The Following was posted by Deka on The TooManyTaxis Forum
I read the usual safety first list for passengers to be careful in not just jumping into any old car over the festive period as the following states.
PARTYGOERS are being warned to beware of rogue cabbies in the run-up to the festive season.
Taxi bosses have launched a safety campaign to warn people about the dangers of getting into unlicensed cabs.
Noda Taxis, Newcastle’s biggest taxi firm, will be handing out pocket guides to customers containing safety tips.
The company is also using posters, leaflets and advertisements and will have a marshal on duty at the Central Station rank to ensure people get into cabs that are registered, licensed and safe.
In September, bogus cabbie Andrew Beal, 39, of Breamish, Ellington, Northumberland, was jailed indefinitely after trying to trap a teenage girl.
The convicted rapist cruised the city’s streets and a 19-year-old student got into his car on Newcastle’s Mosley Street.
Beal planned to molest her on the sheet-covered back seat of his VW Passat, but she was saved by the intervention of a genuine cabbie, Stephen Sholder, 49.
Mr Sholder, who is based at Newcastle Central Station, became suspicious, blocked in Beal’s car and alerted police. The judge said his vigilance had probably saved the student from a serious sexual assault. She was in fancy dress and returning from a birthday party.
The campaign message is “Do you know who’s taking you home tonight?”
Noda says the aim is to protect revellers and improve perceptions of the taxi trade.
Posters show a smartly dressed driver in uniform with his new, taxed and insured cab alongside a less savoury character masquerading as a cabbie.
The aim is to make people think before they get into a car after a night out. Campaign leaders say there are horror stories of rogue taxis and unscrupulous drivers, particularly at this time of the year.
In London, figures show 11 women are attacked each month after taking unlicensed minicabs and 80% of stranger rapes are committed by unlicensed cab drivers.
Jimmy Blake, contracts manager of Noda Taxis, said: “What we’re trying to get across is that the person taking you home might not be who you think they are.
“Even if they are genuine, you can’t always be sure you’re getting the same service and level of professionalism that we offer.
“The biggest safety message we can give to anyone is ‘follow your instincts’.”
Sgt Iain Boath said: “Although Northumbria Police do not endorse any particular taxi company, we do support the key message in this campaign which aims to protect patrons from rogue drivers and ensure that they are using a properly licensed taxi.”
Noda asked the public how they can help ease people’s minds about getting home after a night out.
As a result, they have put together a set of tips in the form of a pocket guide for staying safe which will be distributed as part of the campaign.
Well that copy was off the chronicles website,but in sat nights chronicle there was a list of safety measures alongside the article.
As Follows,
“Driving home advice”
1)Order a taxi in advance or call the booking office to avoid queuing.
2)Ask the driver what name the taxi is booked in-dont give your name first.
3)Ask to see the drivers id badge,which by law all cabbies must have.
4)All drivers should have a licence number and reg number-save them in your phone in case you need to report anything.
5)Leave with a friend if possible and ring home to let them know your on your way.
The one that puzzles me is advice number 2……… 
Will this not play into the general publics hands of just saying “oh yes thats me”when all they are after is getting a taxi quicker?
Crazy advice if you ask me and by the way,where would that leave the driver in terms of picking the wrong fare up, or even illegally picking a fare up!
<<<<<”Here Ends Deka’s Bit”
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Does Anybody Recognise The Taxi Driver in This Video?
From: thetaxidirectory.blogspot.com
The Taxi Directory is keen to promote the use of only fully licensed and Insured Taxi operators. Those who take the safety of their customers extremely seriously and to that end they have issued a few guidelines to anyone hiring a hackney carriage taxi or private hire vehicle.The increase in illegal un-licensed taxis and minicabs has caused great concern in the general publics mind. These vehicles are often uninsured and if they are will not be covered for hire and reward as a licensed taxi is. So in the event of an accident you will not be able to claim. The drivers are often not from the local area, so will have no knowledge of the roads or how to get from one side of the town to the other! The drivers often getting lost and an argument over the final price is often a consequence.Firstly whatever company you choose make sure they are licensed as a taxi or private hire operator with their Local Council. Any taxi or private hire vehicle you hire should be displaying a current and numbered plate or badge and the driver of the vehicle will also have a valid photo ID badge both issued and showing the local authority they work in.Hackney Carriages are taxis/cabs you can flag down in the street or pick up from a taxi rank. The driver in most authorities or councils has to under go a test on local knowledge, so he or she should know their way around the area. They display a Taxi sign and a numbered local authority taxi plate on the vehicle and are all fitted with a taxi meter, which should only be engaged at the start of the hire. A fare chart issued by the local authority should also be on display.Private Hire also known as minicabs are vehicles again licensed by a local authority and will have a numbered plate. The driver will have an ID badge which has his photo and a fare chart showing current fares, but the vehicle may not always be fitted with a meter. In this instance a price for the journey should be agreed in advance. These cannot be stopped in the street and must be pre-booked with the company before hire starts.SAFETY TIP: Always check any Taxi or Minicab you hire has a current numbered plate displayed, before you get in make a note of its plate number. Speak to the driver enquire how long it will take to reach your destination? If you know the area and his reply sounds ok that’s a good start! Then send a simple text message something like this to your parents or a friend “im in a taxi number 12356 will arrive home in 15 mins” The text message should contain your correct details!! Takes just a few seconds!Please visit our website at http://www.thetaxidirectory.co.uk/ for more information on taxis and for details on licensed companies in your area.
{ 98 comments… read them below or add one }
Good advice,BUT,when Joe Public has been out on the `town`,trying for a world record for `pints consumed per hour`,neither NODA`s little check list,nor good advice is going to get much `brain cell` time,all people want is something with 4 wheels,and possibly a heater fitted to get home by the `fastest`route know to mankind….and of course by the cheapest shortcut.
I`m not critisizing NODA,(I happen to be a NODA cab) nor the advice given,if anything I would endorse it. But!! would it not be much better idea,to have police,enforcement and any other relevent agency out and about in a serious series of `stings`,and very `proactive policing` on the run up to Xmas.
Bring back an old idea aimed at night time (5pm)transport in general,`if it has 4 wheels and moves then Stop and Check IT.
That means anything from an escaped shopping trolley from Tesco up to a Boeing 747,if its picking up on the street.
Anything that is not properly `plated` (plates stuck in windows,or not displayed at all.drivers with no badges either worn or displayed,correct tarriffs,and LOCALLY LICENSED ) is sent straight to a test station,manned by police examiners,or road traffic comms,and fully checked,including drivers badges,licenses etc.
I know it wont happen,too many people turning a blind eye to the carry on….but party goers and others would be a damn site safer if we did the stings properly.
Incidentally,`Licensed Taxis` are only insured to operate in their OWN area,that is defined as 5 miles in any given direction of the seat of Local Government(LA) by which they licensed…Civic Centre is …so far as I remember…on St Marys Place N`cle…just in case anyone has been told differently.
It would also be interesting to see how many cars/drivers dissappear into the ether if the `caring` council did its job. I can remember being on the station rank,not that long ago,the then enforcement,with Plod in support,started checking cars only for `scotty to beam up`several cars,which reappeared a few hours later. Hihi..it was funny…at the time.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Dear admin you must have been busy,i posted that chronicle article a week ago and just noticed it today,anyway just to say it was not me that posted the you tube vid and the article following it.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Deka, I don’t get on the Forum much as there’s not usually much there but I’ll look more often in future.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
WARNING!
