New taxi campaign aiming to cut fare dodgers by making people pay upfront for cab ride
CAMPAIGN: Mandy Fry with Weyline Taxi employees outside their office in Queen Street
TAXI passengers in Weymouth and Portland are being asked to play fair in a new scheme to deter fare dodgers.
People running off from cabs without paying is prompting firms to ask for payment upfront.
In a campaign billed Play Fair, Pay Your Fare, customers will be asked to pay at the beginning of their journey.
It came about following meetings with representatives of private hire firms, Hackney Carriage drivers, and licensing officials.
Weyline is taking the lead after managing director Ian Ferguson arranged for promotional material. He has given some to Fleetline and Bee Cars where pre-payment is also being supported.
Weyline manager Mandy Fry said there had been a surge in the problem of ‘bilking’ or ‘runners’.
She said: “Posters have been produced so people know what we’re doing. We don’t want to offend customers and at the end of the day it will be left to drivers’ discretion whether to ask for pre-payment.
“This is a problem and we need to do something. Pre-payment is new to this area but not to the industry.”
Mandy said calculations will be done at the beginning of the journey estimating the fare. Adjustments will be at the end of the journey.
Borough council community safety spokesman Geoff Petherick said: “Bilking is becoming a much bigger problem than we thought. The campaign has the council’s support.”
A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “Making off without paying a fare is a criminal offence and victims are advised to report incidents straight away.”
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