You may or may not have seen the PCC and Police advice on dealing with Fare Disputes. It is available here;
http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/taxi_fares_dispute.pdf if you want to see it. The PLTA objected to it as it was incorrect, but it was published on the PCC website anyway. Now we are informed that Police Officers have been handing it out.
In Response, a member has put together some information and handed it out to Drivers on the “Basket”.
So here it is.
Police & Council Handouts Re Fare DisputesIt is rubbish, written by Fools to frighten the Gullible.
If a Passenger attempts to “Negotiate a Fare” refuse and CALL THE POLICE every time. If you do “Negotiate” or accept part payment YOU will have turned an Arrestable Offence into a “Civil Matter”. This will cost you money to contest in the Court. To save themselves the bother, the Police would like all to be Civil Matters. The Police win, the Passenger wins and YOU LOSE.
Requesting Payment before the Journey is Legal but you MUST use the meter and give change.
As the Police are keen to give NO ASSISTANCE to the Trade it is suggested “No Payment Upfront, No Journey” Passengers who complain should be asked to address their complaint to the Chief Constable. You can refuse to take passengers if they do not have the means to pay. If they offer a Credit/Debit Card and you have a machine or Cabapp facility you may charge using this making sure the passenger knows change will be in cash.
Call the police TO EVERY non-payment. When you call, insist on a Log Number and note it. Ideally record your call and tell the Operator it is being recorded.
When the Police arrive, use your phone to record all that is said, informing all that you are recording. If the Police try to negotiate a part payment, REFUSE.
If you Over-Rank, if you do not wear your Badge, if you use a Rank which due to Time is not operational, you may be prosecuted in the Magistrates Court.
If you are picking up (hailed or booked) or setting down passengers you may use Bus Stops but only for the time it takes to do this. You may not wait on a Bus Stop. Beware outside Walkabout in particular.
If you have a booking, PTL, Cabapp, another Office or even a pre-booking or phone call you may go into the Basket even if the Rank is full. The Police and Licensing can’t prevent you. Proof of the booking helps but unless you record all your calls a phone booking would have to be on your own word. If the Police or Licensing try to stop you, use your phone to record all that is said, telling them it is being recorded. Try to include the date & time. The names and numbers of the Police involved. The name of the Licensing Officer is enough.
There has been a call to “Boycott” areas suddenly when it is busy, leaving the Police to deal with the chaos that will ensue. English Drivers think the Foreign Drivers will not be included. Strangely the Foreign Drivers think the English Drivers will let them down. It is hoped that this does not become necessary.
Call the Police EVERY time to EVERY dispute. They have had it easy for too long and now they want it to be even easier - for them!
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