Taxi Driver Online

The intention of this seems to be to clarify things, but to the average reader I suspect it'll only confuse matters, and if anything make it more difficult for drivers


‘Always agree taxi fare in advance’: Torfaen Council advice following increase in taxi fare disputes

https://www.cwmbranlife.co.uk/always-ag ... -disputes/

A Torfaen Council officer has reminded residents to always agree the fare of a taxi at the time of booking so they know the price before their trip is over.

The council received 33 complaints about taxis in the borough from October 2021 to March 2022. These included a number from people who said they were over-charged at the end of their journey.

The item was discussed at a meeting of the licensing committee.

Cllr Norma Parish, Panteg Ward, said the committee hadn’t previously seen many complaints about fare disputes and wanted to know if officers knew why there had been a sudden increase.

Claire Howells, team manager for the licensing and trading standards team, said they don’t have any control over the prices that private hire taxis charge. She added: “What we always have advised, and will advise going forward is if somebody makes a booking via a private hire operator, the fare is agreed at the time of making the booking.

“So then people know what is going to be charged and the fare is agreed before the journey is undertaken. You are correct Cllr Parish, this isn’t something that comes up very often. We have seen an influx over the last few months. The reasons why, I’m not sure, but again any complaints that come in, we always give the advice going forward, please agree the fare before the journey is undertaken.”

Cllr Jon Horlor, Trevethin & Penygarn Ward, said: “As a non-driver who uses taxis regularly, what used to be a £5 fare 12 months ago is now an £8 or £10 fare. Unless you ask, it can be either the eight or the ten (pounds) and that’s just on a local run. I just think it’s just to do with the sheer rise in the petrol prices and that kind of thing leading to a huge spike in what the taxis are charging.”

Cllr Lynda Clarkson, Abersychan Ward, suggested that the council communications team do some work on social media to help change people’s behaviour to start to ask for the cost of the journey at the time of booking.

If the taxi has a meter then there should be no need to ask the driver before you get in.

The council would have been better telling the punters to ensure the taxi driver engages the meter before it departs.

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IDFIMH

It would appear from Councillors comments they were referring to private hire again they at least are aware that the private hire operator should state the fare at the time booking is taken.

Yes, if you read the licensing manager's comments, she's specifically referring to private hire operators, but when the councillors start jabbering on they start using the t-word, so it's not clear whether they're referring to HCs or PHVs, or both, or if they're really aware of the difference.

I mean, what about pre-booked HCs? And it wouldn't be surprising if there's mixed fleets in smaller towns and more rural areas like that, so that complicates things further. Wouldn't be surprised either if the HCs were also doing fixed price or discounted fares, either alongside PHVs or on HC-only circuits

Most of the hackneys here don't use the meter anymore and overcharge customer's like crazy.

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Grandad,

You are in a position to do something about those that are not using the meter and overcharging.