Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers may go to court over lost £80,000

JANE BRADLEY


TAXI drivers in the Capital are threatening legal action to claim back lost earnings over the Christmas period.

Black cab drivers are thought to have lost out on more than £80,000 over two days, when a microchip designed to adjust the meter for a seasonal increase was incorrectly set.

Fares on Christmas Day and Boxing Day are 50 per cent higher than usual and taxi meters are re-chipped at a cost of £35 per vehicle to take the increase into account.

The company responsible, the John Paton Group, rectified the problem in time for New Year by reprogramming meters for the 800-strong fleet in a supermarket car park, but drivers say they still want their money back.

Keith Bell, chairman of taxi drivers’ group Cabforce, said drivers would consider legal action if Paton’s did not respond to compensation demands.

"We have sent a request for compensation for money lost on Christmas Day and Boxing Day," he said. "I am expecting Paton’s to turn around and say no. I think they will claim it is not their fault because the meter makers, Cygnus, sent the wrong programme.

"But my contract was with Paton’s - I paid them £35 and they programmed my meter incorrectly. If I claim from Paton’s successfully, then they need to pursue a claim against Cygnus."

He said drivers’ total loss of earnings would be around £80,000.

He said: "We’re not out to screw Paton’s for every last penny. We’re only asking for £135 each - £50 per day, although we estimate it’s probably more like £80 each driver has lost, and £35 for the re-chipping because they did it wrong.

"We just want remuneration for the majority of what we lost. Failing that, the only recourse is to take them to the small claims court."

Jimmy Muldoon, chairman of the Scottish Taxi Federation, and director of City Cabs, said: "We are in discussion with Paton’s at the moment.

"I spoke to them on the telephone about compensation at the time and was hoping to have had a response by now, but we have had nothing, so I wrote to them on behalf of the Scottish Taxi Federation a couple of days ago. The guys who were working lost a part of their income.

"It worked at New Year because they re-chipped the meters, but that didn’t help those drivers who worked over Christmas.

"Paton’s will have to come up with some sort of compensation package.

"The drivers have not asked for anything they weren’t entitled to - most people in other jobs get extra time when they work over Christmas and the increased fares are just normal.

"Paton’s are culpable and will have to deal with it."

Taxi driver Robert Paget, 42, of3 Leith, said he lost more than £100 over the two-day Christmas period.

"I am personally putting a claim in for compensation because I am owed it," said Mr Paget, who works for Central Taxis.

"They’ve taken my money and given me a meter that didn’t charge the right amount, so they should compensate me.

"A lot of drivers are considering taking legal action against Paton’s if they say no."

No-one from the John Paton Group was available for comment.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

follow up to the Edinburgh fares story

couldnt find the original

regards

Captain cab

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I think the lads have a point.

They had an agreement with Patons to set their meters to the council's set rates. Come Xmas and Boxing day that contract was broken.

Good luck to them.

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IDFIMH

possibly true sussex

but the chances are Patons will blame cygnus (even though they would have had a sheet with all the dates on where the tariff will charge more)

hehe

makes for an interesting few weeks though dont it!

Captain cab

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

lol I wonder how many will claim even though they never worked?


Captain cab

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Well if they weren't calendar controlled they wouldn't have that problem would they???

wouldnt it be easier if they just added 50% on to the fare shown on the meter and charged the customers that, they could have had a sign in the cab stating that fact

I would be amazed if they didn't do that, but they still want to get some money out of Patons.

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IDFIMH

We find in London that putting a sign in the cab only causes arguments with the customers.

Also in London we do not charge 50% more over Christmas of New Year we get £3.00 extra on top of teh metered fare, and that causes enough arguments on its own.

Contrary to somes beliefs we are not the dearest Taxis in the Country.

Patons apparently came out as soon as they were made aware of the error and changed the tariffs, I understand they had one complaint at the time.

Apparently one driver claimed he had lost £800, hope the inland revenue is taking notes

funny how all the rest came out of the woodwork



Captain cab

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

John Patons own Cygnus

http://www.cygnus-automotive.com/page2.html