In North Tyneside the Charge for a Private Hire Operator Licence is £275 and
for that £275 you can have a Licence to accept “Hiring’s” and to operate those
“Hiring’s” you have say 400 Vehicles paying you £100 a week making the
Licence Holder £40,000 a week or around £2 Million a year for just £275.
The Private Hire Driver has to pay £236 if his vehicle is under 4 years old
or £274 if older than 4 years old and will probably generate around £……..
Turnover from street ranks only as a Hackney Carriage Driver, or £…………..
Plus turnover if a Private Hire Driver. I have purposely left driver takings blank as it’s up to individual drivers how many hours and/or shifts they work. Point being: For the drivers £274 a £40,000 per week potential is way out of reach.
When Ian, we know who ‘Ian’ is, when he comes on this site and says “LA’s don’t do enough etc”
He pays the same Council fees as me and gets a 2 Mil return. The LA sells him an operator’s Licence which gives him the opportunity to make this kind of Money. I don’t begrudge him a penny of it, good luck to you but I do think the Council are the Suckers here! If I bought a bigger House they would up my Council Tax, if in a year or two I bought an even bigger one they would up it again.(this won’t happen, I don’t earn enough)
Maybe we don’t get the enforcement we need because they can’t afford it!!
SOLUTION:
£275 generating £2 Million! now is this not something that should be looked
at by the Local Authorities and a restructuring of Local Authority
Enforcement financing possibly being generated from increasing tiers of operators fees, starting by all means at £275 for a small Taxi business with say 10 cars and increasing incrementally for every 10 cars added to the operators licence.
It seems, in North Tyneside at least, that the burden of enforcement has become unmanageable and a huge pain in the backside for ‘Enforcement’ Fleets have grown considerably over the last 15 – 20 years (the jobsworths never saw it coming, however obvious to everyone else) and a blind eye is being turned. How else can I put that? No-one at the Council wants to say anything that would help, no-one at the Council wants to even give a list of prosecutions, though they say they have many.
It must be lack of Money; it has to be, why else would a Council officer shirk his or her responsibilities to the Public and the trade that they licence, it can only be money. They created this mess if not only with their Zoning policy which opened a floodgate for hundreds of Private Hire but by ignoring Committees advice on said Zoning policy: Read This:
Research and consultation with the other Authorities had revealed no other cases of zoning at the present time. The main reason for this appeared to be the risk of Plying for Hire by the private hire vehicles and conflict with the hackney carriage trade. THE COUNCIL WERE WARNED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN BACK in 1993, what we are experiencing at epidemic proportions now and they still decided the following!
(1) a policy of zoning by vehicles be approved on the basis that locations are within areas of PRIVATE LAND which are to the satisfaction of the Head of Transport and Engineering and the Policy and Resources Committee be requested to amend the delegation scheme accordingly;
(2) The unrestricted zoning of vehicles by new private hire operators is not to be approved;
(3) minute 721(19)/1/93 concerning the approval of zoning if they are sited on private land and not on public highways be rescinded;
(4) Zoning for existing licensed private hire vehicle operators requiring an increase in the number of hackney carriage and private hire vehicles for which they are currently licensed to operate be approved. Subject to approval of locations by the Head of Transport and Engineering as outlined in (1) above;
(5) the private hire vehicle operator’s licence conditions be amended to the effect that all private hire vehicles being operated under the above scheme should when empty, and not having another job to go to, RETURN TO THEIR OPERATORS BASE OR BASES; and
(6) The zoning policy be reviewed within 12 months.
The Full article can be read here:
Point being large operators have little to condemn the Council for as it is down to the Council that they have grown their businesses. Cheap, Very cheap operator’s Licence fee and an unapproved Zoning policy which enabled them to grow their fleets to staggering proportions.
“The main reason for this appeared to be the risk of Plying for Hire by the private hire vehicles and conflict with the hackney carriage trade.”
There! A Council that did have foresight unfortunately they didn’t have the Council officers to back up their decisions back in 1992 and here we are living out the fears of that Committee. North Tyneside ….Get your money’s worth you created it you deserve it!
This Article Submitted by e-mail and altered slightly by me.
{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
Admin!
Get your maths in order 40k a week?? what about the £115.00 per week company Cars, safe to say nearer £60k???
Just a joke not getting at you about Maths, before we get into a numeracy Battle!!
Stephen
PS Bill Gates & Richard Branson would find it hard to turn less than £300 into 2 million!!!!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Stephen (FKA Central Enth.), Stephen!…..You have been Binned and if you need to ask why,you are a Moron.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Admin, NT Council licensing department is not short of money, it is the question of how they spend them. I was recently told, by a very reliable man, that NT Council shifted about £150,000.00 from licensing department to another department of NTC, but auditors made them to return the money back. So if flimping is a big issue for you, then you should demand LA to take necessary action and deal with those drivers who flimp.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Polish BLT Driver, Which reliable source told you he was very reliable.You may be a very nice person but some of us here have experience of the people in the trade and the councils involved going back 30 years. Do you? yes you only know what you see and you are treated kindly,given job,home, everything rosy, send money home to family! That’s lovely I don’t even begrudge you it but don’t come here thinking you know everything about everything!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Paul T, What you are saying here? That if I got “place under the sun” I got to keep my mouth shut? You know what, I am old enough to remember those times when “sun was shiny” above my head, the place I had to leave 10 years ago, because about 20 years ago “democracy” and all other “freedoms” were brought to my country by the west and “sun” slowly disappeared behind the “clouds” of all those “freedoms”, which is basically – power and money to the reach. Who do you think those reach people are? A great majority of them are westerns or some easterners to whom westerns trusted the money. Would not want to talk politics here anymore.
As far as your 30 years experiens is concerned – use it, do something!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Polish BLT Driver, No offence man! that’s a bit of an over reaction to what I said. I didn’t come to your Country and take away your sunshine. This site is politics, if you have serious suggestions make them without flying off the handle.I don’t know anything about your past so I don’t comment on it.That would be rude of me.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Paul T,
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage TradePoland was a part of the Warsaw Pact, if WW3 had ever happened Poland would have assisted the Soviets to attack us, until the Berlin Wall came down, less than 20 years ago!
