The real culprit with regard to Berwick plates is North Tyneside Council and their obstinate dictatorial stance over all things ‘Licensing’.
The increasing cost of a Plate, the increase in the price of an MOT and the difficulty in arranging a mutually agreeable time, the increasing cost of a badge, the insistence of tint regulations and the banning of certain ’standard spec’ cars (even when they are plated on ALL other council PH / Hack fleets) and the superscillious attitude of some of the staff all go together to force people to seek alternatives – that alternative is Berwick.
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. Now they have lost about 400 ‘plates’ to Berwick, that money has not been replaced – and they want even more of it from the faithfull North Tyneside drivers. You can see why so many have jumped ship and gone to Berwick.
The point Ian has made is valid – a fair service for a fair price or go elsewhere – unfortunately NTC dont seem – or want to know. Not everyone has gone to Berwick (me included) – for multitudes of reasons – and not all Berwick plates belong to ‘foreigners / newbies / criminals’. Lets kick the Council – not each other.
Couple of other points if I may – Maidstone Council – way down in Kent will not allow any car older than 5 (yes five) years old to be plated PH or Hack. So having a minimum of a 51 plate (7 years) is not too bad. We should give the customers some credit and provide decent transport for them – who wants a scabby old heap pulling up outside to take them to the airport or town or anywhere…
14 hours for a shift – is that safe? Is that 14 hours 5 days a week? Too long….
Finally – if operators have not had nor generated a significant increase in their customer base, (and I dont see a lot of evidence to the contrary) then the ‘taking on’ of more drivers (Berwick or NTC) could be seen as irresponsible – forcing existing drivers to work even longer hours and spreading the jam even more thinly than it ever was. Seems we should even consider lobbying to have the number of PH licences capped (ooohhh)
Contributed By: Alan
{ 72 comments… read them below or add one }
Reference to new Article 1
A nice new topic opposed to all these facts and figures!
“Lets kick the Council- not each other”
In a ideal world (well borough) that would be great!, but just this Website alone has shown the mass divisions within the trade, without offending anyone, NT Private Hire and NT Hacks will never learn to get along together ever, especially the Independent owner driver Hacks and the PH drivers from the big three offices, these two groups alone clash!, then say no more but we have the Berwick cars. You have three squabling divisions their, then you have these NVQ/BTEC qualifications that will result in another group of so called “qualified drivers”.
Four groups to clash together, plus the three big operators, that is seven divisions to try and get on????.
But the point of limiting the number of PH badges is a excellent idea, especially at a time when the Berwick drivers are considering applying to NT Council!
The 14 hour shifts!, are too much, but some drivers like myself do them from time to time, Mon-Wed, I am lazy and just do 4-7 hours a day, but at the weekend I do 10-11 plus to obtain my financial commitments personally and for the office, this is why the big three are appealing to drivers as they are “flexi offices”, I would’nt work at a shift office, so in the current economic climate long hours will have to do!.
Nice new topic anyway.
Regards
Stephen
Whose to blame?
Berwick as a LA and the applicants as P*ss takers.
CC
who wants a scabby old heap pulling up outside to take them to the airport or town or anywhere…
you havn’t worked the Bigg Market on a Friday and Saturday, they dont deserve a shiney new car to hoy up, fight, wet themselves, spill food in or damage.
I think asking a council to limit the age of a vehicle in these times, the way the trade and economy is, is nothing short of madness. Theres a lot pof people who cann0ot afford the luxury of a ‘new’ car. and how do you deem a 5 year old car that has done 100k per annum better than a 10 year old car that has done 25k per annum? And the taxi test determines whether the vehcile is “a scabby old heap” or not, and if so it will FAIL!
WAKEY WAKEY STEPHEN!!!!