I read with interest these articles about the festive period, but there is a bigger problem hiding within the trade and that is “GREED” because “GREED” in the festive period goes a little like this;
1. The Private Hire Operator Licence Holder who often advertises one rate 24/7, 365 days a year will almost certianly put the usual £2 on every fare over the festive period, but does trading stardards get brought in to prosicute the offending Private Hire Operator Licence Holders, well the answer is “NO” and these Operators often slag the Hackney Carriage Trade as “EXPENSIVE RIP-OFF TAXIS” when we only charge our agreed rates and nothing more than that & this can sometimes mean our “RATE OF CHARGE” could be less in our TAXI, when the £2 FLAT FEE is added to the the Private Hire Rate for the same journey.
2. That £2 on every fare then attracts the really dangerous element of the driver working 18, 24, 36 hours without any 8 hour rest period of sleep because of the drivers greed & this is only allowed to happen because the Private Hire Operator Licence Holder does not install safety features within the “Computer Booking System” because as we all know to “LOG-ON you have to push an access code that “LOGS YOU IN & OUT” meaning the Private Hire Operator can stop drivers working dangerous hours & this proves they do not give a shit about passenger safety in this kind of example, because if they did, they would monitor all drivers who want to be able to be on their systems for no longer than 15 hours in a day “in any 24 hour period”.
3. This one will be disputed by some in the trade as heavy handed, but the Police should do random checking of “TAXI & Private Hire DRIVERS” over the festive period, after all if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear from a 10 minute check-up for “Drink & Drugs” that should include a signed form stating the drivers Starting Time that day for the Police Officer to varify, if computer data systems are fitted in the vehicle.
4. It should be remembered by the “Private Hire Industry” that it is always the responsiblity of the Operator Licence Holder who originally accepted the “hiring from the customer” who is lawfully responsible for that passengers “Health & Safety” at all times within the journey and it is not passed to the Driver when they accept the “hiring” in law.
The new “Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide” Act confirms most of this.
So I do hope everybody remembers “Health and Safety Issues” & nobody falls fowl of the new laws this Christmas Period and wish you all a very Merry Christmas & a Prosperous Happy New Year.
Take Care All.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@thelighthousekeeper, are you for real? do you honestly think £2 per fare is gonna bring the drivers flocking out the house over the festive period to put up with the blanks / drunks etc?
if you do 20 jobs on say boxing day or new years day you will make an extra £40 and youre trying to tell people that this will encourage drivers to work long hours on the most special time of the year. GET A LIFE !
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@thelighthousekeeper,
its not often you appear on here, and thank god, if your going to spiel this kind of shit !!
your comments are based on YOUR assumptions ! £2 on every fare brings 18 20 hour shifts ! how the hell do you get that ?? that’s like me saying because hack fares are more than mine you must be tempted to work longer hours than a P/H car ! ITS ALL SHIT YOU HAVE SAID and i hope people see you for the idiot you have made of yourself.
whats your problem with the £2 extra we charge in comparison to a restaurant charging £45 for a meal that will cost you £20 the following week ? you think trading standards is saying anything about that? maybe something should be said about why hacks need to charge more than private hire cars all our running cost are
the same in fact less as you don’t have office rents to pay !! you have boiled my P–s you cheeky git.
and if your telling me you have worked to the book all your working life and never done anything other than what health and bloody safety say you can do maybe that’s whats got you where you are today. i bet Alan sugar and all the people that have made it big did not do it your way making sure they have their 8 hours rest. its political correctness and the shit you talk about health and safety that’s got this country on its knees. I hope you come back on here and say what you wrote was a moment of madness from a drunk fest YOU have been on as it would be the only way of explaining your brief above
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, Well said!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, A lot of people come her and spout crap,from both camps, but the site is here to give a voice to anyone involved in the Taxi Trade and as long as they are not being abusive they have a right to free speech.From my own point of view it’s a bit rich that P/H operators continually intimate to the public that the Hacks are robbers and the P/H are their saviour but then come this time of year stick a surcharge on the customers that have supported them all year. Hacks are prohibited from doing this.So my point is The roles are reversed at this time of year. I’m speaking in terms of North Tyneside by the way and wouldn’t be able to quote the differences in fares in The City,but certainly on the Coast we,the Hacks, are cheaper than Private Hire at the times surcharges are applied.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Admin,
so whats your view on your higher rates for the rest of the year ? against our couple of days were we arfe proberly still cheaper !!
for example our metered fared from wallsend to chapel house plus the £2 extra will still be cheaper than any hack rate
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, Come on Ian get real… You have close association with EASTCOAST so please tell me why they charge Newcastle hack rate (set fares) all year long ?
p.s. I ask the question of you, because EASTCOAST don’t or won’t come on here to reply.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade@ian shanks, As a Hack I charge the Tarrif laid down by the Council that Licences me. How on Earth could that make me a Robber? and If I take a fare to Tynemouth from Shields on New Years Eve it will be approx £4.40. same fare in P/H wil be approx £6. I’m not going to sit here and list every possible permutation of fares and i’m not here to argue with you. You asked for my view. We don’t charge Higher rates, we charge the rates set out by the council, P/H charge a lower rate than the the rate set,for what reason I have never been sure! I don’t care what you charge but you have no right to call me a Robber!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade@thelighthousekeeper, Can you tell me what price (on new year morning) from the gate to the chapel park pub on your RATE OF CHARGE a journey of 5 miles ? I wouldnt hesatate it would be DOUBLE the price of the private hire operator who advertises one rate 24/7 364 (closed on xmas day).
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@blueline car 9, Here we go again…BLT Hack Bashin again. There’s 400 of you at BLT how come it’s the same three or four of you each time. I’ve got mates at BLT and none of them go on the way yous do, why can’t you just say your piece without goin off on one..Smacks of immaturity.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Micky, smacks of immaturity?Hack bashin ? Its just a quote im after not abuse .
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Micky, It’s not a case of Hack Bashin Micky,I take it your a Toon Hack,The lads are just responding to a comment about BLT rates.I do see your point though about the same drivers coming here all the time,If I didn’t know better I would suspect this was a BLT website but I happen to know the lads that run it and they are far from being BLT fans.It’s a good site but I think the owners need to stop the sniping that goes on as we are all here for the same thing and that is to keep the trade working well so that we can all make a decent living and not just some of us.When I worked at BLT(some years ago now)we never blatantly flimped the Toon or the Coast,we didn’t dare. But I am a hack myself now and see Flimping on a very large scale,I honestly think some of the drivers really think they are doing nothing wrong.I believe peoples earnings must be going down cause if you are kept busy in your office why would you Flimp? It’s a sign of the times I think and I don’t see it getting any better,I think the new year will be interesting.No money about,people getting laid off & coming on the Taxis,parking restrictions etc. Two weeks til Christmas and it’s shite out there,never been heard of before so things don’t look good for January,February but we’ll see won’t we!And speaking of BLT rates I was astonished the other day when my son took a cab (BLT Berwick,Foreign Driver)from the Quayside up to the Gate and was charged 11 quid!! not booked but flagged down. I would ground my son for aiding and abetting a Flimper but he’s 22 year old and bigger than me! Anyway Good site and for the record I’m not anti anything as I have worked both sides of the fence.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Micky,
that’s a bit rich with all the abuse the hacks on here have been throwing the way of private hires and their operators
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@blueline car 9,Seeing as your question never got answered blt car 9,here is a rough guess.On a newcastle xmas and bank holiday (tariff 3),it would probs be about £15 to chapel park from the gate.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Deka, Thanks for that
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@BLT driver and proud of it.
