Taxi Driver Online

Do you prefer taxi fares on meter or mileage in Tunbridge Wells?

A taxi user has warned others to watch their fares after she took a cab which was not fitted with a meter giving the price of the journey. Sarah Fenton of Sussex Close asked the driver where the meter was in the vehicle and was told “we just look at the mileage”.

The 49-year-old paid £5 for the approximately five minutes journey on Monday afternoon from Sainsbury’s. She was concerned at not being able to see the price clearly on a meter. But the borough council said this week it was always best to check the fares before the journey starts.

Property consultant Mrs Fenton told the Courier: “How is the customer to know what the rate is, nothing is advertised? Unless I am going to climb into the passenger seat or over him to see where the mileage started and stopped. This method of charging is not transparent and if a meter is not installed then the passenger’s attention should be drawn to it when they get in the cab. It struck me as highly unusual - it’s the first time I have not seen a meter in a cab.”

Mrs Fenton had ordered her cab from Sainsbury’s to home in advance from town-based private hire firm Walkers Cars, Walker’s Cars said most of its taxis did not have meters and that fares often turned out to be cheaper than metered fares because it only charged on mileage.

“You know with a meter you can see the meter click over and you are stuck in traffic lights? That’s charging time and motion. With our method of charging for mileage you only get the distance travelled, the wheel turns if you like, we don’t charge for being sat in traffic,” said Michelle Blythe of Walker’s Cars, who said the drivers then checked mileage against a chart.

She said the firm was always happy to give drivers an approximate fare over the phone when clients booked. “If a customer queries a fare or the driver is not sure, they always ring the office to double check,” she said.

A Tunbridge Wells Borough Council spokesman said: “Similar to authorities across the country, in Tunbridge Wells borough there are hackney carriages — like the taxis at the station — and private hire vehicles. Both are licensed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. “There are differences between the two; hackney carriages can be hailed from the street, they must have a meter and the maximum fare they can charge is set by the council.

Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked through a licensed operator, they don’t have to have a meter and the council has no power to set their fares. It is always worth agreeing a fare when booking or before travelling in a private hire vehicle. Walkers Cars mentioned offer private hire vehicles.”

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