| 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
Met Rankers!
During the past few months, Cab Enforcement and the PCO
have been telling us what cab ranks are for and that we leave ourselves
open to prosecution if our cabs are left unattended on those ranks. I have
no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is how the boys in
blue think they are immune from the regulations. Last Wednesday at 3.30 I
tried to put on the rank in Caxton Street. As the attached photos show
some members of the Met think this rank is their own parking space when
attending CO across the road. Even when the Officer in the 3rd car
was asked to move so that a cab could put on, he said he wouldn't as he
"was working" forcing the cab to almost double park while trying to do his
job. If the authorities want us to abide by the rules, shouldn't they lead
by example or is this just another case of do as I say and not as I do?
Perhaps Cab enforcement would like to comment?
Paul Jenner L19
Sgt Dave Hilson of TOCU replies: Police cars – whether marked or unmarked
– are allowed to park wherever necessary when on an emergency. I’m sure
you would agree with that being logical, Paul. However, when not on an
emergency call, they are subject to the same parking restrictions as
anybody else.
Skating Around the Subject!
Thanks very much for running the article "Friday
Night Skaters – A Menace or Just Fun?" in the April Call Sign.
It was much appreciated. With Dial-a-Cab drivers now understanding why we
do it, we hope that it might keep a few more skaters safe every Friday.
Louise Goodall
London W1
Friday night skaters can be very irritating especially if the
passenger is in a hurry, so it was nice to hear the other side. It’s still
irritating – but at least we know what it’s all about now. Thanks Louise
…Ed
Thank You From Mr Angry
I went into the office this morning to pick my box of Armor All
prize-winning goodies and I was very impressed with all the different kind
of wipes contained in the box. Thanks very much for giving such an
excellent prize.
Paul Shaw (B19)
By the way Mr Angry, I forgot to mention that the prize includes
the bonus of you being able to polish my cab every week! …Ed
Howard’s Oz Update
Hi to all at DaC from Queensland, Australia. I’m
still keeping up-to-date thanks to the Call Sign Internet site. Running a
garage and servo over here is certainly different from driving a Taxi in
London or training new DaC drivers in how to use their terminals!
Our workshop is continuing steadily. There is no form of annual MOT
in Queensland, the owner only has to have a ‘Roadworthy Certificate’ when
they sell a vehicle privately and as a result we see some nightmare
vehicles that come in! Brake pads gone metal to metal, brake discs worn so
thin that the pads fall out of the callipers, tyres that not only have the
steel belt showing, but the belt is breaking up! Holes in the chassis of 4
wheel drives so bad that they are almost breaking in two and wheel
bearings in such a state that the wheels are on the verge of coming off!
So the next time that you have to take the car for it's annual MOT or the
cab up to the PCO for passing, don't think of it as your garage trying to
get money out of you, think of it more as a check to help save you and
your family’s lives!
We are just coming into winter in Queensland now with cooler nights
and temperatures dropping down to around 9-14c. Mind you, the days are
still up in the upper 20's with clear blue skies! We went through a
period of storms about 10 weeks ago that came late afternoon and went
through the night. Amazing lightning flashes that lit up the skies looking
like the veins of a leaf, rain that came down so hard that it turned
streets into rivers. One Saturday morning the power was knocked out
at the servo - not an uncommon occurrence - and we could only sell stock
from the shop writing everything down to put through the console later.
We worked for 4 hours like that, then when the power came back on, it
shattered the hard drive and we lost another 2 hours 'til that was fixed!
Computers are a great tool until they lose their power and then all
systems in a modern business grind to a halt! We've had our share of
disasters and our share of laughs, it doesn't matter where in the world
you are or what business you are in - everything has it's ups and downs.
As an old London taxi driver said to me when I first started driving: "At
the end of the month or the end of the year… it all balances out." He was
right…
To all my friends at DaC in London, keep well and be lucky.
Howard Sales (ex-A11)
Brisbane, Australia
Howard was a ‘new driver terminal trainer’ at DaC before emigrating to
Australia in 2003 to open a service station with a 2-bay workshop and
small shop…Ed
Snooper at the Savoy?
Dear Brian
Thank you in anticipation of your time given to answering the
following:
1. If driving from Savoy Pier to the Savoy Hotel, which route would
you take?
2. If you wanted to travel from Savoy Pier to the Savoy Hotel, would
you:
a: Walk?
b: Hail a cab and pay cash? |
c: Book a cab and charge it to DaC's account?
