Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver explains why some cabbies are "cherry picking" and overcharging in Liverpool

A Liverpool cabbie has given his view on why issues of “cherry picking” and over-charging are damaging the city industry. This weekend the ECHO reported on more claims of Liverpool fans being either ignored by taxi drivers or quoted huge fares after matches at Anfield. One city cabbie has got in touch to offer his explanation for the practices he says are giving the industry a bad name.

The 52-year-old driver, who asked not to be named, has been running his own cab in the city for three years and said that like the majority of drivers he is an honest and hard-working member of the trade. He said he believes that some drivers are carrying out illegal behaviours because changes to government legislation has allowed large numbers of private hire cars to work in the city and take up custom. But he said that is no excuse for ripping people off.

The driver told the ECHO: “Its a massive issue in the city and it’s embarrassing. “I put this down to the apathy of some taxi drivers in Liverpool. “A lot of these guys are middle aged men who used to earn a lot more money years ago than they do now.” He said the government’s Deregulation Act, which allows private hire vehicles to operate across the whole country, has potentially lowered cabbies’ earnings by up to 25%.

He added: “These guys are either leaving the industry or they are starting to over-charging and cherry picking. “Its totally illegal but they have many more problems than they used to have - with other taxis and private hires coming in to the city all the time. “But under no circumstances can you condone any of the things they are doing.”

Responding to claims that some drivers are quoting Liverpool fans as much as £40 to get from Anfield to the city centre , the driver agreed that such things do take place and are out of order. He said: “I took someone from Anfield to Lime Street the other day and they paid £5.50 - when we do it properly we are cheaper than private hires.”

Looking to the future, he added: “Hopefully, once we are able to get rid of all this mess and end the cherry picking and overcharging then the public will be able to make an informed choice.

_________________
IDFIMH

They've cherry-picking long before Uber and cross border hiring. You still can't get a cab to take you through the tunnel to the Wirral. There was even an unofficial pick up point outside the tunnel police station on the Liverpool side which the local drivers and police used to turn a blind eye to cars/cabs picking up a fare to take them back "over the water"! The police only put a stop to it because of the queues of people waiting there. It still goes on but it's moved to the rear of Saint George's hall.