Taxi Driver Online

FIFTY private hire taxi drivers were unwittingly plying their trade on the streets of Sheffield without correct insurance - after paying for a policy which turned out to be invalid.
Detectives from South Yorkshire Police have launched an investigation into the situation, assisted by Sheffield Council.

The drivers involved, who leased their own vehicles, worked for companies including leading private hire firm City Taxis, which said it immediately stopped offering jobs to them as soon as the problem was discovered - until the cabbies took out new policies.

The Star understands the situation only came to light when police stopped a taxi in Rotherham for a routine check and found the insurance was invalid.

Subsequent checks found other drivers who had arranged insurance through the same provider were not covered.

A source said: "It could have had very serious consequences for the drivers concerned because driving without insurance is a strict liability offence and they could have been held liable even though it was not their fault that the insurance was not valid.

"The drivers involved did not realise there was a problem. They had taken out insurance with the provider because they were being charged around £40 a week, rather than £85 a week which they normally pay."

He added that it was not known how long the drivers had been working without valid insurance.

Bob Turnbull, of City Taxis, said: "We found out when we received a phone call from the council and we cancelled the drivers' jobs straight away. About 18 of our drivers were affected. We did not allow them to work until they arranged valid insurance."

Hafeas Rehman, chairman of Sheffield Taxi Trade Association, which represents black cab drivers, said "a couple" of Hackney carriages were affected by the problem as well as the private hire drivers.

He said: "It's very worrying - if the driver has a serious accident and then it is discovered the insurance is invalid he could face serious consequences."

Sheffield Council said it did not wish to comment due to the police investigation.

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "Detectives are liaising with the Taxi Licensing Department at the council and are conducting an investigation that is likely to be protracted."

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Police-pr ... 6358107.jp

I wonder if this just affects that area or could it be nationwide??? they should have published the insurance company name

Sounds like a Broker was back pocketing the money and not passing it on to the Insurance Company.

The ANPR in the Police car will flag up if a vehicle is un-insured within seconds.

The broker's in question are called Grabbitt and Scarper.

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Former taxi driver

I believe their claims department were operated by Manchester solicitors "Norfolk and Chance."

Nothing to do with Grabbitt and Scarper; it was their sister company, Grabbitt, Scarper, Emigrate & Vanish Inc.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Sounds like it might have been a local broker offering weekly payment terms or maybe just put them all on a different type of insurance which wouldn't cover you for PH work I seem to recall that there used to be 3 types of insurance for taxi work but one only covered you for doing contract work maybe thats what this broker has done

would that be because they hadnt spotted it?

either thay had valid insurance (public or private hire) or they didnt, who issued the plates?,,,,




£85 a week? i only pay that per month, with 2 years NCB...

mugs

That would have made a bit of sense.

FFS tell us the name of the firm so we can check if our insurance is pukka or not.

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IDFIMH

If you're truely concerned just ring the leading PH firm City Taxis and ask them

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

Toot your not just a pretty face i think i might just do that

Well that was a waste of time, the answer i got was" we are only telephonists we do not know anything about insurance"

The same can't be said of you eh!

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Grandad,

Well try again on Monday between 9am - 4pm and ask to speak to the manager

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

I am going to tell my mum on you she says i am beautiful