Call Sign December 2004 - Page 36

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

Concierge
Dear Mr Rice, after reading the October Call Sign, I have a few questions regarding Concierge…
1: Could you please tell me how much this has cost to upgrade our computers?
2: Who has paid for it?
3): If Dial-a-Cab has paid for this, why weren’t the members asked to vote on whether we wanted this Concierge system?
4: In last month’s Call Sign, you were asked about a sell out. Why did you not mention this Concierge in full then and not in the same month that it is to go live?
5: Is it true that concierge will give the customer the choice of:

Limousine
Chauffeur Driven Merc
Minicab
Licensed Taxi

If the customer is given this choice, surely they will take the chauffeur driven Merc?

6: You called them ‘The Glums’ in that issue of Call Sign, you said they could have their Ł50 (fifty pound) Bond back. Is that so they will not ask any more awkward questions?
7: Would you please let me know why a big decision like this has been made and that the members have not been informed or asked their views on this major change?
Clive Owens (V66)

Brian Rice replies: Clive, I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you to DaC and I hope that our association will be a long and fruitful one. You have obviously had to wait some considerable time to join the best radio taxi circuit in London, but it will be well worth the wait. I will now endeavour to answer your letter number by number as you have asked the questions.
1. When you 'build' a new system, you do not 'upgrade your computers' you do exactly what is says on the tin, you 'build' a new system. Can I tell you how much it has cost? Of course I can - but I do not intend to in this magazine because I am charging a client triple the amount it cost to build in the first year’s management fee alone. Consequently, I do not wish to go into print with the cost, but I will be more than happy to tell you at the AGM or if you telephone me.
2. Dial-a-Cab
3. Because it is 'best business practice' not to inform the competition what your plans are for the future. In addition, the BoM are elected to run this business and that is exactly what we do!
4. The two parts of your question have absolutely nothing to do with one another, after all what has Concierge to do with a 'sell-out'? Also, I have probably answered question 4 in my reply to question 3.
5. Yes, it will give them a choice - exactly the same choice as they have now except that in the future, instead of them telephoning a car or another taxi company, Dial-a-Cab will control the account and receive a Management fee in addition to our normal service charge.
6. Yes, I did call them 'The Glums'. I do not object to awkward questions - just stupid ones. I do object though to the 'The Glums' writing to our Accountants and Auditors stating that the BoM are a bunch of crooks and also writing to our Solicitors demanding that they (the Solicitors) inspect the 'cab bills' of every BoM member - who do these people think they are, endeavouring to belittle both me and the remainder of the BoM to our Accountants and Solicitors - people that we have a professional relationship
with? We, the BoM, are endeavouring to run a Ł40m turnover organisation.
7. Please see my answer to question 3.
Clive, it is evident that you do not know too much about this Society. When you have some time to spare, please telephone me, then come in and see me and I will be more than delighted to explain the workings of Dial-a-Cab to you and answer any questions that you might have!

Leicester Square "Going Home" Rank
May I first congratulate the LTDA, TfL and Met Police etc for the outstanding and long awaited "going home" rank on Cranbourn Street. I was able to get down to the rank around 1-ish after a reminder from my Dial-a-Cab circuit on Friday 15October and was away within 10 minutes to Streatham Hill. Now I’m halfway home and being paid to go in the right direction! Blooming fantastic and well done to all. Although it was a success for me personally, I asked for fleet messages to go out to my co-DaC drivers and some came back saying the wait was too long. I’m assuming this was because they either live in green badge valley (east) or they were stuck trying to rank up between the touts who were still persistent in trying to park beside the LTDA rank and blocking everything. They have some front! The two ‘Bobbies’ seemed to look on in amusement while I was there, but they were outnumbered by 20 to 1. I would also have been reluctant to get involved I suppose. Just as I was leaving the street, I clocked a Westminster Parking Attendant starting to issue PCNs. "Brilliant," I thought. On my second glance at this PA, the touts who were giving him abuse had surrounded him.
The only solution I believe, is to make the whole street a taxi rank on both sides and to have some real back up for the police, Westminster Parking Attendants and more LTDA Marshals. There should be more visible displays for the public and drivers with adequate barriers. And the final icing on the cake.? The police anti-tout squad mingling with a few sting operations around and about. Within a month, I reckon the system would be well up to speed with everyone happy apart from those scummy touts. We could all ask the LTDA Marshals on the ranks in Cranbourn Street how many Fs are in the word tout? Think about it!
Ian .C. Lingham (K64)

