Knutsford taxi drivers raise concerns about outside firms poaching faresTAXI drivers from Knutsford have raised their growing concerns about firms from other boroughs who are taking their customers and threatening their livelihoods.
The problem, which has been apparently increasing for the last five years, involves taxi companies from Wilmslow, Wythenshawe and even as far as Rossendale coming to the town and poaching customers.
According to some local companies, the drivers are parking illegally all along King Street and approaching punters to offer them a lower fare than the one they have already booked.
A spokesperson for Abacus said: “There’s been a massive change in Knutsford for quite a while because of the way that taxis are coming in from outside, which they are entitled to do, but they are parking where they shouldn’t so when you go to pick up a fare the only place you can go is bottom car park.
“By the time you get there the customer has walked off, they have got in another taxi and gone.
“Our business is getting absolutely hammered because of it.”
Knutsford drivers believe that part of the problem is that drivers from other areas are accustomed to different rules and are not willing to respect the way taxi firms work together in the town.
The Abacus spokesperson said: “They do not park on the rank, that’s the law and they know that. But they won’t abide by our rules. They live in a different community, there are taxis from boroughs and it’s different there.”
According to the taxi drivers, cars which are only licensed to take pre-booked calls are pulling up and trying to poach their customers.
“These people seem to have no morals. They see people standing there and take it,” said Abacus.
The taxi drivers are now calling for more stringent rules and license policing in the area, to ensure that only licensed taxis are trading in the area and to ensure that they park in legal designated ranks.
One taxi driver, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Loads of these taxis are parking up on King Street where there is no rank. Someone will go up to their car and say ‘are you my taxi to Manchester’ and they will take them.
“Then they have taken an hour booking at least! It’s a complete waste of time.
“I’m worried we are going to go out of work, there’s been a clear dip in business. It’s ridiculous.
“There’s cars that are unlicensed and working in our area.”
A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: “The licensing enforcement team is keen to identify individuals who flout the taxi licensing laws and, when provided with specific details, will investigate as part of programmed enforcement events and take appropriate action.
“There are occasions however where incidents involve drivers of vehicles who are licensed by other local authority areas and, in these instances, information is passed to the relevant authority for further action.”
source:
http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news ... ing_fares/
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absolute idiots crawling up peoples holes for a few coppers , unreal tbh & wouldn't happen in any other trade 