I did not say you or every driver would do this, but there are many drivers who are moving around at present to position themselves at an Office that will be open over the Christmas Period and because the Offices that are open will be very busy, it will not be just 20 jobs per shift that these drivers I am talking about will be doing in these long shifts without rest and I can tell you some of these drivers do not give a shit about it being a special time to be with their loved ones and families, because the GREED has the better of them and MONEY means more to them, because they are JEALOUS when somebody gets a better job than them & takes more money than them in a shift.
(THEY HAVE A BELEIF THAT THEY HAVE TO BE THE TOP EARNER)
I know these drivers exist who ignor driver factigue, but it is not for me to name them and shame them, it is for the Private Hire Operators to control them, was my point, so it does not happen this year like in the past with boasting to local radio presenters that they are on a 24 hour shift because it is busy, so can you play me a request mate.
I know your boss Ian would not want his passengers put at risk, but I would ask the question does BLT regulate the amount of hours a driver can work in a 24 hour period to ensure the driver does not suffer driver fatigue (ensuring say breaks every 2 hours of at least 15 minutes & the driver has at least an 8 hour solid rest period every 24 hours between Christmas Eve 24 December through to the New Year January 2nd )as 24,25,26 and 31,1,2 are the main periods where long shifts will occur because of GREED.
I have a life and do not work long hours that would cause driver fatigue, because I am sensible and go home if I feel tired and stop for a break and refreshments regulary as I practice what I preach about “Health & Safety” unlike some drivers I work alongside.
Wishing everybody a Prosperous & Safe Festive Period!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@thelighthousekeeper,
you are suggesting that all hackneys don’t work such long hours as you keep suggesting private hire and their operators yet all the hacks have bleated on about for months is having to work more hours because things are tough and getting tougher !! so if they are working more and they themselves are not breaching your almighty health and safety rules they weren’t working much in the first place !! and if they were not working much in the first place and making a living in such a short period of time they were obviously taking the eye balls out of people !! that was your other point wasn’t it !! people in glass houses shouldn’t through stones !!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
The message NODA are giving in their safety advice telling people to pre book ! is to use private hire method to ensure your safety WOW that’s a change in attitude, all of a sudden its good enough, maybe you should all stop criticizing the private hire industry then!!
PS the strap line “Do you know who is taking you home tonight?” is a Blue line Strap line for many a year !! pleased to see we get it right and people want to follow in our foot steeps !
NODAS Safety advice as Follows,
“Driving home advice”
1)Order a taxi in advance or call the booking office to avoid queuing.
2)Ask the driver what name the taxi is booked in-dont give your name first.
3)Ask to see the drivers id badge,which by law all cabbies must have.
4)All drivers should have a licence number and reg number-save them in your phone in case you need to report anything.
5)Leave with a friend if possible and ring home to let them know your on your way.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks,Section 2 of the “driving home advice”list makes me very wary.ie could an enforcement officer approach a car and ask the driver what name the car is booked in and then say thats me, and half a mile down the road he nicks the driver for illegally picking up!Sounds a bit dodgy to me?
The proper system is the best,ask the punter their name first.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Deka,
correct deka driver should always get the customers name and check it against waht he is there for !!! good man
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Ian Shanks
I am sorry if my comment has offended you personally as that was not my intention within the post & I only posted it @BLT proud because they were the only comment at the time on the site and for any confusion I apologise to you both.
The reason I mentioned Private Hire was because the Operator Has the opertunity to take the long hours situation in hand by ensuring at least 8 Hours of rest happens within any 24 hour period this Christmas that was all.
Ian I will accept that there are Hackney Drivers who work long hours to, but unfortunately there is no way to control them as they do not recieve their work by Private Hire Booking Systems.
Hope this Apology is acceptable to you both.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@thelighthousekeeper, Well said!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@thelighthousekeeper,
no apology needed your have the right to say want you want so please to !! it may give me the chance to shoot people down in flames as they enjoy doing with me !!
i am stunned tonight’s entry’s are about private hire rates over the holiday period when we are in fact far cheaper than the hacks for 95% of the year, this in fact suggests that its the hack robbing customers the rest of the year with your such high rates ??
then i see NODA promoting advance bookings in their safety campaign to the public !!
i hope this woman who has been picked up outside greys club who was attacked and beaten last night by the driver was not a hackney ? or you will be in for some shit after the constant comments on hear suggesting P/h are second rate in how we operate and conduct ourselves!
what ever next i ask ??
until we all realise we ALL take people from A-B for hire and reward and we are all the same this nonsense will keep us in the gutter.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, Firstly let me say this,the woman who was picked up by a `supposedly taxi` in Grey St,I hope the police and enforcement people gat off their `fat arses`,excuse the french,and start doing their job to try to make our trade safer from this sort of `shite`. Irrespective which office it was supposedly working from,flimping,or possibly even a licensed car.
None of us want that low life in the trade anyway.
Not having a go at BLT by this next comment,BUT,if certain parties had not exposed a certain loophole in the law,making it easy to get `micky mouse` plates from other areas,thereby allowing these clowns to get on the road,Maybe,just Maybe,that would not have happened.
Of course it could have been a licensed car that she got into,i dont rule that out,just lets hope Plod catch him. At least it happened in Gateshead,plod in Newcastle might have said it was a civil matter as is most things to do with the trade…it appears.
On a slightly better note,why are certain drivers having a go at what ever PH charge,i dont understand that,they have the right to charge as much or as little as they like,just tell the LA what they will run on. They have done this for over 30+ years….i have no problems with it. Those of us on the Hackney side of the trade,also have the right to run cheaper fares if the driver wishes to.
You all forget the metered fare is the MAXIMUM fare that may be charged,not minimum.
I know some drivers,and owners for that matter,myself included,that opposed the last tarriff increase in september.
The increase was to cover the huge hike in fuel cost,BUT as the saying goes…what goes up,can also come down….fuel has now dropped by nearly 30p per litre. Fares haven`t.
The country is in general recession,some might think i`m an idiot,BUT think about it,if the fares were reduced,and I don`t mean £1 per mile or anything stupid,i mean to say `pre september`level,we might start to pick up some work.
Watch the high st stores gentlemen and ladies,how many are giving discounts to encourage people to shop…….
Just to finish,as i said,P/H operators are generally cheaper than hacks anyway,BUT,1 thing i would say to Ian Shanks,i know from your drivers,they can add £1 to each fare for the holidays,as i understand.
Correct me if im wrong with that Ian,but how you run your business is your affair,but `in a nice way Ian` are you taking off ideas from Scrooge, i mean £1 extra on each job,most people in `proper jobs` would be at least time and 1/2,or maybe double time for working the holidays.
