Taxi Driver Online

'Afternoon All,

Would appreciate some general advice please. I'm starting driving on Monday, never having done it before. I've done my research and feel pretty confident that I know what I'm doing. But ......... what are the TYPICAL traps that newbies fall into?

Joining the trade

seriously though are you hackney or private hire and what sort of a deal are you on split purse,car rent or board rent/settle ?

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

Thanks edders23. For starters I'm going 50/50 - I'm guessing that's what you call split purse? After that - wait and see how it shapes up. I'm wanting to keep all options open. I could end up doing majority airport transfers/chauffeur type work - that'd be on an hourly rate, but my original question was about how it works on the 50/50 deal really. Any/all advice much appreciated. I know what car rent is (I think) - the company I'm working for offers that, but what's board rent/settle? Apologies for daft questions.

If you are on 50/50 you don't need to worry about board/rent/settle. they are just other ways that you pay.
Are you going to be hackney or private hire? This is important.
My best advice would be that if you get a job that is going to be cash and over £10.00 don't be afraid to ask for money up front. Your first runner will just pi55 you off no end. But by taking money up front should minimise the risk.

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Grandad,

The more hours you work the more you will earn.

The more unsociable hours you work the more you will earn.

Always say good morning/afternoon/evening.

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IDFIMH

The saying "Never Judge a Book by its cover" applies to books only! You will not get it right all of the time, but.............if the (passenger/passengers) do not look right i.e shifty (more than the usual), then do not pick them up (play safe), you will be right 97/98% of the time.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

If the punter is too píssed to travel don't pick them up.

50/50 is a grey area it's employment without employee rights you would also need to register with inland revenue.

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

I don't think hackneys can take money up from? Only private hire can.

As long as the quoted price is less than the metered price the way i've always done it is give them a quote ask for a deposit or the fare up front then stick the meter on with the guarantee that if it does meter less than the quote then they will get the balance back

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

I take it that you mean "up front"........re hackneys; yes you can, further explained by................

In any event if you quote for a fare outside of the Borough; in our neck of the woods you can call whatever price you like, (as to whether they will pay what is asked is a different matter) - money 95% of the time is taken up front, the odd 5% you know/think will be alright.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Course they can, they cant ask for more than the meter fare though, so theyd have to give change, but all these only apply within the LA, £10 here is to the edge of our LA

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

silly, silly man

It's strange then? Why would Birmingham council block them? This was the headline
Birmingham cab driver plans to demand upfront fares blocked by council

If it's ok why are they asking?

Both the town’s taxi associations, with the support of the police, are asking Reading Borough Council to give drivers the right to demand pre-payment for a journey after 10pm.