Taxi Driver Online

Hi all, does anyone know the legallity of having a price increase imposed on us by the council. Basically our council wants to increase our tarriffs, i personally dont want the increase for varying reasons, so if the increase does go ahead, as it is in the hands of the traffic commisioner just now, could i refuse to get my meter rechipped and then legally ply for hire with the existing tarriff? I know that i could charge fixed fares if in aggreement with passengers if so desired , but i would have the effect of undercharging if i kept existing tarriff. What laws govern fare increases, if any.Thanks all

Operating with a tariff on your meter which is not approved by the council is a breach of your licence conditions.
Your meter must be used at all times except when the hire begins or ends outside your licensed area (which I'm assuming is Dundee City). You can charge less than the meter but not more.

BTW why don't you want the increase?

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thanks gus, well not enough punters for a starter ( and yes it is dundee), and i feel an increase at this time is detrimental to our trade, besides, our proposed increases, have our fares starting and increasing in coppers, which doesnt really look professional for an up and coming city lol surely if we were to have an increase at least go up in increments of 5p or 10p

http://taxi-driver.co.uk/files/1982act.pdf section 17 & 18

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TBH, not increasing fares does no good. We did it here for 3 years and it made no difference.
It just means you need a bigger rise when you do eventually get one. People moan at first but they soon forget.

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I think a council can mandate you to have the approved tariff fitting to your meter, but as you say can't mandate you charge it.

Put your objections to the Traffic Commissioner, but I suspect many will be supporting the increase.

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IDFIMH

Just put the new tariff on the meter, run the meter when a fare gets in, and discount, thats what I do.
If you work for yourself get some cards printed I give discounts off all fares over £3.00 up to a pound off the fare, until midnight so a £4.00 fare becomes £3.00

Which will keep you busy for a couple of weeks until other guys follow suit. It will attract all the junkies and low life to your cab.
It will also make you as popular as a fart in a spacesuit with the rest of the trade.

They must be civilised in Gala Skippy. Around here you'd get fed up buying tyres!

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If it wasn't for me they would not even have a rank

Is that the one you painted yourself?

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Ok thanks guys for the response, and yes i do work for myself. Once again many thanks guys

As far as I know, the Price displayed on the Meter is the maximum that can be charged.

There would be nothing to stop you putting a sign in the window, stating that you will be offering a 20% Discount on the Metered Fare.

More fool you.

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Don't dream it ~ Be it.

See R v Liverpool City Council ex parte Curzon Ltd (1993). It is quite legal to have a taxi meter which displays a lower fare.

Not in Scotland.

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And your £1 profit becomes a big fat zero profit...

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Former taxi driver