CENTRAL ENTHUSIAST
I am trying to stop writing on this site and was doing so well until I read this Article entitled “The real culprit with regard to Berwick plates” why did it cause me to respond? well its simple the Authors Name “ALAN”
Come on Stephen “Central Enthusiast” have you not worked out its the “RIDDLER” and his writing style, yet what makes it funny is the “TITLE OF THE ARTICLE” because what did a man called “Alan” write along with the “BIG TWO” Private Hire Companies in their NEWSLETTERS in October/November 2006, non other than they had checked it out and it was all legal to use Berwick Hackney Carriages as Private Hire Vehicles.
HIS ARTICLE IS PRICELESS!!!!
DEAR ALL!
ADMIN – CAN YOU SET UP SOMETHING THAT KEEPS PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT ARTICLE, BECAUSE AS YOU CAN WELL SEE, PEOPLE ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE FEATURED ARTICLE, THIS IS WHY SOME ARE GETTING A LITTLE UPSET!
MR WALLS(MR LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER) – SORRY I HAD ANOTHER BLOND/BERWICK MOMENT THEIR, HOWEVER I HAVE GIVEN UP COMMENTING WITH FOLK AFFILIATED WITH THE BIG TWO, THEY ARE IN COMPLETE DENIAL!
MR SHANKS – WHY DON’T YOU HAVE A “OPEN DAY” AT YOUR OFFICE SO DRIVERS CAN COME IN AND SEE HOW OFTEN YOUR PHONES RING AND HOW MUCH WORK IS GIVEN, BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE UP YOUR CHALLENGE DRIVING FOR YOU.
BY THE WAY DEPITE MY OPINIONS, I DON’T THINK FEEDING GOES ON AT YOUR OFFICE, YOU HAVE TOO MANY CARS FOR THE LASSES ON THE DESK TO GET TO KNOW, SECONDLY I KNOW A FEW OF YOUR LADS AND THEY SAY IT’S A HONEST OFFICE FROM THAT ASPECT AND THESE ARE BIGGER WHINGERS THAN ME!, SO IT MUST BE FAIR!
TOPICS – WE NEED A NEW TOPIC ON HERE WHILE WE RELOAD OUR HANDBAGS, A GOOD ONE WOULD BE APRIL 1ST, WHEN BERWICK BLOODY COUNCIL WILL NO LONGER EXIST ARRRRRRRRRH!
REGARDS TO ALL (INC BLT DRIVER)
STEPHEN
I Had no prob booking my annual test last month because i done so when i got the reminder to book it, it didnt take long to nip up and pay for it either straight in and out, from leaving my house to acually having my car tested then collecting the new license then getting back home took 1 & 1/2 hours max , a mean that dosent kill you once a year does it, the testers where efficient & so was the license dpt,i admit it has`nt always been like that but my oppinion N/T licensing dpt have got there act together in that respect,is it not better to try negotiate for change to bring the license reg`s into the 21st century in North tyneside rather then stamp your feet or bully or throw the rattle out of the pram rather running to some other borough where the licenseing officer will accomadate all your wims!! DONT BE FOOLED THE BERWICK SYNDROM WAS ABOUT CHEAP LABOUR & not slightly tinted glass as the perbatraters like you to believe…
tc
you ever thought you got tested and seen to far quicker because there is now 400 less drivers and cars to be tested in north tyneside that there used to be ???
i have personally have asked for years for the council to give us options if they can not supply us with a test within 48 hours !! they them selves could put in place approved test stations for these peak periods. i see no harm in that what so ever ???
now try and imagine getting a test as quick as you did with 4, 5, or 600 more cars going through there doors or do you not think that far ahead ?????
tc. Did you know that North Tyneside do MOT’s for council staff at £22, then change you £54! and the staff dont declare it as a taxable benefit?
Lots of references to North Tyneside Council licensing have been made in recent comments, but if we are going to attack the Council, I feel we need to push them for a weekend Taxi Marshall, I don’t mean a enforcement officer hunting down Doblo’s, but someone to monitor the main Rank in Whitley Bay on South Parade.
