| Mailshot is your chance to
tell the subscribers of Dial-a-Cab exactly what you think. Complaints, compliments or just
to write about Call Sign. This is YOUR paper within your magazine....
You can also email your letters to: callsignmag@aol.com
Fixed Price Rides
I work at night and the Finz is really tough - as is everywhere
else. I know we are in a recession, but there is more and more local work
coming out. An hours wait for EC1 to EC1 kills you stone dead. I know that
is the chance you take, but isn't it about time we started fighting back
against private hire? I have spoke to many drivers and asked them about
fixed price work ie would they rather sit on EC5 for an hour or more and
get a job to N1, E1 or WC1 etc or do a fixed price trip? Many of them said
they would rather do fixed price rides. There will always be some who will
be upset, but you can't please everyone. Perhaps we could offer for just
inside the M25, 20% off the fare and for outside the M25 a fare of £1.80
a mile as Euston and Waterloo? There is never any trouble covering
work from there. What about if DaC sent out info sheets about doing
something like this to all our drivers, it's got to be worth a try and
drivers wouldn't have to do them. When PH soon become fully legal, we may
lose even more work. The BoM have put our subs up while the work is
getting less, that doesn't really help! I'm not having a go at the Board,
but maybe we need a young salesman who will really put DaC across as the
number one taxi circuit .If we don't start changing, we will get left
behind...
Dave Raymond (F56)
Allen Togwell replies: Dear Mr Raymond, as someone who has been on our
circuit for a number of years, I'm sure you have seen many articles by me
concerning the contentious issue of fixed prices - and believe me it is
contentious. Exactly how many drivers you have spoken to I do not know and
how many who say they share your views are genuine, again I don't know
because when you say 'some' will be upset, I can assure you by the amount
of ear-bashings I get, its definitely more than some!
For years I've been trying to convince night drivers to ignore what's on
the meter when doing a fixed price ride and concern themselves more with
time and distance, but without success. A typical example can be found
nightly with the S75 account that we have had for the past 25 years. Up
until the last negotiated tender, the fixed price mileage rate was £2.50
per mile for the first 6 miles. £2.20 pm for the next 20 miles and £2.pm
thereafter. Not a day went by when I didn't have drivers on the phone
screaming at me that the fixed price journeys were not lucrative enough.
The service suffered and we had to regularly subsidise journeys to get
them covered. When we last renegotiated the charges with this account, we
were aware of what the competition were charging and tendered accordingly
- which was more than your recommended £1.80. Unfortunately, the Mayor's
night charge has made matters worse and the complaints doubled both from
the drivers and the passengers. The last complaint I received involved a
journey going from SW1 to Farnborough in Kent - journey time approx 1hr 10
minutes and a fixed price of £42. The meter showed £65.80... my ears are
still burning!
Your comment that drivers wouldn't have to do them is the very problem.
Are we in a business to give a service or we are not? You cannot sell a
product on the understanding that a client MIGHT get a cab only if the
drivers feel like doing it, an attitude that has always been endemic in
this trade and one that you obviously agree with. It is the catalyst
behind the emergence of the very people, PH, who you are concerned we
might lose more work to.
As with any industry, the only way to attract business away from the
competition is to be competitive. Unfortunately, many in the cab trade and
particularly those so-called spokespersons for the trade, think
differently. In their opinion, everybody with a green badge has a divine
right to expect top dollar and no competition. Drivers doing solely street
work have no control over the meter and when they question why the work
from Joe Public is drying up, they should try sampling what it costs to
sit in the back of their own cabs occasionally. With account work, we have
a choice. We can be as competitive
as we like and fluctuate our charges according to supply and demand, I
just find it odd
that so many radio men are adamantly opposed to it, they would rather
wander aimlessly searching for a job at full fare than one at reduced
cost.
And as for your ageist comment, Mr Raymond, age has no bearing on ability.
However, we do have a young, attractive and very efficient lady by the
name of Lydia Foulkes heading our Sales department who is doing an
excellent job in a very competitive market place, and whilst I wouldn't be
so un-gentlemanly as to disclose her age, exactly what you had in mind by
"young," I've no idea...
Call Sign After Retirement?
I retired from Dial-a-Cab six months ago after being a member
for 35 years and suddenly I no longer get Call Sign, although I would
dearly like to keep in touch with DaC (I am not on the Internet). I now
live in Spain for most of the year, but wonder whether there is any
possibility of going back on the mailing list? I would be happy to pay any
costs involved.