I agree with you, Ian. It has been a long time coming. Not only could this be an excellent "last job of the day" for drivers, but if successful could give this trade some well-deserved PA. Your example of wanting to go southwest shows that when it’s time to go home, we all go in different directions and a passenger who would have been forced to use Mr Ali’s OBF (old banger fleet) opposite the rank, now has a good chance of getting a real Taxi home on a Friday and Saturday night. Incidentally, if you are giving out praise, thanks are due in no small part to the Mayor, who decided to back the scheme’s cost and to the PCO who supported the idea …Ed

I’m Back!
Just a note to say I enjoyed the article you wrote about my hospital encounter! I am now back at work and putting the experience behind me. Please thank all the drivers for their well wishes. My only advice is to drink plenty of water and to seek help if the water works department is not flowing so well!
Ken Freeborn (WO6)

Nice to see you back Ken …Ed

Bid Trips on EC5
I would like to request that now work has started to pick up at night both on the circuit and the street, that there should be a review and change in the way jobs are despatched on EC5.
There are often quite a few un-matched trips on EC5 (Thursday, 20 October, 36 for example). When these trips make it to the Bid Zone, could we please have them despatched as their actual post code rather than EC5?
There is nothing more frustrating than bidding for a job when there are loads, accepting one and then having to drive all the way across the city past lots of outstretched hands to the pick up when you know full well that there is probably a job a lot closer to where you are.
I cannot see how any strokes could be pulled if you do this, but it would be a lot less frustrating for the drivers. If you do nothing soon, you won't probably need to bother after Christmas because we all know how quiet January can be. Our new computer

system is meant to be able to do just about anything, so how about some real driver enhancements instead of more ‘Big Brother’ turnouts? Please don't solve the problem by just bringing on more drivers, as was the case when we were in a similar situation a couple of years ago!
Steve Gander (V20)

Keith Cain replies: A very good suggestion in theory. Anything to prevent driver frustration has to be taken seriously and with this suggestion, it has been. Unfortunately even though our computer system is excellent, like all computers changes have to be given careful consideration. What initially appears to be the simple task of taking an EC5 BID trip and placing it in the BIDS of its primary zone, will involve a complete re-write of the EC5 functionality and possibly a re-write of the V6 despatch procedure. This process certainly could not be carried out this side of the New Year or without a full investigation from Tom and Debbie Carter in the ‘States, because there is no way that we could implement this idea without knowing the knock-on effect to the functionality of V6.

Thank You Dial-a-Cab…
I’ve been using the Westminster TaxiCard for some time now and never realised that I could express my thanks in a Dial-a-Cab magazine. The service I receive from DaC – both from the drivers and those who answer the calls – is just absolutely wonderful. I can honestly say that I have never been let down - although I did once have rather a long wait on a Saturday in April or May until a driver explained that it was Cup Final day!
I am really delighted to be able to get this opportunity to say how good your service is and can I also use the opportunity to wish you all a very happy new year.
Margaret Mallender
London SW1

Thanks for taking the time to write. It’s one of life’s sad facts that people only write to complain but never to say how happy they are …Ed

Dial-a-Cab Golf Day
The Chairman and Committee of The London Taxidrivers' Fund for Underprivileged Children would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the Board of Dial-a-Cab, and in particular Keith Cain, for their very generous support and all the hard work that made this event such a good day. Thanks also go to the Abridge Golf and Country Club for their hospitality, the many sponsors for competition and raffle prizes and of course (no pun intended) those who participated in the competition. Without all your help, the LTFUC would be unable to assist the many hundreds of special needs children throughout London.
David Lessman (D19)
Chairman, LTFUC

Congratulations on getting the LTFUC Chairmanship David …Ed

RAC Article
Thanks for the article on the RAC (Nov Call Sign) no longer counting Taxis as private vehicles, as I was just about to renew my annual subscription. I have now been back on to the AA who have confirmed your story that so long as there are no passengers in your cab, then you're covered under AA personal membership. They say that as passengers in London would tend to get another cab in the case of a breakdown, you would still be covered under personal membership as a ‘vehicle without paying passengers’. Of course it remains to be seen if it works in practice…
Geoff Fenton (E01)

And the RAC Again…
In response to your article on page 30 of November’s Call Sign magazine titled "DaC drivers up in arms against the RAC," I too have been affected by this decision to change taxis over to the ‘small business service’. However, on calling the RAC to confirm their intentions (which I still believe are wrong and yet again singling ‘us’ out), I was told that as this would be my second year with them, they would offer a discount thus bringing the total cost down to Ł114.50 for full cover. This is where drivers need to be aware that full cover with the RAC includes towing after an accident. On contacting the AA, it was confirmed to me by them that they do not offer this service at all, leaving you somewhat up the creek if you have a set! However one small problem still bugs me; the RAC told me that because I drove a Taxi shaped vehicle, it would obviously be classed as a Taxi, but on asking about individuals / companies using unconverted conventional vehicles (Mercs, Fiats, Fords etc) and if they would be subjected to the latest proposals, they said that they would need to ‘identify’ the vehicles as Taxis first. So the question remains - have ‘they’ got away with it? Time will tell.
David Abel (H39)