@Paul T, Suggestion is simple – demand actions from the LA. I work for BLT, but never flimp, believe you or not, even if it is a long job. Two reasons why – 1. it is illegal 2. it is stilling and I am not a theft. Those who flimp are not only stilling jobs from HC, they are happy to still from anyone even from their mates who work for the same office. So what stops taxi drivers to get together and demand appropriate actions from LA? HC drivers have many opportunities to discuss the “flimping” issue while querying. This forum could help to organise a petition to the LA…
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage TradeAdmin
the author of the article “here’s a thought” obviously does not know what is going on or in fact what has gone on. this is typical short sighted taxi driver mentality !!
If the author knew the facts myself and another well known operator along with the time and work of a individual spent our own money and time with ‘PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPER’ over 18 months or so who then produced a damming report on North Tyne sides dealing of accounts and this resulted in a refund of our account of £150k which is why no rate increase for the past four years due to the credit to our account.
Well i ask you lot where was all your support and money was through this little adventure ?
as normal you lot would have been hiding behind a stone because all you want to do is have money made easy for you and don’t like others who have worked to get where they are !! well i am sorry to tell you no one puts money through your letter box for nothing. you have to work and speculate, so stop envying people that have and stop going on about what they have because you haven’t.
your problem is the councils who if they where made to run like a business would not survive a year !! get a life AUTHOR or article, by stopping some one else growing their business does not mean you will have the work presented to your car door for your benefit! i wonder if you would be saying what you are obviously envious of if the tables were turned and you were running a successful business.
Nobody wants to mention the amount of employment that these operators create and the amount of family’s that get there livings from these operators investments do they.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, Yes, i’m sure everybody is grateful for the fact that North Tyneside got Spanked! Quote Alan “You may or may not be aware but not too long ago the council had a serious amount of surplus money (made through taxi plating) and that is what kept the prices down for so long.” Self praise is the best praise,isn’t it? And to be Fair Ian when you say ” Nobody wants to mention the amount of employment that these operators create and the amount of family’s that get there livings from these operators investments do they” This site has pages full of praise for the fine job that operators do, mostly written by you but also backed up by Commenters. So don’t come here and say “Nobody wants to mention…” The Article was Titled
“Here’s a Thought” a thought, a point of view.everybody has one.You put yours forward regularly. From time to tome things are said on here which I totally disagree with but still I allow them to be published.It makes for debate,not angry rebuttals but debate.Here’s another thought. you were so successful Kicking the Councils arse over fees surely you could give it another kick over Flimping.This would free up any of your own cars to do your work making you more money!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Admin,
so why does the article go on about operators paying more money when there is a surplus and mismanagement of our funds going on. The point the author was making was driven by envy not the council needing more money to do its job.
you failed to answer my question where was the support from the trade when it was needed as forms have and where dropped off at offices for all and sundry to sign to say they wanted NTTO to represent them.
As far a kicking the councils arse over flimping i have suggested only recently the trade getting together and doing a form of its own observation and reporting (i choose not to say enforcement) of cars and flimping and getting the press involved and express that we have to do this ourselves due to the lack of interest and support from the local council over public safety !! HAS ANYONE TOOK THAT THOUGHT ANY FURTHER ??? no, because when it comes participating or paying its all heads down !!
i have done my own little exercise and will again soon along with what the trade will see on our vehicles shortly at my own expense to encourage the public to book there cars in a correct manor and deter them from getting into illegal private hires.
anyway i believe my time on this site is coming to a end as no matter what myself or my business do it will be wrong. and for my details to be published on this site in the way they have with a allegation i should be paying more so the council can do more i think is very wrong
well we do not live in a communist state where all people should live equal and earn equal which the author obviously would like.
SO it seems by coming on here all i have done instead of giving people answers and explanations in the hope they will understand some issues of certain things is give them reason to have a go at us and take cheap shots at myself and business while little or no mention of the others !
best regards and best wishes.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Ian Shanks, Ya got me mate! I just printed it up and took out some of the slanderous bits.I don’t work from an office so never ever seen any leaflets asking for cash support.I don’t personally recognise NTTO I see it as a manufactured Taxi organisation bought and paid for by Private Hire operators,your initiative in ‘observation & reporting’ was good and people are taking it further,they observe & report their findings here which inevitably leads to long rounds of tit for tat between members of both trades.Which doesn’t really solve anything and so the idea quickly gets lost. As for your details being published on here you have shouted the most about peoples anonimity and hiding behind usernames,nobody has alleged anything, the ball park figures expressed about turnover can be worked out by any 7 year old who can do their times tables,so don’t get all upset over that, you should be proud of your achievements and anyway nobody ever talked about money on here until BLT & proud of it came on the scene.
The reason there is little or no mention of ‘the others’ is because by and large the majority of people hold you responsible for out of town licences,a topic so intense it has spawned two court cases in recent years both of which you have been involved in, I could compile a list of cheap shots made at you out of the several thousand comments posted here but they wouldn’t amount to many,and anyway there have been cheap shots aimed at everybody a recent one being from a BLT driver stating that he picked up a £17 job which a Hack had charged £39 previously. Now that’s a cheap shot,no evidence not even a plate number. Top and bottom,a site like this is going to get it’s fair share of backbiting but in between it all there are some gems and it’s the gems that survive,the tit for tat is forgotten within hours and new stuff comes up. I have dissallowed several hundred comments as being pure shite and downright nasty.I tell you, you would have done one months ago if I had let them all through. Besides, you have found this site to be a useful platform, a place for you to speak out, tell it your way. If you expect everyone to agree with you you’re kidding yourself just like not everyone agrees with the posting we are commenting on here.
I for one will genuinely miss your input as whatever some may think of you,you are in a pivotal position to set examples with regard to illegally plying for hire,but if you feel you must go because you feel battered by cheap shots then farewell. I actually thought it would be water off a ducks back to you but I suppose everybody has their threshold of patience.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Admin,
if I were to disagree with you admin, would you take off into the sunset?
it could be quite good aving the place to mesell, ave some partys you know, invite JD&C and get er to bring er lady friends nd all that …
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade@Ian Shanks, Ian,you have been in the trade,as I have,long enough to know that when support is needed,it is the same few that turn out to help. Most drivers/operators are a greedy short sighted bunch that cannot see past their own noses. While the `few` try to press the arguments home,the majority stay on the ranks,hoping for a few extra quid,while the few are off.
