10"

Every one of these vendors are Licensed in one way or another by a variety of bodies such as Local Authority food standards or council registration, Just as every Public house in the country must have Licensing, but not single one suffers the licensing cajolery or inveiglement we all do as self employed business's can you imagine how any interference or threats of closure by any authority would be met by Mandatory compulsions? I have always asked the question as to what the hell it has to do with TFL.

TFL has third party unpaid advertising in my cab against my wishes, and whilst I truly feel Card payments are a benefit these days, normal and fair minimum spend limits should apply by the vendor (me) to reduce the time and clear abuse taken by passengers who try & retry a variety of cards for amounts less than £5 which effectively takes longer than the journey time took and causes delays for surrounding traffic and road users and refusal to accept card payments from inebriated persons who find it too difficult to operate card machines.

TFL should make it public information as to who they use for cashless card processing and how much they are charged in % terms for their business?

We are in the situation we are in because TFL have forcibly compelled taxis to accept Card Payment, We should have the same rates access to the usage criteria TFL has as It is absolutely certain there are huge variations between Oxford Circus's takings which clearly are a universe away from Fairlop Station's takings and which both Stations are on the same Central line System.

As to why trade bodies allowed so much ambiguity into taxi Card processing procedures is a serious concern, but to now find companies coercing drivers into unfair contractual obligations or withdrawing leaving vehicles non compliant is nothing short of a scandal and reminds me of the Van AAken take the money and run debacle of years gone by and which yet again only goes to show how under the auspices of TFL big business's can steam roller the London Taxi Trade and freely escape leaving us to count costs.

Be Lucky,

greenbadgejohn (on twitter)

Taxi Leaks Extra: 

We can confirm that the card machine supplier who have written to drivers demanding return of equipment for low usage is in fact Taxi World.  

Not a good move for a company trying to promote the new Arro dispatch system to the trade. 

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Charging Your Electric Vehicle And Boiling A Kettle Will Blow The Fuse Say National Grid.

Electric car owners have been warned that if they attempt to boil a kettle while charging their car it will blow the fuse.

The National Grid expressed concerns that an average size 3.5kW battery charger would take 19 hours to fully charge a car battery, even when it is 25 per cent full.

A “thought piece” document obtained by the Financial Times warned that a more powerful 11kW device would still take six hours to charge a car battery and during that time, the use of everyday items such as kettles and ovens would blow the fuse.

“The average household is supplied with single phase electricity and is fitted with a main fuse of 60-80 amps,” the National Grid said.

“If one were to use an above average power charger, say 11kW, this would require 48 amps. When using such a charger it would mean that you could not use other high demand electrical items...  without tripping the house's main fuse.”

The warnings come just weeks after the Government announced plans to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2040 in a bid to encourage people to buy electric vehicles.

However, motoring experts immediately expressed concern, noting that it would place unprecedented strain on the National Grid.

Most electric cars will require a battery capacity of 90 kilowatt hours (kWh) to make journeys of around 300 miles, National Grid believes.

It suggests that the ability to travel longer distances without stopping to recharge will be a “must have” if motorists are to abandon petrol or diesel cars.

The company suggested that building several thousand “super fast” charging forecourts — similar to modern day petrol stations — would be preferable to a "large scale rebuild of the domestic electricity infrastructure" by fitting homes with the maximum 100 amp main fuse.

Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, has warned that Britain "can't carry on" with petrol and diesel cars because of the damage that they are doing to people's health and the planet.

"There is no alternative to embracing new technology," he said last month.

Source : The Telegraph

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London Taxi Drivers Held To Ransom By Greedy Card Machine Providers

Reports are coming in to Taxi Leaks, that some Credit Card Providers are demanding the return of their equipment from Cabbies with a low usage rate.

London Taxi drivers are now being put in a position where they may be found to be un-compliant with TfL regulations. 

We have asked TfL what these drivers are expected to do if these companies won't provide a machine through low turn over?

Typical of TfLs contempt for our trade, we are yet to receive a reasonable answer to the question.

As soon as we get the details, we will be naming and shaming the companies involved and advising all drivers seeking CC equipment not to deal with a company who would put drivers in this predicament. 

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Uber Driver ‘Freaked Out’ When The Rape Victim Told Him She Had HIV.

Uber driver’s ‘sex attack victim had to comfort him when she said she had HIV’

Suleiman Abdirizak denies the allegations 

An Uber driver who put his penis into a passenger’s mouth ‘freaked out’ when the victim told him she had HIV, a court heard.

Suleiman Abdirizak soaked his penis with water from a squash bottle and had to be calmed down by his victim, who reassured him he would be fine, it is claimed.

The 42-year-old, who has been charged with rape, had pulled into a dead end in east London and climbed into the back seat, Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Sarah Morris said the victim had been out for a meal, but felt unwell after drinking a bottle of wine and ordered an Uber to take her home.

Abdirizak picked her up on November 10 last year but stopped in Buckle Street, Stepney, and stroked the woman’s thigh as she slept, jurors heard.