Why????
Their is now a trend for que jumping by Independent Hacks, especially when their are Central & Blueline company Hacks in the que, on Saturday night gone I was wandering if the que started at Aruba (Rio’s) or Fitzgeralds, I am aware that the independent Hacks don’t like all these wheelchair friendly company Hacks, but at the end of the day we pay the same for our Badge regardless of what we drive and who it belongs too.
A Hack is a Hack, on Saturday their were two Central and one BLT hack near the front of the que and the four independent Saloon hacks were just que jumping, this was going on all night, some of these Hacks want a level playing field????.
So from a company hack drivers point of view is it the flimpers or the Hacks stealing work off you on a Saturday night!
Regards
Central Enthusiast
Stephen Stop Sh!t stirring and direct your talents at the common enemy ‘Taxi Licensing’ Blueline has shot you down so turn on the Hacks is it? If you are in this Job for real give Licensing some grief for the good of all instead of taking your pleasure in stirring up the trade. Capiche!
Dear admin,
Well put,the first 4 words on the above posting by yourself sum Stephen up!
Admin
Blueline has’nt shot me down, Mr Shanks called me “irratating”, but we all know I am, so I am not shot down, it’s just BLT Driver has taking the huff, so their is no one to get stuck into!.
So we have to agree with Alan the author of the latest topic, blame the council?
What’s Mr Shanks going do about a bit of criticism on here, slip the Council a few bob to remove my license or send the Boys around?
He has not put me in place, he does not like the truth like certain others on here!!!!!!
BLT Driver and proud of it!
You are like Berwick!, flooding the trade, you come online and say you can make nearly a grand a week, you probably tell your customers you make a £k a week, so what happens????
They apply for a bloody badge because they think they can make a easy grand a week, their is a fair few like you around the Offices, but one day you will start feeling the pinch when so many come into the trade of plenty.
I be honest I came back into this on a bloody lie, a lad I know stated he was doing £1400.00 per week at a Radio office at the coast (Not Eastcoast by the way before I irritate anyone), so I started again and soon found that £80 per shift was the best I could do at the coast, their is only seven days in a week!
I get irritated when people go around telling folk that they can do so much money, it’s horrible when you have had a sh*t day, and you get a customer in the car and they say “you lot make sh*t loads of money”, where do they get their info from?….People like you!
I do believe you will get the odd long haul job their but sometimes your figures don’t add up!
Couple of BLT die hards I know who like Mr Shanks would like to meet you to see what they are doing wrong when they make £70 per shift!!!
Admin
And after all this bickering between us all, it’s lets just blame the Council for this mess, so Admin we have all been shot down by the looks of things.
PS BLT be a Man or at least a Boy and state who you are instead of hiding behind a user name!!!!
Regards
Stephen
problem is Stephen, nor do you like the truth, time and time agian you have been proven wrong, but instead of expecting you’re wrong you claim people are making up lies. In Stephen world do you find most people around you are wrong? are you always right? did your mam used to tell you that you’re special?
Stephen, i didnt take a huff, i just can’t be ar*sed with you and ya negative comments and you accusing me of telling lies. i think you are the one who does not only dislike the truth but dont know the truth.
And TBH what you say in previous posting to refering to I.S.and slipping the council a few bob, it could quite easily get you into bother from at least 2 parties so if i were you and thankfully im not, but if i were id be retracting me words forthwith!
stephen(fka cent enth)dont know how long you”ve been been hacking but bumping has allways happened and probley allways will.it used to be that punters would jump into office hacks(saloon and others) because they thought they were cheaper(sometimes it still happens)but now the trend is changing and the office cars dont like it…..p.s.the council told me that “you could be ninteen car on a rank and if the customers wants you to take them you can (for whatever the reason)”.
You make a good point about enforcement out and about,but it should a
enforcement officer to check cars early on then check on the flimpers (out of town hack/private hire)later on…it”s not rocket science is it?
