Denmark Hits 1,200 FormerUber Drivers With Additional Tax Bill

Denmark's tax authorities are demanding nearly 1,200 former Uber drivers to pay an additional $1.9 million in taxes for 2014 and 2015, after finding tax avoidance among close to all the drivers investigated.

The ride-hailing service launched in Denmark in 2014, but parliament passed a law in February 2017 that introduced more stringent requirements on taxis, such as mandatory fare meters and seat sensors. After the new rules were introduced Uber withdrew from Denmark.

The new checks were based on information Denmark had received from the Dutch authorities, where Uber's European headquarter is based (UberBV).

Danish tax authorities said in a statement they had checked 1,195 Uber drivers' tax reports and of those  all 1,192 have had their tax changed now.

Those Uber drivers will have to pay a total of 11.3 million Danish crowns ($1.86 million / £1.3 million) in additional tax, it said.

154 cases have been sent to further investigation to check whether they have been roughly negligent and should be fined additionally.

Uber spokesman said, "Thousands of drivers in Denmark used the Uber app to get access to economic opportunities and we have always informed them of their fiscal duties".

"We support regulations that help self-employed people meet their tax obligations as has been rolled out by the Danish government," 

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Uber to suspend service in Greece after new legislation

Ride-hailing service Uber said on Thursday it would suspend its licensed service in Greece after the approval of local legislation which imposes stricter regulation on the sector.

Uber, which operates a licensed service in the Greek capital, has faced opposition from local taxi drivers who accuse it of taking their business.

"New local regulations were voted on recently with provisions that impact ride-sharing services," Uber said in a blog post. "We have to assess if and how we can operate within this new framework and so will be suspending uberX in Athens from next Tuesday until we can find an appropriate solution." 

Uber operates two services in Athens: UberX, which uses professional licensed drivers, and UberTAXI, which uses taxi drivers.

The new regulations require each trip to start and end in the fleet partner's designated headquarters or parking area, something Uber does not do. A digital registry of all ride-sharing platforms and their passengers will also be created.

The company launched in Europe in 2011, angering some local authorities and taxi drivers who said it did not abide by the same rules on insurance, licensing and safety.

Following widespread protests, court battles and bans, Uber has taken a more emollient stance under its new CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, suspending operations in various cities in order to comply with local regulations.

UberX launched in Athens in 2015 and more than 450,000 people have used its smartphone app to book a ride. News of the new regulation last year angered some Athenians and tens of thousands signed a petition launched by Beat - a local ride-sharing service - in favour of ride-hailing services.

UberX drivers have to be employed by fleet partners such as car rental companies or tourist agencies and their cars could not be more than seven years old. 

The data registry and return-to-garage requirement will only apply to ride-hailing services like Uber and Beat, while taxi drivers will be able to use cars that are up to 22 years old.

Source Reuters 

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Hero Or Villain : Pensioner Arrested After Burglar Dies From Stabbing Incident.

A pensioner has been arrested after fatally wounding an intruder during a suspected burglary at his home, police said.

Two men entered the property in Further Green Road in Hither Green, south-east London, early on Wednesday morning.

One suspect, armed with a screwdriver, forced the 78-year-old home-owner into his kitchen when he discovered them, while his accomplice went upstairs, Scotland Yard said.

Officers were called to reports of a burglary in progress at around 12.45am and the London Ambulance Service took the wounded man to a central London hospital, where he died at 3.37am.

The force was unable to confirm whether the suspect had been stabbed with the screwdriver.

The pensioner suffered bruising to his arms and was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, police said.

He remains in custody at a south London police station.

The dead suspect’s next of kin have been informed and a formal identification is due to take place. A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course.

The Homicide and Major Crime Command is investigating.

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT : by Jim Thomas 

Although this story is not Taxi related, it reminds me of an incident that took place about 15 years ago. An older Cabby George, who in his younger days was a Generdier Gaurd, was in Camden News waiting to pick up a radio job. 

He had vacated his Tax to ring the door bell when he heard a shout "Stop him". 

As he turned, he saw a man running towards him, being chased by two uniformed police officers. 

As the man passed, George stuck his leg out and the young man went flying. 

To cut a long story short, the man was seriously injured in the fall and George was arrested. Lucky for George though he had legal cover and was soon released on bail. 

