Taxi Driver Online

Suspect many members of the public will think this means that they'll be able to pay by card in all PHVs as well, but looks like it only applies to HCs.

Slightly odd that it looks like it will only apply after renewals, though, but I'm guessing the council needs to inspect and pass the equipment.

And wondered why the photo caption here referred to three people...then I noticed


Chelmsford taxis must offer card payments to be licenced in the city as new legislation passed

https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-n ... rd-6906494

The council said it hopes it can make the streets safer


Chelmsford taxi driver Kalimdad with licencing officers Daniel Winter and Nigel Dermott receiving his licence and sticker confirming his taxi is set up to take card payments (Image: Chelmsford City Council/Essex Live)

All taxis in Chelmsford must now offer card payments to be licenced on the roads, the council has confirmed. From now on, taxi drivers in Chelmsford need to offer passengers the option of a card payment in a bid to make the streets safer.

Chelmsford City Council made the announcement this week after working with taxi drivers to improve their services to people in the city in getting to and from their homes. The council said electronic payments were an "essential step" to making the service better.

The new requirement comes into effect from this month, and will apply to all taxis bidding to renew their licence, of which there are approximately 200 in the city of Chelmsford. All taxis will have a sticker on them to confirm they can take card as well as cash payments.

A spokesman for Chelmsford City Council said: "For anyone needing a cab, finding they have no cash to get home can be a distressing experience. A safe taxi service is key to Chelmsford Council’s commitment to making the streets safer, and the licensing team has been working with taxi drivers to continuously improve the great local service they provide. Taking electronic payment is an essential step in reducing risk for people out and about, especially at night.

"The licensing team at Chelmsford Council issues some 200 hackney carriage licences, which must be renewed annually. As part of the routine, to maintain a high standard drivers must complete a full day of training followed by an exam as well as a geographical knowledge test. This year, starting from April, the licensing team introduced a mandatory requirement for drivers to have the facilities to take electronic payments."

Nigel Dermott, licencing lead officer for the council, said: "Licensing is integral to public safety and contributes to keeping our city and the community safe. For the night-time economy and business to flourish, people need a reliable, safe taxi service, and that was the reason for the added licence condition. This move is a vital step in protecting vulnerable members of our society. We will take a hard line if we establish non-compliance."

Taxi driver Kalimdad, who received his sticker after setting up his card payments, said: "I’m proud to show that I’ve passed all the requirements to be able to hold a licence from Chelmsford Council. I think the ability to pay their fare electronically will be a great benefit for my customers."

Same is happening down here next month, but I also couldn't work out why it doesn't apply to PHVs.

Maybe part of the reason for adopting the policy just for hackneys is to stop the refusal abuse.

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IDFIMH

We’ve asked our council to make it a condition of our licenses. They will discuss it at the next licensing committee meeting, as well as a proposed fare increase. It’s ‘legalised’ cherry picking at the moment. “Can I pay by card?” “Where are you going?” “Not far” “ sorry, cash only!”

Very probably the usual argument, which is (I think) that the market and competition doesn't work in the public hire market, while it does as regards pre-booked work.

So it's just like fare regulation, really - public hire needs to have fare caps to stop price-gouging etc, while as regards private hire it's a more competitive market, so people can make their own mind up. Uber and price surging being an obvious example.

So making card readers compulsory stops the sort of scenarios outlined by X-ray, while people phoning for a car or using an app can make their own mind up and choose an appropriate provider - if they don't want to use a cash-only firm then they can phone another one.

By the way, I should really change that thread title, which is a bit clunky, but probably no point now. It makes sense in terms of strict logic, but the words 'option compulsory' together sounds contradictory and isn't exactly an object lesson in clarity