Taxi Driver Online

dont forget, the taxman has no interest in volunteers either...

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

If the so-called volunteer is indeed charity registered, then a complaint to the Charities Commission would be an interesting way to go.

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IDFIMH

don`t they need a Section 19 permit

theres a consultation regarding that on the dft website now.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Not too sure;

http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/review-designated-bodies/

This consultation document invites views on the Department’s proposals to review the system of ‘designated bodies’, who play an important role in the community transport sector by issuing section 19 permits. The document begins by setting out some background to the designated bodies system and explains why the Department is looking to review it. It then describes the Government’s proposals for taking forward the review and poses a number of questions for consultation.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

This Link explains the ease of setting up a non profit transport service


http://www.resourcecentre.org.uk/information/setting_up/info_pdf/not4prof.pdf

To easy by far...

They can use that but then the operator (charity) will need a PSV license and the vehicles will need discs in the window.

But they still can't make a profit, and £4 for two miles is a profit.

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IDFIMH

Assistance wanted.

Ive decided to write to my local MP on the subject of Volunteer drivers, Im hacked off at them being paid 40p a mile for each and every passenger in their vehicle and still be classed as a voluntary drivers (if they carry 4 people its more than double I can charge as a business operator). If they are charging up to £1.60 a mile for four passengers then they are taking those passengers for a ride in more ways than one and its wrong.

Im also hacked off by the amount of people that they say meet their criteria which qualifies them to to use a Volunteer drivers services, it goes way beyond what I thought acceptable or even legal.

Id be grateful if you good people of TDO could help me draft a general letter of complaint to my MP to air my complaints as im not the most gifted of letter writers.

Any help will be much appreciated..Thanks


Heres the list of who they say qualifies to use their service and what kind of runs they can expect to be offered:


You can get getabout if you meet any of the following criteria....

You are an older person

You consider yourself to have a disability

You live in a rurally isolated area

You are a young person (if you are under 16 you must be accompanied by a responsible adult?

You are a parent or carer of small children who are under the age of 16

You cannot afford other transport options

You are otherwise unable to access public or private transport


You can use the Services to do anything that involves transport. for example:

Visit your

Doctor
Hospital
Dentist
Chiropodist
Optician
Family and Friends
Local organisation and services
Community centres
Physiotherapist

OR

To have a Day out
Go Shopping
Have Groups social outing
Groups Taking part in meetings

Maybe Im out of order seeing as they are a charitable group..but I intend to have my say regardless.

If they are charging per person, then it is 100% illegal, as they are only allowed to cover their costs. Having 3 folks in the car doesn't increase running costs by 3.

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IDFIMH

A few ideas.

Dear MP,

Re: Volunteer/Charity cars

I'm writing to you out of desperation, and concern, in relation to the effect the so-called Volunteer/Charity car organisations are having on my business as a licensed Private Hire driver.

Although these types of organisations are now popping up all over the country, where they stay within the law they are a valuable service to the community run by people with only good intentions. However it is becoming apparent that an increasingly large section of these firms are now encroaching, illegally, on the legitimate Taxi and Private Hire trade.

Current law allows the Volunteer/Charity cars organisations to seek payment that covers their running costs. The Inland Revenue have suggested a fee of 40p a mile will meet those running costs.

Regrettably, this is now being abused by many firms claiming to be Volunteer/Charity cars. A flat fee of £4.00p is being charged by some, or 40p per mile, per person. By having these 'fares' the firms are in fact acting as Taxi or Private Hire vehicles without the required licenses.

If these firms are allowed to grow at the rate they are, then many in the legitimate Taxi and Private Hire trades will be forced out of work. I have to ask you why I should go through all the checks and balances one is required to meet to be licensed, when anyone with an old banger can earn a living out of taxiing the vulnerable around, without any background checks on them, or any proper mechanical checks on their vehicles.

I would be very grateful if you could ask the Minister concerned why the government allow such scams, and what I'm to do when I have lost all my customers to these unchecked, unlicensed so-called community services?

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IDFIMH

well..it says on their Advertising that its a:

Membership fee of £2.50 to join the scheme. this small fee is charged yearly and contributes to the cost of delivering the scheme.

Every Passenger is charged at 40p per mile for each journey.


The way I read it is that that means 40p per client per mile and not per run...

Thanks sussex, that looks pretty much like what I need to say without being overly long...now if we could just add a bit somewhere to say that their criteria as to who all qualifies is to broad i'l be copying it and sending it off to my MP, MSP and MEP...perfect.

To me this doesn't sound like a voluntary transport service but more like one of those "transport clubs" for members only. Isn't that how the pink ladies run? I remember seeing a web site for a limo company "operating" this way a few years ago.

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Grandad,

The pink ladies were prosecuted in court last month and there operation was I believe found to be illegal.

CC