Taxi Driver Online

Woman wins Millom taxi firm tribunal



A 19-YEAR-OLD woman has won an employment tribunal against a taxi company she works for after it slashed her wages.

Pete’s Taxi’s in Millom was told to pay Katie Fretter £1,013 in owed wages after she complained the company had reduced her hourly pay and docked her wages, without telling her.

She was awarded the cash at an employment tribunal against taxi boss Peter James Dickinson.

She says she has worked for the company since December and is employed to accompany disabled customers in specialist taxies to appointments in Whitehaven.

Miss Fretter, who is currently still employed by the taxi firm, said: “It all started when I noticed that they had knocked my hourly rate down without my job description changing, also they took money off my wages without my consent.

“I have worked it out and they docked my wages by about a pound an hour from £5.75 per hour to £4.77 per hour (minimum wage).”

Pete’s Taxis stated in a response to the claim, before the hearing: “When the employee started work for ourselves she was advised that she would be paid a wage which would be that of the National Minimum as all other employees within the company are paid.

“She was also provided with a personal information sheet requesting that this was completed and returned but to date we have still not received this information and therefore this is how the overpayment has accumulated.

“Having found out the correct details of the employee’s age her wage was re-calculated and the overpayment taken over a three month period so no hardship was caused.

“The employee was advised of the overpayment in writing with a letter dated 25/03/2009 advising that if there was any problems to come and speak to us at anytime.

“The employee did not dispute the letter before her next wage so the first payment was taken.”

Pete’s Taxis faced employment judge J R Nicol on the grounds of failing to provide a written statement of terms and conditions for Miss Fretter’s job, and an unauthorised deduction made from wages.

The judgement reads: “The claimant’s complaint that she did not receive all of the wages to which she was entitled from the respondent is well founded.

“The actions which formed the basis of the grievance began before April 5 2009, and continued after that date and these proceedings were commenced before July 4 2009.

“The tribunal orders the respondent to pay the claimant in respect of the claimant’s complaint that she did not receive all of the wages to which she was entitled from the respondent, the sum of £708.16 and the additional sum of £305.44.”

Secretary of employment tribunals Shelley Fittes said: “The law protects workers from having unauthorised deductions made from their wages, including complete non-payments.

“To be lawful, any deduction must either be required or authorised by legislation, for example income tax or NI contributions, or be permitted by the worker’s contract or prior written consent.”

Following the hearing, administration clerk for Pete’s Taxis, Tina Swithenbank, said: “We are glad it is all over and done with.

“We realise it was an error on our behalf and we have made steps to rectify that.”

Miss Fretter is currently off on long-term sick. Ms Swithenbank says the company has yet to receive a sick note.

She said: “I am still trying to work out what to do next. If I come off the sick and go back to work for them, I would want to work with someone who has nothing to do with the case.

“The case is definitely a weight off my shoulders.

“It was causing a lot of stress. I am just glad it is all over now.”

Miss Fretter, who lives in Newton Terrace, Millom, is set to receive the money from the Festival Road company, which employs eight people, in the coming months.

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

Running a taxi company isn't just about providing a service to customers, like all other companies you really need to know what you can and can't do with employees. Strange how this particular employee is now on long term sick or am I being too suspicious

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

It's called stress.
Interesting that the company will only pay the minimum wage.

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Grandad,

I'm not condoning what the company did, but obviously she failed to tell them her age when she got the job.

CC

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

100% company error. The company had not done due diligence when interviewing her. If they had made her fill in a standard employers form including her date of birth, they would know it at the start of her contract [What contract?] clearly stating her terms and conditions. If she deliberately lied about her age on the form they would have had her over the proverbial barrel, because she would have signed the form.

She is in a difficult position now due to the fact that she still works there. There must be a lot of stress and tension involved behind the scenes and I suspect she will eventually move on to other things.

Whenever you go for a normal job you fill in an application form which may ask your age, they did not do this. They seem to be a mickey mouse taxi company.
The only reason they wanted to know her age was to pay her the lowest possible pay for her age they could get away with.
They were quite happy to pay her the 21+ minumum wage until they found out she was only 19. Then they tried to change her ADD HOC contract without her consent.

True, but bearing in mind half of Millom is possibly inbred I'm surprised the company didnt know

CC

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

Your ruthless man