Taxi Driver Online

I read that the new Chief Executive of the OFT is to be John Fingleton, who is currently the head honcho at Ireland's Competition Authority.

The interesting thing about Mr Fingleton is that when he was an academic at Trinity College Dublin he co-authored a paper on Dublin's taxi trade that was critical of restricted numbers and thus influential in the derestriction of the Irish trade (see link below). Thus I suspect that Mr Fingleton has a better insight into the taxi industry than John Vickers had when the OFT published its report, since the latter would have been acting more as an overseer rather than being intimately involved in the market study.

The Dublin paper also suggested the establishment of an independent trade regulator, and clearly this did happen in Ireland, and the Office of National Taxi Regulator is beginning to bare its teeth.

Of course, the OFT's taxi study is in the past, thus Mr Fingleton's presence won't change anything in that regard, but when the OFT revisits the issue of restricted numbers in three year's time it seems doubtful that his presence will provide any succour to supporters of restricted numbers.

As I've said in the past, I think the OFT's failure to mention the possibility of an independent regulator was due to political reasons (ie lack of legislative time meant that the current system could only be tinkered with rather than radically overhauled), but Mr Fingleton's presence at the OFT could augur well in this regard in the future.

But, of course, those who think that an independent regulator would be the saviour for restricted numbers because he would know more about the trade and be more sympathetic to it than councillors are likely to be disappointed, particularly if Mr Fingleton's track record is anything to go by and he had anything to do with its implementation as OFT chief.

http://www.taxi.ie/tcdrep.shtml

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

so this is the idiot that has ruined the lives of drivers in Dublin, dont worry your new "hero" wont be pulling the same trick twice.

No the judge in Ireland stated that the euro law doesn't allow restrictions, Mr New OFT just pointed out how flawed quotas are.

I look forward to his actions over here, and if he is already p***ing the likes of you off, then that's good enough for me.

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IDFIMH

not at all mate, we all know about the OFT. and as for you well if you want to drive a hackney, why dont you just go and buy one, instead of spouting off daily.

I will buy one thank you, or put down a deposit of about £20. But I will give that money to the council, not pay up to £50,000 for something, off someone, who got it for nothing.

Still you go on supporting the queue jumpers. I mean how gives a f*** about the true workers on the waiting lists.

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IDFIMH

As usual the problem with your type of analysis Mr 187ums is that your try to make out as if you're referring to the whole taxi trade, when of course all you are really worried about is plate holders.

For example, and as I keep on pointing out, in Liverpool most drivers don't have a plate, and the only 'benefit' to them of restricted numbers is to be paying an inflated rental to plate holders.

After all, after the Dublin delimitation John Fingleton said "many cosy [jockey] drivers are better off as they no longer pay rent on a taxi plate".

So do you dispute this?

Why not be more up front about this - no one necessarily expects people who cleary benefit from restricted numbers not to defend them, but let's face it, it's not 'the trade' so much you are worried about as yourself?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

More words of wisdom from Dr John Fingleton:

Calling this deregulation is misleading. Regulatory reform is a better description, because only one element, entry, is liberalised, while fare controls are maintained and quality standards improved.

Controls on fares protect passengers from exploitation. Enforcement of quality standards and fare controls is essential if the benefits of new entry and competition are to be delivered in full.

Scare stories abound regarding disastrous deregulation abroad, where controls on fares and quality standards were abandoned. On the contrary, unrestricted entry works well in the London market where regulation focuses on fares and quality standards.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

An interesting point.

Now less than 30% of the UK's cab trade is restricted, and in most areas there are about 3 drivers licensed for each cab (save London).

So when Mr 187ums say the trade, what he means is about 10% of them. And one wonders how many of those 10% actually drive their vehicles.

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IDFIMH

Well guys if you ever care to read the whole of my postings, you will know that I drive a black cab in a restricted area. I have had to pay for the honour. I go out thier and work, i know what impact extra cars will have on me and my ilk.

I do not have any drivers working for me, i agree that some drivers are not as lucky as I am and have to drive some body elses.

Where I am, the PH do not eat into our work, its a different market, even PH drivers now cry that they have too many cars and the only real winners are the PH owners who keep taking all and sundry.

I discovered this site by accident, and I tell you what I love debating here with you guys.

The only trouble with your fraternity is that you think what works in your area will work thorughout the country.

Well done to Rotheram by the way!!!!

So is your main concern to protect your plate premium that you paid to queue jump your fellow drivers, or to keep restrictions so your fellow workers can never be owners and just keep feeding folks like you?

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IDFIMH

Well I can assure you the feeling is mutual.

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IDFIMH

its called a free market sussex, i have taken a risk, and yes i want to protect my investment the best i can.

if the folks on the list wanted it so badly, they can pay the market price, like i said i have taken a ris, i reckon i can make my money back in a year to 18 months, then make some profit.

After that wait for the OFT to come around..........

I have just come across this debate and feel a point is missing, that is when a Council de-limits and opens the flood gates do they take into account the customer base, are their enough customers out there.

Mentioned was Dublin, i picked up a Dublin taxi driver the other day and he was telling me about the problems the it has created over there, before dereg he was working an 8 - 9 hour day five days a week, now he has to work a 12 hour day seven days a week to earn less than before dereg. He has lost his investment which he worked and saved hard for, and what he was hoping his pension when he retired, this is a common story amongst most of the Dublin drivers, so who are the winners and who are the losers, apparently the waiting time for customers is not that much better.

In Cardiff over the years the PH fleet has increased from approx 200 to over 900, (not to mention the 480 HC) sadly the customer base hasn't kept up with it. When they de-limit some will come over to HC, plus those who come back into the trade just to get a plate because they will think it will be valuable, the trade believe that it will balance out over the years, the problem is how many drivers will be bankrupt or broke before this happens. As mentioned before there are winners and losers, i hope i am not one of the losers.

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Stay Safe Stay Lucky

I doubt he mentioned that no-one could ever get a cab in Dublin before dereg.

Also the difference between Dublin's dereg, and your de-limit, is that in Dublin they got rid of everything, standards and all.

I doubt Cardiff are going to allow any vehicle and any driver to be licensed, no matter what state they are in.

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IDFIMH

to true Sussex but they are changing the criteria to make it easier for a driver to have a HC, so time will only tell, hopfully we will all survive.

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Stay Safe Stay Lucky