Mr E.J.Greenbury (ex D85)
South Benfleet, Essex
Thanks for the letter Edward and I hope you enjoy your retirement. This is
one of several similar letters I get each month and if I were to put all
those former drivers requesting a copy onto a mailing list, the posting
process would take all month! I certainly appreciate the compliment but
I'm afraid that I have to say no to most of the requests. However, as you
were with DaC for 35 years, I am making an exception in your case ...Ed
Hotel Changes
Those in the hotel industry should be aware that mergers and
takeovers in hotel groups and subsequent hotel name changes are leading to
an increasing number of confused London cabbies. I discovered this on the
way to the HBAA meeting held in the capital the other week. My cab driver
said that once they were kept informed of changes by hotel groups via two
publications for taxi drivers; Taxi Magazine and Call Sign. It may be that
these magazines aren't publishing name changes or perhaps the titles have
fallen off the press lists of hotel PROs. If so, please spare a thought
for the cab drivers; it is vital for them to be informed to enable our
clients to reach the right destination.
Sue Burgess
Inntel [D1]
The above letter was sent as an internal memo from Sue Burgess, the Inntel
Operations Director to those in that group's chain. I can only agree - the
name changes are an utter nuisance - especially in hotel groups such as
Thistle who seem to have a need to call all their hotels by the same name.
No wonder Call Sign's Alan Nash of Nash's Numbers is starting to look
older! ... Ed
Views On The Early Days Of ODRTS From Oz
I read the January Call Sign forwarded on to me from The Cab Driver office
in London and in particular "Call Sign Looks at DaC's Fiftieth
Year." The issue was particularly interesting because I was a member
of ODRTS from January 1956 until sometime after the circuit moved to
Shirland Road. In my time with ODRTS, I was A8 and A1 and a bit later
after a short break, I became B33. It was London's finest circuit and
occasionally I have flashbacks to those far-off days and especially
remember the help the circuit gave to the trade during those early days of
Welbeck Motor's minicabs!
I well remember when, back in those early days of minicabs
from June 1961, how valuable the circuit was in helping to move large
numbers of cabs to certain flashpoints, such as West London Air Terminal,
BOAC Victoria and the coach station opposite.
In that issue of Call Sign, I was also particularly
interested in the feature article on the Penny Post. Everyone who has ever
written about the Post Office makes the same mistake. The Penny Black was
not the first adhesive stamp, that honour goes to William Dockra who set
up the first post office in the former London home of Sir Robert Ady in
the City of London (Lime Street) in March 1660. These stamps were
triangular and samples can be seen in the British Museum. It is also well
worth recording that the letters were both collected and
delivered by London's licensed Hackney Carriages in their so-called
'Letter Coaches'.
I liked that feature on the early days of ODRTS and also the
send-up of Anthony Browne as 'Prat of the Year.'
Well Alan, I have rambled on a bit as is my wont, so I will
close by now wishing you and yours all the best in the coming year. Keep
up the good work in Call Sign and I look forward to the next issue.
Phil Warren
Townsville,
Queensland, Australia
Thanks for the letter Phil. I hope life in Australia is going well for
you...Ed
AGM Election Result and Postal Voting
I must unhesitatingly congratulate the current Board under Brian Rice's
very capable Chairmanship for all that they have done over the past year
under such trying circumstances and I am delighted at their re-election.
I've often said that a business is only as good as it's management. If the
management are poor, then so is the business. Our management team are good
and deserved our votes. Congratulations to them all...
The AGM for DaC is always an important event as it allows
free speech in order to air personal points of view and because of this
very democratic method, should eventually lead to an understandable and
correct conclusion, allowing a variety of subscribers to make their
feelings known. Numerous points are made by subscribers, some valid issues
are raised, discussions take place with the expected audience outburst,
the subject matter is often 'thrashed-out' for several minutes, numerous
localised arguments take place in the hall, the calm is interrupted for a
while when bullets start to fly, then some kind of peace is restored and
the AGM proceeds. Soon the aforementioned comments could well be
repeated...!
Every year these things happen. When we leave the meeting and
because recent years' overall attendances has been disgraceful due to the
absence of those who choose to vote for the next BoM by post, the issues
raised and discussed on the day by the assembly have to me and I'm sure
others, not been realistic, correct or even representative of our full
membership. How on earth can
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an honest and realistic appreciation of any issue be understood or
appreciated by anyone not in attendance on the
day?
