Taxi Driver Online

EPPING FOREST: Council expected to give taxi meters green light



TAXI drivers have welcomed plans to install meters and minimum fares in the district’s cabs.

The introduction of standard tariffs is due to be agreed on by Epping Forest District Council’s licensing committee later this month, after 150 taxi drivers of the 200 consulted said they agreed on the move.

Azid Sanu, 34, of the Epping Forest Taxi Association, said: “We think meters are a good thing.

“There are people out there who charge high fares and there are people who charge ridiculously low fares.

“It causes a lot of confusion, because if a passenger pays one fair one day and the next it’s doubled, as far as they’re concerned, they’re being ripped off.

“If the fair was regulated, everyone would charge the same.”

He said he had been in disputes with passengers over pay and had been forced to drive to police stations in the past when they had become aggressive.

“I hate doing that and would rather not,” he added. “It’s better for everybody if the fare is regulated.”

He said fitting meters would bring the district into line with neighbouring areas, including Redbridge, Harlow and Chelmsford.

Fellow driver Jamie Goodman, 30, said: “It’s about time. It’s better for the public, because they’ll be charged the same amount.

“A cab right now could take you from Epping to Loughton and the driver could charge you what they liked and you wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.”

He added that the standard fares would stop larger taxi firms under-cutting self-employed drivers.

“You have to make the fares realistic, with the price of fuel and insurance,” he said. “They (the council) will have to make sure they’re fair.”

The committee will also be reporting on the results of a consultation on where taxi ranks should be in the district at its next meeting, which will take place on April 11.

source: http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/9 ... een_light/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Judging some of the comments, I can only think some of the drivers are going to get a unpleasant surprise.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I agree
I wonder where they get the min fare from??

TAXI drivers have welcomed plans to install meters and minimum fares in the district’s cabs.



surely that ain't legal they can set a Maximum table of fares but I didn't think they can set minimum fares ?

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

The sparks case suggets otherwise

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If the hack fare is set by the council that will be the max, PH can set there own, but if meters are fitted they cannot charge anymore than the council max

From the NALEO Book;

FIXED TARIFF

In the case of SPARKS v NEWARK & SHERWOOD DC (QBD Feb 1986), it was held that the tariff set by the district, under section 65, was fixed and where this is not qualified by such words as 'a maximum' was therefore a fixed fare and it was not proper to charge less than the tariff, however it is suggested that a discrict may set a tariff which is 'a maximum table of fares' when it would be left to drivers to charge less than the tariff.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Hackney carriages to be fitted with meters across Epping Forest


Hackney carriage fares are set to be standardised across Epping Forest from Monday.

All hackney carriages will have taximeters installed with a maximum standard tariff set by Epping Forest District Council.

Azid Famu, chairman of the Epping Forest Taxi Drivers Association, said: “We think it’s a very positive move.

“We have been campaigning for it for the last three years because at the moment drivers can charge what they want.

“It stops the passenger from being ripped off and drivers can charge a rate they can live off.

Ben Murphy, who served as Epping mayor from 2008 to 2009, is unhappy with the new measures claiming fares could rise by 30 per cent.

On Monday he took to Twitter and said: “This will hit local people hard especially our elderly.”

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/1 ... _the_past/

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Oh yeah - people never get ripped off when meters are fitted

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Taxi boss vows to ignore new tariff



The manager of a taxi company has vowed to ignore prices clocked up by meters which will be installed into his cabs next week.

From Monday the district's Hackney carriages - taxis which can be hailed on the street - are to be fitted with the meters, which will also charge a higher rate tariff - tariff two - after 10pm and on Sundays.

But Aaron Fitock, manager of Elite Cabs in Epping High Street, said other taxi firms, which do not have to use meters, would not have such restrictions on fares imposed upon them.

He said: “Tariff two is a joke. It’s an absolute rip-off and personally we will not charge that.

"Our competitors have gone to private hire so the new maximum rate doesn’t affect them.”

But taxi users the Guardian spoke to today said they supported the new tariffs which, they said, would give passengers a clear idea of exactly how much they were being charged.

Sophia Willingale, 80, of Leonard Davis House in Kiln Road, North Weald, said: “At least you know when you get out it will cost you that amount.

"At the moment depending on the driver it varies, not a lot, but about 50p.

"The only trouble is that if you get caught in traffic it’s going to cost more and road works can add up to 30 minutes to a journey.”

Iris De Ware, 83, who lives in Broadoaks House, in Broadoaks, Epping, said: “Prices are very fair at the moment but I don’t object to the changes, taxi drivers have got to earn their living.”

The Epping Forest Guardian is awaiting comment from Epping Forest District Council.

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/1 ... ew_tariff/

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Personally? WE? I see he speaks for all the drivers. Some may want to actually earn a living.

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Grandad,

Makes me rage when the firms owners dictate what the drivers charge. Will they be giving the drivers a refund on their rents for not charging T2?

BECAUSE OF THE LIKES OF THIS KKUNT SKIPPY THE INDUSTRY IS FEKKED

UNDERCHARGING THE METERED FARE SHOUKD BE ILLEGAL.................AND RESULT IN THE PERMANENT BANNING OF THE DRIVER DOING IT FOR ..........LIFE ...MY OPINION

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

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