Taxi Driver Online
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/

PH Guide dog saga
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16274		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  captain cab [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:58 am ]
Post subject:  PH Guide dog saga
Court: Guide dog fine hit for Peterborough Private Hire firm


ANOTHER city Private Hire firm has been punished after overcharging a blind woman for bringing her guide dog into the cab.

Private hire firm Towncars will have to fork out a total of £565 after charging grandmother Yvonne Saint-John an extra £1 for bringing her guide dog Quaid (2) into the private hire car.

This was on top of her £8 agreed fare from Peterborough city centre to her home in Glinton on September 23.

It came after Miss Saint-John had been overcharged by another private hire firm, Eagle Cars, on three separate occasions in August and September last year.

Miss Saint-John said she hopes the two cases will raise awareness in the city’s private hire industry about how they treat the disabled.

She said: “I just want the state of play to be the same for everybody.

“It’s not just these two firms, I have called several private hire firms in the city asking for a car, only to hear the price increases markedly when I tell them I will be bringing my guide dog.

“In some cases it’s small, but one firm quoted me £8 without the dog, and £12.80 with the dog.

“I won’t be using the firms that overcharged me again.

“However, with Towncars I have to say that the driver did not want to charge me the extra pound, that order came from the office.”

Towncars proprietor Shakeel Rehman did not attend Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday but was found guilty in his absence for failing to comply with a duty to carry a guide dog and was fined £200.

He was also fined £100 for failing to keep records correctly as per the licence agreement with Peterborough City Council, after a council investigation found that comprehensive details of Miss Saint-John’s request were not taken down.

He was also ordered to pay £250 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Cllr Peter Hiller, the city council’s cabinet member for housing, neighbourhoods and planning, said it is important the city’s licensed providers adhere to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which protects disabled passengers from having to pay extra fees to bring guide dogs in taxis.

He said: “This is the second similar case in a week and again sends a strong message that the city council takes complaints made against private hire companies seriously.

“These equality acts are there to ensure that every single person is entitled to the same standard of service and, in this case, at the same price, regardless of their personal circumstances.

“It is also important that private hire companies keep appropriate records such as the name of the customer, quoted prices, pick up address and destination.”

Eagle Cars were brought before Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 22, and fined £435 for unfairly overcharging Miss Saint-John and ordered to pay £450 costs and a £15 surcharge.

Caroline Weston, Guide Dogs’ senior public affairs officer, said: “Guide dogs provide freedom and independence to thousands of blind and partially sighted people every year.

“But that independence is taken away when they are denied access to public facilities like taxis.”

Towncars were not available to comment.

source: http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/
Author:  bloodnock [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:04 am ]
Post subject: 
I cant help feeling this lady went fishing with the intent that she was going to catch something..........She did!!
Author:  gusmac [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 2:40 am ]
Post subject: 
bloodnock wrote:
I cant help feeling this lady went fishing with the intent that she was going to catch something..........She did!!


Perhaps she was fed up listening to her friends stories of being ripped off.
Whatever the reason, these firms should have known better.
Author:  toots [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 2:51 am ]
Post subject: 
Some drivers are just plain thick tho. We have the option to charge extra if we take animals (usually dogs or cats) in our vehicles with the exception of guide/hearing dogs
Author:  grandad [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 5:13 am ]
Post subject: 
I am slightly confused here, I thought that private hire cars could charge their own prices provided that they are agreed beforhand. Is this now not the case? For instance if a wheelchair user rings up a private hire company and does not mention the wheelchair and is given a price of say £5.00 but then rings again and asks for a quote stating that they are a wheelchair user and they are quoted £18.00 for the same journey, Have the company done anything wrong?
Author:  toots [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 5:33 am ]
Post subject: 
grandad wrote:
I am slightly confused here, I thought that private hire cars could charge their own prices provided that they are agreed beforhand. Is this now not the case? For instance if a wheelchair user rings up a private hire company and does not mention the wheelchair and is given a price of say £5.00 but then rings again and asks for a quote stating that they are a wheelchair user and they are quoted £18.00 for the same journey, Have the company done anything wrong?


I don't know how independants work but we work by the mile or part thereof and having a wheelchair or a guide/hearing dog doesn't make a difference to the cost
Author:  bloodnock [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:34 am ]
Post subject: 
As a PH If Im asked to Quote I price I'll stick to that price unless the run changes in Distance or Waiting time, I would never Charge Extra for a Wheelchair or a Guide dog..indeed ive never charged extra for any dog...
Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:06 am ]
Post subject: 
bloodnock wrote:
I cant help feeling this lady went fishing with the intent that she was going to catch something..........She did!!

I like professional anglers like this!!
Author:  Sussex [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:37 am ]
Post subject: 
grandad wrote:
I am slightly confused here, I thought that private hire cars could charge their own prices provided that they are agreed beforhand. Is this now not the case? For instance if a wheelchair user rings up a private hire company and does not mention the wheelchair and is given a price of say £5.00 but then rings again and asks for a quote stating that they are a wheelchair user and they are quoted £18.00 for the same journey, Have the company done anything wrong?

The price must be the same for all.

The mere fact that a customer just happens to have a guide dog is irrelevant in relation to the actual fare.

Same with PH WAVs, the cost of the fare with a WAV punter must be the same as if an able bodied punter got in.
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
bloodnock wrote:
I cant help feeling this lady went fishing with the intent that she was going to catch something..........She did!!




shes been researching


Quote:
She said: “I just want the state of play to be the same for everybody.

“It’s not just these two firms, I have called several private hire firms in the city asking for a car, only to hear the price increases markedly when I tell them I will be bringing my guide dog.

“In some cases it’s small, but one firm quoted me £8 without the dog, and £12.80 with the dog.
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
She said: “I just want the state of play to be the same for everybody


excuse me, not EVERYONE can take a dog in a PH/HC can they, only "guide" dogs are allowed (by law anyway) so whats she upto?
Author:  Sussex [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
wannabeeahack wrote:
Quote:
She said: “I just want the state of play to be the same for everybody


excuse me, not EVERYONE can take a dog in a PH/HC can they, only "guide" dogs are allowed (by law anyway) so whats she upto?

Drivers can opt not to take non guide dogs, if that's what you mean.
Author:  bloodnock [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
If you happened to be bloody minded You could avoid taking the Guide dog as well...just be busy next time she phones!! :?
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:42 am ]
Post subject: 
bloodnock wrote:
If you happened to be bloody minded You could avoid taking the Guide dog as well...just be busy next time she phones!! :?


ive a towball, it can jog behind
Author:  cabby john [ Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
I wonder as to how she will get a taxi/P.H now!!!!!!!!!!!!
Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/