I have no problems with anyone expanding their business,legally,but by exploiting short comings in our legal system for pure financial gain,or showing the `rubbish` how to get arround the law,I do have a problem with.
As admin has said,instead of blowing your own trumpet,about how great BLT are,or the amount of employment you are creating…..why not put some of your supposed weight/voice to the council,(if of course you have any) and get enforcement done properly,with the police and courts to back it up.
Or are you afraid that the drivers we see every night in Newcastle,on what ever plate,blatently ranked up,sometimes touting for work,may get caught too,thereby denying you of either your car rent or radio rent.
Remember Ian,for all your BIG talk,on how you have been out trying to carry out enforcement,you are the same as me…MR Nobody,when it comes to enforcement,you have NO legal power at all,some of you drivers probably just laugh at you trying to stop them flimping,if you want to help the trade,and more than a few have doubts,but if so…pull your weight with the council about enforcement..after all you are such a `large` operator.
To quote a line from `guns of Navarone`…David Niven says to his acting CO…`be a father to your men`. You take a lead,show how to operate properly,within licensing conditions,and how to get the council to carry out their statutory legal duties,and clean this unholy mess up.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@John Dodds,
i agree that operators would be frieghtened for there livelihoods should we ever get regular enforcement.
ian once said he loses around 3100 jobs (a week?) through not having the cars …
firstly how many of these knockbacks were at the peak times? say 8.00 pm sat and friday …
secondly ian has 400 cars, thats nearly 8 extra jobs each, at an average of say £6.00 thats £48.00, BUT if ian had extra cars to cover this work, what happens at the quiet periods? where does the extra work for these cars come then?
thirdly, ian has made a lot of ‘lazy’ drivers, drivers who for whatever reason dont work 70 hours a week to take home x amount of pounds. BUT i would say IF these drivers wernt ‘lazy’ then the very trade could crumble from within. after all these guys still cough up there bit, but only working 6 hours a day instead of 12 hours allows the BLT and proud brigade to make there ‘astronomical’ earnings.
so this leaves ME with the opinion that operators would be terrified of a scenario whereby there cars were no longer to park up within city centres.
and john, when i here hack drivers complain about flimping ranks etc etc, but dont even bother to attend a 1 hour meeting, i now tell them they HAVE NO RIGHT to complain. it’s like moaning about the government and then not bothering to turn up to vote!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage TradeIf owners of PH offices did what Mr Shanks has done and is proposing to do, instead of increasingly making their cars look like HC, then the trade would be in a much better state.
The envious are moronic and lazy, the reason a person has more than you is generally because they do more (sometimes they still need to do a lot to keep what they are given) and work hard to improve, the reason some people have less is because they want to do less for more.
As far as representation ………… wouldn’t bother. In the main drivers ask for the impossible to be done yesterday for nothing.
I hope everyone had a profitable and safe Xmas and New Year ……… and all the best to everyone for 2009
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Knobhead, i could not agree more because even the black cars at blueline have the advertising all over them,where as most the other drivers at newcastle offices(with berwick plates)have a tiny logo(sign)advertising their office!
Hmm i wonder why?……..
One thing gets me is that nobody has mentioned the so called berwick bandits from the newcastle offices who flimp the toon on a weekend?
Not to mention the nukey ph?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Blueline is a huge office,so every taxidriver will see them everywhere!But it does not mean the driver is flimping as he does not need to……Paranoia is a strange thing amongst yee hacks.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Dont talk `CRAP` smudger,Blue Lines office is probably no more than 4 x10 metres in size in Sycamore St Wallsend where it has been for more than 30 yrs. Stuck between another building on each side.
It has a few cars with proper licenses on,working in their correct area,and probably in excess of 400 cars without`local licenses` working where ever they like,probably invalidating their insurances.
Why does Blueline get away with it….because we have a `spineless council` who dont give a shit anyway,and an operator like Mr Shanks,who will exploit not just the Law,but anyone else who may help him to make money,either because they dont realise they are being taken for MUGS,or because he is the only operator that will turn blind if they break the Law,as long as he gets his bit.
I feel sorry for some of the Poles he shipped over to work for him,clueless about how they were or are being exploited.
Incidentally I am a hack driver in Town,but I`m not suffering from paranoia,in any way at all, I just get sick of the smell of bullshit spread around by certain factions.
I am aware that some people do book Blueline,as supposedly ,(i have been informed ) by a guy I took to Dudly,our fares go to `double fare` at 11pm…according to some p/h drivers.
Blueline must have on average 275,000 bookings in Newcastle every week,strange how thats about the entire population by the last census.
In the next week or so,the pics off all these cars,on legitimate bookings,will be posted on here. Funny how some of these packed shops that have booked drivers are closed from 5.30 at night till 8am in the morning ….isnt it.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
i revist after hearing about Mr Dodds Comments ! i thought he was a mature grown man but after reading his article it confirms why some people stay away from the site as i should do !! but could not help myself on this occasion
Mr Dodds, please visit our 4 x 10 meter operation and investigate our booking records for any day you choose to see what work we have in the City ctn.
you don’t need licences to operate HACKNEYS and all other licences are in place and even applying for a Newcastle PH one as we speak !!
or are you as spineless as the council ??????
ps and bring a camera and take some pics of the office for your collage as well !!!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@ian shanks, bet you he doesn’t come though. same old same old.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
John Dodds!
I visited Blueline’s Office two months ago, as a outsider, I have never worked there, and I have to say you are wrong about the initial Office!
The Office next door to the waiting room, is a clean well presented Call Centre environment, with fully uniformed Staff, and upstairs where the Drivers and Bandits collect there Account work monies is a proper reception like area, in fact the whole Building is a clean presentable Business like area, and much bigger than you think.
I don’t think calling a Operators Office will clean up the Streets will it???
I would work from a Portakabin or Metal Shipping container with a CB Aerial glued to it if I was making a good living! (no offence Black ‘n’ White/ABBA Taxis).
Secondly, I don’t think Mr Shanks is out just for his “Bit”, I think he just wants to be bigger and better than his rivals, I know 20 + Drivers who want to work for him, but there Cars are too old, or they work at a certain Office, believe me these Guys are better than some of his fruit loops that Drive those liveried Mondeo MK3 TDCI’s around like maniacs masquerading as Taxis, so if he was out for his “Bit”, he could have a extra £2000+ on Monday morning!
