Taxi Driver Online

Hi all, I'd be interested on hearing opinions on this.

We run a three car company in a small town that's dominated by two large companies. One company are great, they actually call the small companies to cover work when they get too busy, and they're seen as a really nice company. The other aren't. They're bullies, use underhand tactics, but get away with it because they're the biggest in town so the council are fearful of upsetting them(!)

Tonight an issue arose that led me to make some inquiries. I was parked number 1 on rank, three of this company's cars got passengers in and went even though they were behind me. Now, local rules do state that we are to operate a strict order basis, there isn't a get out clause unless you have a vehicle that's not available in front (for example a 7 seater). I called the company, and their response was "we can't help it if customers want to choose our company". Well, this company actually have a bad rep in the area for poor vehicles, bad drivers, but they have an easy to remember number and are known as being "big". The liklihood of some drunks "choosing" them is laughable. I said "Even though it's against the rules, shouldn't your drivers at least show courtesy by informing the drivers in front?" to which I was met with a click and them hanging up.

I called the "nice" company, and they told me that for their drivers it's frequent, and that every time they call they get fobbed off with the "choosing our company" line as well. The council have been informed on numerous occasions about this, and have "advised" the company of the rules several times, but it's still an ongoing issue. So what next?

I'm not exactly disheartened by the way. When I did get a job, it was a long distance that was three times the fare of the usual jobs from that location anyway, but my point is that this company are using bullying tactics against smaller operators. Can anything be done, or is licencing as far as it goes?

Believe it or not, you may have first off the rank rule, but a punter can take any cab off any rank they wish, its there prerogative.
The only way it will change is if its brought into the national licensing laws, don't ask me why its not there already, perhaps CC could enlighten us all as to why its not in the act already, we all pay our licence fees.

The reality is that, yes the customer can choose which car they want to use. there may be many reasons why a customer wants to use a particular car or company. However if the drivers of the cars behind you are asking potential customers to use their car and not another this may be different.

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Grandad,

The drivers are doing this because they have got away with it for so long.

Have you spoke to the drivers or are they as equally scummy as the firm they work for?

It would be interesting to see what's in your bylaws, cos they might be being breached.

However it boils down to the fact that in some areas drivers doing what is happening in your area would be given a smack in the gob.

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IDFIMH

Or two.

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

I shop at Tesco

ASDA have never forced me to go there (yet)


whats the difference?


punters choose, not drivers

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

So in wannabeahacksville, a driver could be sat on the front of a rank all day without doing a single job because anarchy in the uk is the rule?

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Former taxi driver

It can happen. There are some customers who will insist on only going with certain drivers for some very good reasons and as far as I am aware there is nothing to stop them from doing this.
However i have seen ranks where only the front car can leave the rank such as at terminal 1 at heathrow.

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Grandad,

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

Ever wonder why it's a trade and not a profession?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

never - that's why I get paid the big bucks

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

and in Jimboland customers have no say who they travel with then?

where are you, communist China?

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

maybe the driver who gets avoided has personal issues? like BO?

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

And maybe the guy who picks up from the back is just a [edited by admin] who doesn't give a [edited by admin] and gets his [edited by admin] kicked in for his trouble?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Typical borrocks talk, ive been on a rank shared by just 2 local firms, punters wont get in a car from a firm the dont want to travel with, and fck whoever dont like it, fight? ok, ill handle that, im 6ft tall and able to hit you back

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