Exactly this. The minibus rate used by the PH companies is higher than Meter + £3.00 for carrying 8 people. Most of the HC drivers treat themselves as PH when doing work through the PH company, they don't put the meter on. Some of the work starts or ends outside of the district but not all of it.

As an aside what is the situation where the PH operator subcontracts work to a HC? In theory the booking is with the PH operator and it is to them that the passenger owes the fare, the driver is collecting that money and settling their own affairs with the operator after the fact.

I think h means that hackneys are running at private hire rates that may be higher than the meter.

Wondered if Karga's point could have been about that other unsatisfactory situation where customers charged different rates depending on whether an HC or PH sent on pre-booked job, so it's pot luck form the punter's perspective.

Obviously he's clarified that now, but his original statement could have been construed either way

It gets even more confusing with account work. PH op quotes the job, takes payment and then subs the work out to a HC. At no point in this chain is the passenger being charged by the HC driver for the work. Is there any case law on this?

Same thing happens here (Chester) PH charge fare and a half if you book a 5+ seater. Licensing have told the HC’s they have to use the meter as well and charge the lower fare, NEVER happens in practice.