Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver cancels his Christmas after renewing his badge a day late

November 4, 2010

A taxi driver cancelled his family’s Christmas this year after missing the date to renew his cab licence.

Leslie Bull said his livelihood is now on the line and he has not been able to work for five weeks.

The 48-year-old has worked as a cabbie in Skem for eight years and this October his licence was up for renewal.

West Lancashire Council sent him the paperwork four weeks in advance, but Leslie was convinced the licence did not expire until October 31 when in fact it ran out on October 3 – a Sunday when the licensing office was closed.

When he went to the office first thing on Monday October 4 he was told he would have to reapply.

Now out of work for five weeks, the dad-of-three is still waiting for his new licence and can not believe his small error has cost him his job and livelihood.

The 48-year-old said: “Christmas is cancelled as far as I’m concerned. Even if I get my badge back this week I still have to catch up.

“I’m having to borrow to stay afloat.”

Leslie is self-employed but now fears he will lose his cab as he can not afford to keep it on the road.

“I’m practically begging to them to give me my badge back,” he said. “Give me a punishment. Fine me. But let me work.”

Leslie’s wife relies on him to drive her to work in Southport each day, but as he is struggling to keep his cab on the road, even for private use, he fears she would have to give up her job too.

The troubles have infuriated him to the extent that Leslie called on the Council this week to give him a temporary badge so he could work while he waits for his CRB check and medical.

The new license will cost £54, with £36 for the CRB check, £5 police check and over £200 for a medical – leaving a total bill of £300 even though Leslie already has an updated medical and CRB check.

“To be honest, I have even threatened to chain myself to the council gates,” he said. “I am just desperate.”

A spokesperson for West Lancashire Council said they were “bound by the requirements of the law”.

They added: “Mr Bull’s licence expired on October 3, and as he had not applied to renew his licence before this date, he is legally required to apply for a new licence.

“Mr Bull has confirmed that he received a reminder letter from the council approximately four weeks prior to the expiry of his licence and he could have applied at any time to renew it.

The council is currently waiting for the results of an enhanced disclosure check from the Criminal Records Bureau, which is beyond our control. Once a satisfactory response has been received, a new licence will be issued.”

Source; http://www.osadvertiser.co.uk/news/skel ... -27593885/

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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.

What law FFS the one they make up as they go along
CRB check should only be required the first time you apply like it does in the Borders, once done a simple police check is suffice on renewal
£200 for a med go to your own doc and get one for £40

How do you know that his doctor charges £40? What did my doctor charge me this week for my medical?
You may want to buy this ebay item, I think yours is broken.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wonderful-White-C ... 3f04859ef2

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Grandad,

The law that says if you haven't got a license (i.e. it has run out) you have to apply for a new entrants one.

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IDFIMH

Surely going to work on public transport is a better option than giving your job up

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

Sussex, I know he was a bit of a numpty for leaving it to laps, but councils should also have a bit of leeway say if the renewal is not in by 2 weeks after the end date, then make them reapply
What if he had been on holiday and forgot, or been in hospital

Thats all it cost me on Monday, got the all clear, pay reception on way out

Your doctor may charge £40 and I know some who don't6 charge at all. But there are others who charge a lot more. Ours has actually gone down this year and now costs £86.50. The medical lasts no more than 5 minutes. You have to pay for a full medical but the doctor only examins what is on the form which amounts to about 5 question and an eye test.
Questions such as "to the best of your knowlege has the applicant ever suffered a fit since the age of 3?" The doctor doesn't check your record, he just asks you the question and writes down your answer.
When it came to the question "does the applicant suffer from diabetes?" I had to interupt because he was starting to write no. This was my own doctor. When I reminded him that I was a diabetic he just put yes and asked what medication I was using. He never asked how well things were being controlled and he didn't test my sugar levels. Still he signed me off as OK for the next 3 years.

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Grandad,

Ours state that any renewal not applied for within 4 weeks of the expiry date will be classed as a new applicant.

In Manchester we have drivers of all nationalities. We even have a Samaritan (although he is not a good one). Licenses here start renewals from april each year. A-B (surname index). C-D renew in May, etc. Many driver's used to leave it till the last day of the month. The situation on the last day of the month became hectic, the same old excuse, could not get here earlier "I was back home in Bagota" or wherever. The situation became so bad a couple of staff used to develop Angina, flu or period pains for the last week of the month. This brought the system to a standstill. We now are still using the monthly index system, A-B april etc, but we are spread over the month, my date is the 15th. You have to have ABSOLUTE rules when dealing with so many Nationalities to ensure fairness. I know I have to renew before the 15th. If I forget I will not go to the newspapers complaining. I am sorry, but, I do not have much sympathy here.

Not saying that's a bad rule, especially for your council, but IMO a driver who hasn't a current up-to-date license is the same as a new entrant driver who clearly hasn't got a current up-to-date license.

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IDFIMH

We have our driver and operator licence renewed at the same time. If you miss the deadline you lose your licence, and if you have a plate you lose that as well. If you are a saloon owner you then have the option of going on a PH plate or put on a WAV as per council policy. Both mean a NEW application, (at double the cost) not a renewal. There is no appeal process. We usually get over a month's notice with a request to pay early in the renewal month to expedite the process. Surprisingly, there are still a high percentage of drivers who wait till/or nearly the last day.

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

Round here if you reapply late you have to wait until your badge is issued to work and with CRB's taking 12 + weeks not a good idea

Our council makes it clear it is the drivers responsibility to make sure they receive and process the forms I will request mine before xmas badge due for renewal mid feb and will try and have them in early Jan so that there is at least a slim chance my CRB might go through in time

I agree. And doesn't the law require a 'current' licence to be in force?

Nigel's don't mind suspensions for overranking and yet allow an unlicensed driver to work for up to 4 weeks????????????

I don't think they allow an unlicenced driver to work for up to 4 weeks. I think they just allow a driver who's licence has run out, upto 4 weeks to apply before they become classed as new applicants

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