As was stated in another comment,hack fares are set by LA,we are not or at least the majority of us are not `robbing` anyone by charging them,whether a driver wishes to take a fare at a lesser rate is his/her own business. One thing i will say is though,If someone comes to my cab,and askes if i will do a job for a lesser amount,and I have sat there 1/2 hour or more,if its a reasonable offer,i will do it.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@john dodds,
Mr Dodds we are talking nearly on the same lines on this one !!
i agree the Police need to pull their finger out on this one, did you know for at least the last five years in the 3 or 4 months leading up to Christmas their has always been sexual assaults on the public in so called hire and reward cars (i use that term rather than say its hacks or p/h)
the police have know this happens ever year and it surprises me how they keep such things quiet. you would think knowing it happens each year they would up the enforcement to combat this if they are truly concerned about public safety.
when i requested to have our company name and logo on the side of the cars i was bemused that it ended up in a legal battle to have this approved. my claim was that the public can clearly see that they are getting into the correct car, the enforcement and the police and anyone else can see the cars wrong doings from a mile away if need be, CCTV systems can identify the cars, the partially sighted even can see the cars more clearly yet i have to fight to get the approval to display our company details. anyway more and more people are now doing it and I believe it is a positive thing
as far as fares go we do charge standard metered fares plus £2 per journey on Christmas eve after 5pm until we close, all day boxing day, new years eve after 5pm, new years day through to 6am on the 2nd Jan.
We do this, as this is what our drivers want and what i believe is reasonable, BUT i could also argue my personal feelings that this should be the other way around and the drivers should be giving the customers £2 off ever fare for providing us with their custom all year round ! but that does go down well in the camp and sadly not the way of the world !
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Ian Shanks, QUOTE we do this as this is what our drivers want UNQUOTE ARE YOU SHURE IAN
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage TradeHi. First posting for me on this site but as a female business woman who uses an awful lot of cabs here in the North East, across Yorkshire and in Central London I would just like to put a couple of points across and ask a question or two!
In Newcastle my expereince of Black Cabs in the main has never been good. I gave up with Black Cabs back end of last year when, seeing 7 or 8 gathered at the end of Hood Street in Newcastle , not one had a driver sitting in it. Suddenly from nowhere a driver appeared. I only wanted to go to Four Lane Ends, he said he didn’t know the way there so could I direct him – Good job I was a driver and was born and bred in the city – God help the visitors! The fare was £11 – absolute daylight robbery but I was a woman travelling alone and not about to kick off an argument ( albeit I can hold my own, I dont tempt fate) The same fare, from Back of BHS in a prebooked BLT car cost me £5.60 ( same time of day and everything)…So – Mr Owner Drivers and Hackney Cabs…….Why dont you know your way 2 miles out of the city or perhaps the question should be …was he really a bonafide driver and Why should I have to pay twice as much for the privelege of being your drivers A_Z?
I remember years ago, lads who worked on the taxis having to sit stringent knowledge tests – don;t you do that any more – this guy didnt even have Sat Nav so please dont use that as an excuse.
In comparison – I get in a London cab – Drive twice the distance – spend 3 times as long sitting in traffic ( waiting time) and still only end up paying half the fare and without having to give them directions ! Any ideas why?
Hitting a seperate issue – only a few months ago a colleague ( female) of mine left me in town one night ; I had prebooked a PH car home for myself -she was in a Black cab which I hasten to add she had rang and pre-booked from Newcastle Central. I got home and then a little while later got a call from her. The driver of her cab had acted innapropriately with her when she went to get out of his cab – he even followed her to her front door. He then proceeded to text her and make suggestive comments in his text. QUESTION: Why did the cab driver end up getting her number? Surely the office should do all the phoning back etc and the info should not be given to the driver! It ended up being reported to the police as a case of harrassment…for women travelling on their own…what confidence can we have that we are in safe hands in a cab?? Please tell me ???
Personally now I stick to using PH companies only and indeed have to say that some of them are better than others but my experience to date ( and the reason I have come on here) is that the BLT firm you refer to ( if I have worked it out correctly) is by far one of the better companies I have experienced. On time, know their way around, fares are always consistent and very reasonable BUT more importantly, drivers are always polite, courteous and never speak out of turn. Maybe some drivers have lost the point that Business is Business and I consider myself their customer when I am in the cab – as such, I expect only polite and courteous behaviour – much the way I am treat in London for half the price. Who or what gives a driver in Newcastle the right to think he can talk to me with anger or agression, huff or puff because I want him to take me somewhere he may not consider a ‘good enough fare’. Hey – if you cant stand the heat – get out of the kitchen !!
Sorry but for a female lone traveller I vote for PH and I give BLT 9/10 ( Im a woman and therefore cant give you 10 ).
I am sure that if more customers were aware of sites like this then you would start to get some real debate…until then I suppose you will all keep griping amongst yourselves.
One more measure – A hackney cab from the AIrport to home will cost me £34+ – I get the same PH fare for £23 – I give PH my business !
In the meantime I will continue to use Private Hire and feel safe that I will get to where I need to be without having to be an A-Z and for a reasonable cost.
Hope all that is taken in the spirit it is given
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@JD&C, Dear female business woman, are you Phyliss from the upfront taxi magazine ? if not you are one hell of a mixed up woman, maybe next time you get a taxi or private hire you should ask the driver for a copy of the mag
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@joe king,
Mixed up ??? Phyllis??? Sometimes people views and opinions aren’t necessarily the same as others but that is what good debate is all about. I simply stated my personal experience and that of a friend. You are quite entitled to disagree but dont get so personal – it doesn’t make for healthy debate !!!!
Why would I want a copy of a mag when I get in a taxi ? I simply want to to be taken from A-B and sometimes back again
Strange…but I thought that was what taxis were for – maybe I am mixed up and have it all wrong !!!!
I always thought you went to a Newsagent if you wanted a mag – or have I got that wrong too????….in the book according to Joe King !
What is interesting is that you had no comment to make or response to any of the points I raised – Many thanks for your feedback.
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@JD&C, Dear Phyliss, you sound like a very good prospect, you work, you have opinions, maybe you are even intelligent. I would love to get to know you if your up for it, I dont do married women btw. I will send you an email to the address you posted and maybe we can discuss our differences over a Starbucks, or getting real, a McDonalds
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@JD&C,
very interesting post and i thank you for your comments reference BLT !
what i would say is we all get an occasional “BAD APPLE” and if you ever find one of our drivers to be rude or act inappropriately please inform us.
In the meantime thank you for your business
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@JD&C,
The owner of Newcastle Central (Mac) is a good friend of mine, when I told him about the comment you made that I have copied and pasted below he said it was the first that he had heard of it.
Mac takes passenger safety very seriously and any driver suspected of harrassing or acting inappropriately with any passenger would be fired on the spot.
Mac can be contacted at Central Taxis, 0191 2212233.
You said:
“Hitting a seperate issue – only a few months ago a colleague ( female) of mine left me in town one night ; I had prebooked a PH car home for myself -she was in a Black cab which I hasten to add she had rang and pre-booked from Newcastle Central. I got home and then a little while later got a call from her. The driver of her cab had acted innapropriately with her when she went to get out of his cab – he even followed her to her front door. He then proceeded to text her and make suggestive comments in his text. QUESTION: Why did the cab driver end up getting her number? Surely the office should do all the phoning back etc and the info should not be given to the driver! It ended up being reported to the police as a case of harrassment…for women travelling on their own…what confidence can we have that we are in safe hands in a cab?? Please tell me ???”