You know better than me, at the Peak there is 50,000 Students in Town, and apart from their Drink, most are very shrewd and will choose cheaper Transport home!, reason for so many BLT’s and Bandits in Town?????
If the Town based Offices lowered their Fares to NT Office rates, there would be less need for BLT’s.
Regards to you all
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Hi Stephen…thanks for that comment,I agree with you totally about our fares in Newcastle being too high. This may sound strange coming from a Newcastle hack,but although others may not admit to it,I can assure you I am not alone in that view.
The fare increase which took effect 1/9/2008,was objected to by the UITA,indeed I believe the fare applied for and knocked back would have been something like £3.00 flag fall and 20% increase on the mile.
We got 20p on the flag (start went to 2.20 from 2.40) and 7.5 per mile.
The reason put forward for this,and may I add,Newcastle wern`t alone,many other areas put fares up due to the hike in fuel costs.
But,as we all know now,it was a blip in prices and market conditions that caused that,fuel is now down to 95.9 per ltr,apart from some greedy sites that are still 98/99.9.
Antway,we knew what certain factions wanted the hike for,to be able to put the rent on cars and offices up,thinking people would just pay up….WRONG!!!!!.
The Town is now charging not far off £2 per mile,and in certain quarters,more than that(depends how drunk or intimidated the passenger is)
There are some of us that will discount fares,within reason….I dont mean go to Whitley Bay from Town for £10..11.50,as some are reportedly doing.
I would consider W/Bay for £15..16.or as I did last weekend £28 to the Angel in Corbridge,or Durham City centre for £26..28,instead of £32..33.
I can do Durham,on the meter,from the staion for £33,not trying too hard.
Any way,as I said,had we riden the fuel hike out for a couple of month,we could have survived that. What nobody takes into account,with fares is there is a limit and once you go past that,the higher the fare goes obviuosly the less work you get.
At the time of increase,we were not (officially at any rate)in recession,now that we are,either we start to be realistic with fares,office rents and cab rents,OR we end up as some in Newcastle are now finding out,with cars laid up off the road,earning NOTHING.
For those owners that want £260 to £300 aweek bit,just think about this, a) why do you think you have cars parked up and can`t get drivers to rent,(leaving asside excessive milage or the car being a pill for what ever reason)
b)The cars that are parked up are still costing you money to be parked up. Tax,test,insurance still has to be paid and your getting NOTHING back.
If a driver can`t make a living for himself,do you as an owner really expect that driver to make YOU a living. If you do,i`m afraid you live in cloud cuckoo land.
Mind,apart from this,there are also the `rip off `merchants taking a lend too,but thats down to enforcement,or should I say non-enforcement.
Lastly I accept what you say about Bluelines`s office,OK they have extended it…fair enough,I was being more phocicious than anything.
Having said that,I still consider them to be the worst offenders for helping the `flimpers` get on the road and if my information concerning `set fares` is correct,then £11.50 to Newcastle from the coast is not in the financial interest of the driver. The office don`t charge cheap rent DO THEY ? Or is this just Mr Irwin of East coast,just to get all his cars into Town….Strange how both Mr shanks and Mr Irwin seem so friendly.
I just wonder where certain operators are going to invade now,after Newcastle,after all using loop holes in Law,and out of ares plates in `third party areas,could be taken as invading the area.
No offense to anyone,but in 1939 Germany under Hitler invaded Poland,thereby starting World War 2,when 1 business,or businesses just decide to overrun other areas,without paying the due fees to do this,or meeting other competition on the same playing field,so everyone is playing by the same rules,then eventually the end result is someone gets hurt.
We all have to play the cards we are dealt,the rules may be outdated,need changing,or what ever,but to have no rules and regs at all,or do what you like and sod anyone is in no ones interests.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@john dodds,
The issue about lower Fares in Town would be a good idea, if a new Operator opened up and put a £1 starting Tariff on the Meter and plenty of marketing, that would reduce the amount of NT Cars in Town!, try and win over the Students and Revellers.
Supermarkets, Car Dealers have price wars, why not Taxi firms?
Smaller Taxi firms in NT and NC need more Tactics and business acumen or they will get swallowed up!
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Stephen (FKA Central Enth.), Have you or anybody else noticed that their is a NEW Blueline (Newcastle) working in the town?
It is a small operation at the moment but growing daily, they are charging similar fares to Blueline wallsend, but guess what here comes the best bit…………. Shanksy has NOTHING to do with it.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Private hire driver NCLE, are you not just seeing the new blueline door stickers?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
With regards to the new Blueline Newcastle,you are correct Stephen,it is owned,or at least the rights to the name are owned by Central Taxis in the haymarket.
The venture has nothing to do in any shape or form with our friend Ian Shanks,who owns `Blue Line Taxis in Wallsend NT.
This company is `Blueline (Newcastle),running on Newcastle plates,a separate licensing area,and company to Mr Shanks setup,but I believe,running on the same fare rate.
Just as you have `Blueline` in Harrogate,N.Yorks….
Good luck to the lads and lasses,if any,in setting up the new `Blueline`,as a Newcastle hack,I hope you make a go of it.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Stephen Central Enthusiast
When the Euro first started it was worth around 67p, now the Euro is worth around £1, does that not tell you how little £1 buys you nowadays!!!!
For any Operator to Start-up with a £1 flag fall will mean the meter will spin like a one arm bandit as any meter specialist will tell you, if you want a sensible rate, and even large operators (I stand to be corrected) realised this, and this is why they have a £2 minimum fare, even for the students for journeys that would clock less.
You yourself Stephen have even stated in earlier postings on this site that your rate was far to low and you had to borrow from your lass to pay the rent on your vehicle/office rent.
The price charged to the customer has to be able to cover the operational costs and provide the driver with a wage. Do not fall into the backrupt the driver trap, with ridiculously low starting rates that mean you operate the vehicle at less than cost price, this means covering all the mileage costs not just the journey distance travelled by the passenger or does the vehicle just travel like the tardis and appear magically at the customers front door and then transport itself from the drop off point at the end of the customers chargable journey to its next pick-up address using no fuel etc.
