Taxi Driver Online

It's not fare! Cabbies slam town hall drive to cut charges for luggage and credit card payments



Black cab drivers react with fury to Manchester council plan to scrap 20p-per-item charge for luggage and slash the passenger fee for paying with plastic

Cab drivers are opposing town hall plans to cut charges

Black cab drivers in Manchester have reacted with fury after town hall bosses moved to stop charging passengers for luggage and slash the cost of card payments.

Cabbies have warned the move will push them under - arguing they are already living hand-to-mouth and working ever-longer hours.

Council plans would scrap the 20p-per-item charge passengers pay for each piece of baggage they bring into the taxi.

But drivers warn that could cost them anywhere between £10 and £40 a week - although the council’s estimate is considerably lower.

Town hall officers also believe drivers can afford to just surcharge the public five per cent for each credit card transaction, rather than the current 10-15pc.

But the GMB union - which represents hundreds of drivers across the city - says that would put cabbies out of pocket when they already pay the highest insurance costs in the country.

They will be pushed to work even longer hours, it warns, potentially hitting passenger safety.

Mantax, which owns 300 black cabs in Manchester, described the credit card plans as potentially ‘suicidal’ for the industry.

Drivers slammed the plan in a report going to the council.

One unnamed driver dubbed it ‘a blatant attempt to take money from taxi drivers’ earnings’, while another said it costs him £520 a year to operate a credit card service - but if he can only recoup 5pc of that from the customer, he would need to bring in more than £10,000 a year in card transactions.

He said: “Anybody can see this is an impossible ask and I will be making a loss."

A fourth described the suggested changes as an ‘insult’, while driver Dominic Cronshaw responded: “I oppose the changes as it will just be a reduction in wages and I can’t survive on what I am earning now.”

Joe Thorley wrote: “I object to the taxi fare review 2014.

"As a proprietor my drivers cannot afford any cuts to the fare structure.

“How will they afford to pay the rent? The charge for luggage should stay as it is and has been in operation since I commenced driving in 1964.”

And one taxi driver’s wife, Julie Taylor, wrote: “Is this a joke? This is supposed to be a Labour council looking out for working people.

"I fear for my husband's health. I can see him dying at the wheel.”

The proposals were due to be considered by council chiefs at their executive meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).

source: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ow-7280289

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

sheer greed nobody should charge for carrying luggage, just be happy you get a fare, and there are other cheaper card systems out there

Do you really want the answer to that one?

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Grandad,

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

Hmmmmmmm.

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IDFIMH

you really do spout some b*llocks

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

looks like em too new name Bollockchops

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