How can an all important and worrying matter be made
aware to the assembly if people are not there? How can YOUR future be
fully understood and
explained in detail when serious competitors' actions are taking place
that you are probably unaware of? At our AGM, there were so many issues
raised by a number of very intelligent guys where it was necessary to have
a full compliment of subscribers attend and although voting did take place
from the floor, the poor attendance cannot possibly give us a true and
accurate figure.
If I had been a member of the BoM, or even the Chairman, I
would have been disgusted and dismayed by the poor turnout as I consider
the AGM to be one of the most important events in the company calendar.
Over recent years, the physical attendance at AGM's has reduced with the
majority relying on the postal vote rather than attend in person. Let's
make one thing clear - the postal vote only allows individual decisions on
who the next BoM could be - it does nothing else! It does not permit or
allow postal voters to vent their feelings or thoughts on the numerous
issues of the day or for them to make positive or constructive suggestions
or to expound on how they see things for all our futures.
What it does do is to totally undermine the day's events, it
reduces the full understanding and appreciation of important matters, it
allows ignorance on a variety of issues, it contributes to the apathy of
so many members, it is an insult in to our Chairman and his Board of
Management who have worked so hard throughout the year to consolidate and
build our company and it allows the disinterested and weak subscriber to
feed off the backs of others. It is also insulting and rude to DaC staff
who assist on the day - which also rubs off onto those who did make the
effort to attend. Worst of all is that a decision has already been made
before the AGM by subscribers who did not hear the thoughts and arguments
on the day, thus undermining everything that takes place on the day.
Consequently the chances of being elected for almost any new candidate
wishing to stand against the current BoM is immediately dwarfed, because
whatever they have to say on the day, good or bad, will not be heard by a
maximum audience and this surely must be wrong.
Knowing that our general industry has constantly experienced
so many un-businesslike approaches is bad enough, it has certainly been
threatened in so many ways by almost the entire world - particularly
today! For DaC with its 50 years of experience and with so many past and
wonderful personalities who have contributed so much to this company's
existence, postal voting to me is an insult which should never have been
allowed. The postal vote is an impersonal and definite threat to our
well being because our strength should be in our numbers. How can 150 or
so subscriber's comments have this much-needed strength if over seven
times this number choose to stay away?
I am concerned in seeking a way to stop postal balloting, it
is not doing us any favours at all. It is stemming our progress, which is
so important today when one considers and appreciates the world situation
quite apart from our own company. This could easily effect the economic
climate for each one of us.
Our Chairman understandably stated at the AGM that because of the rules of
our Society, he could not stop the postal vote there and then, but that it
would need a Proposer and Seconder for the next AGM in a years time.
Whilst I and others would like to see the immediate removal of the postal
vote NOW and if the BoM consider that it is not worth calling an EGM just
for this purpose - which I fully understand - then I for one would be
quite prepared to wait a year and then make the proposal as stated above.
If my positive suggestion for the removal of the postal vote
is eventually taken-on-board and where any subscriber is genuinely unable
to attend an AGM due to any legitimate reason, that would be acceptable.
But other than this and where any subscriber fails to attend, then a £100
fine should be implemented unhesitatingly.
Whether we like it or not, we are small businessmen in our
own right, coupled with an agency operation linked to DaC where we each
own one share. In other words, we each run our own business. I think that
it's a pretty poor show that as businessmen, we are not prepared to spend
just a few hours once a year at a London venue to hear and discuss the
progress of our business, to be updated on London and national events and
to be given the opportunity of being elected onto the BoM.
We've had a huge compliment paid to us by an investment company -
Sovereign - who consider that we are worth investing in, irrespective of
it going through or not. Let each one of us have the good sense to vote
for the postal vote to be removed once and for all and return to a full
house where a fair and responsible hearing can be given on all the issues
of the day.
Please don't simply read and chuck out my comments, because I
believe in my heart that each and every subscriber does accept the need
more than at any other time in our history, for them to attend personally
an AGM in order to understand and appreciate the problems of the day and
to offer their thoughts, ideas and backing of actions taken.
I thank you in advance for your understanding and decision to
stand with myself and others on this matter and I look forward to a packed
assembly next year or earlier.
