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PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 1:08 am 
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Plans to introduce card payments in taxis halted after backlash from drivers

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... s-16066814

The council offended drivers over one particular aspect of the proposals

Plans to introduce mandatory card payments in black cabs across Liverpool have been halted following backlash from drivers.

A decision was deferred by the council's licensing committee today after members from Unite trade union argued strongly against one particular aspect of the proposal at a meeting which saw tensions bubble.

The new laws would require all hackney drivers to mount a card payment facility to the back of the cab - costing them between £100 and £280 depending on if they chose to buy a printer with the machine.

The city council say this would allow passengers to have "complete control" over their card - preventing taxi drivers from being accused of taking incorrect or extra payments.

But taxi drivers present at the meeting said this argument was offensive as it suggested taxi drivers were "robbers".

They argued they would always hand the card machine to the passenger if kept in the front, but that the expensive machinery would be vulnerable to damage and vandalism from kids or drunk passengers if they were forced to install it in the back.

Tom Mcintyre, a Unite officer said: "We see it [card payments] as a positive. It's something that should have been coming for a long time. Everybody knows kids don't carry cash these days, we have a major challenge. Where we have a problem is having it in the back of the cab.

"In Liverpool we carry a lot of young girls with prams, little kids sitting in the back, touching the buttons.

"We want this to work. We can implement this in six months, most of the trade are willing to do this. The biggest bugbear is putting this in the back."

Licensing officers have been asked to prepare a report on the implications of the card payment facility being kept in the front following today's meeting.

It is the second time they have been forced to make changes following backlash from drivers.

Under the city council's initial proposals, all hackney carriage drivers faced having to fork out £280 for a card payment facility and printer within six months of being asked.

Licensing officers amended this proposal after a consultation received "unfavourable" responses from drivers who complained about being "bullied" into making costly decisions .

Proposals up for debate today required all hackney carriages to introduce a card payment facility without a printer within 12 months, which would cost between £100 and £150.

A council officer explained: "The reason we don't want [the card facility] in the front is historically, drivers have taken the card [by hand] to take payments, What we don't want is the drivers to be accused of taking money from the cards, double payments, or more money off the card."

But taxi driver and Unite member Paul James hit back and said: "With all due respect I take offence at the implication all taxi drivers are robbers. It's not happening in London. "

He said allowing the card facility to be kept in the front would be cheaper as it could allow drivers to purchase smaller equipment in the region of £35-£50.

He added: "We are the cab drivers, I can see the council's point of view but they are not the ones paying for it."

Chair of the licensing committee Malcolm Kennedy denied the council were accusing taxi drivers of being robbers but said the only way forward was to agree to the proposals or ask for a new report considering the implications of allowing the card machine to be kept in the front.

Committee members agreed to the latter option, expressing sympathy with cab drivers over their concerns.

Councillor Anna Key said: "I am a mum of four kids and I can see them messing around [with the card facility]. Teenagers after a few drinks could vandalise it."


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PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 12:40 pm 
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Councillors not trusting drivers?, then why give them a badge in the first place?.izzetle or sumup in the front no trouble .


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PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 7:28 pm 
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Pretty predictable stuff here, but just included it for sake of completeness :?

Plans to introduce card payments in back of Liverpool taxis divides opinion amongst ECHO readers

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... k-16069672

Cabbies claim new machines are too expensive but some people think they are a good idea

Plans to introduce mandatory card payments in black cabs across Liverpool have divided opinion amongst ECHO readers.

A Liverpool City council proposal would require all hackney drivers to mount a card payment facility to the back of the cab - costing them between £100 and £280 depending on if they chose to buy a printer with the machine.

The city council say this would allow passengers to have 'complete control' over their card - preventing taxi drivers from being accused of taking incorrect or extra payments.

At a recent council meeting cabbies said this argument was offensive as it suggested taxi drivers were 'robbers.' They argued they would always hand the card machine to the passenger if kept in the front, but that the expensive machinery would be vulnerable to damage and vandalism from kids or drunk passengers if they were forced to install it in the back.

Now ECHO readers have entered into the debate.

Andy Ford said: "Drivers have got no issue with taking card payments we just don’t need telling which provider to use. Do the council tell all the licensed pubs and food takeaways that they must take cards and then tell them what company they’ve got to use?"

Tony Carr said: "Mine doesn’t get vandalised customers appreciate the ability to pay cash or card."

Joe Winstanley said: " Cab drivers are for card payment, they just don't want to pay for an expensive fixed one in the back when you can pay £35 for one."

Daniel Lee said: "Why don’t they just mount the card machine in front or have a handheld one like they do in the maccies, but have it linked to the meter so everyone’s got peace of mind of no damaged kit and no over charges."

Ian Glanville said: "Black cabs are a rip off anyway.. doing themselves out of business Uber, Via van & all the others taking the trade off them."