BLT and proud of it
I used that comment as a phrase because Admin accused me of basically being frightened of a bloke who runs a Taxi office in Wallsend!
SC – For the record my Mother is dead, and I have never been special!
Have we gone as low as calling each others parents???
But that does’nt surprise me when people have to hide behind a user name!
BLT driver, still no name????????
I thought as much!
Stephen
Stephen….get back on yer medication!
Stephen, you aren’t on this planet, i didnt say i make a grand a week, i said it can be done, you’ve got a spin on everything, if you had a brain you could be in government or a journalist, (for the sport) of course i dont talk to punters about my takings.
Then you have a go at SC saying hes calling your departed mother, read again or get someone to read it to you, he said ‘did youre your mother tell you that you were special?’- that is in NO WAY calling your mother.
maybe you are ‘special’ – special needs
i chose not to make my identity public but when i see you in your H/C, you know, one of the central ones you slagged off a few weeks ago i will say hello
No wonder your fees are so much across there…if your LO reads these threads I think I’d want a few quid more too
CC
in defence of stephen I do tend to find there are 2 different types of taxi drivers, those that say they make absolutely nowt, and those who make £kkk a week. the reality is the truth is in the middle.
AW
Always make nowt…the tips are better
CC
BLT driver – Please feel free to say hello, if a Auriga data unit has work history, you can show me it, and if their is a long list of jobs on it that day, I will certainly apoligise!!!
If you want the plate number & Reg, I will stick it on here so you can look out for me!!!!
Admin – My Medication?, my pharmacist won’t supply me anymore because he thinks I slag off Cars the same as he drives, Black in Colour with a round white NT council sticker on the door!!!
Regards to you all
Stephen
Stephen,
auriga only shows work history of last 3 jobs but im sure if i ask Ian he will print me a list of my jobs for last week W/C Mon 29th Sept and you will see the quality AND quantity of work i covered.
There is no need to post your plate and reg number agsin as you have done this with your plate number previously so i will gladly let you have sight of my work load for last week.
Ian,
I’m happy to show Stephen my workload if you are happy enough to print off a list for me- time permitting.
just let me know if its possible or maybe you could invite Stephen to view it at the office at a predetermined time in your pressance and i will gladly attend to answer any questions he may have of my jobs.
There you go Stephen, nothing to hide, nothing to fear, not from me anyway.
I will await both yours and Ians reply.
Regards………….
BLT Driver!
I suggested early in the week that Mr Shanks should have a “open day” in the office to show critics like myself how much work you lot do!…..but he never responded!!!!
I suggested this idea, because the Drivers he challenged to work for him won’t come in out of the cold!, because it’s OK offering two weeks free rent, but he never elaborated what would happen after that!, would he sack them for daring to criticise his company?, would he want them to stay? & what would he allow them to say on here!!!!!
You quoted;
“nothing to fear, not from me anyway”, can I assume I have REALLY upset someone????
I look forward to meeting you someday and who ever I have UPSET!!!!
Ragards
Your annoying Net friend
Stephen
PS Admin don’t act or turn out like these lot on here, your better than that, so take the odd dig about the other hack gang now and then!!!
stephen
please ring me and i will arrange a vist for you then you can publish your findings on here !! no wholes barred ! you can ask anything and we will show you everything i have nothing to hide
Ian,
if Stephen does ring you could you please show him my workload for the 3 days i posted to prove i did earn what i posted, also the work i did last week as i consider last week to be a normal week.
i’m not a betting man but i wonder what the odds of him ringing you or actually going to the office are? Slim to say the least.
Thank you for the response Mr Shanks
I will take you up on the offer a week after next as I am tied up doing a very time consuming School run next week.
This is where I hate the Council, they should not allow independent licensed Berwick vehicles doing School runs, it’s irritating in the mornings seeing unmarked Cars/Buses with a Berwick plate stuck in the back window doing these run’s and getting a canny whack of cash for doing it!
