Taxi Driver Online

Cabbie complains about people haggling over fares


TAXI customers in Barnstaple are increasingly haggling for the lowest possible fares as ranks become flooded with drivers desperate for trade, a furious cabbie has claimed.

Mike Dewberry, of 001 Taxis, said credit crunch-wary customers were now dictating fare prices to him, rather than the other way around.

Mr Dewberry, who has been in the trade for more than 20 years, said: "I really love this job and do my absolute best to keep my customers satisfied — but it is becoming harder to make a living.

"There are too many cars out there on the 'cream' nights. Most of the drivers out on those nights have other full-time jobs but just turn up with their cars on the busy nights and vie for everyone else's business.

"I remember when the pub kick-out time used to last for two-and-a-half hours and it was very hard work. These days, with more taxis on the ranks than ever before, you're lucky to get half-an-hour's work."

He said intense competition meant drivers were now offering "stupidly cheap fares" and pricing each other out of the market.

He said: "Customers are now dictating the fares to us which is crazy — you wouldn't go into a clothes shop and barter over the price of a shirt would you?

"The answer is simple — we need marshalled taxi ranks that operate on a first-com-first-served basis.

"Customers should queue at a barrier and take the next cab that comes along, regardless of the firm.

"I also think it should be compulsory to turn your meter on — it's the only way of creating fair price structures and, after all, isn't that what it's there for?"

Despite his fear that his income was under threat, he disagreed with demands from other cabbies for fare increases, saying they were "plain greedy", not least because North Devon was already in of the top 15 most expensive places to get a taxi in the UK.

North Devon Council's licensing committee has recommended to increase the first three-quarter mile maximum fare from £2.50 to £3.

Maximum taxi fare tariffs set by the council are up to 120% higher than the national average. The average national night rate for a 10-mile taxi fare is £23.31 but in North Devon the same journey could cost you as much as £51.25.

A two-mile daytime fare in a hackney cab in North Devon can cost up to £5.63, compared to a national average of £4.78.

Increased competition means customers rarely now pay the full rates.
North Devon Council makes no profit from licensing taxis and has rejected previous claims from cabbies that it has issued "too many" Hackney licences.

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

There is nothing to stop anyone from trying to haggle in a shop for anything, not least a shirt. If I go out to buy a few items from a clothes shop, I always try to get something added such as a tie or a couple of pairs of socks.

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Grandad,

What can you say! A mixture of allowing Blairite Market Forces to infect our industry and un-organised apathetic divers. Will we ever learn?

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Mick Hildreth (07814 032002)
GMB PDB P39 Southern Region Branch Secretary
mick.hildreth@gmbtaxis.org.uk
www.gmbpdb.org.uk

Maximum taxi fare tariffs set by the council are up to 120% higher than the national average. The average national night rate for a 10-mile taxi fare is £23.31


FFS now wonder the punter are haggling they could go for 18 miles up here for £27. a 10 mile run is £15

Wake up and smell the coffee, it is blatantly obvious you fares on the meters are killing you off, so why not ask Bryan Roland of taxi and PH monthly to sort a fare tariff for you all.

You have to remember also that the tariff is the maximum that can be charged but your free to discount it, but the meter must be on from A to B

I wonder if the cabs are gold plated in Barnstable

Clean skiddy's

What gets me is these idiots try to haggle at kicking out time on a Fri and Sat night when there is a long queue of punters. As far as I am concerned they can either pay the meter rate or they can walk.

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There's no excuse for animal abuse. If you ain't vegan you are an animal abuser.

did a 17 mile run at 1am this morning for £40+£5 tip, but i bet they had rung round first...

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

It is.

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IDFIMH

So drivers are discounting yet they want an increase.

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IDFIMH

With the size of my skiddy's, they would not throw them in free.

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Grandad,

They will moan about a £5 cab ride home when they've spent £100+ on beer.

Thank god the Tories will soon be back in power, just like the new London Mayor, eh Mr BB?

This is all about self-worth. If you don't or can't dictate you worth in the market place then how do you expect the punters to see your value?

No one dictates my worth, the meter fare, is the meter fare - end of. I might not be happy about the tariff, (dictated by the council) but I can walk away anytime I like.

However, if you are going out with the city limits then allow me to skin you alive . . . .

Would you believe, at Christmas, I was taking double fare for runs out with the City boundary? Oh and believe me the punter was glad to pay it.

Go on, ask me how you make people pay you a fortune and feel good about it?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

I know my self Worth precisely...it's Twice what I get and half as much as I'd Like...so I guess my pricing structures Bang on...