Since revealing that the Fraud Squad were now taking an interest in the parking ticket ‘scam’ first revealed in Call Sign several months ago, quite a few drivers have forwarded details of occasions where they have received the notice of fine for the non-payment of “an issued ticket,” yet had not had a ticket attached to their cabs at the time.  We are printing two of them, but all have been passed onto Roy Martin (R42) who started the ball rolling with his Call Sign article and who is currently speaking to the Fraud Squad…Ed

PARKING TICKET ‘SCAM’

After reading in April's edition of Call Sign about the parking ticket ‘scam’ I would like to tell you my story of a bogus ticket.
   I received a 'notice to driver' letter telling me that I was issued a ticket in Margaret St W1 on 5/8/99. I appealed against it as I had no recollection of being there at that time. I then got a letter dated 13/10/99 telling me they would consider my appeal. 
    I then received a notice of rejection dated 15/12/99 which said that they had given careful consideration to the points I had made.

1. I had never received a ticket.

2.  I wanted a copy of the ticket as proof having not received the ticket in the first place.

Their reply was: “The attendant L2040 confirms he put the ticket on my vehicle. It is possible that it was removed by someone.” They added that: “…The hand held terminal only prints one copy, therefore they could not provide me with a copy of the ticket”.
   In this same letter from (Editor’s note: I have left out the name of the person) they described my vehicle as a red Metrocab Laguna. I, in fact, own a Green Metrocab. I pointed this out and made an appointment with the Adjudicator. I received a date for the Adjudicator on the 23/12/99. On the 20/1/00 received a letter from (the same person) telling me the case had been dropped and no further action would be taken. This was followed by a letter from the Parking Appeals Service confirming this.
   I have never received an apology or explanation for any of their actions, instead the case was dropped without explanation. I was never in Margaret St in the first place. If this was a case of mistaken identity, how did they get my numberplate?
   I still have all the letters that I received and would be willing to let you have them if need be.
Darren Hawley (A80)

Could anyone in a similar situation to Darren please make photocopies of the papers and send them to me care of office. I will pass them on to the people investigating the matter. Make sure you address the envelope ‘care of Call Sign’ …Ed 

AND AGAIN…
With reference to the article in Call Sign magazine, believe that I am being 'scammed’ by Camden council. The week before last, I received a Notice to owner form, out of the blue telling me that I had not paid a parking ticket 3 YEARS AGO! That’s correct - 3 YEARS AGO! I spent the best part of 3 days phoning the number on the form but nobody answered. I made enquiries at my local Essex police station, also to Snow Hill police station and to the London Cab Drivers Club.
   I was more or less told by all of them that as there had been no correspondence in this matter, this being the only time I knew about it, I should write and tell them that. This I have done and I will let you know the outcome. They have also threatened on the form, that if the fine is not paid by 20^th April 2000 they may issue a county court summons and send in the bailiffs.
   Any help you can give me would be helpful.
Tony Conway (M42)

Since writing the above letter, Tony Conway has now been told that the ticket issuers will no longer be proceeding with the matter. Like most of the other drivers involved, Tony has offered to pass on any information that may help other drivers or the Fraud Squad…Ed

WHERE ARE WE?
While appreciating the article from Mike Son on the new taxi facilities at the Dome, I would like to know where he got the map from? I would have found it more useful to have a picture of a rabbit warren! It told me nothing. In fact nothing would have been better, because then at least I would have known nothing and been happy. Looking at his map, I still no nothing but also feel confused!
   One further point, is it not about time that the taxi manufacturers installed a warning light in the passenger compartment saying: “Please fasten your seat belt.” After all, it is illegal not to wear it anyway but people still don’t.
 Sid Nathan (K88)

The map was the official one from the Dome…Ed

MARSHALLING MENACE?
On the 24th November last year, I was working as a DaC marshal at premises near Latimer Road. Whilst working, my cab was damaged. The cost to repair the cab was £226 and I naively thought that as I was working on behalf of Dial-a-Cab, that they would compensate me. I’m afraid that I was wrong and in fact was told by the Board of Management that they were not prepared to assist me as they thought I should make an insurance claim for the damage. If I took this option, I would have had to pay £150 excess on my claim plus lose two years no-claims bonus. As I was paid £96 for my work on the night and I have paid for the damage personally, I have a net loss of £130 for my trouble. Following my experience, I shall no longer do any marshalling for the society and shall return any clothing given to me.
   I wish all the current marshals good luck for the future and hope that they do not have an experience like mine.
Roger Kensit (W31)

Brian Rice replies:
Yes, you did send the bill for £226 to the Society, but there are a couple of points that I would like to make. Firstly, there is no way of knowing where your vehicle was vandalised (boot lid scored). I accept the fact that you believe it was done in Latimer Rd, but no one knows for certain.
   Secondly, where do these claims stop?  Are you suggesting that if you have an accident whilst carrying an account client that the Society is liable? Roger, the BoM are sorry that your vehicle was damaged, but there is no way in which the Society can be held responsible or where would it end?