The RAC have sent a statement to Call Sign in response to our article in last month’s issue and you can read it elsewhere in this mag. If anyone else has had problematic experiences with either the AA or RAC that you’d like to share with other drivers, let Call Sign know. Let us also know if you have had a good experience with either that deserves publicity …Ed

Replacement Breakdown ?
Re your article on the RAC not accepting Taxis on a personal breakdown policy; there is now a garage - A & G Taxis - at 2a Three Colts St (phone 020 7613 3039) that is open all night and which will also go out on breakdowns (mobiles 0997960 220 708 or 07956 525 571 if they are already out on

breakdowns). I believe that if they do your overhaul, their callout service will be free. Could you give them a plug in the next Call Sign as such a night service is really needed, especially as winter will be soon open us and the RAC does not want to know.
Michael Lester (L74)

Here’s their publicity Michael. If they are worthy of it, I’ll be happy to give out their number regularly. But I’ll have to hear from drivers to confirm they do what they say …Ed

Lead Times
Over many years now, myself and many other drivers have been asking Board Members in the office and at AGMs about extended time delays on pre-booked jobs. Let me tell you of a recent Friday (17 Sept)…
I came in from the southwest suburbs, my usual route being S50C, SW19, SW18 then Wandsworth Bridge into Townmead Rd SW6 hopeful of getting a radio job on the way. Let’s face it, any job on the way in is a bonus, but when they are offered at 35-minute lead times they become a penalty. Let me explain the economics of it: I’m coming through SW19 and I’m offered Boundaries Rd SW12 - about four or five miles away. Why-oh-why does the Call Centre expect any one of us to give up 35 mins of our time for Ł3.80? That equates to an aprox hourly rate of Ł6.30 per hour. So the Call Centre are penalising us with ridiculous lead times that make a job uneconomical to do. To the BoM I ask: Would any of you when driving a cab, be happy to accept a radio job that is despatched AD with a lead time of say 30 mins, only to find out when you get your details that it is a local that you will clear five or ten minutes later for about Ł9 - that equates to Ł14.50 an hour!
These extended time delays are proving to be a hindrance to coverage and not help. Please don't think I am running down Dial-a-Cab, I’m not. I have been on this circuit too long for that. I just feel that no one is listening.
Pat Keefe (G01)

Allan Evans replies: Pat, every postal zone in Central London, inner, outer and suburban zones are individually set in the system for pre-determined times which relate to location, the degree of difficulty in coverage and also taking into account the numbers of taxis that may or may not be in these areas. For example, lead-in times in the city and west end would be set less than a suburban zone, each zone being different and even some west end zones may be set slightly higher than others. Every zone has back up zones, but if a problem trip or VIP trip is uncovered in SW12, and bearing in mind the numbers of taxis in or near to this zone, the lead-in time which is 15 minutes would only be increased by an additional 10 minutes with follow up messages to inform the fleet that the trip needs urgent coverage (it would appear in the bids after 2 minutes). If it was despatched as A/D, the

trip would normally be unmasked to show the destination, so that you were not running further than the trip takes you.

Editor’s note: Also see Keith Cain’s article in this issue on a new way of dispatching ‘problem trips’.

Wrong Century!
I would just like to say what a fantastic article on Bill Nicholson in your Editorial column (Nov Call Sign). Unfortunately, I am not old enough to have seen any great Tottenham teams as I am only 44 years old! But I would just like to point out a mistake in the article; the time Spurs won the impossible double was actually in the last century, as the double has only ever been won once this century – that was in N5. But keep up the good work...
Steve Taylor (N40)

I spotted the gaff as soon as the mag came out, but thought that no one else would spot it! Some chance! But thanks for the kind words, Steve, and also to all those who phoned in. Surprisingly, they were all Arsenal supporters! …Ed

Ballot Papers
Can you tell me who is responsible for the outlay of the Ballot Papers that are distributed to the members? The candidate’s names should be in alphabetical order without allowing existing Board Members to co-opt themselves by heading the voting paper, plus also stating that they are existing Standing Board Members beside their name, thus giving them an unfair advantage.
The CV of candidates standing for the Board in the December 2002 Call Sign magazine were in alphabetical order, but when the drivers received their voting papers they were not! I’m sure the Standing Board Members would not object to an ‘open race’.
I look forward to hearing your reply
Russell Hall (G44)