Anyway that could be another area for debate..”School run’s”
Regards
Stephen
Stephen
i will stay late, no problems lets get this issue sorted as i look forward to your views on the site after wards !! you pick the days the cars anythink you want so no one can say i showed you want i wanted to !!
BLT Driver and proud of it!
You have qouted on several occasions about the posting that I made about Central, that posting was taking the wrong way and I put a explanation and apology on here, I also apoligised to a Hack, who also had taken things wrong.
So I am honest and if I am wrong about BLT and you, I will certainly apoligise once, remember, you already know who I am, I have left my name on here, so I have nowt to hide either, if others want to sit their and call Mr BLT names behind a user name and thats up to them!!!
SO I WILL POP IN TO SEE MR SHANKS WHEN HE IS AVAILABLE!
If he wants to go through anything I have written that he does not like then I will explain myself or apoligise OK!!!
If you want a bet, name the price, I will turn up!, but appreciate he is a busy bloke!
Regards
Stephen
Stephen, I look forward to reading your comments after you see the work load the BLT has every week, BLT is not perfect, but I think you will be in for a shock
stephen
i will work around you just ring me at the office and i shall make time for you its no problem !!
you have nothing to explain or apologise for to me, i am more than happy to be given the chance to explain and show you that some of your views or beliefs maybe wrong
tell the office your Stephen central driver and i will make sure i take the call
SC….. ive been at blueline for a few years now and ive gotta say that i got a shock at the workload that BLT have, it was a pleasant shock though i’ve gotta say……….
regards,
I have a good idea. I will travel around offices all over the north east and report back how much I make from a 2 week stint at each office (rent free for my troubles!) I will report the finding back here. This whole exercise will probably take about a year but would be interesting.
I am sure I would make lot’s of money no problem!
Happy days!
IT GETS TO A POINT WHEN I THINK WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS SITE!!!
STEPHEN STOP BEING DAFT EVERY DRIVER GETS POKED A BIT NOW AND AGAIN, WITH BLT YOU KNOW WHERE THE JOBS ARE DUE TO TIME WORKING FOR THE COMPANY AND THE EXPERIENCE OF THE DRIVER AND THE MANIPULATION OF THE SYSTEM YOU ARE USING. THE HOURS SPENT ON THIS SITE SHOULD BE SPENT ON THE ROAD LEARNING WHAT YOU CAN ABOUT TAXI TRENDS AND PATTERNS IN WORK, LET IAN SHANKS WORRY ABOUT HIS MILLIONS AND “BLT DRIVER AND PROUD OF IT” WORRY ABOUT HIS TAX BILL AND CATCHING UP TO IAN ON BRITAINS RICH LIST!!! YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT YOURSELF! EARN YOUR WAGE PAY YOUR BILLS AND CHILL OUT HAVE A PINT RELAX!!!
Well Stephen, when have you arranged your tour of Bluelines offices and working practices? maybe after seeing how it works you may even try that two weeks free that I.S. offered you.
Let us know when its arranged for and how it goes……….
Regards, BLT driver
Well put Sleepy.Unfortunately,I told him to CHILL a while back when public enemy #1 was the CB Polaroid Mafia,but he didn’t take my advice.So I doubt if he’ll take yours.
I think Stephen and Ian are having a competition to see who can post the most comments before the end of the year!
BLT Driver and proud of it!
I will contact Mr Shanks when he reads the following:
Mr Shanks I am not the same person as “Steve” is on this site, I only call myself STEPHEN or CENTRAL ENTHUSIAST!, I was not the Steve who commented on the Terminal!
So Mr shanks I will not be visiting to talk about the boat, just the workload and the “high earners”
BLT Boy!
Remember I am not that popular with the Hacks either, so if I try and post any good bits about BLT on here, will it be posted???
Remember this site is run by NT Hacks!!!!