These are very trying times, but I for one will not go to work and provide a service at all times of the day and night that means I work for nothing or very low wages, because I would rather be on the dole than work for nothing and I have only ever been on the dole for 3 months in my life and that was when I was 20 years old, meaning I am not work shy in anyway shape or form.
Woolworths to name just one large business has failed because of the credit crunch and there will be many more to follow that will see many of the pubs and clubs these students go to for entertainment and a drink also probably slip into recievership because they cannot afford the running costs because the profits are not there and as stated in December on the news slashing prices does not mean your business will survive this recession, that is close to a depression, as so many other factors in the world have caused this problem that is not just a problem for Great Britian, but also a problem for the whole world.
I hope you do not take offence at this Stephen.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@thelighthousekeeper,
My Point!
I was referring to John Dodds, he dislikes BLT flimping in Town, so I suggested ONE way of trying to address the problem, a cheap Newcastle Taxi Office that markets itself well and lets the public know that they don’t need to call a NT Office if the want a cheap Taxi home, I was not getting at any Hacks, but lads like Andy Warhol want all North Tyneside Cars barred from Town, that’s unfair to the legit lads and lasses.
Newcastle is our nearest City, and with a sh*tty Nightlife in Whitley Bay, we should be allowed to take folk to town.
I agree that fares at the Coastal Offices are too cheap, but 500+ drivers appear to be happy with the rates????
No offence taken
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Stephen (FKA Central Enth.),
Glad we agree Stephen.
My Point was basically the £1.00p flag fall is the biggest
con-trick being used by the Private Hire in North Tyneside and the general public are not that bright when they get in the vehicle, as all they see is the £1.00p start, even thought there is a £2.00p minimum fare in operation, meaning the meter should really start at £2.00p not £1.00p as the customer is being what used to be called SURCHARGED in the old days for short journey`s or out of area jobs of a short distance.
I spoke to a driver only this morning who stated the minimum fare in Cramlington is £2.50p and so therefore a £2.50p flag fall should be shown in Cramlington.
Even the Private Hire and Taxi Monthly Paper for the trades state what the National Flag Fall works out at in there league table.
Do not get me wrong I am not trying to set a rate to charge in any way shape or form, but would like to see the MINIMUM CHARGE applied as the FLAG FALL for Private Hire after all the Hackney Carriage cannot charge more that what is displayed on the meter meaning the Hackney Carriage MINIMUM FARE is our FLAG FALL and nothing greater unlike the Private Hire.
Hope even the Private Hire Sector agree with this Flag Fall Point.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@thelighthousekeeper,
At Central their is no £2 minimum fare, I have done fares from Tesco (Norham Rd) to Chollerford Avenue for £1.30-£1.40!, out of the big three you will find only BLT do the £2 min fare, I can’t speak for others, however Preston and Blue Star still do fares I think for under £2!.
There used to be a elderly Guy in Shields that used to go from the Orchard Sheltered accomodation to the Catholic Club in Cecil Street for a £1.00, mostly with Blue Star, and sometimes he would use Central to go to the Co-op for £1.20!
So I think it’s safe to say the Coastal firms don’t have a minimum Fare, only BLT?
I prefer fares like this compared to a set fare to the Airport from Whitley for £14.50!
Regards
Stephen
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Stephen (FKA Central Enth.),
yes stephen i agree you should be allowed to take people into town, but when you pick them up it should be from designated points, and not just NT, ALL NON NEWCASTLE HACKS.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Stephen (central enthu)
Who has said anything about NT or anyone else for that matter bringing people into Town,or indeed,returning to collect people from Town who have legitimately booked the car.
That as far as I know has never been in dispute.
What we,(in Town) are sick of,are the `out of town` cars,who sit outside clubs,bars,restaurants,stations…etc,obviously NOT booked,just `plying for hire` due to total lack of enforcement in Town.
I work in NODA as drivers know,I don`t sit outside these sort of places for,in some cases up to 1/2 an hour waiting for jobs,which have booked the car through the office.
Account bookings get 10 mins,before I pull away,unless im given a reason for a delay…cash jobs get 5 mins unless a delay is given.
I often sit on a rank for up to 1 hr,and watch these `clowns` on occasions sitting waiting outside a kebab shop or bar,whether there is anyone in them or not….that to me is `plying for hire`,for which these `clowns` are neither licensed or insured to do.
If your have a legitimate booking,through your office,fair enough,in fact I have had a few drivers ask me where a place is for their pick up…..No Probs with that at all.
Half the drivers we see doing this have a roof sign on,NO PLATE,possibly no meter,and often no door stickers at all. These sort of `bandits` are taking my business off me,which I have paid license fees to do,(stealing my wages) AND,think about it Stephen,they are stealing YOUR wages too,(as a licensed P/H driver,or Hack..which ever you are)
I have nothing against ANY properly run,licensed P/H or Hack office anywhere,sending their cars to pick up their legitimate fares,thats their business.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@john dodds,
john i would just like to correct you on this
“This company is `Blueline (Newcastle),running on Newcastle plates”
do they actually have any ‘newcastle’ plates?
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Well i thought i would never see the day!but it is true what andy says!!!!!
Lately i have seen more noda/metro cars sitting around the normal flimping spots ie maccy dees grainger st and world headquarters etc…..so mr suleman why cannot you curb this??????and dont tell me you or your friend ss or friends do not visit here.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
it’s simple maths smudger,
offices employ too many drivers, add this to the surge over the last 2 years with the out of town saga, throw in a broken economy
= drivers left, unfortunately, with no other option then to sniff out other peoples work, and endanger the innocent public.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Dont blame the office when it is clearly the driver acting irresponsibly!
as for Central Taxis passing themselves off as Blueline i dont think for one min mr Shanks wil take that lying down !!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
I didn`t say Central Taxis were passing themselves off as Blueline,I said that Central Taxis may be part owner of Blueline Taxis(Newcastle)
If this is true,good luck to Mac in his enterprise.
As to Mr Shanks not liking it,well sorry to Mr Shanks,but he is licensed and supposedly operating in a different authority to the `new` company.
