Taxi Driver Online

So this is from the 'Mercury Memories' section of the Rutland and Stamford Mercury


Delve into the past of Stamford, Rutland, Bourne and The Deepings with Mercury Memories

https://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/ ... e-9205649/

25 years ago

Taxi drivers have refused to follow new district council guidelines on fare setting. A proposal to allow Hackney Carriage companies the right to set their own fares was passed by one vote at a meeting of the South Kesteven District Council hackney carriage and private hire licensing sub-committee.

South Kesteven Taxi Drivers’ Association, understood to represent two thirds of the hackney drivers in the region, had consistently warned that deregulation would not be in the best interests of the public or companies because of an inevitable price war.

In response to SKDC’s decision the association chose instead to use an existing default rate – a uniform maximum fare table set by taxi drivers and endorsed by the council.

Association chairman John Gilbert-Jupp said: “Every operator we represent has voted not to set their own table of fares, but accept the default or uniform rate to avoid the risk of customer confusion or unscrupulous operators ripping off customers.”

And?

The council just ignored any objections as it always does and went ahead

In Grotsville the drivers working the station put the start rate up a little but elsewhere the drivers all stuck to the default rate

About 10 years in a couple of drivers from stamford tried doing a £3.00 minimum fare and went bust in a month even though they were cheaper over 2 miles all customers see is the flagfall which was pointed out by all the other drivers

the association didn't last long as no one would contribute any money and each companies drivers wanted policies to suit them not the overall trade

I campaigned for better rank facilities but we didn't get them where we or the punters wanted them after which I decided I was doing all the work for everyone elses benefit and packed it in

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

It makes no sense for hackney operators to set their own fares.

You need a council to take the flack for setting the rates, despite the fact they often follow the trade's recommendations. There or there abouts.

Having a rank full of taxis all charging different rates is madness, and will only lead to bottom of the barrel drivers and vehicles.

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IDFIMH

but that is the point EVERYONE well certainly in Stamford is on the default rate

the biggest problem is the council insistence that mileage starts to tick up after the flag not have some included in it

The other day my first 2 jobs came to the grand total of £3.90 and no tips

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

Then someone needs to tell the councillors what a basket case council they are.

If I was in your manor the first thing I would do is educate councillors.

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IDFIMH

So what do you mean by the 'default rate', precisely?

I was assuming that 25 years ago the default rate meant the existing council tariff card when the council deregulated.

But what does 'default rate' mean now?

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Grandad,

so within SKDC you can either deposit your own tariff card with the council and your meter has to be set to that and checked OR the council has a "default" tariff which you can use which at the moment is £1.70 flag and then £1.80 a mile

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

The link that I posted above for South Kesteven states that the running mile rate is £2.00 per mile and not £1.80

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Grandad,

no we are on £1.80 as is the rest of Stamford we have not been told of any increase

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

So you can set your meters to below *or* above the SKDC tariff, as long as the figures are lodged with the council and the meters calibrated accordingly?

You should have a word with them then, their website was updated in March 2021.

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Grandad,

YES

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

we have had vehicles tested since that date as part of the test the meter has to be checked against the metered mile. The garage has not mentioned our meters being set wrong

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