Taxi Driver Online

Royal Cars and Boro Taxis drivers could ask for payment upfront following increase in fare jumpers

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/tees ... k-15138209

Some drivers are losing about £200 a month on non-payers


Cleveland Police is putting its weight behind a new initiative launched on Monday September 10, where passengers have to pay in advance for their journey. L-R: Marouf Hussain, Michael Robbins (Royal Cars driver) Shaun Castle, ACC Jason Harwin (Image: UGC TNE)

A woman who ordered a taxi from Leeds-Bradford airport refused to pay the £55 fare, falsely claiming she had pre-paid.

Concerned for her safety, the driver brought the woman back to Teesside, leaving him out of pocket.

This is just one of the shocking incidents taxi drivers are having to deal with around Teesside.

A new voluntary initiative launched this week will encourage passengers to pay in advance for their journeys, after it was revealed that drivers are often losing £30-55 each week in non-payment.

Over 400 instances have been reported to police in the 12 months to June 2018, though officers believe the actual figure could be even higher.

Welcoming the new scheme, Royal Cars’ recruitment manager Shaun Castle confirmed non-payment is a major issue across the industry, usually occurring on weekends and involving drunken or abusive passengers.

He told Teesside Live about some of the shocking incidents their drivers have encountered recently.

These included a man who got a taxi from Leeds Festival and legged it as soon as the cab reached Teesside, and a couple who had been at a wedding at Barnard Castle.

When they were dropped at home they brazenly went inside without paying and didn’t come back out.

“It happens so often now,” he said.

“The amount of times people get dropped off at a supermarket and then just run from there - they normally do it nowhere near their house.”

There has already been a lot of interest in the scheme which is in partnership with local authority taxi licensing department and cab companies, with backing from Cleveland Police.

axi operators taking part will receive stickers and posters for their vehicles and premises, so customers will know they need to pay upfront before travelling.

Cleveland Police’s assistant chief constable Jason Harwin said: “I would encourage any taxi firms or drivers who haven’t signed up yet to do so.

“We’ve been working with our partners across the Cleveland Police area and identified that taxi drivers are often victims of crime - including assault, racial abuse and making off without payment.

He added: “Taxi drivers from across our area have been encouraged to take payment up front and there will be information inside their vehicles to highlight Cleveland Police fully supports this.

“If you don’t want to pay up front, don’t be surprised if your journey doesn’t start.”

Taxi operators who want to take part in the scheme can obtain a sticker from their Local Authority Taxi Licensing Team.

Christine Bell, director of Boro Taxis said pre-payment would be an option which would be at the discretion of the driver.

She said: “We welcome this initiative which will help ensure drivers receive payment for the taxi rides they carry out.

“We hope that this initiative will put an end to these crimes and I’m sure that law abiding customers will understand the reason why this initiative has been launched.”

Some drivers are losing about £200 a month on non-payers

so what has stopped them asking for money up front before then if it is that bad

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Well that's often an awkward one though, isn't it, especially if it's a shorter journey, and perhaps gets the punter in a strop, kicking off, or worse.

Suspect the thinking is that if the scheme becomes more publicised and has official backing then MUF will become more normalised, and thus less likely to cause grief.

And another angle on the initiative emphasises that info inside the vehicles will state that Cleveland Police support the thing, which should help drivers as regards asking for MUF.

Also training for police officers, which presumably relates to taking action against non-payers. Of course, often this kind of thing is more PR than reality.

Getting the police to understand that non payment (in most cases) is a criminal offence is something that every local trade should aim for.

A few prosecutions also helps no-end.

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IDFIMH

but are there any police forces in the country who don't view this as "minor" and therefore a waste of resources

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I had one a couple of weeks ago. I reported it online which at least brought a police response and confirmed it was recorded as a crime. However, the 'lack of resources' plea was there excuse for not taking it further.

According to the officer who phoned me, filling stations and taxis are the most common victims of 'making off without payment.' That's good to know!!!