Taxi Driver Online

. . . . charge for their services?

If so, what can they charge for, under what circumstances and what is the relevant legislation governing the charging of fees by a Trading Standards Department?

For instance;

Can and do Trading Standards departments charge for testing fuel station pumps for accuracy of delivery per litre?

Can and do Trading Standards departments charge for testing weighing scales at a butcher's or greengrocer's for accuracy per kilogram weighed?

I have tried to research this on the Internet but there is very little on there. The only thing I have found is from a Cambridge Council Council publication which states;

Charges and Limitation of Service

The Council acknowledges that restrictions must be placed on the coverage of services being made available, as the available resources are not unlimited and operational decisions as to what level of support the Trading Standards Service is able to offer will be dependant on such availability.

Every year the Trading Standards Service will also publish a service plan that will outline its priorities. This may include identified business sectors that need a higher level of service and support. The sectors chosen will be founded on the risks presented by non-compliance to the community and the overall priorities for economic growth and development for the County.

The majority of services provided will be free, however the Trading Standards Service may apply such charges for its services as is reasonable and those allowed for by statute.

The Trading Standards Service will publicise the basis for its charges on an annual basis.

And the last question which is the reason for my query;

Can and do Trading Standards charge YOU OR YOUR HACKNEY CARRIAGE LICENSING DEPARTMENT for checking the accuracy of your taximeter?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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I haven't seen any statute that allows them to charge the trade for testing meters, so IMO the answer is no.

Why not send a FOI to your local TS and ask them if, can and how?

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IDFIMH

They do and have charged the licensing department for many years, probably going on for 12, 15 or more years.

Reportedly as much as £30K per annual testing now. I was just wondering how many other licensing departments are being charged by their trading standards department for the same service to the taxi trade around the country?

From what I have been able to glean from the sketchy info on the Internet, there seems to be a fine line between whether they charge or not and who is charged and who is not.
And finding the relevant legislation is impossible up to now.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Trading standards would be dearer than our LA ----- £35!

In North Warks they have a measured mile and there was no charge, or at least there wasnt 20 years ago

_________________
Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

But should the taxi trade be charged at all?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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When debating on the TDO Forum.

they would only absorb it into "general charges"

and youd never know

_________________
Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Send them a FoI asking the question what powers allow the TS to charge the Taxi trade for testing meters?

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IDFIMH

I had my petrol pumps and airlines checked buy trading standards for 20 years... and was never charged.... as for meters in Sefton... all meters are certified by the firm that suppliers them that they are accurate and set to the correct tariff..... any other testing is now obsolete... A draconian practice....

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Not if the gearbox or diff is changed and the gear ratios differ from the original!!

_________________
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.

You're living in the old days..... and that would be changed after the meter had been tested...... which would usually be brought to licensing officers attention by complaints of overcharging... which in turn would justifiably the meter to be checked at that point... which is not what I thought you were alluding to.....

_________________
Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!