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jd&c, you are so obviously MRS Shanks or something close to that! Even Phylliss would tell you that. Come on Ian, hide it a little better?
Regards, Phylliss
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@Phylliss,
It is unfortunate that so many of you fail to see that all I was doing was offering some constructive input for debate, as an outsider. Clearly you are not interested in an outsiders point of view and see this site merely as a place to ‘bitch’ amongst yourselves.
I would once again draw your attention to the fact that there has been no offer of any response to the points I raised – thats fine – it tell me all I need to know – you are not interested in what the customer thinks. Your message is loud and clear – you lot only want to make money and you are’nt really bothered how you do it !
I do hope I never end up a customer in ‘Jokings’ cab – whatever would he say to that ???
Thank you to Ian SHanks for the ‘civil’ acknowledgment. I presume you are the Mr of the Mrs being referred to on here.
Oh – If Mrs Shanks is in London this week, perhaps she would like to meet up for coffee ?? I have absolutely no hangups about revealing who I am on a F2F basis, but not here on a public domain.
You see – I am actually a Civil Servant and my friend who had the unfortunate experience with a Black Cab driver is actually a local councillor – bring it on boys – you are way out of your depth !!!!!!
I will concede now on the basis that I am thankful I do not work in your industry – if I did I would be totally ashamed of myself and those around me and would look for another job.
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@JD&C, I have never read such a big load of rubbish in my short, multi gendered life. Your original post was so full of inacuracies that most probably think it not worthy of comment. Thanks for the input though, Mrs Shanks.
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@Phylliss,
the sad think is i know your making a fool of yourself as i know its not my wife or anyone i even know !!
so while people hide behind names this is a case why people should put true names and ID’s rather than having it discredited by someone who just does want to except the truth.
Admin can you confirm the ID of this person in anyway while keeping their identity to yourself. but letting phylis know how foolish he is being ? or would the true id of JD&C have anyway or be willing to prove this person to be the fool he is ?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, just read it again, thought I might see some clarity, but no, still ???????
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade@ian shanks,
Sorry to cause so much of a problem with you untrusting lot !!!
My name is Anne, I live in northumberland, for obvious reasons I cannot give my work email address, as I said before I work in Central Government and it woudl not be prudent of me to do so however, my personal email annegray6260@aol.com
Now – would anyone like me to show my knickers in Fenwicks window too ??
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade@JD&C, i’ve read what you say and i’ve got to say at times i do feel ashamed to work along side some of the people who post on here but rest assured we’re not all dimwits, some of us actually take pride in what we do and do it very well.
Don’t take literaly what some of these people on here, its mostly hot air cause they revert to name calling as they dont have answers to perfectly valid question.
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@BLT driver and proud of it,
Sad is the word that jumps to mind !!!!
And to think that these people are meant to be intelligent enough to drive a taxi – never mind the fact they are carrying passengers…and charging them for it too !!!
Give the jobs to people who actually care about what they do and banish such eejots from the roads !
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???????
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@Phylliss,
so you were wrong !! and its sad that because people on here don’t want to believe what people say in their posts that you feel you have to make up storeys of “its his wife” or its Ian Shanks under another name etc etc
face facts and understand there is a world out there other than a yours !
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Time For a Breather Lads’n Lasses…..
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@JD&C
Just a couple of points,firstly,its not uncommon for drivers to not sit in their cabs on a rank,we do get out and chat,both amongst ourselves and the public. We can wait anything up to an hour for a job and to expect drivers sit in their cars at all times,i would say is not reasonable.
Secondly,I agree with you over the drivers having local knowledge,when I started that was not optional,it was a requirement,as far as Newcastle is concerned,it still is as is North Tyne,Morpeth,Gateshead….among others. `Sat Nav` is usefull but should not replace local knowledge.
As for fares,you dont mention time of day or night,£11from Hood St,to 4 Lane Ends seems a little high,i can get there for around the £10 mark,but thats at night,no traffic,during the day,traffic,lights and delays could be right.
As for the Airport,you quote £34+ to get home,but not where you live.
From the airport to Town is about £16 with a straight run,during heavy traffic that would increase,so £34 is over the top,BUT without knowing where you went,its impossible give an average fare.
One other thing,taxi fares are certainly cheaper in Newcastle than London,with their extra charges for bags,passengers and zonal charges,which we don`t have. But yes London cabbies are better trained than we are due to `The Knowledge`which you MUST pass to get your badge and plate.
They dont have drivers relying on `sat nav`to find W.H.Smith at the central stn like some in the Town do.
It`s your choice as to whether to use black cabs,or private hire(mini cabs),but please don`t tar all drivers with the same brush,there are still some of us that know where Jesmond is from Town
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Dear John,I am a newcastle hackney!so can you please explain why in the last couple of months has a newcastle hackney driver asked me where”dunston”is and to top it all “where is barrack rd”!!!!!
John what i mean is if they pasted the stringent newcastle locality test how did they not know?
Rules for one hmmmmmmm
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@Deka, Dear Deka,the answer to that is very simple,these drivers have NOT done any locality test,instead,are driving a friend or relations car,while the proper driver has a night off……been happening for years….Once again,total lack of interest on either the councils or police side,neither has any intention of doing any enforcement properly until they are forced to.
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All i mean mr dodds is we are all not superhuman,and we all started in this job from scratch(remember)without no model boats!!!!!.
So dear john,before you call other peeps,just remember the ones that got a badge in newcastle even tho they never knew the area!
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@Deka, apologies john,i read the posts wrong.
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@Deka, lol….thats ok….its Xmas…ill let u off….hehe anyway i have broad shoulders so if people have a go at me they leave someone else alone…….hihi
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iam i north tyneside hack driver me and another car were sitting down at the navy boat that was docked at the royal quays last sun night when a toon hack driver pulled up think he was a eastern european ??? asked us where the royal marines reserves was his customer even had the directions printed off the Internet yet he still came all the way down to north shields how is this possible what are ppl that are not from the area going to think of us if this happening i know we cant know every where but if have printed instructions should not be that hard
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@taxi112, Whats the bets they got charged for the round trip.
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@Deka, you’d like to think that a royal marine would tell the driver to f*** off if he tried to change for the round trip
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@SC,thats fair enough bud but what happens when it is a woman going to a party and she just pays the fare as she is frightened?????
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
just a brief comment on this job from town to TIC with a RM guy,if he doesn`t know the area that well,I know from personel experience that going completely the wron way and back has happened and the punter has been charged round trip.
Similar thing happened about 2 yrs ago,squaddie just starting training at Albermarle barracks at Harlow hill there was taken to Ouston at Ch.Le.St,because some fool put on his direction sheet that it used to be RAF Ouston,which was right,BUT some brain dead wonder took him to Chester and back to Harlow hill….the base Comander rang NODA`s office to ask what the hell was going on. Following that we were doing a set fare to the barracks from our office.
So yes it is likely the guy was charged,or an attempt made to charge round mileage.