The woman ordered an Uber but was raped by driver Abdirizak, it is alleged. 

Miss Morris said: ‘He got into the back and put his penis into my mouth. He said, ‘I’ll only drive you if you suck my dick’.

‘She told him a lie, she told him she had HIV to keep him away from her.

‘His telephone shows that for nine minutes they were in fact in Buckle Street, which is where the rape took place.’

In a police interview, the woman said: ‘I don’t know how I thought of this idea to lie to him, I said I have an illness and you don’t want to sleep with me.

‘He thought it was an STD or something, I told him I have HIV and have had it for five years.

‘He got out a squash bottle from his car and started washing his mouth and penis because he though he was contaminated.

‘I know he was freaked out. I said ‘I’ll walk you through it, I have had it for five years, don’t worry about it’.’

Abdirizak of Rifle Street, Poplar, denies one count of rape.

He claimed the woman told him to drive somewhere private and stop the car so she could be sick.

The trial continues.

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TfL Take Over Five Months To Answer LCDC Email Calling For Resignations.

Peter Blake, Siwan Hayward, Silka Kennedy Todd

Email sent to Peter Blake Tph today from the LCDC:

Dear Mr Blake, 

Could you explain some recent issues for me that I've tried to raise in Licensing & Compliance Meetings but to to no avail? It often seems the purpose of the meeting is to avoid answering rather than to engage constructively.

When are TfL going to bring the PH Topographical Knowledge Testing in-house to stop the type of allegation in the Tweet constantly being made by PH Drivers on Social Media?

As Topographical Knowledge Testing is fee-based, any new investment is related to fees. Why is Silka telling us 'there is no magic money tree!' in relation to questions about investment in the Knowledge or promoting the Knowledge?

Taxi & PH Licensing is also ring-fenced. Again, why is Silka telling us 'there is no magic money tree!' in meetings?

I've asked Silka, on several occasions, to provide us with detailed accounts of where our licence fees go. Can you please provide these figures as far back as possible......unless, of course, you have something to hide?

PH Driver licence fees are amongst the lowest in the Country-why were they frozen when enforcement was inadequate? What plans have you got in the consideration of  raising them?

Can you also explain what Siwan Hayward's role is now? 

I note from recent emails that she is Head of Transport Policing and not Deputy Director of EOS. 

In light of recent letters and emails that we are receiving, can you explain that for us? 

Can you also explain the performance related aspect? 

I'm reminded of a previous email to me from yourself, in which you said something along the lines of 'Siwan Hayward has my full backing'. 

Are you prepared to resign given the woefully inadequate responses coming from TfL and Siwan's involvement in these emails?

It's often been reported that Ms.Lloyd Hayward is a big supporter of Uber & thinks they do a fine job. We have FOI's coming in daily now that show otherwise. I'm sure you've read the stories in all the National Newspapers. 

Are you aware that TfL's figures are being replicated outside of London due to the lax standards at TPH made worse by a loss of control over Cross Border Hiring?

When Professor Alexis Jay took over the inquiry at Rotherham, she asked 'who knew what when and what did they do about it?'

Can we expect the same level of answers from you given Silka has replied on your behalf on the 18th of July, that there is no malfeasance in public office:

Dear Grant

 

I am responding to your email of 20 February

alleging “malfeasance” by TfL. 

I apologise for the lengthy delay in providing you with this response.

 

We have considered the contents of your email. We are seeking new powers from government where we consider intervention to be necessary but not possible under the current statutory framework, such as for example in relation to growing PHV numbers and cross-border hiring. However, many of the matters raised in your letter are common to licensing authorities for taxi and private hire services across the country and would require the government to bring forward legislation that applies nationally in order to provide an effective solution.

 

We do not accept your assertion that TfL is selectively enforcing the law or that there has been misfeasance in public office. Where there is evidence that the law has been breached, swift and appropriate enforcement action will be taken.

 

Regards

Silka

Given recent revelations in the National Media from FOI requests that show a complete disregard for enforcement, can you explain Ms.Kennedy Todd's email?

We would appreciate a more prompt reply from the the one that took 5 months and not to be fobbed off by more spin and waffle.

Regards,

Mark

Mark White

(LCDC)

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What's The One Word Definition Of Irony = Uber.

You really couldn't make it up. An Uber driver was caught red handed -illegally plying for hire- when he stupidly pick up two council enforcement officers outside a pub in Guilford. 

More Irony From Uber, Be Booked Be Insured.

The driver, Ifran Hamid Hussain was found guilty at Guilford Magistrates' court earlier this week and the story has been in most of the papers.

Uber have now 'Slammed down on illegal pick ups'...well they would do wouldn't they, because they get zero commission from a touted journey. 

Now, on the other hand, Uber encourage their drivers to illegally pick up passengers, in areas where the drivers, cars, and uber itself are not licensed to operate (as we've seen in Reading). In some cases they have offered financial encouragements to get drivers to contravene the terms of their licence.

