The absolute naivety of the local trade is interesting.
Uber launches in Thanet - but cabbies say most passengers ‘don’t like apps’Uber has launched in another Kent district today - but cabbies are hopeful their loyal customers, many of whom are pensioners, will stick with them.
The multinational company has promised greater options for Thanet residents with its new service, which requires people to book journeys on an app.
Some experienced taxi drivers are concerned about whether Uber drivers will be subject to the same regulations as they are.
However, they are not overly worried about losing custom to the ride-hailing service, which has been granted an operator licence by Thanet District Council.
Kevin Meadows, who has worked for Central Cars for 12 years, told KentOnline: “I'd say 50-60% of my passengers are retirement age.
“They don't even like doing online banking so they're certainly not going to know how to book a cab on an app.
“They don't even know what an app does.”
Currently, a hackney carriage or private hire wanting to work in Thanet must pass a local knowledge test costing £130.
Mr Meadows had concerns over whether Uber drivers coming out of the area would need to complete this exam too.
He said: “It's relatively stringent and it requires the drivers to know their way around.
“You might think these days, with mapping apps, it's not as relevant.
“However, the council still demands that you've got to do that knowledge test.
“The concern is if drivers are coming across from another area, what licensing rules are they subject to?”
Mr Meadows says that if the authority does not subject Uber workers to the exam, it would be unfair against existing cabbies.
But the authority has now confirmed it has been required to complete the same licensing procedure as any private hire operator, including the knowledge test.
The 57-year-old added: “I'm led to believe that they wanted to grant a licence because they've heard a lot of the customer base are unhappy about how long they have to wait for cabs.
“If you speak to most drivers, they'll tell you the opposite.
“I never have a problem because I proactively move around for the work, but some drivers will complain of 10- to 15-minute waits in between fares, which is lost time.
There are ways of making the work proactive to earn a good living.
“It's just at certain times of the day, the demand outstrips supply.”
The current system in Thanet, as in most areas, is that drivers pay a weekly circuit fee to firms.
In return, the company takes all the calls, dishes out work to whoever is closest, and deals with complaints or enquiries.
The motorists on their books take home 100% of fares and can pick their own hours, but are responsible for all of their petrol, insurance and car maintenance costs.
Mr Meadows says he needs to make £300 to £350 a week just to break even but can sometimes make up to £700, including accounting for that lost chunk of cash.
With Uber, drivers are also responsible for paying for their own vehicle but do not pay a circuit fee.
Instead, the company takes a commission from every journey. This is usually 25%. However, there have been claims in the past of the company taking higher fees once it has an established fleet in an area.
Uber reports that drivers earn more than £30 per hour across the UK.
Jamie Burley also works for Central Cars and, like Mr Meadows, thinks the competition could be good.
“It keeps standards high,” he said.
“A monopoly isn’t good for anyone, because then they've got them running roughshod over everything.”
The pair are not overly concerned about the company getting a foothold in Thanet.
They say fares in the district are “some of the lowest in the country” at £4.60 for a local trip and do not believe Uber will be able to beat them on prices.
The drivers are also “fairly confident” that existing drivers at the three major firms in the district - Central Cars, Thanet Cars and United - will stay loyal.
Mr Burley, 52, said: “If all of a sudden you just open the floodgates and there's 2,000 new drivers here, there's not enough work for everyone. It doesn’t work.”
Mr Meadows added: “If they convert the drivers already here, that's not so much of a concern, because it's still the same amount of licences.
“I do think that it's a city-based model that will only really work effectively in not just cities but big cities.”
Uber is promising support to the local economy and better transportation for residents.
A spokesman said: “Uber is excited to be launching in Thanet.
“This will provide earning opportunities for local drivers, give passengers greater transport options and support the local economy.
“All drivers will have access to industry-leading worker rights such as holiday pay and a pension, as well as formal representation through GMB Union, whilst passengers can access a range of industry-leading safety features to ensure a safe trip home.”
Following strikes from workers in 2021, the Supreme Court determined Uber drivers are not self-employed, but are workers entitled to workers’ rights including holiday pay, a guaranteed minimum wage and an entitlement to breaks.
A TDC spokeswoman added: “Uber has applied for and been granted an Operators’ Licence for the Thanet area.
“The licence was issued on Wednesday 10 July 2024 and is valid for five years. We issue private hire operators a licence to operate based on compliance with current legislation.
“The company has been required to complete the same licensing procedure as any private hire operator.
“All Private Hire or Hackney Carriage licence holders are required to pass the knowledge test when they first apply for a licence.
“The test includes multiple choice questions on driver policy and conditions, disability and equality awareness and safeguarding, local area knowledge, a basic numeracy assessment and highway code signs.
“Successful completion of the test, in addition to a DBS check, helps to ensure passenger safety and satisfaction.
“Drivers do not have to live in Thanet to apply for a Private Hire Driver’s Licence in the district.
“Once they and their vehicle are licensed with the council, drivers can work for any operator that has also been licensed by the council. We do not hold information on which operator a driver intends to work for.”
You can already catch an Uber in Medway, Dartford, Gravesend and some surrounding areas.
It is also available in the Canterbury district and Maidstone, however when booking it shows just one driver in each patch.
When the lift service announced plans to encroach on Medway, there was significant backlash from local taxi firms.
This mostly stemmed from Uber using their Transport for London (TfL) licence by categorising the district as part of ‘Greater London’.
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FAQ
, that makes it sound like there's no circuit fee, which is compared to Uber's 25% commission, which is obviously rot.