Taxi Driver Online

Not much to see here, but spot the deliberate error (© Jimbo) in the paragraph about the meters


Reports of licensed taxi overcharging passengers

https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/news-and-eve ... assengers/

The Council’s Licensing Department have become aware of concerns raised on social media in relation to licensed taxis overcharging passengers.

Councillor Michelle Symonds, portfolio member for Regeneration, Housing and Public Protection, said: “The majority of our taxi drivers deliver a high-quality service, but we need the public’s help to stop the minority who breach the taxi licence conditions.

“We often receive reports of taxi drivers breaching conditions, but not always with sufficient information to gather satisfactory evidence for formal action. I’d encourage all passengers to make a note of the licence number or vehicle registration before entering the vehicle and to contact the Licensing Department should they have any concerns following the journey.”

Licensed taxis (Hackney Carriages) in Merthyr Tydfil are black in colour and will display white door stickers and a top light. Only these vehicles can be flagged down or found at taxi ranks and they can also be pre-booked in advance. These vehicles will be fitted with a taxi meter which has been calibrated to the approved fares. A copy of the fare tariffs will also be displayed inside the vehicle. The taxi meter must be switched on at the start of each journey and the driver cannot charge more than the fare shown on the meter at the end of the journey.

To report any instances of the meter not being used and/or overcharging please contact the Licensing Department with details of the vehicle/driver:

licensing@merthyr.gov.uk
01685 725000

Maybe I've misremembered, but according to Jimbo meters are programmed to the applicable tariff, not calibrated

Meter calibration is when the meter set up initially in a particular vehicle. Or something like that...

The council could usefully have said as well that the metered fares only apply within the licensing area (assuming it's not different in Wales).

After a meter has been programmed with the table of fares it has to be calibrated over a measured mile surely you've had a meter installed before Stuart ?

Once calibrated it is normally checked at every subsequent compliance inspection by taking over the measured mile to see that it ticks over onto the correct fare at the 1 mile point

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

Thanks for the lesson on taximeters, Edders

But you've either got a short memory, or didn't read what I said.

It was Jimbo's terminolgy I was citing. Recall a few years ago when the Edinburgh tariffs were updated incorrectly, and they didn't get the festive premium? Two years ago I said on here that the meters had been incorrectly recalibrated. Jimbo said, among other things:



So my point earlier was that Merthyr Council's use of the word 'calibrated' was inconsistent with what Jimbo had said.

And I don't disagree with him, although it's not a hill I think it's worth willing to die on

(But, on my own pedantic note, in Jimbo's first quote I'm not sure the term 'installing' the tariff is the best phrase to use as regards 'installing' a meter )

Anyway, wish I'd never mentioned it now - if Edders and Jimbo get involved in a dingdong there will be so many excessive quotes that the thread will be visible from outer space