The police later dropped all charges, but it just goes to show how easy it is to wind up on the wrong side of the law. Had the case gone to court and George convicted, he would have lost his licence, all for helping the police catch suspect mugger.

The 78 year old pensioner from South London fought back, after being attacked in his own home and has now found himself in a police cell. In my eyes the man is the hero, not the villain.

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Uber Driver Carried Woman Into Backseat Of His Car ‘To Rape Her’

An Uber driver followed a young lady customer from his car to her doorstep and as she looked for her keys he pick her up from behind, carries her back to his Prius and raped her on the back seat of his cab, a court heard. 

Muhammad Durrani, 38, attacked the 27 year-old woman after picking her up outside a live music club in Clapham, south London, jurors heard. 

When they arrived at her home he got out of his car and followed her to her front door. 

As she struggled to find her keys, he came at her from behind, lifted her up in his arms and carried  her back to his Toyota. 

He then put her on the back seat, got in the car and raped her it is claimed by the prosecution. 

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Uber Driver Carried Woman Into Backseat Of His Car ‘To Rape Her’

An Uber driver followed a young lady customer from his car to her doorstep and as she looked for her keys he pick her up from behind, carries her back to his Prius and raped her on the back seat of his cab, a court heard. 

Muhammad Durrani, 38, attacked the 27 year-old woman after picking her up outside a live music club in Clapham, south London, jurors heard. 

When they arrived at her home he got out of his car and followed her to her front door. 

As she struggled to find her keys, he came at her from behind, lifted her up in his arms and carried  her back to his Toyota. 

He then put her on the back seat, got in the car and raped her it is claimed by the prosecution. 

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If CC Machines Can Have A Tip option, Why Can’t They Have A Validate Option?

I always felt it sensible for C/Card machines to have a "Validate" option available to drivers in cases where the journey was either quite long or if the driver had doubts or suspicion a card may not work (out of date etc)

As we are not empowered (trusted) by the PCO to examine any card physically it would surely be a simple software addition to allow a passenger to enter the card into any machine with a validation option to create confidence all round.

Currently, there is not, I personally would refuse anyone who I suspect holds an out-of -date card unless I see it close up, It is not unreasonable to ensure a potential passenger proves they have adequate funds to cover the Journey (particularly a longer one) before its commencement, and that applies to cash or card remembering we are all vulnerable sole traders who are regularly targeted and more often than not abandoned by the police in time of need, so every Taxi driver must vigorously protect their business from fraudulent exploitation and no licensing authority could reasonably argue against that right.

Be Lucky.

greenbadgejohn. 

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Val Shawcross Asked What Measures Are In Place To Stop Bus Drivers Moonlighting As Ûber Drivers.

We've all seen the Ûber Prius outside bus garages, we've known for years that some bus drivers are moonlighting as Ûber drivers.... This apparently is not allowed!

But what safe gaurds are inplace to protect the public. Surely you'd think TfL would have this covered....

Well think again....

In the same manner that they passed the Buck and put the responsibility for customer complaints to be dealt with by Ûber themselves, TfL say its the bus company's responsibility to check that their drivers are not registered as Taxi or private hire drivers. 

This was the reply which came back from deputy Mayor Shawcross. 

Dear Val Shawcross,

I recently attended a Transport User Group meeting where the question was asked by a local residents association about TfL licensed private hire vehicles parking in residential areas in or near to Fulwell Bus Garages.

Those representing the Bus Operators stated that there was a limit to the number of hours a bus driver could drive on a daily basis (10 hours), which included driving to and from home and the Bus Garage.

What system, if any, is there in place for TfL and the Bus Operators to check if bus drivers are licensed by TfL as private hire drivers and vice-versa regarding driving for more the allowed hours?

Regards

Xxx

Dear Mr Xxxxx,

Thank you for your email received earlier today. I am responding on Val's behalf.

The bus operators, who employ bus drivers, have employment contracts that state drivers must not engage in any other paid or unpaid work without their written consent. No bus company has agreed to a driver working in a second driving job such as for a taxi or private hire firm. When isolated cases of drivers 'moonlighting' have come to a bus operator's attention, action has been taken by the operator. We have also put an additional assurance process in place enabling bus operators to check if their employees are licensed on our taxi and private hire database - and could be holding two jobs.

Thank you again for raising your concerns with us. 

Kind regards

David Vorster
Communications and Engagement 
Taxi & Private Hire | Transport for London | Surface Transport 

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