As for Deka`s reply concerning a young woman,well thats why this sort of `shite` to it,its called intimidation,a case of i want £xxx for a job that should be £yyy or ill get plod. As I have told many fares I have talked to about this,if the driver asks for a fare that the passenger knows is over the top,and thretens the plod,then I tell them to ring plod themselves,as the driver is most likely ringing his mates to back him up. I also tell lone women to keep their mobiles handy and if anything does happen like that ring plod using the 999 system,as you have no idea what the clown will do.
I know what I would do with these low life,trouble is its not quite legal………
Anyway lets all hope we have a good Xmas and New Year,hopefully staying in 1 piece…..
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Aye i totally agree john,but !!!!and i mean buttttttttttt what about the cherry pickers who sit around the akenside etc and say £10 to jes cos i am on a job etc! There car has a newcastle hack plate on the back!
A hack is only allowed to price a job higher when he is going to leave his borough as i was always led to believe!
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Hi, I am back….
I see all the Tit for tat is still going on, Point taken Admin, I have just viewed this site recently and agree to talk sense in the future….Promise!, after reading your Xmas safety Article!
Regards
Stephen Arthur
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@Stephen (FKA Central Enth.), omg.. your back, thats just what i need after one of my worst ever Saturdays (apart from the one i had off about a zillion years ago)
Just joking, welcome back.
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Reference to Article 4. (Safety)
What License/Company did the Driver come from that knocked down the 23 year old and the 18 year old TOGETHER!???? over the weekend, according to the News he has been arrested.
And any news on who kicked Mrs Sayers? (Article in last Saturday’s Chronicle), FINALLY, Which Gateshead based Driver punched a Woman next to the “Dogs”? (Brough Park)
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Safety at Christmas!
I and my two decent Customers were nearly squashed tonight by a BOGUS driver in Whitley Bay.
I got a booking from Woolworths, picked up the two Customers going back to Wallsend, pulled away from Woolies up to the Lights, as one Customer wanted a Donner from the Kebab King, as the Lights turned Green I pulled away, to my amazement a Silver People Carrier overtook me Then shot accross in front of me down towards South Parade, I had to slam the Breaks, swerve and nearly ended up through a No Entry sign at Victoria Terrace!!!
Customers…Not Happy, neither were the two Cops standing nearby!
This was clearly a Bogus Taxi, as it had two Passenger Door Stickers on from a well known firm, BUT!, no Plate on, not even the back window and no Council Stickers on the Doors (If it was local).
Watch out for it, the Driver can’t drive, well not safely!
It’s a Silver People Carrier, Galaxy type, Reg No. I think…it all happened so quick….MF55 AVB, could be a N at the front, but definately 55 AVB on the end!
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Stephen, why didnt you report it there and then ?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Steve,
Who could I report it to?
The term “Bogus” was just a Joke, I think he was a Berwick BLT with no Plate displayed at all!, I think his windows are too tinted for NT, however I would’nt know, the amount of ex Berwick idiots they have licensed this Christmas makes Dave Wilson of Berwick Council a bloody Saint!!!!
So if they allow all these idiots a Badge, then no harm done Licensing a Car with Tinted Windows.
Regards
Stephen
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@Stephen (FKA Central Enth.), There are several cars floating around with heavily tinted windows both in NT and Town, 1 or 2 of them,so dark that it makes me wonder if the tinting was done after the vehicle was licensed. Newcastle will only license a normally light tint,but I know of several drivers who tinted the windows later.
In Town,its like table tennis with Plod blaming the council and council blaming plod…..just wonder what happens when the score reaches `deuce`.
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ian can i report a ‘bad apple’ then.
the derwentside plated audi that continually sits outside Ameens and Athena when he has no job. The same driver who told a lady when she asked if he was booked to get in. the same driver who has been told by the hacks that we know what he is doing but doesnt seem to care!
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I think it’s OK naming “Flimpers” and idiots that flout the Laws of the Trade, but we ALL need to educate the Public really!
Do you think that three or four slightly dressed young Lasses on a cold frosty December night care what kind of Taxi they flag down??… I think the answer is a No, No!
WE must somehow try and educate the revellers of Whitley Bay, Newcastle, Jesmond and Tynemouth that they must only flag down NT and NC Hacks, NOT rip a door off a PH lurking around!!! OR Derwentside/Berwick Bandits.
Is that fair to say??
If no one gets in the Flimp Mobiles, they will soon get sick and find a Office or work their respectve Offices!
Regards
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
reading this post again, this site seems to become more of a BLT advertising feature every day.
JD&C – I find it astonishing that you being a member of the public who happens to use taxis a lot, just happen to stumble upon this site. You must spend a lot of time browsing the web. I being in the trade would not have known about it had it not have been pointed out to me, and, most other hack drivers i speak to didnt know it existed. so well done there.
as for hood street, well if we sat all day in our seats, taxis drivers accross the country would single handidly keep procter and gambles piles reasearch department going. And contary to what many may belive, taxi drivers have learned the art of speach and do talk to each other, mostly in grunts and growls though.
IF you had any doubts you should have taken the plate and badge number, and after all you work for the council, reported him to licencing.
And London Cab drivers I pick up who are here for a stag do, not even that the hen and stag partys from london, all mostly comment on how cheap the taxis are up here. As John said, I am willing to bet the same distance journey in london would cost twice as much in a hackney carriadge, due to higher rates and traffic. Correct me if i am wrong but dosent a london cab start on £5.00 flagfall?
so you continue to use ph, the firm that you have bigged up on here, BLT, cause you dont want to be an A-Z for a hack? Admin, thats got to be the funniest statment on here!
I have lost count the amount of times a BLT (berwick plates) have nearly taken me off the road on the central motorway (amongst others) when the driver is watching his tomtom cause he doesent know whether he should come off for jesmond road or the great north road. TIP: come off at the one you think is right, IF it is wrong turn round at the nearest safe place and go back and try again. IF you have a passenger in, apologise and knock the difference off the fare. That way you wont cause other drivers to swerve out of your way at 50 mile and hour!
plain and simple, theres good in bad in every walk of life, from taxi drivers to police officers, to councilors!
but I do feel that this has been nothing short of a BLT advertising campaign. Not that i am against BLT advertising, they could take ALL the PH work from here to outer mongolia for all i care. more enforcement by the LA is what i want.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
reading this post again, this site seems to become more of a BLT advertising feature every day.
JD&C – I find it astonishing that you being a member of the public who happens to use taxis a lot, just happen to stumble upon this site. You must spend a lot of time browsing the web. I being in the trade would not have known about it had it not have been pointed out to me, and, most other hack drivers i speak to didnt know it existed. so well done there.
as for hood street, well if we sat all day in our seats, taxis drivers accross the country would single handidly keep procter and gambles piles reasearch department going. And contary to what many may belive, taxi drivers have learned the art of speach and do talk to each other, mostly in grunts and growls though.
IF you had any doubts you should have taken the plate and badge number, and after all you work for the council, reported him to licencing.
And London Cab drivers I pick up who are here for a stag do, not even that the hen and stag partys from london, all mostly comment on how cheap the taxis are up here. As John said, I am willing to bet the same distance journey in london would cost twice as much in a hackney carriadge, due to higher rates and traffic. Correct me if i am wrong but dosent a london cab start on £5.00 flagfall?
so you continue to use ph, the firm that you have bigged up on here, BLT, cause you dont want to be an A-Z for a hack? Admin, thats got to be the funniest statment on here!
