Taxi Driver Online

If I have somebody who wants to book my taxi in my district to take them on a long journey to another district, can I before accepting the booking, ask for a fee that would exceed what the meter fare would be?

Obviously if its a 60 mile journey, I have to travel 60miles to get back to my district, which in turn is a cost to me.

so you dont have dead mileage on a friday or saturday night when your going back in to town to get the next punter?? surely a 60 mile return trip after a 60 mile fare is better than sitting on the rank reading the news paper?

Some councils have progressive meters, where the meters automatically changes after 5/6 miles to the higher rate.

This would solve your problem, although I'm not really sure it's within the law. Mainly because in effect those councils are setting fares outside of their district.

I still believe that you can quote what you like outside of your manor, but it's not a view shared by many.

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IDFIMH

I think however before we sort out the good jobs, we need to address issues like this concerning the not so good jobs.

http://www.hertsad.co.uk/content/herts/ ... 3A19%3A450

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IDFIMH

He should know the rules if he's parked on a Rank. However, there is always two sides to every story, we have heard one we need to hear the other.

Best wishes

JD

I think there's case law that states that LAs can't control taxi fares to outside their district.

Thus you can effectively charge anything you like, but I think the general proviso is that unregulated fares must be agreed in advance.

The taxi newsletter highlighted by JD in another context covers this scenario, although I don't think it's the most crystal clear exposition I've read

http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/environ/Tax ... Feb_04.pdf

For Hackney carriages the rules regarding fares booked under a private hire arrangement have to comply with the current fare structure that is laid down by the council. That means hirings that start and finish within the prescribed distance can only be charged at meter fare. Hirings which finish outside the prescribed distance can be negotiated and must be agreed before the journey commences.

If a passenger is not told before they commence the journey that the charge will be different than what is on the meter then the passenger only has to pay the meter fare. It is imcumbent on the driver of the vehicle to inform the passenger there will be an extra charge of X amount if the journey finishes outside the prescribed area.

Private hire vehicles who have a meter installed would normally have to have it checked by the local council, in order to make sure the meter is calibrated correctly. A copy of the fare structure would also be retained by the council. I don't know if private hire companies charge extra for out of the area I suspect most do not. In fact I have never heard of such a practice but that doesn't mean to say it doesn't happen.

Quoting a price for a long journey does not breach any laws that regulate either trade.

Best wishes

JD

thank you for that John,

no you cannot charge what you want outside the area, it has to be aggreed b4 the journey commences, its in the book

pity so many do not read it!