Taxi Driver Online

Right then guys what's the score on this?

My missus is a personal carer for 3 disabled people, today she took one of them to see her social worker regarding an issue with the ladies son. On the way she booked a firm which has wheelchair accessible minibuses running on Hackney plates, the fare going was £3.20 on the way back it was £5.25. When I enquired about it they said it's because it was a minibus booking, the drivers have been told to put the clock on as soon as they pull up. Are they in breach of the disability discrimination act by charging her more than an able bodied person?

If it were a booking then they should have stated the fare if they were going to charge you more than the metered fare. My understanding is that the meter can only be put on before you enter the vehicle if you (the customer) arrived later than the time agreed.

I would guess that as time is money and nobody can afford to work for nothing then the driver is thinking that he should be paid for loading and unloading, from a personal point of view I think that a driver should but it is those who do not have to do the work that usually say otherwise .

We are instructed that the meter only goes on once the vehicle is in motion as much as it goes against the grain. It may vary from one LA to another so I would ask locally.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

OK John cheers, I read somewhere that a disabled passenger cannot be charged more than an able bodied person if they did this they are in breach of the disability discrimination act, it's like telling a disabled person that they can't come into your shop because they are in a wheelchair.

My understanding of this is that you cannot charge more than you would for an able bodied person.

If the cab normally applies the meter when arriving at the pick up point and does the same irrespective of whether the passenger is wheelchair bound or able bodied, then that isn't discrimination.

If he doesn't do it when the passenger is able bodied, but does when the passenger is in a wheelchair, then that is discrimination.

CC

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

I concur with the view above.

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IDFIMH

Likewise

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

This was mentioned on another thread t'other week.
According to my Btec course,you are NOT allowed to start the meter until the passengers are loaded in.
Agree if they were late but ordinarily,it's a definate no as you are seen to be discriminating.
Regards
Steve

Discrimination is treating people differently. If you do the same thing with the able bodied as you do with the disabled, the act does not apply.

Your Btec course is wrong BTW

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

its quite simple

how long do you give ANY fare "free waiting"?

for all the clock then goes on

if the disabled dont want special treatment (which is anti-non disabled surely?) then they can pay, and I know a lot of disabled get a reasonable income to help pay for it with DLA, carer allowance, mobility, etc, etc.

(thats not to say thier life is easier, just stating a fact)

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

SEVERAL OF THIS FORUMS members are meeting with the DFT this comming wednesday ,perhaps we can ask the question!!!

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GMB PDB London Branch President
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07956-884076
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Yet more evidence of these scammers getting it wrong.

I would ask anyone going on these courses to ask the scammers where in any statute it says the meter can only go on when the punters are in?

In fact ask the scammers where in any statutes any of their ideas/rules/conditions can be found.

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IDFIMH

Its covered in this document;

Avoiding Disability Discrimination in Transport A Practical Guide for Taxi
and Private Hire Services

regards

CC

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

And I disagree with the bit re when the meter starts.

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IDFIMH

Should the meter not go on from when your hired if they flaff around getiing in the car its at their cost

When someone engages my services, I charge from then.

Simples.

Don't do free.