Im no legal expert,but if the 2 companies operate in different areas,how can he do anything.Blueline in NT is supposedly a `private hire` operation,allbeit on `out of area` licenses,while,as far as i know,`blueline(newcastle) are hackney carriages.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@john dodds, your above post is very hypocritical of yourself which is not suprising as you live in cuckooland most the time.
Anyone who tries to copy a successful companies name for gain is a sad individual and it is tantamount to theft.
Also anyone who has not got the gaul to go out and find it for themselves is a sad and inept individual and judging by your above post Mr Dodds you seem to support this lowlife method?
Also no doubt you will remind us all of your weight,broad shoulders and thick skin again!!!!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
My dear Smudger,please read what i wrote properly,as most people who know me know I`m a NODA hack,and I didnt say or infer that I supported any company `stealing` to use your word,another company`s name or reputation,good or bad.
A question had been asked if anyone knew of this company,or name being used,so I answered that question.
I also said I was not personally aware of the exact details,save what I posted.
If someone has used another companies name for `illegal or whatever use`,then I`m sure Mr Shanks will deal with it himself.
All I did say was,and I repeat,considering that Mr Shanks` Blue Line is based in Wallsend,North Tyne borough,and this `new` company `Blueline(Newcastle) is based in Newcastle,which is a different borough,I wasnt sure if Mr Shanks could do anything. After all there is a `Blue Line` in Harrogate which is nothing to do with our local one.
Personally,I assume the `new` company is legal and properly set up in which case I would wish them all the best.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@john dodds,
It is matterless that it is in 2 different authorities i bet if the owner of munchies decided to change his name to McDonalds Newcastle the customers seeing the shop maybe a little mislead and think that they were getting a branded product especialy if the signage was similar (as mac has done). I think customers in NEWCASTLE see BLT as a brand and have no idea of its geographical location. we would see some sort of action being taken if it were munchies parading as Mcy’ds and it would not last five mins.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Andy Warhol, “…operators would be frieghtened for there livelihoods should we ever get regular enforcement”
From what you say I assume you are Newcastle HC, who because of the nature of his job, believes that the only place where taxi driver can get a job is the town centre. I cannot say what area cover Newcastle based operators, but I have never seen them in Consett or Prudhoe direction, it would very rare case to see them going towards Cramlington never mind Blyth/Morpeth/Bedlington, the same can be said about Washington/Birtley/Durham and Jarrow/South Shields/Sunderland direction, although NHC can be seen everywhere. I remember one BLT driver said he made £300+ over one Saturday night (12 hours shift I think, but not 16 that’s for sure) working just in NT area. He posted on the old BLT forum saying something like- it would not be wise for the drivers to assume that all the good jobs are only at “the Gate”.
“…ian has 400 cars, thats nearly 8 extra jobs each, at an average of say £6.00 thats £48.00, BUT if ian had extra cars to cover this work, what happens at the quiet periods? where does the extra work for these cars come then?…”
It would unfair to say that the job is problem free, sometimes I need to speak to the management, sometimes (very rare case) customers taking a piss, but like in every job you get good moments and not very good.
I think (my guess) BLT have 25+% more cars than you have suggested and it just getting bigger (15 Eastern European drivers is a drop in the ocean). Every business (except those where there is luck of competition) can only go to ways – expand or shrink, so whether we at BLT like it or not we got to understand the business owner, however I wish expansion was going at the slower rate.
Where does the work come from? BLT is a very well established brand known across the NE – people phone from all over (Bedlington/Hexham/Durham/East Coast). Increase of the number of cars does not happen without winning business from other operators, not just Newcastle based. I love working for BLT, never got bored.
“…ian has made a lot of ‘lazy’ drivers, drivers who for whatever reason dont work 70 hours a week to take home x amount of pounds. BUT i would say IF these drivers wernt ‘lazy’ then the very trade could crumble from within. after all these guys still cough up there bit, but only working 6 hours a day instead of 12 hours allows the BLT and proud brigade to make there ‘astronomical’ earnings…”
, I get such very lucky days time from time…
Of cause slower times are approaching and quite possible increase in number of cars will make it more difficult to be busy, but speaking from my own experience I can tell you that only “lazy” drivers can do 70 or whatever hours by having a snap between the jobs and not bidding (not working). I normally do 7-9 hours per shift, in a very rare case I do more – that would only be when I have a good feeling about the next job – like – Newcastle to Bedlington, Morpeth to Airport, Airport to Sunderland, South Shields to Wickham, Gateshead to Newcastle, you just cannot stop
“…so this leaves ME with the opinion that operators would be terrified of a scenario whereby there cars were no longer to park up within city centres…”
To suggest that BLT expect drivers to flimp to earn their living is a mistake. I don’t say BLT drivers don’t flimp, but BLT doesn’t expect drivers to do that. Those BLT drivers who do flimp do not care whose job they are stealing – NHC or BLT driver’s, so if LA sort this problem out I am sure many PH drivers would welcome that.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Polish BLT Driver,
so your telling me that the ‘bulk’ of BLT’s work does not come from the newcastle and NT areas?
well if thats 25% more cars than i suggested it makes those figures even more atrocious!
yes, for a polish immigrant, working for BLT you seem to know more about the business as ian ! amazing that someone has such an in depth knowledge! amazing that you care so much! surely the only thing that should concern you is that you are getting a good amount of work for the rent you pay! but yet YOU seem to know how the full engine works, stopping, just ever so slightly, from giving actual figures!
to suggest that BLT have to flimp to make is NOT a mistake, YOU TELL ME THEN, why o why do so many BLT drivers park up outside AMEENS and ATHENA when they do not have a job! how do i know they dont have a job? firstly BLT tell people to walk to pizza hut, secondly thjey even park there when the kebab shops are empty and are still there when people go in for there food, WE all watch as they desperately try to make eye contacty with the people inside, BUT desperatly avoid eye contact with US! SOMETIMES THEY ONLY PULL OFF WHEN THEY GET A JOB, MAYBE A BLANK?
I must see the SAME 8 or so drivers, BLT has more than 400 cars, so why do i see the same drivers again, and again, and again …
… now if I see the same drivers at a rank I work, then how many HC drivers see a regular buch where they work? I know a LOT of the HC complain about gateshead centrals & BLT RANK outside mcdonalds!