Ronald S. Colman (J09)
Thanks for your thoughts Ron, postal balloting did take a hammering at the
meeting! My view has been made clear many times in Call Sign, I voted
against postal balloting but it is fairly obvious that the large majority
of subscribers don't really care about AGMs etc. But I wish you luck in
changing their minds... Ed
How To Increase AGM Attendance...
The AGM will undoubtedly be covered in the main section of Call
Sign, but I wonder if I can use the Mailshot pages to add my own
observations. Having skipped breakfast, I arrived at 10.45 and after
finding a place to park, the most important consideration for me was to
get a cup of coffee. All I found was a table with some used cups and an
empty coffee jug. Putting
the Society before minor inconveniences, I found a seat in the hall and
looked forward to some stimulating and informative debate, which would
offer radical and constructive proposals.
Apart from a plea by one member urging the Board to sort out
the traffic congestion in London, about 50% of the discussion consisted of
drivers complaining about other members not attending the meeting and
voting by post without having a chance to hear arguments for or against
proposals, or addresses given by candidates hoping to get a place on the
Board.
There was a 'catch 22' situation, with no change possible
without the votes of those who were not present and with little prospect
of a postal vote accepting compulsory attendance for the future. However,
I have a solution...
To start, the venue should be changed. Nothing really wrong
with The Old Brewery, but nothing particularly brilliant about it either.
The next A.G.M. should be held at the Dorchester Hotel. Sufficient coffee
and pastries should be available and at 1pm, an extended break for a fine
lunch. Everything from gefilte fish and roast beef to Alu Punjabi and
strawberries should be available to cater for all tastes.
Speeches can be delivered whilst petit fours are served and
to make sure that nobody leaves early, the belly dancers and Chippendales
will only perform after the voting has taken place!
If we cannot make attendance compulsory, then meetings should
be so wonderful that everyone will be clamouring to gain entry.
Laurence Kelvin (W88)
Your idea is ok, Laurence, but I have already suggested to the Board that
everyone who attends next year's meeting will be given a brand new taxi
free of charge. That should ensure a full house with standing room only.
All we're waiting for is Corgi to promise delivery on time. Whadya mean
you thought I meant real cabs... Ed
Editor Criticism at the AGM
I must commend the way you answered criticism concerning the
way you were verbally attacked by a driver (who I won't mention). Keep
smiling and don't let an idiot deter you from the excellent job that you
are doing.
Can I through Call Sign, thank all the drivers who voted for
me at the AGM and also congratulate the re-elected BoM. I hope they can
keep up the good work under the stewardship of Brian Rice. I'd also like
to commiserate with the other prospective Board Members who obviously put
in the time, effort and enthusiasm in addressing their audience. Once
again, a big 'Thank You'...
Russell Hall (G44)
Thank you Russell and thanks to all those who phoned and text me after the
meeting to
see if I was ok after claiming that I looked pale! I was somewhat annoyed
after inaccurate claims were made about Call Sign and me, but I survived.
Thanks anyway...Ed
Postal Balloting
The AGM for the hundred or so members present was run in a
professional way with some lively discussion, friendly banter and hardly
any personal attacks - something that has spoilt past meetings. However,
the AGM reinforced my belief that postal voting is fundamentally wrong for
us. With members standing for election and re-election, how can you ask a
question of them or assess their character without being at the meeting? A
painfully brief CV in Call Sign is woefully insufficient.
About 10 years ago we were trading on a day-to-day basis as
our bankers wanted to foreclose on us. At that AGM, we were asked through
a show of hands to have our weekly cheques delayed by 2 / 3weeks and to
keep our roller bonds (after they had matured) in the Society for as long
as possible. All this was to aid cash flow. The feeling and passion in the
hall got an overwhelming YES vote. I hate to think what the outcome would
have been had it been down to a postal ballot. The postal ballot does
nothing to encourage members to stand for election. I felt embarrassed for
the membership, the prospective candidates and myself. The candidates
bravely gave an election address knowing the result was a foregone
conclusion; this said I admire their courage.
I also feel a rule change or procedural change when the
proposer and seconder cannot be bothered to attend the meeting to discuss
the proposition should be deemed void. If nearer the next AGM you see a
proposal to amend or change the postal ballot, before blindly putting an
'X' for or against, please study it carefully as our Society as we know
it, may depend on it.
Colin Jenkins (Y22)
Thanks For The Memories...