BLT Boy!, I would read my first postings!
I will be given Mr Shanks a call Tues or Weds to arrange a visit if that’s OK with you!!
Anyway BLT, I THINK Mr Shanks only offered Mr Walls and another critic the two weeks freebie!!
Regards
Stephen
Central Enthusiast!!!!!
good lateral thinking yt, I will be the bookie, heres the odds:-
EVENS STEPHEN (sorry about the rhyme – i couldn’t resist)
5/4 IAN
10/1 THE DRAW
stphen i am awiating your call !! i am sure admin will make sure your posting as you write it !
Steven why cant you speak out your own mouth instead of your a.s
Its a shame that central drivers have to post with diff names and diff bullshit to be clever!!!!
Just for the record, I tried to contact Mr S, twice today, but he was not available!
Deka, I only use two names on here, it’s the others who hide!
Stephen
Well Stephen, have you arranged your tour of BLT yet?
Stephen i did ring you back on your home number which has 66 in it just to confirm that i did.
spoke to a woman who said your were at work and they said you were not
if they don’t know where i am please get them to find me or leave your mobile so i can ring you back please
Apologies stephen,at first i thought you were from the central taxis in percy st newcastle!but have just read the whole thread and see you are from central…n.shields!
Deka!
No problems, I am from the North Shields firm, remember their is three Central firms, Newcastle, Gateshead, & North Shields, to my best of knowledge they have nowt to do with each other!, I THINK I am the only N/S Central driver on here, the rest are independent NT, NC & GHD hacks and BLT Drivers, and of course Mr Shanks.
Remember my issues with BLT are only earning potential!!!, nowt against any individual driver.
Regards
Stephen
i hear tell that the judgement will be with us next thursday!?!?
I work in the southtyneside area iv read most of the comments it seems to boil down to the fact that there are massive differences in the criterior that officers put into licence applications i cant for the life of me understand why they do this they all must sit at home at night and try to dream up new rules under the pretext of public safety and justify there own jobs and try there hardest to outdo each other it seems to me that Berwick have got it just about right and there attitude to there applicants has to be commended i really do hope that the licencing officer and all his staff get the top jobs when they do get together with the other councils they really do deserve it. We have tried for 20 years to get a breakdown of the licence and to this day nowt they wont tell us nowt we pay in accsess of over £400 a year as opposed to Berwicks £126 why cant we as members of the general public get value for money like everyone else why must we pay £45 for an mot when we can get them at a discount price at perfectly good reputable garages the same way that berwick allow i do hope that the judge take s all this into consideration when he makes his final decision the discrepancies in councils is disgusting and all the rules should all be nation wide the councils have caused this issue and they deserve what there getting a kick right up the @ss.
MR smith stick to sand dancing man !!!!!!!
P.Smith if you want to find out how South Tyneside is spending your money hit them with a load of freedom of information request, they have to provide you with the details, providing your specific with the request.
Council were out last night but as usuall they were tucked up in bed around 12ish, you could tell they were out because ph cars were hardly seen sitting outside SAMMY JACKS, thier usuall haunt in T MOUTH, EDEN, JIMMYS, DEEP, OXFORD ST actually on the Hack rank and outside TASTY TURK need i say more….. Its a shame the council couldnt stay out that bit longer and maybee catch a few in the act but then that would make more work for them wouldnt it ???
Enforcement officers from Newcastle,North Tyneside,Berwick and somewhere else have been out in the Toon for the last couple of weeks and have caught a number of Private Hire & out of towners Flimping. Lets hope they get the message and stick to their own work in future!
Steve man!
The Council were out late last night lurking in the Car park of North Tyneside’s biggest nightspot and haven for Flimpers…..”The Spring Gardens”……..I think the place was closed as well!, so was the Chinese next door, I am sure they would have caught hundreds their!
