Taxi Driver Online

'Greedy' taxi driver suspended for quoting double fares without meter

https://news.stv.tv/west-central/greedy ... hout-meter

A Glasgow taxi driver has been accused of “greed” after quoting people double the price for fares without the meter.

Complaints were made to the council’s taxi and private hire enforcement unit about Arsalan Khan trying to charge too much in the city.

One passenger said they were asked to pay £25 for a journey which is normally £13 maximum, which was described as a “rip-off.”

Khan faced another complaint over his “outrageous behaviour” as he quoted a price of £25 with the meter turned off. The customer disagreed with the charge.

Another was told by Khan that a £12 trip would be £35 and could only be paid in cash.

Appearing before this week’s licensing and regulatory committee, Khan said his card machine had not been working.

He said he was new to being a taxi driver and pointed out it was really “busy” at the time of the incidents.

Khan told the committee he got his taxi “recently” and was a “new driver” and was unsure of regulations.

The meeting heard that Khan received three complaints previously, which brings the total amount to six. He previously worked as a private hire driver, it is understood.

Committee chair Alex Wilson said: “You are here again. You don’t learn your lesson.

“You doubled the price on every single job complained about here.

“That is just greed. You can’t con your passengers out of money.”

Councillor Wilson added: “These people want to go home and get home at the right price.”

Councillor Kevin Lalley said this type of behaviour gives taxi drivers a “bad name.”

The committee suspended Khan’s licence.

Taxis in the city are required to charge metered fares.

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IDFIMH

How long was he suspended for?

If it's for a specified period (as per other recent cases) it's effectively a punishment and slapped wrist.

But here they do the suspension 'for remaining period of licence' thing, which I think means they don't want the badgeholder back, and it's effectively a revocation.

Anyway, this is presumably the same guy when he got his PHD badge a year ago. Well, maybe his driving has improved, but now he's moved to HCs and to overcharging

(In fact although this is specified as a grant, I'd guess from the article in the round it was more specifically a renewal, so he's had a badge for a few years now...)


Glasgow taxi driver promises to be 'very careful' after getting nine points

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glas ... y-30422633

The taxi driver was given a warning by a Glasgow licensing committee

A taxi driver has promised to be "very careful" while on the job after stacking up nine penalty points.

Arsalan Khan appeared in front of Glasgow's licensing and regulatory committee yesterday and was given a warning over his future conduct as councillors granted his licence.

Reasons for him ending up with points on his licence, included failing to obey traffic lights, contravening a pedestrian crossing and exceeding the speed limit.

Committee chair Alex Wilson told Mr Khan: "You seem to be going through the list of driving contraventions. All that seems to be missing is a mobile phone while driving."

Councillor Wilson asked: "How will you manage over the next two years to keep your licence?" with Mr Khan just needing to accumulate another three points to face being disqualified.

Mr Khan replied: "I am very sorry. I will try to be very careful."

Councillor Wilson added: "You have to adhere to traffic regulations at all times.

"You are walking a fine line for the next two years."

The committee granted Mr Khan's licence but it will be for a restricted period until October 2026. He received a warning over his future conduct.

Kind of proves the truism that past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour. No loss to the trade.



^ This is the aspect that annoys me. Yes, we like making money but do it fair and square, or we all look shady.

Taxi driver suspended after overchanging passengers refused new licence

https://news.stv.tv/west-central/glasgo ... ew-licence

A Glasgow taxi driver who was suspended after overcharging passengers has been refused a new licence.

Arsalan Khan has lost his bid to renew his taxi driver’s licence for another three years due to his conduct.

He told the city’s licensing committee that he had been suspended after giving the “wrong price”. But insisted he had learned his lesson and requested another opportunity.

At a licensing committee last year, councillors were told complaints had been made to the taxi and private hire enforcement unit about Mr Khan trying to charge too much.

One passenger had said they were asked to pay £25 for a journey which normally cost around £13. Another complainer said he had been quoted £25 with the meter turned off.

On Wednesday, Cllr Alex Wilson, SNP, who chairs the committee, said: “We have suspended your licence because of what happened.

“You gave a passenger the wrong price, or you didn’t put it through your meter. Why should we give you a new licence based on the fact that you tried to defraud a member of the public?

Mr Khan said: “It was my mistake and I take full responsibility. I’m asking the committee to give me an opportunity to show I have genuinely learned my lesson.

“I will always comply with the licence conditions.”

Cllr Wilson, backed by Cllr Sean Ferguson, SNP, moved to refuse the application while Cllr Leòdhas Massie, Your Party, seconded by Cllr Eunis Jassemi, Labour, put forward an amendment to grant for one year, with a severe warning.

With three votes for each proposal, the casting vote went to the committee chairman, Cllr Wilson, and the application was rejected.

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IDFIMH

It seems there was a party split on his decision .Your party backing his application to renew his badge.
Probably pray at the same venue.

Saw this via a Taxi Point piece - seems that Unite have a 'compliance and safety team' out on the ranks. Not sure if that sounds like a good idea - reminds me of that incident here in St Andrews a couple of years ago when a couple of self-appointed members of the local trade were demanding to see drivers' badges on the ranks, which led to an on-street row, and accusations of racism, and counter accusations of anti-semitism

Anyway, my grammar compliance team would have a word with Unite about misuse of the ampersand & other stuff

And Unite also claims - which is the main point of the Taxi Point piece (pun not intended) - that Unite had a role in getting the driver revoked, effectively

If it was up to me a driver wouldn't be revoked for one instance of overcharging. Particularly in view of some of the PHD applicants in particular that Glasgow City Council keen to see through the door and into one of the capped PHVs. Ironically


‘TRADE MUST MAINTAIN REPUTATION’: Unite Glasgow Cab Section backs step up in taxi overcharging enforcement against rogue cabbies

https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/trade ... ging-enfor