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| Taxi Drivers Fixing Fares http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2144 |
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| Author: | Belvar [ Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Taxi Drivers Fixing Fares |
Another Newbie related question really.... I recently told a 'family friend' of my venture into the Taxi Business. Its easy to say he found my ideas f***ing stupid. Apart from the usual moans about not making any money and having no life (yet he's 40 something and lives with his mother) he mentioned that Taxi drivers fix fares to pocket cash for themselves. I may have misjudged the system, or didn't taxi drivers have to start a meter and stop it, as well as bookng he whole run/pick up with the operator? Hackney or not. If these drivers had to lie, surely they would have to be very resourcefull and know exactly what they've lied about and when. I also thought the meters kept a record of all the work done so you could easily find out anyway. So i'm worried (since i'm supposed to be getting a building soon) and need to know how easy people can [edited by admin] you up if you give them a car for them to drive for you.....do you guys do it or get it done to you? :\ |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
In all trade there are good'uns and there are bad'uns. And the taxi/PH trade is no different. You will get people trying it on, but the only reason they do, is they think they will get away with it. Good owners/operators can spot an iffy driver a mile off. Alas customers mostly just take it on the chin, when really they should not pay, and should report drivers to the council. 
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| Author: | Belvar [ Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Cheers man. I've been told that the driver can do the fare, collect say £10, then delete the information off the meter and book the fare down for £5 and lie about where he's been. Does the meter not store what its done all day then? I'm really hacked off now 
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| Author: | TDO [ Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Sussex wrote: You will get people trying it on, but the only reason they do, is they think they will get away with it.
Now now, there's no need to get bitchy about Mr Belvar's insurance claims 
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| Author: | TDO [ Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Belvar wrote: Cheers man.
I've been told that the driver can do the fare, collect say £10, then delete the information off the meter and book the fare down for £5 and lie about where he's been. Does the meter not store what its done all day then? I'm really hacked off now Well it all depends what system you are working. If you charge a fixed rental they obviously you've got no problem. If the drivers are paid a percentage then that's where the fun and games start. For example, they could record the fare as less than it is, or not at all if they manage to do a job on the fly, even if they are controlled by radio then if they are cruising and get a short job they could easily do it without blowing it in. I think there's also a practice among drivers in some areas to do runs for other drivers who need a taxi off-meter, simply so that they could pocket the money. Long distance work tends to be off meter, so clearly there's potential for problems there, for example while they might not be able to do an out of town job without you knowing, they could say it was 50 miles when it was really 60, or they could say they agreed such and such a price when it was really £10 more. As regards the meter, an insurmountable problem is off meter work. As regards tampering with the meter, it basically depends on whether the driver knows how to change the figures - I'm not sure if individual runs could be removed, but most keep shift totals that could be zeroed a couple of hours into the shift. But I think most meters also keep a record of the shift mileage, so you could check this against the odometer to see if it's been zeroed. And you can compare the mileage against the take (you can do this manually but most modern meters provide all sorts of stats) and if a driver has a particularly low ratio then that might indicate he's on the take. There are also other potential problems like the driver leaving the meter running, or starting it running then the punter changes their mind and jumps out, not to mention runners - in all three cases the meter is showing more than the actual takings. But it all depends on how you intend operating and how your meters work and what security features it has etc. You could think about this before you start and make put in place appropriate safeguards, but I suspect that until you've actually started you won't know enough to do this properly. But once you've started you will soond pick up the potential hazards and be able to put appropriate safeguards in place. But no system is watertight, and there will always be an element of cheating. |
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| Author: | TDO [ Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
There's also some useful information in another recent thread, if you can wade through the off-topic stuff 
http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1997 |
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| Author: | tcabbie [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
If you spend all your time worrying about drivers fiddling you out of a few bob you will never sleep at night just make sure you get a decent return for the fuel they put in. Also you can skim them on a/c work to get back any money you think they have had. Find a way to try and stop a potentiiol violin player and he will only find another way round it. You have to have TRUST. |
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| Author: | steveo [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:22 pm ] |
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surely it would be much easier and less stressful just to charge the drivers a fixed weekly rent? that way you know you have a regular income from it, the drivers will be happier cos they now have a target to meet knowing that everything they do after the target is met they keep, and they cant scam it like they can the % of fares way. |
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| Author: | Guest [ Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:48 pm ] |
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most of the drivers charge a flat rent. usally £200 a week nights £150 days. some greedy owners cahrge 50/50 but they only get the idiots driving for them. so they get the bumps and dents they deserve. 
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