Regards
Stephen
CJ maybe if the Newcastle’s enforcement officers started doing their job and started pulling the hacks parked up plying for work not on ranks, other people would be able to driver around town and pedestrians would be able to cross roads with out having Hacks parked across junctions, lights etc? Or is it just selective enforcement you want?
has Berwick enforcement team done us a favor by being out on our streets and shown up our local enforcement teams and got them of their arses and to follow suit ??? If so pay them some credit !!!
IS
They are covering their own arses, nothing more, nothing less.
‘Local enforcement’ cant touch the Berwick hacks operating outside their prescribed distance, and you well know it.
Arguably, Berwick cant even touch their own HC’s operating outside Berwick as they have no jurisdiction.
So yes, lets thank Berwick Licensing for showing us all they haven’t got a clue.
CC
Captian Cab
1 what i said was thanks to Berwick showing a presence at least this has shown up the local enforcement and got them of their backsides and onto the street ! that must be a good thing.
2 local enforcement can enforce the Berwick Hacks, they simply have to ring Berwick and ask to be deputised !! but this is beneath our local authorities as i found out when speaking to the head on Newcastle !
3 Berwick has the jurisdiction on any Berwick car in any area !! as its their plate !!
IS
Sorry to disagree
Berwicks only jurisdiction is Berwick and I would argue that any Berwick licensed driver is fully entitled to tell an officer such as and when he gets stopped outside the officers licensing area.
However, I do have an open mind, and if you could point me in the direction of the relevant act, it would be appreciated.
Berwick have tried to deputise other LA’s, I wonder if they offered to pay? And I wonder why they would need to do this if they could, as you say, stop one of their vehicles anywhere?
CC
I don’t get it when Alan says: “The real culprit with regard to Berwick plates is North Tyneside Council and their obstinate dictatorial stance over all things ‘Licensing’”
Hundreds of Taxi Drivers have managed quite well over the years and all of a sudden someone gets it into their head that the Council has a ‘Dictatorial Stance over all things Licensing’ is that a kind of stamping of feet because you can’t get your own way?
There are rules,every where you go there are rules,the rules are in place for everyone. If for instance you have no rule on ‘Tinted Windows’eventually some Rapist would turn up with totally blacked out windows so that no one could see in, How safe would a lone young woman feel in a Taxi with totally blacked out windows?
As for Licensing fees, they are really quite negligible in comparison to what a Taxi driver can earn,even in hard times. I mean Council fees,in North Tyneside anyway,are less than £0.90 per day. We spend three or four times that on coffee & sandwiches daily. All these drivers coming on here saying “I went to Berwick coz the Coonsils rippin us off” You sound like one of your own punters “How Much! where’s yer mask ya robbin Git”
Before all youse redundants, came on the Taxis thinkin the streets were paved with Gold, we didn’t whinge on about fees we just got on with it and made our money. But those of you who came into the business and didn’t find what you expected and found that you had to work long hours and take a bit of crap, are now gettin a bit grumpy and takin it out on anyone you can i.e. the Councils.Well the Councils give you a licence for less than a quid a day so you can earn money to pay for your houses & holidays,beer chits and even feed your families. I say stop listening to the Taxi Lawyers and start making your own minds up about what’s best for you. Over the last few years how many of you have been told that the way forward was “A Berwick Plated Car” you would think they had said “Gold Plated” what was the point? all that grief,court cases etc. Christ all anyone has to do is go to the Council fill a few forms in,pay yer money and go quietly to work. Whats the problem?
There are people in this Game who are clever,they know how to stir things up and get things done, but…who are they really doing it for?
NTH, North Tyneside council have admitted they have been over charging with it licence fee, so why shouldn’t drivers complain? its not like they have refunded any of over charged fee! they have failed to follow the rules set be central government and should be held accountable!
As for tinted windows, are you as deluded as the council to think a rapist is waiting until they can drive a can with tinted windows before they strike on a lone female? get a grip.