I have lost count the amount of times a BLT (berwick plates) have nearly taken me off the road on the central motorway (amongst others) when the driver is watching his tomtom cause he doesent know whether he should come off for jesmond road or the great north road. TIP: come off at the one you think is right, IF it is wrong turn round at the nearest safe place and go back and try again. IF you have a passenger in, apologise and knock the difference off the fare. That way you wont cause other drivers to swerve out of your way at 50 mile and hour!
plain and simple, theres good in bad in every walk of life, from taxi drivers to police officers, to councilors!
but I do feel that this has been nothing short of a BLT advertising campaign. Not that i am against BLT advertising, they could take ALL the PH work from here to outer mongolia for all i care. more enforcement by the LA is what i want. to catch these ph people who seem to care so much about passengers and there saftey, picking up people unisured!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Andy Warhol, Andy, It is not my intention for this site to be an advertising campaign for BLT. I will say this though: There are over 400 Hacks NT & Town who have taken TooManyTaxis.co.uk stickers and no Private Hire. I would therefore ask why are there fewer Hacks than Private Hire coming here to shout their corner? The site is the sum total of it’s content,in the main the content is made up of comments from drivers; ergo it becomes a vehicle for those that comment most. I talk to many Hacks about this site and they all have visited,a lot moan & groan about BLT this and BLT that and I say to them “put in your two pennorth by making a comment” they don’t! they come back to me and moan some more. I have provided a platform but the Hacks don’t seem to want to step up.
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@Admin,
i totally agree with you. and others who post on here are also trying to kill this site before it gets a good chance to get going.
at the moment times are hard, but after christmas I am going to sort meslf out with a digi camera. so to all you ph drivers who regually flimp from the same spot, say cheeeeessssee!!!
and as has been said, when we put it in the publics eye (JD&C) perhaps, then the LA will be shamed into acting. And NAME AND SHAME THESE GUYS!
after all a close friend of mine was named and shamed in our local rag, for an alledged physical assault on a passanger. They were quick to point him out, and give the story of the ‘poor’ innocent punter. to cut a long story short, on the day of the trial, it turns out that CCTV footage had appeared which totally backed up the drivers version of events, police officer got dressing down from the judge, and the ‘victim’ was sent on his way, tail between legs. my friend was hit with minimum points and fine for parking on a pavement. just so the judge didnt waste several hours of the crown courts times.
so why not newcastle, NAME and SHAME the guys you caught flimping, afterall NT did it last year, and it lets joe public like (ahem) JD&C know that while hacks might all be miserable bastards, who dont know every crack and crevice outside there licencing authority and (over)charge what tarriff there COUNCIL set, the 9/10 ph firms of this world might not be the angels that they think.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
YET AGAIN THE LOCAL PRESS PUT US IN A BAD LIGHT.
look at the EVENING CHRONICLE 31st DEC 2008
How many members of the general public will ‘tar’ us all with the same brush?
For every bit of good we try and do for the trade the local press try to cast a shadow over us!
Happy new year to all except TOM MULLEN, the article’s writer
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@BLT driver and proud of it,
The Chronicle must have had a bad experience in a Taxi I think!!!
It’s OK doing a Story about a incident or crime, but dig deeper, just look at that Hit and Run Driver, they only stated it happened in Durham and the Driver drove off!, in this climate we need the License to be mentioned and the firm, so we are not all thrown in the same Pot!!!!!!!!!!
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@BLT driver and proud of it, Maybe this story will make the council think twice about who the grant licence’s to knowing they will be named and shamed?, this can only help the trade in the long term. I for one am not happy that I pay for a CRB check to prove am a law abiding citizen, fit to driver people around, only to find out its a waste of time as by the looks of it they take anybody. I am not happy knowing that some were a driver with an indecent assault charge could be taking a member of my family home!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Travelling by taxi or bus does require some safety measures. If at all possible women should share a taxi with a fellow traveller, and women should only enter taxis that are registered and licensed. Women should never sit up front next to a taxi driver, but instead should board the back of the taxi, preferably behind some form of protective barrier. Women should always wear the seatbelts provided, and carry a map so that they can keep track of the route the taxi driver is taking. If it appears that the driver is not going to the desired destination, women should speak up immediately or even be prepared to place an emergency mobile phone call. Similarly, women on local buses should always try to keep their mobiles on and ready to use. Alternately lone women travellers can carry a personal safety device or a GPS tracking device.
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buddi
You quoted “”Woman should share a Taxi with a fellow Traveller”, I believe that a Lass did this a few weeks ago with a Asian bloke and he attacked her!, coming out of Town, the Police are looking for the Taxi Driver as a WITNESS!!!!!!!!!
Best advice for any Lass Travelling alone should be that she books a Taxi from her local Taxi firm, and she should insist on it being locally licensed with a local Driver if you get my drift!,
Local Driver meaning that the Driver will know the better route!
Regards
Stephen
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@buddi,
Firstly,I assume you are a `licensed hackney driver`and not 1 of our many `lookalikes` currently floating around the town,or an employee of certain taxi companies trying to slander the rest of us.
Cab sharing is as old as the hills,but many dont want to share with strangers,prefering to get home in their own cab,
Assaults on passengers,in the north east at any rate,I think are few and far between,I certainly havent seen many cases in the press or media. Can`t speak for other areas,but in Newcastle we dont have many cases….I dont think…someone can correct me on that.
As for `tagging` women with GPS to track movements…I think you been watching too much James Bond 007.
The UK has always been a free country,where you can within the law,go and do what you want. You cant put `tracking devices` on people just to monitor where and what they do…that breaches human rights big time.
A woman may go out dressed as she sees fit,rightly or wrongly thats her choice,shes entitled to it and as such is entitled to assume or expect to get in a taxi and travel where she likes without worry what may happen to her.
97% of drivers in Newcastle are hard working honest guys who would not allow a woman to get into a dodgy car,if we knew it to be so.
This has been the arguement over the `out of area cars`,pirating in town,who are these drivers,are they safe,why get an out of town plate,is it because they cant get a proper local plate for some reason.
They are the danger buddi,get at the council about their policy of non enforcement,if your really that worried,because thats where your problem lies….IF we have a problem,which I doubt.
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@buddi,
“Women should never sit up front next to a taxi driver”
“preferably behind some form of protective barrier”
“carry a map so that they can keep track of the route the taxi driver is taking”
“carry a personal safety device or a GPS tracking device”?
Or they could book a reputable company they can trust!
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“carry a map so that they can keep track of the route the taxi driver is taking”
have you ever seen a womans handbag, theres probably already one in there!
it amases me that you make out that attacks on passengers are a common thing! How many taxis are there in the north east? it’s inevitable that there will be cases, some of which will NOT be the drivers fault! how many taxi drivers go out on a friday to attack or rape someone? Dont always believe your passengers point of view! it’s simple theres good and bad in EVERY walk of life, there always has been and always will be,,, thats human nature!
dont try and make out that it’s a major problem, that one woman a week gets raped, that 20 students go missing every year, cause that aint the case! perverts, yes, rapists and serial killers, no.
but look no further than the fire brigade who continue to do laps of the city blasting there horn at anything with decent pins, are these not perving to? or the police when parked up watch the ladies go by, and often have a flirt with a drunken girl at the window, perving? how many woman would look if brad pit walked down the street with no top on, stephen you’d probbably cop a look n’all! (joking)
we’ve all been asked by a passenger to take them somewhere and for whatever reason we’ve been unable too, we’ve suddenly been the biggest bas***d under the sun and even had things hoyed at the car!
but by taxi drivers making out this is a problem, then the public will continue to think this is a problem.
the reality is, you’ve got more chance getting attacked off a late bus than you have in a LEGALLY licenced taxi!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Good point Andy!
