Taxi Driver Online

Major Doncaster taxi firm brings in big change in how it charges at night

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/bu ... ht-2000786

Hundreds of Doncaster taxi drivers are insisting on payment before they set off on night time journeys under a new plan.


Image: Doncaster Free Press

Absolute Cabs, which operates 177 cars from four Doncaster offices, introduced the measure as a security for drivers and passengers, expecting it to reduce disputes. They say it follows a spate of incidents nationally such as alleged assaults.

It started last night.

Director Jaan Saqlain said: “As of Wednesday the 26th February, 2020, Absolute Cabs has changed its pricing policy affecting all bookings after 6pm, requiring all late night customers to pay for their journey before the driver commences in a measure to better safeguard customers and drivers.


Image: Doncaster Free Press

“The new policy is effective 6pm to 6am and will run for a trial period of six months. Fares will be fixed, so there is no discrepancy on mileage. Payment for journeys will need to be made prior to start of the journey.

“This will prevent those unwilling to pay from running.

“These measures are to safeguard drivers and customers.

“Customers have responded well to the change and are welcoming the news. We are the first taxi company to operate this safeguarding measure. Drivers can use their discretion at their own risk, allowing customers to pay at destination.”

It aims to reduce complaints by 90 per cent. Drivers are being trained on the new system.

Additions to fares due to waiting times or route changes will need to be applied for by the driver.

The firm has already brought in other security measures.

Drivers are licenced by Doncaster Council.

That's maybe the tricky bit. These things look good on paper, but I suspect in a way payment up front may make it *more* difficult to add to the fare for detours and sitting half-an-hour outside takeaways etc.

Anyway, as per usual I doubt if the HCs ranking in Doncaster are cock-a-hoop at a photo of them being used to illustrate this article

I am always getting asked to Quote journeys and yes once they are in the car can they have this detour and that oh but I was quoted X

We had one last saturday asked for a price from a theatre in Peterborough back to Great Casterton

we gave her a price of £26.00 ( would meter about £30) on the night she phoned up asking if we could do the vehicle straight away I told her he was on his way but would be there at booked time she was not happy then she wanted driver to do a second drop to the other side of town an extra 3 miles and expected that to be ALL IN at £26 the driver said no I want an extra £5 she begrudgingly paid it but was going to complain to me the council her MP and trading standards

she said there might be an extra drop and i told her it would be extra but she conveniently forgot that

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

Well done to the firm.

But why don't they say the upfront cost is merely a deposit, and the final fare will be the one shown on the meter.

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IDFIMH