Taxi Driver Online

Taxi firm wanting to break Bath 'monopoly' expands



A pair of drivers are hoping their business will break what they are calling a monopoly on taxi services in the city.

Roland Matovski, 39, and Wayne Dixon, 37, launched Bath Spa Taxis 18 months ago with just eight cars. The business partners say that after just a year and a half they have more than doubled the number of drivers they have to more than 20.

Mr Dixon said they had started the firm to break the dominance of 40-year-old taxi firm Abbey Taxis and sister company V Cars, which are both run by Bath businessman Dave Scaramanga.

Mr Dixon said: "There are two taxi firms in Bath but they are owned by one person – in our eyes there was a monopoly in Bath. This is not fair for the taxi drivers and not fair for the public. When there's a monopoly they can charge what they like but we're a competitive service.

"I've been doing this job 12 years and I've seen it in other cities – all they do is put prices through the roof. We are just trying to do a fair, competitive service."

The new company has received some positive feedback on social networks such as Twitter, with some customers claiming the firm is cheaper than its rival.

Bath and North East Somerset Council sets maximum prices for Hackney Carriages, taxis which use designated pick-up points around the city such as taxis ranks, but charges for private hire vehicles are at the discretion of individual firms.

Mr Matovski said they were pleased with the way the company was growing and hoped to employ more drivers in the future.

Speaking to the Chronicle, Mr Scaramanga said he did not believe he had created a monopoly in the city

He said: "We run Abbey Taxis and V Cars as two separate companies so customers do have a choice which company they use and drivers have a choice which company they work for."

He added that he was not concerned by the new competition because Abbey Taxis and V Cars had 300 taxis available in the city between the two companies.

He said: "They've been going 18 months. We can't be complacent but we haven't had any drivers leave to go and work for them."


Read more: http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/Taxi-firm-w ... z2SGAAbdKs

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

Mr Dixon said they had started the firm to break the dominance of 40-year-old taxi firm Abbey Taxis and sister company V Cars, which are both run by Bath businessman Dave Scaramanga.


Let me guess their secret weapon is James Bond !

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

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

beat me to it gus

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

Check to see if hes got three nipples before making wild claims !!

well his opposition appear to be a pair of t*ts - if that's any use

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

Why is it that private hire firms always seem to think that it's only the customer they need to win over? Obviously the amount of work obtained for drivers is the most important but surely incentives for drivers to remain loyal to companies and happier within the company is also important.

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

One of my mates has 4 nipples.

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Grandad,

But is he more evil than Scaramanger

I'm not sure but I've seen him cause loads of fights.........................he has never been in one , just caused them.

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Grandad,

A very valid point, a firm can have loads of work but if they haven't got the drivers then it's a tad pointless.

If many firms treated their real customers (i.e. us) a bit better then it would make the job a lot easier all round.

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IDFIMH

Siamese Twins?

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IDFIMH

That is an interesting point. He was a twin but his brother died at birth.

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Grandad,

I can see this battle ending in tears.