I must commend one of your amazing drivers. I had heard that
London cab drivers were the best in the world,
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but even I was amazed at the help given to my husband and I on our London
trip. Our bellhop told us about a restaurant on the Thames called XO but
had no
address, so we took a cab expecting him to know it, but he didn't. It was
only when we
mentioned that we though it was situated close to Waterloo railway station
that he realized that it must be the OXO Tower! Being a
Sunday, we were not sure if it was open so he typed in a message on his
computer asking for the phone number and it came back in around 30
seconds. The equipment you have in your cabs is sensational and had we not
been rushed, I think my husband, as a computer programmer would have
wanted to take a closer look! The driver then stopped curbside, dialed the
number and booked us a table! That brief encounter made our stay in
your beautiful city complete. Please thank that driver for us. I know he
was with your company as he gave me your email address.
Sharon and Hayden Levene
Sweetwater, Texas, USA
Thank you Sharon, but I did tell you to add that not only was the driver a
big help, but also incredibly good looking! I'll accept the thank-you
though - and I forgot to charge you for the call! ...Ed - or to you, Alan!
Making Sense of Fare Increases
Once upon a time we had fare increases that made some sort of
sense. Up to six miles or the equivalent in time, we'd get one rate, over
that we got fare and a half; three percent of that was three percent,
simple as that. When you had an increase you knew what it was. Now
my mind just boggles trying to work it all out. November 2001 and we were
just getting over foot and mouth but starting to feel the effects of the
slowdown in America. Those crazy Thursday and Friday nights with every
City bar full to overflowing were becoming a distant memory. A
large proportion of the reason for Ken's night-time incentive were now
redundant and no longer working in the City, no longer going out drinking
in it and no longer going home from
it. But hell, lets go ahead and implement it anyway...
And so it was. We were given the same rate as before during
the day, but from 8pm till 6am we got fare and three fifths up to six
miles and fare and a half there after, and at weekends fare and a quarter
up to the six miles with fare and a half from there on. All we had to do
was agree to go twelve miles if asked. Still quite simple even for me to
work out, apart from changing all the distances to metres instead of yards
- I had to get my calculator out for that bit. Next came the April
increase, in June I believe it was.
OK, so now I've got used to metric we're back using yards
again! We get an increase on the day rate up to six miles with last
year's fare and a half there after, an increase on the weekend rate up to
six miles with last years fare and a half there after, no increase on the
night rate up to six miles with last years fare and a half there after.
From this I have concluded that fare and a half is now actually fare and
two fifths.
We are now approaching our next annual increase, now known as
the "approximately eight monthly increase" and can look forward
to a 3% increase, loss of the 40p extra passenger charge, loss of the
night rate from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm, in return for a £2.40 flag fall
which is of next to no financial benefit to us whatsoever, but will give
our passengers the impression that we're making more money out of them
than before. And as for what fare and a half will be... well your guess is
as good as mine. What is going on? I can't help feeling we're being
shafted with science. All I know for sure is that I'm not taking much more
now than I was seven years ago.
Baffled Bill Kibble (K86)
PS: Does anyone know anything about the grey tower type structure on
top of the building opposite Kings Cross station by Gray's Inn Road? I've
always wondered what it is...
You're baffled, Bill? I had to read your letter at 3 in
the morning - but I think I agree with you! And can anyone help Bill with
his end-of-letter query? ...Ed
Lou's DaC Visit
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Brian Rice for
taking the time to show me around Dial a Cab recently. I felt very proud
to know that I was there at the beginning of two-
way radios in taxis and to see how far Dial-a-Cab have brought the trade
gave me a warm glow, knowing that all my efforts over fifty years ago are
now in very safe hands. The professionalism that Brian showed in the way
he runs and organises the company would put many big businesses to shame.
I would also like to thank Alan Fisher for his time in interviewing me and
showing so much interest in the beginnings of RODA taxis. I also wish that
I were fifty years younger so that I could work with such a bevy of
beauties such as those that I met at DaC!
Once again my sincere thanks to you and all the staff at
Dial-a-Cab for making my day so interesting and enjoyable. I look forward
to being with you in June to celebrate your fiftieth anniversary.
Lou Dunn (ex-B07 RODA Taxis)
London E10
It was a real pleasure to meet you Lou. There must have been something in
the drinking water in the mid-1950's that allowed gentlemen such as you to
not just reach the age of 93, but to still look so well and be so active.