Kevin Carter said: " London cabs have had them for moons. We're well behind the times. So much easier doing contactless to pay them."

KD Baxter said: " Card payments accept the right fare. There is no " Oh I've got no change mate" with a machine."

Andrew Tuck said: " It’s the norm - so easier with cards and offers them a bit more protection as less cash on board."

Paul McDonald said: "Are the council going to force other trades to carry chip n pin machines? What's the difference?

Simon Richards said: " London black cabs have contactless in the back. I don't see the problem."

Under the city council's initial proposals, all hackney carriage drivers faced having to fork out £280 for a card payment facility and printer within six months of being asked.

Licensing officers amended this proposal after a consultation received "unfavourable" responses from drivers who complained about being "bullied" into making costly decisons .

Chair of the licensing committee Malcolm Kennedy denied the council were accusing taxi drivers of being 'robbers' but said the only way forward was to agree to the proposals or ask for a new report considering the implications of allowing the card machine to be kept in the front.

The licensing committee deferred its decision.


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PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:47 pm 
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What on earth is wrong with the bog standard card readers that cost £25-£35?

Councillors need to work out we are not all crooks and let us trade in the same way as 99% of businesses.

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 3:27 am 
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Sussex wrote:
What on earth is wrong with the bog standard card readers that cost £25-£35?

Councillors need to work out we are not all crooks and let us trade in the same way as 99% of businesses.



It's Liverpool they've got form for ripping punters off.


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:48 am 
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Every Liverpool Hackney cab will soon take debit and credit cards

https://lbndaily.co.uk/every-liverpool- ... dit-cards/

All of Liverpool’s 1,426 cabbies now have six months to install the card readers following a ruling by the city council’s licensing committee.

All Hackney cabs in Liverpool will soon be equipped to take card payments after the city council’s licensing committee gave the green light.

Following months of discussion the council and representatives of the city’s 1,426 cabbies it was agreed that the installation of machines to take debit and credit card payments would be made mandatory for all vehicles.

Driver will have to pay £60 for the installation charge themselves but the council has given them six months to comply with the new policy which brings Hackney cabs in Liverpool in line with those in London.

Chair of the licensing committee, Cllr Christine Banks, said: “This is a positive move for the city’s taxi trade and one that will make it easier for people to travel by cab in our city. As part of the process, we have listened to the concerns of the taxi drivers and acted upon them, by amending the proposals.

“In an increasingly cashless society, it is clear that card payments are the preferred option for many people in shops, supermarkets, cafes and bars. With a cruise terminal, an international airport and many thousands of foreign visitors each year who don’t carry cash, it is important that we move with the times and give the customer what they want.”

The proposal originally came before the city council’s licensing committee in April of this year. Members deferred a decision on the plan, following concerns from drivers about where the card payment reader should be located in the cab.

It was originally proposed that the reader would be placed in the passenger compartment but drivers feared this could lead to it being damaged. A revised report to the committee now recommends that the reader be placed in a plastic holder in the partition between the driver and passenger.

The council consulted with members of the trade in the run-up to the proposal and drivers also raised concerns about the need for a printer to be installed alongside the reader to issue receipts, expressing the view that a printer was not needed because they had the option to text or email receipts to the passengers.

The new recommendation means it would be left to the driver’s discretion whether they installed a printer.

Liverpool-based UNITE union national taxi organiser, Tommy McIntyre, said: “In the ever-changing world we live in people are using less cash and paying for more services by card transaction.

“After speaking with the members the general opinion is that this will be fantastic for both the trade and the travelling public and would encourage more passengers to use the city’s Hackney fleet.”


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:59 am 
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Sussex wrote:
What on earth is wrong with the bog standard card readers that cost £25-£35?

Councillors need to work out we are not all crooks and let us trade in the same way as 99% of businesses.


These ARE the £25-35 iZettle machines. What costs the extra money are the thermal printers (about £150-200 each) and the Taxi specific mounting hardware. Personally I think they should have allowed the drivers to use the handheld units with a requirement that the unit is passed to the passenger before the transaction starts and returned to the driver once the card has been removed.


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 4:35 pm 
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Karga wrote:
Sussex wrote:
What on earth is wrong with the bog standard card readers that cost £25-£35?

Councillors need to work out we are not all crooks and let us trade in the same way as 99% of businesses.


These ARE the £25-35 iZettle machines. What costs the extra money are the thermal printers (about £150-200 each) and the Taxi specific mounting hardware. Personally I think they should have allowed the drivers to use the handheld units with a requirement that the unit is passed to the passenger before the transaction starts and returned to the driver once the card has been removed.


“The new recommendation means it would be left to the driver’s discretion whether they installed a printer.“

No printer required.


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:33 pm 
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Quote:
“The new recommendation means it would be left to the driver’s discretion whether they installed a printer.“

No printer required.

Good.

However the bog standard iZettle has an email receipt function.

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