THANK YOU TOM
Would you please publish this email in the next issue of Call Sign: Thanks Tom (Whitbread) for the complimentary tickets for The Talk Of London last night. We had a really good time.
Paul Shaw (Black 19) 

CALL SIGN
Really enjoyed this month's Call Sign - in particular Allen Togwell’s column which shows a side of him we've never seen before. Also, Chas Kissin is a very brave man for speaking his mind in this almost intolerable era of incorrectly biased politically correctness. He would have got my vote for the mayoral seat.
   On a different subject, the "Westminster" supplement in Call Sign was also very informative - particularly page 6 which shows the control room full of all the latest technology and lovely surroundings. And below that? What looks to be the oldest cab in the fleet (ships wheel steering) together with a lovingly cosseted MDT complete with missing display cover...hmmm! We really do need the new equipment in the cab as well as the office, don't you think?
   Incidentally, do you know if there will be an intelligent link between the meter and the new terminal? If so, does that spell the end of having to explain why despite having swiped a passenger's credit card through the old terminal, we still have to spend a couple of minutes manually writing out a slip?
Richard Rootes (W12)

Allen Togwell replies:
Well would you believe it, I’m speechless, in all the years I’ve been on the Board and the hundreds of articles I’ve written in Call Sign, a member has actually gone into print saying he enjoyed my column! To my knowledge, you and I have never met Mr Rootes but you are a brave man for all the stick you are likely to 

get and I would be proud to shake your hand.
   As to your comments re the Westminster booklet, I’m pleased you found it informative because that was reason a copy was issued to all our members. A lot of work went in to produce the booklet as Westminster wanted me to create something completely different and more reader friendly than what they had previously. The graphics were taken specifically for the booklet with the exception of the one showing the old MDT which you commented on and which I used from my library. Unfortunately, there was a deadline on producing the booklet which prevented me from using a graphic of the new MDT, which had not at that time been installed.
   In answer to your question regarding writing out manual slips for a credit card ride: The new MDT has an in-built swipe reader and receipt facility. All that will be needed is for two copies to be printed off. One to be signed by the client and retained by the driver and the other a copy for the client.

BACK TO CODE 77…!
As a driver (night man) preferring Code 3 to Code 77, I would like to know if the drivers who voted for the Code 77 re-introduction are happy with this facility as it is at present? Also, when using the Code 77 facility, how many times have they done so successfully?
   If they are now unhappy with Code 77 and/or haven’t used it successfully, what alterations would they now prefer to have to this facility or would they prefer a return to Code 3…?
David Marks (R22)

TALK OF LONDON
I won a table for four at Talk of London in the March Call Sign and had an excellent evening there with my family. The food was traditional English, very tasty and served by attentive waiters. The cabaret was fantastic with two singers and six dancers on the theme of pop music from 1920 to the present day featuring well-known popular songs. A few, such as Diamonds are a girls best friend and Hey Jude, particularly stood out as we marvelled at the dancers' ability to keep smiling and dancing for two hours in their high heeled shoes and over thirty changes of costume. The evening finished with a disco and we staggered out having rather over-indulged on the red wine!  I would recommend the Talk of London to anyone who enjoys good food, good music, live performers and a great atmosphere.
John Preston (S70)

To enter the Talk of London competition, just send a postcard to Call Sign c/o Brunswick House. One card each month will be pulled out and all other entrants are put back in the draw for the following month. Please don’t forget to recommend the Talk of London to any clients you have looking for a great value night out. The ToL will pay you a commission…Ed

DIAL-A-DREAM THANK-YOU TO DAC
Although I no longer am able to drive a taxi, it’s nice to be kept abreast of the daily operations at DaC through Call Sign. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking through the pages of the magazine, those very pleasant young ladies that took the time and the effort to arrange on behalf of Dial-A-Dream, a very good dinner and dance at the Tower Hotel in February this year. Those drivers and their partners that supported the Dial-a-Cab Call Takers were treated to a night of entertainment that really engendered the feel-good factor. I note that the young ladies were not named, so a big thank-you to Samantha Livermore, Lucy Tulley and Penny Verrier along with Paul Tulley and the very affable singer Debbie. I hope that just recognition is shown to these hard working young ladies. A very big thank-you as well to DaC driver Jonathon Vyner, who is not only an excellent Toastmaster, but who gave his services free of charge. To all those that participated in making the night both profitable as well as entertaining, thank you from Dial-A-Dream…
   On a personal note, it was nice to see some old friendly faces on the evening.
Be Lucky
Bob ‘the dog’ Heath (ex F44)
Hon Sec. Dial-A-Dream

Dial-A-Dream was founded by two DaC drivers (Bob Heath and Tom Whitbread) many years ago in a second floor office at Brunswick House 

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