Taxi Driver Online

I can see Uber losing the 'workers rights' Supreme Court case.

I can see Uber losing the VAT case when that eventually happens.

Not sure about the London ops license appeal.

However if they lost all three, then this Autocab take over is the perfect back up for them.

If they pass work to another operator then the 'workers rights' issue isn't a Uber problem anymore.

If they lose the VAT case then they can pass on work and only pay VAT on the commission, not on the whole fare.

Everyone seems to be forgetting the pie is always the same size,the slice in this trade is always getting smaller,Ubers sole intention is to have total control of the pie and reduce the ever shrinking slice to a crumb.

When will you waken up to the threat that is there.

If Uber or any operator are paid the fare before passing it to the driver surely VAT is paid on the full fare?

But the point is, surely, that it's an easy way to get a foot in the door of these local markets, then once they've built up a customer base, get an operator's licence and give the jobs directly to the cars. The cars could still actually be working for the Autocab firm.

I find it amusing
Manchester Street Cars are a 700-car firm who day on day battle with Uber. They are Autocab’s Show site where Autocab would take customers to show them how a professional firm is fighting Uber.
Uber is now Street Cars dispatch provider and holds their data.

The threat has been there for years and I doubt anyone in the trade isn't aware of the threat of Uber.

But what we have here is Uber indirectly offering to send work back to the trade, albeit the part of the trade that uses the Autocab dispatch system.

Now those Autocab operators have a choice, do they take the work from Uber or refuse that work?

If they refuse it there is no guarantee that the customer will rebook with them, they may well book with another local operator, they might flag down a hackney, or they might think f*** it and get a bus.

It's my view that any current Autocab operator who refuses Uber work, during this absolute crisis we all find ourselves in, needs sectioning.

YOUR DISPATCH PROVIDER JUST BECAME YOUR COMPETITOR
A note to the taxi industry,

As you all know, the entire private hire industry has been shaken with the news of Autocab selling to Uber. A lot of people have been contacting me asking my thoughts on the matter, so I thought I’d share…

Firstly, lets address why Uber would want to buy Autocab?
Taxi companies have beaten uber, who now cannot attract drivers. Now uber wants to contract that work to taxi companies, so they may get stronger in areas they couldn't win so they can take out taxi companies.

I'm currently still in shock after hearing the sad news that Autocab would sell to a company that has destroyed so many of its client’s businesses. Uber globally has been enemy number 1 to the taxi industry. I headed up New Business Sales for Autocab and my opening line would be “Autocab’s technology will help you fight Uber so your business can survive”. Imagine doing national road shows on how to 'combat uber', and labelling them as ‘the enemy’ to then sell out and allow this ‘enemy’ to take over Autocab? A firm that has put countless taxi operators out of business and is currently the biggest threat to the industry.

I live in Manchester, the taxi firm I use is Street Cars. Street Cars are a 700-car firm who day on day battle with Uber. They are Autocab’s Show site where I would often take customers to show them how a professional firm is fighting Uber. Street Cars today, in my opinion, would be 2,000 cars strong if it was not for Uber. Uber and Street Cars go head to head fighting to become Manchester City centres premier taxi provider. Following yesterday's announcement, Uber is now Street Cars dispatch provider and holds their data.
Year on year Autocab’s financials would be published and I would sit in a room whilst it was discussed how to spin the declining numbers. Usually blaming excessive spend on development. This year with the closing of international offices and yet again financial decline, I knew the only option they had was to sell. Autocab spent the past few years trying to sell, however, no-one wanted to buy a declining business. I know desperate times call for desperate measures but there must be some sort of sense of loyalty and care for your customers.

I’m very intrigued to see how the Autocab management team will look to frame this take over as a ‘good’ thing for their customers, please be wary. It's very difficult to see how Uber, a company hell bent on monopolising the private hire industry, will be looking out for the independent operators.

Say goodbye to your data (as Autocab once said) ...
Remember when Autocab began spreading misleading propaganda about iCabbi following the Renault deal? Apparently, the French were going to steal data and put driver-less cars on the roads... This inevitably turned out to be nothing but malicious and petulant lies to tarnish their competition. For Autocab to then sell out to public enemy number 1. It really shows the lack of respect they have for their customer base.
When the COVID-crisis happened, I was inundated with calls from Autocab customers as they had seen on LinkedIn, iCabbi offered a 3 months payment holiday during the COVID crisis.

Autocab mocked up the "500k" incentive - a complete marketing ploy in my opinion. I had calls from customers who had 30 cars on the road but were being charged for 300 licences. Now I am being told they are offering deferred payments on outstanding bills from the COVID period, with these payments having to be made in October. So just as your business begins to bounce back, Autocab customers will be hit with a deferred payment invoice.

For any Autocab customer, I believe it’s ludicrous to remain loyal to them, this business only views you as a number rather than a customer. They proved this today. Unfortunately, I never had the honour of meeting Falah Abod. I hear nothing but great things about him as he created Autocab for the purpose of helping taxi companies for good. It makes me sad to think what he would think today of the new shareholders decision to betray the core values he fought for.

There are other dispatch providers out there who will look after their customers over their profits.
There is a reason why Autocab requires you to sign a 2-3-year contract whilst their competitors work on 30 day rolling. If you are in a contract with Autocab, I implore you to get legal advice on whether yesterday's announcement releases you from that.
I think what everyone needs to ask themselves is how can someone be their competetior and their supplier at the same time? You may aswell hand them the keys to your office!
I am proud to be partnered with companies such as Riide, an app that is made by operators for operators. I will continue to work with companies in the private hire industy as we try get through this difficult time together.

I am happy to speak to anyone who needs any advice or help.
If anyone would like to speak to me further you can get me on azmat@dotted.org

Azmat Sherwani
CEO
Dotted

www.Dotted.org

(Everything stated in the above text is the opinion of Azmat Sherwani)

I find it amusing
Manchester Street Cars are a 700-car firm who day on day battle with Uber. They are Autocab’s Show site where Autocab would take customers to show them how a professional firm is fighting Uber.
Uber is now Street Cars dispatch provider and holds their data.

Now those Autocab operators have a choice, do they take the work from Uber or refuse that work?

If they refuse it there is no guarantee that the customer will rebook with them, they may well book with another local operator, they might flag down a hackney, or they might think f*** it and get a bus.

How much commission will UBER take from each and every job that they pass to the Autocab operator? If a job is £10.00 now and the Autocab operator and the driver get all of that, if that same booking is made through UBER and they taxe 20% the Operator and driver now have only £8.00 between them for the same job. Is that drop of £2.00 going to be taken from the operator or the driver?

But they could do that without spending tens of millions buying Autocab.

Uber's abuse of the cross border issue has basically allowed them to work anywhere now, so why buy Autocab just to do that?

The BBC has contacted the Competition and Markets Authority for comment.