Taxi Driver Online

Star-rating Plan Concerns Cabbie

27th July 2009

A new star-rating system is to be introduced in South Tyneside to recognise good practice in the taxi trade.

Private hire firms will be checked against criteria, including dress code, the condition and cleanliness of their office, the accuracy of records and compliance with licence conditions.

If they comply with the 12 points set by South Tyneside Council's licensing section, they will be considered to be a three-star operator and able to advertise their services accordingly.

But not everyone is happy with the scheme, aimed at improving the standards of service over and above legal requirements and promoting best practice.

Keith Haraldsen, owner of Station Taxis in Mile End Road, South Shields, believes companies should only be marked on one thing – customer satisfaction.

He said: "There's some criteria involved in the 12 points which are completely irrelevant to providing a good service.

"I agree with the principle of the scheme, but I don't agree with the way it's being carried out.

"The council has missed the point – our service should be marked on customer satisfaction and not on what satisfies the council in a perfect world.

"One of the points says the driver should not wear any headgear.

"If you arrive at your chosen destination on time, with no problems, who cares if the driver is wearing something on his head if he's operating within the law? It's ridiculous."

Operators who don't achieve the 12 points could be awarded two stars if they meet eight or more of the criteria.

All other operators are given one star status providing they demonstrate they comply with all operator licence conditions.

A spokesman for South Tyneside Council said: "We have an extremely good relationship with the taxi trade, and we know that the licensed operators in the borough place great importance on the safety and quality of their services.

"This scheme aims to identify and reward operators who provide a truly exceptional service to the public, and we see this as a positive move for both operators and customers.

"Though some concerns were raised at a recent meeting between operators and licensing officers, there was a strong consensus in support of the scheme."

Source; The Shields Gazette - shieldsgazette.com

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Are you working for, or the owner of, a *** Private Hire firm?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Whatever happened to 5* service If I was visiting somewhere and was looking for a reliable company and the advert said it was a 3* provider I'd start looking for a provider with more stars. Other than that I think it's about time the company had to do tricks please the council instead of just the drivers having to do them

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Tricks ..... ?

Do you mean ..... ?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Perhaps 'tricks' was not the most sensible word to use

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

1. I dont wear a dress
2. My office is the bedroom
3. Ive some 45s and a few 78s, but no 33.33s....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

WTF has this got to do with a licensing authority?

If the firm is 'fit and proper' then that's all a council need concern themselves with.

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IDFIMH

Our LA sent round a form a few weeks back asking us to vote on having polo shirts with the borough crest on as a way of identifying licensed drivers.

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Grandad,

I personally don't think there's anything wrong with the council trying to improve the image of the taxi trade. To be quite honest 'fit & proper' in these days doesn't really mean much does it

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Nothing wrong in the theory. It is the practice where things fall down. For a start who would be paying for the polo shirts? How many would each driver require?

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Grandad,

Our company paid for ours but then they have our company name on them and I got 3 which is one more than I need To be fair though if sold at cost I can't see what the problem is if the drivers bought them. You've got to wear something and you get nothing for nowt so it's going cost whatever you wear

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Don't they issue a badge for this purpose?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Just name your Business "3 star PH"...youd be on a winner straight away..

That was the polite answer that we gave.

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Grandad,

Hmmm,it's a council so 'sold at cost' won't be a consideration.However sold by twisting drivers arms behind their backs at a healthy profit will.
Why TF would you want a council crest on your chest?It's bad enough already that punters think the cab is council owned!Doh!
Regards
Derby Ram
It's a stitch up!