Taxi Driver Online

Private hire drivers say Bradford Council is taking licences away for minor issues

11:32am Tuesday 18th October 2011

Some cabbies are in dispute with Bradford Council amid claims that private hire licences have been suspended for “scratches” in vehicles’ paintwork.

Drivers say they are having to fork out hundreds of pounds to respray their cars because of what they say are minor marks or dents which are barely visible.

But the Council says no vehicles had been taken off the road for “minor bodywork issues” but conceded inspections issues had arisen and a meeting has been arranged next week with councillors to clarify the situation.

Khurram Shehzad, of Manchester Road Taxis, said: “The Council is being quite petty, there are numerous people complaining regarding this."

“They are suspending taxi licences for the sake of just a scratch."

Max Adams, of Bradford-based Leap Taxis, said the Council’s inspectors had been “quite picky with regard to scratches”.

“Times are hard enough as it is and they’re having to fork out for it.”

Councillor Imran Khan (Lab, Bowling and Barkerend) said a number of drivers living in his ward had raised concerns about the issue.

“In these difficult economic times we need to be supporting people to stay in jobs."

“I’ve seen some that are very minor and they have been refused."

John Major, Bradford Council’s assistant director for environmental health and regulatory services, said: “We have a duty to the residents of Bradford and visitors to the district to make sure our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire fleets are up to a professional standard."

“No vehicles have been prevented from working for minor bodywork issues."

“Inspection issues have arisen so we are meeting next week with councillors to consider the position and clarify the requirements.”

Source; http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... cratches_/

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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's their problem with that? IMO there's nothing worse than a car with dents and scratches on it.

Round here they fail us if we have a little dent or scratch.

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Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

Our LA introduced red plates for the operator to be given time (4 weeks) to rectify the fault without being off the road.

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

All vehicles pick up minor scratches and dents there has to be a little giva and take in the system otherwise every time a taxi or PH gets knocked by a supermarket trolley or pushchair we would have a big bill although there are a few operatives around doing scratch repairs that can be quite reasonable

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

They must be pretty big minor marks if they need a respray ffs

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

Just to respray a single panel costs around £250 here.

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Grandad,

If it's only minor marks it shouldn't need a respray

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

In my experience when drivers/owners say minor dents and scratches, they are far from it.

My view is if drivers are prepared to drive licensed vehicles with dents and scratches on they should give punters 20% off the normal fare.

Offer a substandard service or product, then you don't get the full rate.

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IDFIMH

I guess the size of a scratch or a dent is dependant on your Viewpoint, What to the Local Authority is a Crater sized dent might to the Vehicles owner be only a small dimple.

Same Goes for a 3 foot long Scratch in the LA's eyes might seem to be a tiny abrasion requiring only T-Cutting to the Owners..


There's always three Sides to the Truth, The Truth as You see it, the Truth as they see it and then theres the real truth somewhere in between..

Seems a tad O.T.T to take a vehicle out of use for a few Gimps or Scratches though..be easier slapping a "repair or else" time limit on the owner...least they'd keep earning until they get a quiet slot to fix the issue...

We usually get 28 days to sort out "minor" bodywork issues. I have seen some vehicles round here with realy bad problems and they have not been taken off the road. In fact I can't think of any instances of vehicles being taken off the road for bodywork issues at all.

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Grandad,