They've even physically changed the county boundaries, telling drivers they can work the Uber app in Canterbury as this is covered by the London area

   And Swansea covered by Cardif !!!

It's only when Uber are not profiteering, they slam down on the illegal jobs. 

Now, if this had happened to a licensed Taxi driver, he would have immediately had his/her licence revoked. But it seems, TfL are not in the habit of revoking Uber drivers licenses as that would add to the already horrendous statistics stacking up against this company.

In fact the driver in this case is still registered on the TfL web checker, as a licensed private hire driver!

Illegally licensed in 2012, they have been allowed to continue without meeting legislated regulations, been allowed to operate from unlicensed premises and regulations have been altered and relaxed to allow Uber to continue to operate. 

We've seen in the media that Uber drivers are responsible for one serious sexual attack every week, an increase of 50% on the previous years.

Two weeks ago an Uber driver rapist was jailed for 12 years.

This was followed last weekend by the new that a senior Met police officer had 'Slammed' Uber over failing to report sex attacks and other serious crimes committed by its drivers. 

We've seen fake medical scandal

We read about fake topographical tests

We've seen drivers selling drugs from their vehicles

We seen drivers arrested over carrying firearms.

We've seen DBS criminal record checks changed

It just goes on and on. 

TfL seem to be taking no action in order to protect the public. In fact it's worse that that...TfL appear to be protecting Uber at all costs. 

And yes, we have the emails to prove this!

The article below is from http://ift.tt/2uTDbXf

The only reason Uber has hit out at drivers who pick up passengers on unbooked rides is they are not earning.

But hold on....it gets worse!

Following Ifran Hamid Hussain's conviction this week, you would think he would have lost his PHV licence. TfL have said on many occasions that any drivers convicted of illegal touting would have their licence revoked. 

But do they really mean, any driver except for an Uber driver?

An Uber spokesman said: "In the UK all private hire trips must be pre-booked through an operator. And thats all they are interested in bookings they pay them commission, they care nothing about boundaries. 

Uber went on to say:

"Any driver who is found to have accepted a job without a pre-booking will permanently lose access to the Uber app and risks having their private hire licence taken away. So Uber will permanently banned them from working, but it appears TfL won't!

Hussain, 33, of Honeysuckle Close appeared at Guildford Magistrates' Court Wednesday (August 16) where he was found guilty. 

He was caught in the act on August 28 last year when he parked outside a pub in Guildford to take the council officers for a ride.

Hussain was ordered to pay Guildford Borough Council £1,500 following his conviction.

He was also fined a further £250 and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge.

   Are Uber, A Law Unto Themselves.

   

Video by London Taxi Driver Marc Turner

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UBER customers warned, smartphone virus that could steal bank card information

Crooks are targeting the most popular international taxi and ride-sharing services with malware that can nab credit card details

 UBER customers have been warned that crooks have found a way to steal their credit card details as they use the ride-sharing app.

The tech company is reportedly one of several targets which cyber crooks are using to prey on the public.

Uber’s algorithm means prices are raised when there’s high demand against supply

Kaspersky Labs have said that Uber users are “at risk” of malware dubbed Faketoken, which disguises itself in games and imitates Adobe Flash Player.

Victims might have clicked on what appears to be a prompt to update their Flash plugin while watching a video on their phone.

But they will have unwittingly downloaded Faketoken, which can live-track their apps.

When a victim opens a ride-sharing app like Uber, Faketoken creates a fake window to steal their bank card details when they type them in.

The malware has identical interfaces, with the same colour schemes and logos to creates an instant and completely invisible overlay, Kaspersky said

This kind of overlaying is a common function enabled in many mobile apps.

Callous crooks will do whatever they can to nab all your details and love to target the vulnerable – including stressed A-level students who were struggling to find uni spotsyesterday.

It appears that criminals are targeting several of the most popular international taxi and ride-sharing services with their fraud tech.

Last year, a version of Faketoken attacked more than 2,000 financial apps around the world by disguising itself as various programs and games.

Since then, Faketoken has morphed into a more sophisticated threat.

Viktor Chebyshev, a security expert at Kaspersky Lab said: “The fact that cyber criminals have expanded their activities from financial applications to other areas, including taxi and ride-sharing services, means that the developers of these services may want to start paying more attention to the protection of their users.

“The banking industry is already familiar with fraud schemes and tricks, and its previous response involved the implementation of security technologies in apps that significantly reduced the risk of theft of critical financial data.

“Perhaps now it is time for other services that are working with financial data to follow suit.

“The new version of Faketoken targets mostly Russian users. However, the geography of attacks could easily be extended in the future. We have seen that with previous versions of Faketoken and other banking malware in the past.”

“However, the geography of attacks could easily be extended in the future. We have seen that with previous versions of Faketoken and other banking malware in the past.”

Faketoken has been spotted targeting travel and hotel booking apps, apps for traffic fine payments, Android Pay and the Google Play Market.

Source : The Sun.

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