Taxi Driver Online

What's the score,
Taxi drivers have been told in York by the LO that you can't ask for cash up front [cash on the dash] all hirings have to be done on the meter, paid at the end of journey, note. most hirings done on meter, but we do get iffy passenges

In a real world yes, but in this world sometimes you have to ask for it up front, but the council don't know what a potential runner is, we didn't think people did this [run]

One Hack driver in York has been hauled up to the council for doing just so and given a warning to which he refused, he told them in future any future runners ,the bill will be presented to the council for them to pay up.

If you say give us 20 quid up front [out of area job] to the passenger to go out of town, the council are saying you then can't stick your meter on then ask them for a bit more to what the meter says, if you quote that it, thats the price, even if you wasn't sure what the end price would be.

In Goole [Humberside] it is well known that every man and his dog pays up front even for the smallest local fare

one of the rank lads had a 45 quid runner last Saturday

It's well known you pay up front on every other form of public transport

In the same breath York City council are asking me to stump up 60 quid UP FRONT for taxi test, new plate on new vehicle before they will even test me, ruddie hell and they know my address and we have dealt with each other for years

instead of asking for a £20 upfront payment, you must say that it is a deposit with the balance payable (or repaided) at the end of the journey. all the passengers i say this to have never had a problem with it and they understand the reason.

I think if you have any doubt as to whether you are going to get paid or not, then don't take them.

As for the council, ask them where in their conditions/bylaws it states that drivers can't ask for payment in advance.

Or better still, write to the Chief Exec, and ask him.

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IDFIMH

I have had customers remove their footwear gold chains etc as deposit if they have not had the money to pay up front. Have spoke to council about it before and they don't mind then again I am PH maybe its different for rank work.

Sussex, I just wonder how you would back that up mate. Are you going to sit on a rank and refuse to take 4 18 stone blokes who are [edited by admin] out of the heads and tell them that its because you don't think they will pay you, remember a lot of the lads will not have radios to call for help on and will rely upon their fellow drivers for back up.

Also the same scenario could be used to question the OFT's recomendation to negotiate fares, some people may think thats an opportunity to get into your car and tell you what the price is before you set off, and refuse to leave the car should you not accept their offer.

The practice of asking for some cash up front shows a comitment to pay and has for years been effective as a deterant to "runners". The possibility of getting something at the end of the journey is better than getting nothing, as long as you got something at the beginning.

For someone involved in the trade you don't seem to know much about how it actually works.

I think the name of the game is to keep an eye out for your prospective customers. If I was at the front of the rank and four [edited by admin] lumps approached my car, then my car would suddenly get a radio job, even if I wasn't on a circuit.

Of course if they are in the motor, then it's too late. Then you could say it's company policy that out of town work is paid up front, and your boss will sack you if he finds out that the job wasn't.

If that fails, then you will just have to grin and bear it, and hope that the job consists of 3 or 4 pick-ups, thus leaving you with just one [edited by admin] lump at the end.

The odds are then with the driver.

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IDFIMH

I don't think anyone in the trade supports the negotiation of local fares at a rank, even though negotiating longer fares is common place.

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IDFIMH

Thankfully I'm a quick learner.

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IDFIMH

I don't negotiate fares, I have a meter in the car which has a comparitively low tariff on it, if the customer doesn't want to pay the metered fare then they can try and find a car that is prepared to negotiate even lower. The office I work from has a long job list for same day deliveries for 65p per mile, I'm not on that list either.

If the fare is going out of town,then fare up front is the norm.
If the customer takes umbrage with this,then go to the other cab.
Bit of tact with the customer,for instance I am only a driver(even if owner) and my boss has told me fare up front.
No problemo.

Which is why all councils should de-limit, then everyone would have the same choice as you.

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IDFIMH

I have no problem telling people i dont want to get into my car.
Its the namby pamby types that give in to them in the first palvce that make it bad for the rest of us.
But usually when its busy they are your best mate, because they want to get home. Especailoly if its pouring down.
Many times i have driven into a rank had a look at the mushes at the front and if i didnt like them drive staright back out.

So you don't mind telling them you don't want them in your car..... but if you don't like the look of them you drive straight passed ......... pity help anyone waiting behind these people or the bloke driving onto the rank behing you.

And we wonder why we are in such a [edited by admin] state.

No if they have any sense then they should drive past as well.
If all drivers blanked the [edited by admin], then the [edited by admin] would have to behave or walk.
Your way they never learn.

there the ones phone the council on monday morning complaining that theres not enough cabs!