Taxi Driver Online

Taxi chiefs are warning of a "turf war" after accusing private hire rivals of muscling their way on to their patch. Drivers of black cabs claim dozens of private hires are illegally picking up fares in the city centre, under the noses of hackneys parked at ranks.

Now Glasgow Taxis, which has about 1000 members on its books, fears tension could erupt and says several fights have already occurred in the past two months. They want the police to step in before the situation escalates.

Under local legislation, private hire cars are banned from picking up in the city centre, unless pre-booked. But the taxi trade says the cars, often from out of town and unlicensed, are gathering at Central Station, outside the Pavilion Theatre and on Sauchiehall Street.

Glasgow Taxis chief Bill McIntosh warned passengers may not be covered by insurance if they travel in a private hire which is breaching regulations.
But he said it was the threat to their livelihoods which could push his drivers over the edge, adding: "It's like they're taunting us. There have been some incidents between our drivers and these guys which I fear now could blow up unless something is done.

"This activity is illegal and the buck stops with the police. "My big fear is that if the police don't do something, some drivers will." One driver, who asked not to be named, said: "It's as if the police want these private hire guys in the city centre because they help clear the place."

Kenny McLeod, of the Glasgow Private Hire Association, said he was aware there was an issue but insisted: "You might see or hear of incidents but I'm not sure this is anything other than angry road users. "Many of our drivers do pick up in the city but only when phoned to do so and the phone logs show this."

Superintendent Stewart Miller said although the police were aware of friction between both sets of drivers, he had not heard of any escalation.
He said: "Where we find a driver contravening the terms of his or her licence we'll take the appropriate action against them."

He added: "Taxi drivers should not take matters into their own hands."
A council spokesman said: "Taxi firms with concerns on issues such as illegal picking-up should talk to licensing officials."

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IDFIMH

They would have to prove that, we have it here but will find they are pre booked, but we wouldn't know that until we looked at the PH office booking list.

How many Hacks phone contact No. have the public got programed into their mobile phones, if any, but the public regulars know the PH telephone numbers off by heart, and they think the Hacks will be busy,

I do believe this is a mobile phone problem, lets face it everyones got one, its so easy, when I want one and I'm a Hack I ring PH, people think there cheaper

PH I have heard who get pick up bookings from night clubs here, are being turned away from the club area, even on the highway, and moved on by Rank Marshalls employed by the night club

Maybe if the Glasgow Hackneys changed their attitude there wouldn't be a problem.

I have witnessed the way they pick and choose who they are picking up.

I have witnessed first hand the way the vastly over inflate prices - no wonder folk go with the PH!

As was said - it has to be proven - I know for one, every hire I take from Glasgow City Centre is off my screen - I just say a name off my Auriga screen and if the customer accepts thats him/her - who am I to argue - or have I to ask for ID too!

Which brings me to this question, if I have a job on my screen - I go to the location and shout the name, and someone reponds to that name saying "yes thats me mate - Dumbarton yes" - only for a Hackney to see this and be unhappy as he was just approached for a quote by this person - can anything be done to me - are they insured??

Also, correct me if I'm wrong here but, was it not Glasgow City Council who rejected the Hackneys application for a fare increase until they actually moved their saggy ar5es and actually did some work to try and clear the city centre every weekend - this is a big problem witnessed by the Police and Council officials themselves?

And to be honest, and this may upset one or two, I have actually been approached by a Police officer on a few occasions - and basicly told to take someone as they were at risk - I responded saying this was illeagal and I already had a hire to pick up - the officer reponded saying it's not illeagal if I was requested to do so by a Police officer.

I suppose you have to look at this from a broader angle - Glasgow City Centre is a very volitile place on a Fri/Sat night - of course the Police want the streets to be cleared asap - and if the Hackneys either can't cope or want to pick and choose - what is the solution?

When I was driving PH in similar situations, I simply regarded it as an exceptional two hours. A time when market forces prevailed, guided by common sense.

I found that it was pretty easy to work out who was also of the same mind amongst everybody involved, whether they were other PH drivers or HC drivers, the police, the customers or indeed the base staff. It was just a huge and loosely co-ordinated effort to get the job done.

After the mayhem subsided it was back to the real world with real world rules and regulations.

One way streets, the wrong way, seemed to upset the police a bit though, as I recall.

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The higher the fewer.

You know as well as i do that what your saying about "shouting a name" is basically flagging.

You know you should be shouting "anyone xyz cars"? when someone shouts "me" you check their name with the one on your screen or blow in and say "no sign of abc, but i.ve got def, ok to take them?
That way you clear and it's a boked fareso yur legal.

You know as well as i do that what your saying about "shouting a name" is basically flagging.

You know you should be shouting "anyone xyz cars"? when someone shouts "me" you check their name with the one on your screen or blow in and say "no sign of abc, but i.ve got def, ok to take them?
That way your in the clear and it's a booked fare so your legal.

same post soz

Nothing can be done to you because as far as you know the customer you was sent for is in the back of your motor. The customer was most probably asking the taxi if he could do the job cheaper.

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IDFIMH

To be honest Geoff - roughly 85% of the work in the City is for our company - so shouting our company would be insignificant.

And, crap as it is I would need to wait 15 - 20 mins to talk to a controller on a busy Fri/Sat night - due to the amount of cars on our system etc

Think of it this way, your drunk, it's raining, there are folk fighting all around you - and I pull up and shout my companies name - of course to get away from the area you will say "Yes thats mine" even if I shouted "Bin Laden" as the name!

Although Glasgow isn't that big a city - by christ it's very very busy at the weekends - and even our company with over 800 cars struggle severley.

So I think I can agree with Sussex here - as far as I'm concerned if I say a name and they take it - I'm happy - even if the Hack isn't!

But surely if you take the wrong fare you are affecting other drivers?

For example, you grab any fare you can, and the 'correct' driver appears later and wastes time looking for the fare.

Scrupulous drivers should ask the passenger for the name - if they can't provide it then it's the wrong fare?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

And what do you think happened to my hire?

Like Friday night there - job quoted at £81 gone - but as it happens so often I don't cry about it - as long as the wheels are turning I'm happy

I get your point Charlie - we're all victims of this kind of thing, so to that extent we feel that we have to be the perpetrator as well just to keep up.

And of course the punters are as much to blame as well, for example phoning for a cab but hailing one or jumping into anything that turns up.

But that's symptomatic of society in general, and unless something is done it's a constant cycle of even more cheating and others copying to keep up, until the whole thing descends into chaos.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I agree mate.

But I myself can't see it ending - punters just want to get home - and will do so by any means - drivers are out to make £££ - and again most will do so by any means

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The views and comments of Charlie are virtual only - as this is t'internet boys and girls!

No running to the bosses - nobody likes a grass!

couldnt have put it better myself charlie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On numerous occasions i have picked up punters on the street with one hand in the air( i have a public hire taxi) and the mobile is clamped to thier ear while getting in, you cant help overhearing them booking a private hire "yeah mate, im standing at the corner down from the nightclub, names smith" its crazy!!! Im certainly not going to throw them out, very few phone back to cancel either!