It’s funny isnt it, how MOST people dont book returns, like i said they dont know when they go home, yet come a quiest thursday night when there must be around 20 people in maccy d’s at 3.00 am, ALL seem to book taxis, as theres normally that amount of the said 2 firms sniffing about oiutside, and coincidence or what, ALL use the same 2 firms!!!!!
many ph drivers would welcome that the ‘flimping’ is put a stop to … NO THEY WOULDNT! would YOU want extra cars on a friday night that normally ‘switch off’ to go and rip off the hc trade and public working cause they had no choice! Would the guys who posted on here ‘who never flimp but only did so cause there job didnt turn up and got caught’ want it stopped no no no. regular enforcement and stings WILL ONLY be beneficial to the HC trade!
and you can reply to this post all you like, you can spout off as many words like, BEDLINGTON to SUNDERLAND to LONDON to PARIS. you can say as many figures as you like, but i know what i see, and you ((or) as i am yet to be convinced you are different people) ian and BLT driver can say all you like 230 HC drivers on a protest, one third of the trade CANNOT BE WRONG!!!!!
so reply to this however you feel, but as ian no longer answers me (under ian anyway) for asking what I thought was a reasonable question at the time, then i am no longer going to answer ANY posters who i deem to be BLT propergander, or any other PH office for that matter. I will just merely sit here and smile when they come on and try to convince the sane that all is well in the nuthouse and what we see is just merely a ‘hallucination’
ps that black audi 05 plate, no longer has an office, just fleets around town at the weekend looking for work, laughable isnt it!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Andy Warhol,
“@Polish BLT Driver, so your telling me that the ‘bulk’ of BLT’s work does not come from the newcastle and NT areas? well if thats 25% more cars than i suggested it makes those figures even more atrocious! yes, for a polish immigrant, working for BLT you seem to know more about the business as ian ! amazing that someone has such an in depth knowledge!”
Whether I am polish or not does not make any affect on how much or little I know and understand about the business. BLT car number 600 was attacked in December, so it is possible that BLT have 50% more cars than you have suggested, so what?
“…amazing that you care so much!”
I don’t, don’t you understand? I don’t care how many HC taxis in the town or working for BLT because when I go to work I work like an ant, like a bee, I am a hard worker, who never flimp and don’t steal! Just couple of days ago I took to the office a wallet (that I found in my car) with £30 in it. My secret is simple and I never made it a secret – rule number one – keep bidding, rule number two never dump a job, customer care is important reward is almost always immediate – a good tip!
“… to suggest that BLT have to flimp to make is NOT a mistake, YOU TELL ME THEN, why o why do so many BLT drivers park up outside AMEENS and ATHENA when they do not have a job! how do i know they dont have a job?…”
I have red your argument, but let me say why I found it hard to believe you. Just let me say this – AMEENS and ATHENA are not usual pick up points plus radio reception is very bad over there, so only stupid would sit over there waiting for chance. Now more about chances – on the worst day in my memory (about 5-6 months ago), in the middle of the week, there were about 30 cars in the town waiting for jobs at the same time and yet BLT could not keep the contract that they got at Grosvenor Casino, because the Casino requested for taxis to be available as soon as they needed, but no BLT car had time to wait at the door!
“… WE all watch as they desperately try to make eye contacty with the people inside, BUT desperatly avoid eye contact with US! SOMETIMES THEY ONLY PULL OFF WHEN THEY GET A JOB, MAYBE A BLANK?”
That is what you think, but how do you know you are right? One time I had a job from Chillingham pub to town. I sent a “call back”, which was successful, my customer confirmed me correct name, so nothing special, just another pre-booked job. Just one thing – he said to me – Follow that black cab, where my friends are they are going to town as well. Why did you not book two cars or multiseater? I asked. He said that at the last minute a fifth person decided to join them so they did not have time. OK, do I care in the end of the day! The cab in front of us stopped at one of the cashpoints in the town so we stopped as well, then someone knocked into my window. It was a black cab driver, he said to me – you got my job. Why do you think so? I asked. Because they flagged me down, but I passed them, when I got back the customer was getting into your car. Well, I said, I was booked to pick him up. I was polite, but my passenger at the same time wasn’t, telling black cab driver to get lost, etc. he was brave behind my back
. To convince the black cab driver I showed him the job on the datahead and believe you or not he was very embarrassed.
“… I must see the SAME 8 or so drivers, BLT has more than 400 cars, so why do i see the same drivers again, and again, and again … … now if I see the same drivers at a rank I work, then how many HC drivers see a regular buch where they work? I know a LOT of the HC complain about gateshead centrals & BLT RANK outside mcdonalds! It’s funny isnt it, how MOST people dont book returns, like i said they dont know when they go home, yet come a quiest thursday night when there must be around 20 people in maccy d’s at 3.00 am, ALL seem to book taxis, as theres normally that amount of the said 2 firms sniffing about oiutside, and coincidence or what, ALL use the same 2 firms!!!!!…”
Well if you really see the same drivers flimping all the time, then this is a wrong place to complain.
“…many ph drivers would welcome that the ‘flimping’ is put a stop to … NO THEY WOULDNT! would YOU want extra cars on a friday night that normally ‘switch off’ to go and rip off the hc trade and public working cause they had no choice! Would the guys who posted on here ‘who never flimp but only did so cause there job didnt turn up and got caught’ want it stopped no no no. regular enforcement and stings WILL ONLY be beneficial to the HC trade! and you can reply to this post all you like, you can spout off as many words like, BEDLINGTON to SUNDERLAND to LONDON to PARIS. you can say as many figures as you like, but i know what i see, and you ((or) as i am yet to be convinced you are different people) ian and BLT driver can say all you like 230 HC drivers on a protest, one third of the trade CANNOT BE WRONG!!!!! so reply to this however you feel, but as ian no longer answers me (under ian anyway) for asking what I thought was a reasonable question at the time, then i am no longer going to answer ANY posters who i deem to be BLT propergander, or any other PH office for that matter. I will just merely sit here and smile when they come on and try to convince the sane that all is well in the nuthouse and what we see is just merely a ‘hallutionation’ ps that black audi 05 plate, no longer has an office, just fleets around town at the weekend looking for work, laughable isnt it!”
If I was trying to convince to do nothing about flimping then I would understand the reason for your comment, but what I have been saying to all black cab drivers is this – if you concern about flimping issue take it up with LA!
