Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver hits out at private hire firms

An Aylesbury taxi driver says he is close to losing his house because private hire vehicles are illegally stealing his business. Liaqat Ali, of Paterson Road, drives a hackney carriage for Five Twos Taxis, which can be flagged down by the public and park on taxi ranks.

But he claims that some private hire vehicles, which can only be booked in advance, are unlawfully using the ranks and picking people up off the street, stealing trade. He said: "These people are openly asking people if they want a taxi and that is against the law. They are pinching our business. As far as people are concerned they see the plate on the back of the car and they think it's a taxi."

The difference between a hackney carriage and a private hire vehicle may seem academic, but Peter Seal, licensing officer at Aylesbury Vale District Council, warned: "Taking a journey in a private hire car without pre-booking would invalidate the insurance. This would effectively leave customers and third party drivers without financial redress in the event of an accident."

The problem of what are known as 'flyers' is particularly bad in Buckingham Street. After 6.30pm the rank moves to Kingsbury, but private hire vehicles still park outside KFC and pick people up. Other trouble spots include outside Chicagos and Aylesbury train station. Mr Ali said the situation was getting worse as more private hire vehicles gain licences, and in such a competitive market they break the rules to make money.

He added: "I'm finding it very very difficult to make ends meet due to the unlawful trading. I'm losing my house over this. It's very very serious." There are three types of 'taxi' in the area which can be recognised by the colour of their licence plate on the back of the vehicle.

* White or Red: These are hackney carriages, and have a taxi sign on the roof. White plates can ply for trade in Aylesbury, whereas red plates operate outside the town in the surrounding countryside. Both use meters with standard prices set by AVDC, and they can also be used for private hire. The number of hackney carriages in Aylesbury is limited by AVDC to 50.

* Yellow: These are private hire vehicles, must be pre-booked and are not allowed to park, drop off or pick up from ranks. There is no set rate for fares. Many private hire vehicles have a large sign on the side of the car which says they are for advanced bookings only.

AVDC has recently recruited an additional enforcement officer who patrols the streets late at night to detect and deter the flyers. Private hire vehicle drivers who are caught acting illegally face possible prosecution by the council. Repeat offenders face having their licence revoked.

Mr Seal said: "As with towns and cities throughout the country there is always an unscrupulous minority of private hire drivers who agree to take a fare without the customer pre-booking it. "The simple advice to the general public is to walk to a taxi rank or telephone for a private hire car. Do not enter a private hire vehicle without pre-booking it first."

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IDFIMH

Of course the £60,000 he must have paid for his plate has f*** all to do with it.

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IDFIMH

Sussex have you evidence that he paid £60,000 for his plate as you state he MUST have paid that much for it.

I think this bloke is just seeking someone to blame for his own shortcomings ........................... but I do have one question ................. if all the PH drivers are illegally plying for hire how long do the PH operators customers have to wait if they want to book a car and who will do the job if they are all away breaking the law?

B, Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Just a guess, but an educated one at that.

I remember reading a report last year (ish) from the LO saying plates were about £60,000 and they hadn't increased the number of the 60 plates for many years.

So I would bet you a pound to a penny that I'm right.

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IDFIMH

This bloke wants to come up here and moan ............... Aylesbury has a population of just over 160,000 and has 60 HC ..................... Gateshead has a population of jst over 190,000 and has 330+ HC.

This bloke needs to have a quiet word with himself .................

and you blokes on here have the fooking cheek to put our members situation in line with this blokes.

FFS

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Is that all!!!

360 Hacs down here with a population around 260,000

Plus around double that amount PH

So basically this guy has to compete against 59 other cabbies, wants to think himself lucky.

dont know what the population of newcastle is but i guess about 350,000 and there are 780 hacks and 1100 ph and about 150 berwicks

Oh bugger.

Got to keep your sense of humour in this game you never know what is around the corner People get their redundancy and buy a hack and think its easy money,but sometimes learn the hard truth.Too many drivers blab that they make more than what they actually do.I think one day it will be one plate one system! (mind you its my night off and i,ve had a drink

I've got to compete against 23'000 taxis.

Plus about 35'000 taxees.

Well I didn't know the number of PH in Aylesbury so didn't quote the 600+ PH we have here ......................... and for the benefit of Badger we to have Derwentside, North Tyneside and Newcastle HC as well.

And don't get me started about that.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

2001 census figures show Newcastle population at 259,536 so its worse than you thought Badger ............ but then again Newcastle is the Party capital of Europe.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Actually aylesbury has a population of 56000 with nearly 1000 PH, 50 Taxis and around 30 Rural taxis which operate as taxis in rural areas and as PH within aylesbury borders.

last count 327 hackneys in didtrict pop 127000 but 100 of those work Stamford pop 20000 !

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

"WOW another one from the archives", GA will be looking down on this one rubbing his chin thinking what he reply will be.