Taxi Driver Online

I've been a private hire driver for 20 plus years in Leeds i am working for a private hire firm on a self employed basis paying 100 pounds in rent but after diesel and insurance and rent i am making an 4.50 an hour for a 50hour week as anybody got any ideas wot can be done legal wise or other besides leaving cheers

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leeds private hire

Do 60 hrs !!!

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Justice for the 96 YNWA

There is no minimum wage if you are self employed.

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Grandad,

If you're self-employed basically nothing can be done about the money you receive from your self-employment. Other then try another trade.

If your income is below a certain level then you may be entitled to some sort of state benefits, but you need to go to Citizen's Advice to find out if and how much.

In short it is hard out there at present, and drivers need to either work longer, or spend less.

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IDFIMH

Or cut out the crap hours. If you are truly self employed you can choose the hours that you work. Only work the busy hours. If you are told what hours you must work then you are not truly self employed and you should be an employee.

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Grandad,

get a tax credit claim form

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

Until private hire drivers stick together and stand up against the fees these companies charge, with little regard to drivers earnings, nothing can nor will be done

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

the fees are one thing but low base-imposed tarrifs/rates for fares is another, thats the real problem

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

Cheers for the general advice but i don't really want to claim benefits or change trade at the moment. I have been doing it for over 20 years owned 2 firms myself up till about 13 years ago but i was a responsible owner I have a full understanding of employment law and what self employment is.it was more a question of if a owner charges 100 pound for 5 shifts by rights you should be able to make at the very least minimum wage after paying rent diesel and insurance not even taking into account buying and maintaining a car that's quite poor.surely that could be classed as breech of contract if he said he was charging you for 7 shifts 70 hours a week and that's what you had to do to make a wage that would be different then 5 shifts would only be part time surely.even big tendered contracts with muti national companies sometimes have to go to court because the contract was not fare.surely this is the same but on a smaller scale and a contract can be verbal

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leeds private hire

Also i have tried to motivate support from other drivers but sadly they don't seem to have the fight i have raised the issue with the owners and all you seem to get is apperthy well it is quite. But when they lose say 3 drivers because there is no work they just set another 3 on they won't advertise get contracts do jack to be honest

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leeds private hire

Only way to do this job now wether it be ph or HC is to have a car to yourself and work the best shifts - I work days mon to fri and sat night with no time restrictions really- I presume you are at Amber or arrow by the sounds of it who will always have a driver (drivers) willing to work like the proverbial 'donkey' and with the owners/ management not doing the work themselves the cheap fares are to a attract the custom-You wouldn't or you probably would believe some of the prices put in when tendering for certain contracts- a common Practise now I'm afraid but I suppose it's better than nowt !!

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Justice for the 96 YNWA

Surprised it's taken you 20 years to realise that.

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IDFIMH

You say you have tried to motivate support from other drivers, to do what exactly? If you are asking drivers to form some sort of group to be proactive, when they never have been before, you are asking them to take a sudden large step into the unknown. Perhaps an association, just cos you can, maybe the best way forward and take it from there. As they say 'slowly slowly catch a monkey'. With regard to the apathy from the owners there's no surprise there really, it's not like they are likely to cut off the hand that feeds them. In fact neither are the drivers for that matter albeit the earnings have dropped

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

Yea i know its hard for drivers to stand together in the short term but they will be better off or the earnings will suffer and some will end up not paying there bills getting cars taken back and even bankruptcy. And now vehicle licensing say you now need a letter from your existing firm to say you are allowed to leave them i thought we were self employed and that should be restriction of trade whilst also dropping a year off age criteria and putting badges and plates up 40 quid and then sending you a magazine every 3 month repeating the rules that you already know because you after know them for having a badge anyway.and why we need to know on a regular basis what its like for a vehicle licensing member of staff on a day to day is a joke sometimes i think taxi trade is getting to be more like working for the vehicle licensing and owners charity. Or and cheers for the comment i can't believe its taken you 20 years to work that one out gafore gafore nowt really to say i take it

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leeds private hire

Ask your council to put that in writing and then post on here. Which firm you work for and why has got f*** all to do with your council.

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IDFIMH