Ipswich taxi businesses in pay loggerheads with MinicabitAn Ipswich councillor has been fighting to ensure taxi companies in the town have been paid by the app.
Ipswich-based taxi companies have seen hundreds of pounds in payment withheld by a comparison app.
The businesses, as well as Ipswich councillor Ruman Muhith have taken their complaints to social media against Minicabit.
The website and comparison app featured on Dragons' Den in 2014 seeking investment where founder Amer Hasan spoke about how his app compiles a list of local cabs for people to compare and book a taxi from.
However, taxi companies in Ipswich have complained that even after completing a ride booked through the app, they have not been paid the money back.
After not hearing from Minicabit for months, these companies had to escalate their complaint to Cllr Muhith, who only after constant messaging on Linkedin was able to get them paid.
Minicabit had featured on Dragons' Den in 2014.
A spokesperson for Minicabit said: "At Minicabit, we strive to deliver an outstanding service, but we recognise that sometimes things may not go as planned.
"Your satisfaction is our priority, and we are committed to addressing any concerns you may have."
The way the app works is that customers put their destination on Minicabit, at which point they will see a list of quotes from different taxi companies that can complete that ride.
The customer can then choose which taxi they want to ride with and make a payment through Minicabit.
After the ride is completed, the money is paid to the taxi companies, who then pay the driver.
However, co-founder of IP Express Cabs in Ipswich, Mamun Miah said: "We had not been paid over £500 for rides we had completed.
"Even after calling and emailing, we got no response.
"We kept trying to communicate with them and at one point even said we would leave their app, which did not go down well and has really affected our business since."
He added that eventually, they ended up seeking help from their ward councillor Ruman Muhith, who began messaging the company as well.
Cllr Muhith and IP Express then began commenting on Mr Hasan's LinkedIn posts and tagged Deborah Meaden - who on Dragons' Den had made an offer with Peter Jones for Minicabit in 2014.
However, Mrs Meaden replied to their comment, stating: "Hi, just to let you know the deal did not proceed and we have not and have never had any business interest or investment in Minicabit."
Mr Miah claims that within an hour of Mrs Meaden's response, Minicabit had sent the money to IP Express.
He added: "We have to stay on the app because it gives us business, but we also need to be paid by Minicabit, otherwise we end up paying the drivers out of pocket."
Since then, another local cab operator Royal Rides has approached Cllr Muhith as well.
Their owner Mohammed Anwar Miah claims that over the past three months, they have been owned £750.
He said: "It is quite unfair that they don't pay us on time, for our services."
Cllr Muhith said that Minicabit's service was "unacceptable" and they should be treating local businesses in a better manner.
He said: “It is unacceptable that only after public outcry and the intervention of notable figures did Minicabit finally settle payments owed to IP Express Cabs, a taxi operator based in my ward, Priory Heath in Ipswich.
"It is deeply concerning to see a large company, which should be setting an example, failing to pay hard-working, local businesses for completed services."
Cllr Muhith has since had other operators complain about Minicabit as well.
He added that he is currently attempting to get Royal Rides paid as well.
"As a councillor, I will not stand by while large corporations treat Ipswich’s businesses and residents in this manner," he added.
"I am calling on Minicabit to take immediate action to clear all outstanding debts and demonstrate integrity in their business practices moving forward. This community deserves better.”
source:
https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24680850.ipswich-taxi-businesses-pay-loggerheads-minicabit/
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