 Brian Rice looks happy after singing for the one number
scheme.
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For how many years has the trade been clamouring
for some kind of unity where organisations work together rather than against
each other? For years and years and years, the LTDA and T&G through respective
leaders Bill D’Arcy and George Abrahams, acted like mortal enemies while the
trade constantly begging them to settle their differences and work in some kind
of unity. Now they are closer, whilst now the LCDC seem to be in the opposite
corner battling away as the underdogs. Well, as usual, it’s the
London radio circuits that are leading the way when it comes to any semblance
of trade unity. Whilst being competitors – and fierce ones at that – Brian
Rice, Geoffrey Riesel and Mike Galvin have no problems talking to each other in
the full knowledge that there is little that each doesn’t know about the other
– something that means the preclusion of any obvious porkies!
For the past year or so, all London’s licensed radio taxi services,
including Xeta, DataCab and Call-a-Cab, have been working towards a one-number
cash line - something Mayor Livingstone claims to have long envisaged. This is
not the first attempt at a one-number cash line. The last time it was
attempted, ComCab walked out due to unsettled differences.
This time those differences have been cleared away and as of 1
February, anyone will be able to dial the new all-London one-number cash line
on 0 871 871 871 0. The system will then pass the trip around all the
circuits until it is covered – and with close on 8000 cabs available, it should
be a doddle.
The number is being marketed, in addition to Mayor Ken giving it a
plug in his newspaper, and additional staff are to be taken on to handle the
expected increase in work. Consequently, the option of using the PCO "telephone
booking |
 Mayor Ken will be promoting it...
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charge" as seen on the Taxi fare chart in the
rear compartment, will be taken up by all the circuits. They will be charging
members of the public a £2 booking fee when they call for a cash or credit card
booking.
The driver will collect the £2 booking fee, which will then be
shown on the extras. Each circuit will have its own "rules" as to what happens
to the £2 and at DaC, £1.50 will go to the Society with the remaining 50p being
retained by the driver. The normal maximum run-in of £3.80 applies and all
money owed to DaC from these cash trips will be deducted from your credits. DaC
will pay all the VAT on the £2.
Telephone bookings for credit card trips (not CCC), will also come
under this new scheme and for the sake of uniformity, charges for credit card
transactions will be identical on all circuits, that is 12.5% plus the £2
telephone booking charge.
Totally separate, but possibly confusing due to the amounts being
the same, the minimum transaction charge for credit cards will be £2 as against
the previous £1. So if your credit card trip does not exceed £16.00 (12.5% of
that makes £2) then £2 should replace whatever the terminal has if under that
amount.
DaC Chairman Brian Rice told Call Sign:
"The radio circuits are doing what they can in the battle against Private Hire.
However, without the drivers’ support, it will all have been in vain."
In turn, Mayor Livingstone has told us that he will be
promoting the scheme to the public as a "…safe, secure and reliable means of
transport provided by all of London’s 8,000 radio taxis."
Will it work? Well there is no real reason why it shouldn’t. One
certainty is that if it IS successful, it will leave most minicab companies
standing…
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