Taxi Driver Online

This seems fairly clear cut - I think

£636 'financial penalty' doesn't sound too onerous, but both the operator and driver have lost their licences, which is probably the real penalty


Council prosecutes taxi firm overcharging disabled passenger

https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/news/arti ... -passenger

Rossendale Borough Council has successfully prosecuted a local taxi firm after uncovering systematic overcharging of a disabled passenger.

The Council’s Licensing and Enforcement Office launched an investigation in response to a complaint about unfair pricing practices. The enquiry found several instances of excessive overcharging of a wheelchair-bound passenger for short journeys compared to able-bodied passengers using the same service.

The enquiries revealed that Connections Taxis of Bacup Road, Rawtenstall overcharged a wheelchair bound passenger on two separate occasions in September 2023. The wheelchair bound passenger was charged £8 for a 0.5 mile journey which should have cost £3.50. The same vehicle charged an able-bodied passenger £4.50 for a 2.1 mile journey just 30 minutes prior to the overcharged journey.

Further investigations showed that the same wheelchair bound passenger was charged £12 for a 2.7 mile journey. That journey should have cost £8.50. The return journey cost the wheelchair bound passenger another £12.

The investigation confirmed that able-bodied passengers were charged standard fares, exposing clear evidence of discriminatory pricing against disabled customers. As a result, the private hire operator's and the involved driver’s licences were revoked by the Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee.

Mohsen Saddique, 31, who served as the taxi firm’s manager and was responsible for setting fare prices, appeared at Blackburn Magistrates Court in December 2024. He pleaded guilty to overcharging the disabled passenger. The Court ordered Mr. Saddique to pay a total penalty of £636, which includes a victim surcharge of £110.

Lead Member for Environment and Corporate Services, Cllr Adrian Lythgoe said: "This case highlights our commitment to ensuring equality and fairness for all members of our community, particularly those who are most vulnerable.

“Overcharging disabled passengers is not only illegal but entirely unacceptable. The outcome of this investigation sends a clear message to all operators and drivers that discriminatory practices will not be tolerated. We thank the complainant for coming forward and would encourage others to report any similar concerns."

Rossendale Borough Council remains dedicated to protecting the rights of all its residents and ensuring public transport services operate fairly and in compliance with the law. The Council urges residents to report any concern regarding taxi licenses to the Licensing and Enforcement Team - Licensing contact details | Rossendale Borough Council

The figures cited for the wheelchair user's fares certainly look discriminatory. But I don't think the mate's rates here are a credible comparison

Look the law is the law.

But now one less WAV is operating in that area.

I wonder if any other profession in the Western world is mandated by statute and case law to undertake work for nothing.

Which is what WAV drivers have to do when loading and unloading their punters.

All in a vehicle that costs in excess of £60,000.

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IDFIMH

Strangely enough, I had a job today from the station. A lady had walked from an assisted living block to the station (around 500m away) she wanted taking to the accommodation to pick her 90 year old mother up in a wheelchair and take her to the hospital for an appointment. She had rung the local Hackney circuit but they had nothing available for over an hour ( they have a lot of ambulance/hospital work themselves )
I started the meter when she got in and then took her to the accommodation. Now, this is where it could get tricky, as we all know (or should) you cannot engage the meter until the wheelchair user is onboard. My argument would be that the journey had already started once the initial passenger was onboard. Should I have left my meter running or stopped it whilst loading the wheelchair passenger ? I did stop the meter on this occasion. The customers were really appreciative and I was given a healthy tip. I was just wondering what the legal position on this would be.

You're hired by Lady A to go to her mother's accommodation, stop the meter to load a wheelchair passenger and thereafter complete the hire to hospital? IMO, you've done it exactly right.

(12.11) The requirement not to charge a disabled person extra means that a meter should not be activated before, or left running, whilst the driver performs duties required by the Equality Act 2010.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... y-guidance

You did not charge a disabled person extra because you stopped the meter to load. If you'd run the first 500M with meter off, it would have been to your loss. It would be different if they were both at the station to begin with.

And throughout the country areas are seeing a vast reduction in taxi/PH WAVs.

It’s not really hard to fathom out why.

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IDFIMH

The question is, at what point do you become hired? I know it is probably a daft example but if the watch the film carry on cabby you can clearly see that a chap flags Sid James from the other side of the road. Sid acknowleges the chap by waving and in the same motion he starts the meter because it would seem that in those days you were hire at the point you accepted the fare. When did that all change? Also if you are pre booked to pick someone up at say 19.00 and you are there at 19.00 does the fare start then or do you have to wait free of charge for the passenger to turn up 4 minutes later? Why is there a waiting time on most tables of fares?

Can't remember the exact wording, but I think the basic rule is that a person should be no worse off because of a disability.

So time taken to strap in a wheelchair, or put a wheelchair in the boot, say, can't count.

Of course, most cases will be quite straightforward, but obviously others won't be...

I was always taught that the meter went on when the person got in the vehicle or if you are prebooked then at the time of the booking provided they have acknowledged your prescence. Sadly the DDA and cases like this one changed that aswell as modern society being far less tolerant of paying a reasonable amount for your services or tipping.

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

Each to their own, but I start the meter when I move off. We're not all skinflints up here.

If a job is booked for 12.00 pm, the meter goes on at 12.00 pm.

If I want to be a registered charity I will apply to the Charities Commission.

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IDFIMH