SC. I’ve got a grip thanks, and you should chill a bit mate! Councils don’t do refunds, but this council,which in the past has raised fees every year and one year actually doubled them,have in all fairness to them,since Mr.Fiddler found them out, frozen fees for at least the last three years.So how long do you think drivers should complain for? Maybe you think your a system beater, I tell you mate your more Deluded than you think I am if you think that.
I wonder if you would happily wave your daughter/wife/girlfriend off after getting into a Taxi with Blacked out windows and a swarthy grinning driver at the wheel as he drove her off into the night. I bet secretly you would be a bit worried…wouldn’t you? If not take my advice and don’t let the daughter/wife/girlfriend know that you don’t give a shit! Cheers!
NTH
no one wants black out windows !! its tinted glass that comes standard with such cars as Titanium mondeos and other cars !!
having to take seats out of cars that the manufacturers think where built safe and the ministry of transport feel happy to allow on our roads and our insurance company’s are comfortable insuring them ! but the council of North Tyneside see them as unfit to work !!
long waits in test stations and the over charging that has been disclosed on our account resulting in a 150k credit that is illegal according to the taxi law but no one wants to take councils to court as its tax payers money who pays for it !! i wonder if these council people would be so carefree if they could be in the firing line financially if they where out of order knowingly making wrong incorrect decisions
NTH am no system beater, but unlike you am not prepared to be bent over and shafted by the council like you! Councils should be held accountable for all its decisions, interpretation’s of law and mosts importantly how it spends PUBLIC money! Failure to do so in the past is how NTC got away with the year on year increases and to double the fees that you have mentioned.
Sittin on north shields rank,bit of excitement at the moment. a search warrant has been served on Central Taxis and all hacks are being searched for stolen goods etc.
NTH just because a car has tinted windows that dont say the driver is jack the ripper !!!!! most taxis drivers dont get the horne just because it gets a bit dark . that dont happen untill 11 bells when it gose to T2 and the drunks can get a good ripping off !!! get a hold of yourself man you have been watching to much tv if you cant trust yourself when you have young girls in try sitting on ur hands when you drive . north tyneside council will do all they can to make life hard ,not easy , you will see one day why do it the easyway when you must do it north tyneside way ???????
SC, Fair comment but what you gonna do? 30 years in this game and i’ve seen it all. Believe me the only way to get on is to talk.You keep getting up the councils nose and they just put a brick wall up. I know what you and Mr.shanks are talking about I’ve experienced it myself with advertising.I would like all over ads on my car but this backward council won’t allow it i’m not bending over i’m speaking to them constantly, putting forward sound arguments rather than putting two fingers up.If your a driver/owner driver you’ve got no gripe with the council they licence you and you make a living end of story. If you’re an operator your motives are stronger,you want to expand,you want your business to grow and grow.I can understand that but drivers should not allow themselves to be brainwashed by operators without asking “What’s in it for me?” get my drift? in the long term what has a driver got to gain by constantly hammering on about the Council? drivers have nothing to beef about but let the operators fight their own battles because at the end of the day they just want more rent and more rent for them just chips away at your income. If you can’t see that now you may in a few more years.All this militant behaviour towards Councils is nothing new ask any old timer then ask them if they are any better off than they were when they started.I can’t make you feel any different than you do but allow me my say without the crap about being shafted because Taxiing has been good to me over the years and if you look at your own living it’s probably been alright to you aswell. Cheers!
dum de dum, i hear dopey got lifted, and it wasn’t talcum powder.
BIG SILVER Can you read & write? or do you get someone to write for you while you DICK TATE?
NTH sorry if i hit a nerve with the pervy taxi thing not sure how the likes of you get a crb check if your not on about sex with young girls your on about DICK !!! you have been told by a few now get a grip i hope you never get a school run .
Talking about blacked out windows, have you seen that Eastcoast SAAB?, very blacked out and the Car is Black too, Berwick of course!!!
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