By the way, Nuala and Val in Driver's Services want to know what you're
doing Saturday night! ... Ed
Prat of the Year
In the December issue of Call Sign, you published a photo of
the LTDA-caught Prat of the Year. I don't know if anyone else was
considered for that honourable title, but I certainly have a few
nominations of my own. And wonder of wonders - they all come from the same
building which is located not too far from Penton Street, Islington.
Placed third on my list was the individual who used a stopwatch to time
the wiper blades between 'intermittent' and 'normal'! Following
close in second place was the person who decided that we at Dial-a-Cab
must not advertise our circuit on tax disc holders in case our passenger
see it - well that's
what I've been given to understand. In future, should one of our cabs
appear alongside me displaying the DaC logo, I shall tell my passenger to
close his / her eyes until the "danger"
passes! But my Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, for my number one spot I look
no further than the twit who, during last year's World Cup Finals, ordered
a number of drivers at Liverpool Street Station to take down their Flags
of St George that they were proudly displaying in their front windscreens
in support of the England team, because it was considered to be racist!
The only racist in my view was the twit who gave the order! I believe that
he climbed down when
one of the drivers threatened to phone a newspaper. The reason was
suddenly amended to the
offending flags possibly causing an obstruction "...and would they
mind moving them to another spot."
But moving away from Penton Street (in a south westerly
direction) surely the above three fade into insignificance when I nominate
the REAL Prat of the Year, the Rt. Hon. David Blunkett, our Home
Secretary. When asked what action he was going to take to stop
the flow of asylum seekers, he wrung his hands and said that it would take
millions of pounds and a number of years for us to get out of our
obligations, as we had signed up with the European Convention on Human
Rights "circa 1950!" But how about OUR human rights?
Times are a-changing and very rapidly too. It seems that this convention
means that we cannot kick anyone out of this country if there is a danger
of these persons being persecuted when they get back to their own country
- even if they have an unsavoury record. What a load of cobblers! So
far as I and most people are concerned, we are living in what could be
described as a 'State of Emergency' - something that last happened during
the 39 / 45 war. So we must take the necessary action and if it upsets our
European allies, then tough! They do what they want to do when it suits
them, so let us do the same and s-d the lot of them!
Sam Harris (S95J)
Thinking of getting a cab passed this year, Sam! ... Ed
Improving the Amount of Work...?
During 2002 I have seen my credit work reduced drastically, my subs
increased by 7.4%, large companies closing their cab accounts and other
accounts being more selective as to the
type of journey a licensed cab does. Airport trips are a rarity since the
Heathrow Express arrived, all of which is bad news for we drivers.
This has all been caused by a lack in tourism, a slow-down in
the economy and a general cut back by our clients. We read regularly in
Call Sign how the BoM help our clients with all the new technology that
has recently been installed and we have all noticed more drivers on the
circuit to cover the work, but my question to the Board is: What is being
done to help the driver? How can we get back some of the
work we used to do regularly ie airports etc? The way I can see things
going (and I'm sure Ken Livingstone likes it this way), is that we will
soon be doing only short runs around town, almost the same as the local
minicab, but picking up from bus stops or people with shopping. I believe
it is time to fight back now before we lose it all to the cars.
We should be looking at run-ins, waiting time and the amount
of gratuity being paid for each trip. That is not just the drivers, but
also the handling charges added on by the company. If a fare is £40 and
the driver gets 10% extra, then a handling charge of 10% is added + VAT.
This means that the customer will receive a bill in excess of £56 and
that is where I think we are losing the battle. I would certainly do an
airport trip without a gratuity in the present climate and we could
retrieve work back from our many clients, big and small, who are currently
using other forms of transport who come nowhere near our standard of
professionalism. It's all a matter of price... not quality these days!
It is another story at night due to the current meter.
We have a meter that is too cheap at the bottom end and too
expensive at the top, but I believe this can be overcome with some
initiatives from the Number One taxi company in the world with the best
drivers, but a Board who are not taking the initiatives we expect from
them.
Joseph Hornstein (K78)
Before passing you to the Chairman for a reply, you may be interested in
knowing that the VAT you refer to only applies to the service charge - not
the fare or gratuity...Ed
Brian Rice replies: A very interesting letter Joseph, you have asked lots
of questions and then answered them. As a coincidence, Allen Togwell's
article this month covers many of your points, so I won't go over them
again. However, your last point is that we are "...the number one
taxi company in the world" with a "Board who are not taking the
initiatives we expect from them." So I am a bit confused as to how we
became the number one taxi company in the world...?
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