To finish my post I would like to say that we all know that slow times ahead and blaiming “Polish” drivers for it is just not brainy.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Andy Warhol, Totally agree with everything you have said but I would do being a hack driver. I have my self passed details of gateshead central taxi trying to get £60 out of 6 lads from yorkshire at Mcdonalds when the fare was £22. If drivers don’t believe this is going on then why do all the private hire disappear from the co op area when there is a police car parked there. they just leave to go else where in the town. In the past when I was private hire you never sat in the town & you never wanted to go into town to pick up a job for the office as you new there was a 50% chance they would not be there as they would book at least 2 different firms & get in the 1st one that turned up or a hack. By the way that black Audi with the derwent plate was sitting for at least 20 mins monday night out side co.op with no office decals on.
BY THE WAY GREAT READING YOUR POSTINGS ON THIS SITE JUST WISH THERE WAS MORE LIKE YOU IN THIS FIGHT TO SAVE WHAT LEFT OF THE HACK TRADE AS WE ALL NO STRENGTH IS IN NUMBERS
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Polish BLT Driver,
wtf are you talking about eh? blaming polish drivers for a quite spell, let me tell you this mate! i could not give a flying **** if your from poland or outer mongolia! iI DONT BLAME POLAND OR MICROBES FROM MARS FOR ANY QUIET SPELL, THE ECONOMY IS ON A SLANT, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THE FLIMPING HAPPENS!!!!!
let me tell you mate i know for definate that BLT do not pick up from ameens and athena, cause WHEN I tried to get one from there i was told SORRY WE DONT PICK UP THERE PLEASE WALK TO PIZZA HUT!!!!
600 cars!!! here man, i’ve seen berwick plate 1875 does that mean that there is 1875 beriwck plates??? NO, WE ALL KNOW 1-50 WERE FOR BERWICK THEN 1000 PLUS WERE TO WHER THE HELL THEY LIKED!!! so dont think that the numbers run consecutively!!! they might, they might not, personally I DONT CARE, i just care about PUBLIC SAFTEY (you know that they dont get into unisured cars, that they dont get ripped!!) and my own trade!
NO MATE THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT FLIMPING, IT’S ONE OF THE MANY TOOLS THA WE HAVE TO GRAB WITH BOTH HANDS AND USE TO OUR ADV ADVANTAGE AND GET OUR LA’S TO ACT!!!
i’ll tell you what it’s not, it’s not a BLT tv advert, it’s not aidfan house so BLT and pjroud stop trying to post your accounts on here! thats WHAT ITS NOT, MATE!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Polish BLT Driver,
and by the way ,,,, didnt ian do a sting and even he was shocked at just how much this flimping malarky went on down town?
maybe you should just keep revising your ‘bosses’ business files!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@Andy Warhol,
and dont try and offer excusses for why when i drop off at the novotel, a PH car has dropped in with the other 3 of the bunch i have picked up, dont try and take us fotr fools, ian, sorry polish guy!
not always are the richest the brightest!
we know what goes on, all i would say to any newcastle licensing who might just happen to stumble upon this site like jd&c, that if you dont act and do your jobs then i hope some who have made promises to the hc trade and dont back it up with action OR figures, fall on there sword! what other occupation could you lie to a workforce of 780 plus, and still expect to keep your jobs?
and might i also say that MAYBE what will start to happen to non newcastle hc when they have sat for 10, 15 mins outside certain places, there next job might just be a blank…
ohh and by the way NC05 black derwentside audi, with NO DOORCRESTS, NO RADIO OR DATA HEAD, just a taxi sign, sitting outside of pizza hut last night about 2ish, IF we can see them why not newcastle council?
and to admin,
thank you for letting necastle hacks have there say on here once again, and voice our concerns. and as i belive you have already said it’s YOUR toy and YOU will let play with it who YOU like, so Mr. polish driver, maybe you should speak to admin and tell him to stop letting US come on here.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@HACK DRIVER,
it’s just a joke, can some please tell me that NODA taxis are NOT breaking the law by parking on the newcastle hackney rank outside liquid, does this not fall under ‘plying for hire’ or ‘flimping’ if they take some passing work,
why NEWCASTLE COUNCIL can YOU not see this when they are there ALL DAY!!!!!
I BET THESE BAS***DS DONT GET TICKETS LIKE WE IN THE MARKET DO!!!!!!
Act now hackney trade before there is no trade left to act on!
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
Andy…I`m a NODA hack and although I personally don`t work from Liquid,IF the NODA car you are talking about (assuming you mean P/h) then YES obviously if he is sitting on the rank,he IS illegally parked and therefore breaking the law.Problem is,the council as far as i know are now fully responsible for all on street parking as well as off street enforcement….so you see the problem.
Newcastle City council would appear to have no interest in enforcement of anything other than what makes them money,and even then they appear to only do the easy targets.
The Police will probably tell you `its not their problem now`.
As for your comment about getting the trade to act,you are joking,when we were trying to get support before Xmas,concerning the High Court result,it was obvious to both myself and a few others,that in general the `trade`,both owners and drivers didnt want to be bothered……too much like hard work or effort to take an hour off work to save their business.
The other idea put forward was at say 11pm,on a friday and saturday night,we all (no exceptions)park our cabs up and go for a coffee,for an hour or so.
Leave the police and council with the problem of revellers all over town ,trying to get home,and no transport. Since both the police seem to like to give these cowboy operators a free hand,let them get on with it…all those people taken home in mostly uninsured cars.
It will never happen as the trade CAN`T BE ARSED TO FIGHT.
The views expressed in this site do not necessarily reflect the views of TooManyTaxis or the general U.K. Hackney Carriage Trade
@john dodds,
well john what will happen if the noda situation is ignored? what next? some ph firm ‘claims’ to have a contract with a club so they can ‘rank’ outside?
what makes me laugh is the fact that newcastle hacks at noda actually sit in the que with the PH!!! IF the premier inn demand taxis be at the door, tell them to open there bloody car park up to them then!
i know what you mean john, a lot of people gave there assurances that they would be there at the last meeting, i txt every hack driver on my phone 3 of them turned up!
john is the parking meeting at the civic this week? is anything happening with regards to getting there early like was discussed, or are we just to see what the council say?
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