Company Secretary Howard Pears replies: As the main contact with the ERS, Russell, I am the person responsible for the layout and wording of ballot papers. From my point of view, there is no right or wrong way to lay out ballot forms. What is good for one group of candidates may not be good for another. For example, if the membership is totally dissatisfied with the Board, then identifying them as "standing" would surely be a disadvantage to them. I believe that to state that a candidate is a Standing Board Member will enable new and relatively new members to identify the existing Board and relate the names to the annual report and potentially judge them on their success or failure. If alphabetical or call sign order is used, then those with a surname beginning with ‘Y’ or those having a Yankee call sign would also feel disadvantaged over those with a surname beginning with ‘A’ or Apple call sign.
Whichever layout is used for ballot papers will be seen as unfair to some candidates and as a result, I will continue to maintain the layout as previously published.

Free Publicity?
Mr Fisher, thanks for the free publicity (November Editorial)!
Loads of Love
Martin Cox
Managing Director, Premier First Ltd

Guess you got me there, Martin! …Ed

Frozen Terminal
Yesterday my cab unfortunately decided to fail to start when an account ride came on board after a lengthy wait. The AA fixed the problem (loose alternator belt), recharged the battery and I carried on working. However, my screen, in the process, had become frozen. The lack of voltage from the battery had caused it to switch off and it was showing what could best be described as the ‘pre-sign-on garble’ with very small white writing (with ‘tests’ and ‘Mb’ etc) on a black background. It's usually the first thing one sees when the screen is initially switched on. I tried to switch the screen off (using the yellow button) to no avail. Then, on contacting Control by phone, I was asked by the Supervisor to take out the fuse. When I asked which one, he replied "…don't know, haven't a clue, neither has anyone else in the room. Go to Roman Way in the morning, they're shut now." It was 8pm…
So I had to come home, with the screen still frozen, unable to switch off. And of course, here I am this morning, screen still on, with the battery flat yet again from the screen being on all night and draining the battery.
The response I received from the Supervisor (evening of 9 November) I find totally unacceptable.Surely it isn't beyond the capabilities of Dial-a-Cab to employ a technical expert 24-7 to at least be on call to answer any problems outside the normal Roman Way operating hours? I am no mechanic and neither are several other drivers. This current practice of supervisual ignorance has cost me time and money. Please address this ASAP for the benefit of all the drivers!
Robert Richland (N94)

Allan Evans replies: If the voltage from the battery drops and is not being charged, it will in most cases automatically lock or freeze the screen. There are two ways to reboot the system in order to unlock the screen. The first is to remove and then re-insert the auxiliary fuse that will enable you press the yellow button and reboot the system. The other way is simply to disconnect the battery for a few seconds, which again will free the terminal and allow you to sign on again. These fuses are located in different parts of the taxi according to make and model and unfortunately the Call Centre will not necessarily know the exact locations.
If the screen is left powered on overnight, as you have mentioned, it could drain the battery and to prevent this I would advise you to disconnect the battery until you start up in the morning. With regards to out-of-hours contact when Roman Way is closed, I have made mention in my article of the various fuse locations which should help if this problem occurs again.

Editor’s note: The September issue of Call Sign ran an article called ‘Tips from Roman Way’. Had you cut it out and kept it in the cab, it would have answered your question.

Dear Brian…
Just a quick note to let you know that on Monday 8 November, I was 65 years old! It seems like only yesterday that I was 21 and beginning my 44 year unbroken membership with ODRTS. In all that time, I have only been met with civility and courtesy, friendliness and good humour by successive Chairmen and Boards of management; starting with Jack Russell to the present Board and yourself. I still look forward to going out to work and hitting the
button for a few more years yet!
Gerald Webber (E11)

Brian Rice replies: Dear Gerald, thank you for your letter. Congratulations on your 65^th birthday and also your 44 years service with Dial-a-Cab – how time flies! I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you well for the future with many more years of ‘hitting the button’!

Thanks to Call Sign
I‘ve just returned from a Call Sign organised trip to LTI at Coventry with 4 other DaC drivers as part of the LTI Listening Program. A wet day, but we all enjoyed the new fast Virgin train journey. We started with a review of our last meeting’s queries, a lunch in the canteen, a short visit to part of the factory and a further session on the future, present and our concerns. All too early it was time to go, but they are very pleased with our input. We certainly think it was worthwhile and rewarding.
Martin Freeborn (C67)

The idea of this follow-up trip was to see how many of the ideas suggested on Call Sign’s first trip have been taken up. That was why the group was taken from those who went last time. The next trip will be in the spring, when a new batch of drivers will be chosen. A report of the recent trip and the changes brought about to the TXII through DaC involvement, will appear in the next issue …Ed