I think the risk is with us all everywhere!
Is Buddi a Driver who has made the comment I wonder???, obviously not I think!
About 4 years ago I was Jogging along the Sea front at Whitley Bay (Yes, me Jogging but 4 st Lighter back then), it was a Saturday afternoon when the Strippers and Pole dancers are on, a Stripper appeared from one of the Bars on the front to talk to one of the Bouncers, she was wearing sexy undies, a Police Patrol Car hit the Kerb as she emerged, that was his Tracking knackered, because the Cop was too busy looking at her, so you are right the Police and Fire Brigade like a a good cruise, look at that Paramedic convicted recently of taking Pics of Lasses either ill, Drunk or injured in his care!.
And Bouncers, they are all CRB checked these days, they go a bit further than looking don’t they??
Any genuine Taxi/PH Driver will only be interested in getting his fare, CASH!
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
It’s entirely possible that ‘buddi’ is a member of the travelling public. Which, if so, I happen to think is a good thing! so let’s not be too harsh as everyone is entitled to their input. After all if you can get the public on side you are getting somewhere.
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stephen,
is ‘jogging’ some coastal slang for dogging?
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Hi Andy
The Lighthouse Car Park at Whitley Bay is listed on a “Dogging” Website, but for the record I was referring to Running!
Getting back to Buddi’s comment, I agree with Admin leave him/her alone if they are just a member of the Public!.
Anyway Andy where were you on Wednesday night???, a bit of Hand Bags outside the Co-Op on Newgate Street, not one Newcastle Hack was bothered, scenario; 5 Berwick Bandits just ranking up and blatantly flimping, one of them nicked my Booking, the rest were just taking anyone who knocked on their Windows, one Asian NC Hack did stop, but was racially abused by the Bandits and a silver Berwick Merc beeped him out of the way and hurled abuse at him as well heading towards the Traffic lights at Gallowgate, I was P***ed off by what I had seen, so pulled away empty because my Job was nicked by these Jokers, and went and had a word with the Hacks at Munchies on Percy Street and told them to get along to the Gate and chase them idiots and they do the work, the Lad I spoke to was not bothered his reponse was “we had a meeting and their is nowt we can do”, I thought this would have been a case for Andy and John!!!!!, but I don’t know where you hang out!
Regards
Stephen
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Just thought I d check in with my feedback on last week,
Well done to the hack from the gate rank that dropped a 17 year old lass off in the middle of follingsby park industrial estate because he couldn’t find leam lane. Well done the the hack from grey street that dropped a fifty five year old lady at cowgate roundabout because he missed the turn off for heaton.
And last of all well done Mr Shanks for a successful advertising
campaign that achieved a one hour waiting time for a blue line taxi last saturday night.
Keep up the good work guys, your doing Newcastle proud.
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RealityBites
One hour waiting time at BLT!!!!, is’nt that good, at least someone is busy!
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
are you srious?what the f**k is going on? a driver picking up at the gate ending up at cowgate when hes supposed to be going to heaton!how the hell do these people get a badge! and if hes that thick why is he not using sat nav,the same goes for the leam lane job,now before anybody dives in slagging off sat nav,we all know its not perfect or infalable but its better than putting clowns like this behind the wheel of a taxi,and regarding blueline taxis with a one hour waiting time all that tells me is they’ve got more graft than they have cars,which begs the question,why is everybody fighting and bitching about the lack of work?go see mr.shanks get a radio start making some money!,or is this too simplistic,
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Please dont say blueline has more graft than cars cos mr shanks will start more drivers. i done a dayshift on tuesday ( against my religion ) and at one point there was 95 cars waiting for work.Dont you think on pay weekend every ph office is full of graft?
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how much did you make for the time you were on the road ??
and allow me to check that out
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I had a better friday and saturday night than tuesday dayshift. I prefer the jobs waiting for me than vice versa!!
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@ jimmy d
I agree sav navs are useful but for F**k sake drivers should be able to take passengers to the general area. I’ve been on the road for 5yr and there is times when I’m not sure of a street name but I know the areas well enough to head for a main road, pub or estate and so should all every driver. I myself have getting into a hack that wasn’t sure how to get me home. However I do live in a small place, its called Wallsend !!!! thats right he wasn’t sure how to get from town to Wallsend.
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derwentside hack Reply:
March 8th, 2009 at 1:55 am
I had a better friday and saturday night than tuesday dayshift. I prefer the jobs waiting for me than vice versa!!
that was not my question !!! try answering it please !!
ps i would hope any driver would have a better Friday and Saturday night than Tuesday day shift !!
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@joe king,
it is not for me to comment on pauls policys but he does charge a set fare from newcastle to anywhere west of i believe £9.50 and east of the A19 i believe is £11.50 !! i think that is correct ?
but paul runs a sucessfull business and it seems to work for him so what is the problem if thats his choice???
i dont understand why it is bothering you ??
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@Admin,
i will need to apologise to you if i have called you a robber !! but can you show me where i have said that so i can see in what tense i was putting it as i can not find that post !
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Ian Shanks, I’m Happy to oblige you Mr.Shanks. Here is the offending paragraph from your Comment: “i am stunned tonight’s entry’s are about private hire rates over the holiday period when we are in fact far cheaper than the hacks for 95% of the year, this in fact suggests that its the hack robbing customers the rest of the year with your such high rates ??” The intention is obvious to slur the Hacks and Re: the comment from JD&C there will probably be several comments from so called ‘Business Men & women’ in the next few days. As administrator of this site I view this simply as ‘Slagging by Proxy’ and if I see too much of it,whilst all very amusing I will Delete,Delete,Delete…what I keep trying to convince you all is that we are not here to damage each others reputations. The Council and anybody else who cares to suck money out of us must be laughing their socks off at this charade!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, it bothers me because EASTCOAST charge a set fare of £9-50 to Station Road North in Wallsend, almost town hack 2 rates. No wonder they “sit” in the town zone waiting for jobs…. the sooner North Tyneside Council enforce the zoning policy the better.
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@Phylliss,
sorry i did write that in a hurry didnt i !! its should have been !!
the sad thing is, i know your making a fool of yourself as i know its not my wife or anyone i even know !!
so while people hide behind names, this is a case why people should put true names and ID’s, rather than having their article discredited by someone who just does not want to except the truth.
Admin can you confirm the ID of this person in anyway while keeping their identity to yourself. but letting phylis know how foolish he is being ? or would the true id of JD&C have anyway or be willing to prove this person to be the fool he is ?
Anyway the true person has made herself known and i thank her for that. i would also like to say its nice to have some imput from the user of our services as a indusrty!!
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@derwentside hack,
i am very sure !!! drivers definitely want to charge more than the normal rate !! like i have said should it not be us giving our customers some thing back in return for their custom other than a high price tag ?
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@ian shanks, What do you suggest you give your customers back in return for their custom?(the ones that show up after booking a cab )
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