Rival taxi firms join together in drive to crackdown on fare dodgersRIVAL taxi firms have joined together in a bid to drive out rogue fares.
Three Darlington firms have enlisted the police in their fight against fares who do not pay their way.
1AB, United and ABC are cracking down on what has become an ‘epidemic’ of people stealing journeys from hard working drivers.
On a daily basis, taxi users are getting to their destination and either refusing to pay or fleeing without handing over their fare.
For the next month, the firms will share information, ban individuals and addresses and report every incident of non-payment to Darlington Police.
The offence, officially known as ‘bilking’, can be dealt with under criminal law as fraud or theft or – if related to customer dissatisfaction – as a civil matter.
The overall cost of these offences for Darlington’s drivers is not known but is believed to be substantial and growing by the day.
1AB’s Andrea Bentley said: “Taxi drivers work long and hard hours to make a living and then they pick people up who get them to drive all round town and then leave them without payment.
“It’s happening on a daily basis and it’s getting to be a real epidemic – it’s not fair that they’re working hard and not getting paid for it.”
She added: “We will ban addresses, people and phone numbers which will have an impact on the rest of that area or household as they can’t order taxis.
“ABC, 1AB and United are coming together and will report every incident and share our information with each other so that these people are barred – and if you’re banned from one of us, you’re banned from us all.
“The police have promised to be more responsive and this month they’ll go to every address, they’re taking it very seriously.”
A spokeswoman for Darlington Police said: “We are aware of incidents where people have left taxis without paying in Darlington and these incidents are being investigated.
“Part of this investigation will involve working closely with the taxi firms in the town.”
A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council added: “We fully support the taxi drivers in their work to stamp out this crime and are pleased to see that local drivers are working together to tackle this issue.
“Large or small, taxi firms are businesses, and as such, they cannot afford to lose money in this way. Customers are picked up in good faith and should pay for their journey.”
source:
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/l ... 2914304._/
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