Michael Calvey (B95)
Brian Rice replies to your ‘Recorded Delivery’ letter!
The answers are none of your options. It was an event sponsored by
ComCab and on the night in question I was a guest of ComCab MD, Mike
Galvin. So naturally, ComCab paid any costs. Incidentally Michael,
had I known that you were following me I would have had a word with Mike
Galvin and no doubt he would have sent you out a glass of lemonade and a
packet of crisps! Elsewhere in the magazine, there is a report of the
celebration that was held to commemorate their 30 years of trading – and I
must say, an excellent night it was too! I must also add that I felt very
honoured in my capacity as Chairman of DaC to be invited to their
function, as I was the only member of the radio taxi industry to be asked.
However, if you wish to continue 'stalking' me, may I suggest that you
keep your distance because if anyone saw you, they might not understand
that you were only trying to discredit me and they could read something
more sinister into the situation.
It disappoints me Michael, that I have to explain my movements to
you. To think that both my wife and I are being spied on is pretty sad.
but nevertheless Michael, keep well and…keep on snooping!
Call Sign Visit to LTI
Representing the Editor, Alan Green (E52) duly met we other nine DaC
drivers at Euston to go on the Call Sign trip to LTI’s factory in
Coventry. The train pulled out on time and following a good journey, we
were met by 2 local taxis and taken to the factory for our visit. Our
group was made up of drivers who had all been in the trade for over 20
years and it’s rather a shame that some of the younger drivers didn’t take
the opportunity to see more of what makes the trade tick. After all, they
are the future of our trade.
We were impressed with LTI’s openness to all questions about the
present and future of their taxis, plus EU law changes that they are to
comply with, etc, etc.
I’m sure Alan Green, who for once is in a Call Sign picture taken
at the end of the production line, has some pics elsewhere in this issue
and our thanks to him for looking after us all day!
If anyone gets the chance to go, it is well worthwhile.
Martin Freeborn (C67)
Call Sign organised the trip following an LTI invitation as part of
their Listening Program. I wasn’t sure I’d get 6 drivers interested in
going to the Coventry-based factory, let alone the 10 that LTI usually
take as a tour. In the end I had to turn down quite a few drivers, which
probably included the younger ones that Martin mentions as I didn’t ask
for ages! I would like to thank LTI who, in addition to the guided tour,
Q&A session and return taxis from the station, also provided the drivers
with lunch. A big thank-you also to Virgin Trains who part-sponsored the
trip …Ed
An Evening at the Salieri
We have just returned from a memorable evening
at The Salieri restaurant with our three guests from the USA. Laughing
Toni entertained us and served us the most delicious food. Our three lady
guests are used to 5-star treatment and did not stop praising the
restaurant and staff. I have read a ‘sour review’ posted in 1999 and can
assure the author that he must have been hallucinating to write such a
load of rubbish, one so totally opposed to what we experienced at The
Salieri. We look forward to dining with this restaurant again in the near
future and will not hesitate to recommend the restaurant to all my
clients.
Geoff Fenton (E01)
Many DaC drivers and their guests have dined at The Salieri in the
Strand and have written similar letters. I was there two weeks ago with
three guests and had an excellent meal. See the regular ad in this and
every issue and you will get a huge 25% discount off of your bill, but
make sure you take your badge with as ID…Ed
Commission – Yes or No?
In the last issue of Call Sign your Back Seat
Driver columnist, Poppy, was critical of taxi drivers taking commission
from hostess clubs and considered that we were ourselves becoming sullied
in the mire associated with these establishments. That this type of
practice is commonplace and benign is apodictic. To some extent, her
eloquence with words carried her emotions apace leaving reasoning behind.
Could I point out that for many years, the trade press has carried
advertisements from hotels offering to pay drivers a fee for each guest
delivered. This could also be considered ‘immoral’ since to a large extent
the hotel and catering industry relies on cheap immigrant labour working
long hours in conditions far less comfortable than found in any city
office. So should we decline any commission from hotels and also refuse to
eat in restaurants to show our disapproval?
Whether it is a case of exploitation is of course a subjective
value judgement. Given the high prices punters end up paying in these
clubs for drinks and companionship, I could agree that yes, these men are
being exploited. But it is not the role of taxi drivers to act as nanny
and steer passengers away from lousy restaurants, casinos, high priced
clubs or even pubs in case they end up drunk. And in the end, are these
clubs so different from the bars in many smart hotels such as The
Sanderson or The Hyde Park where attractive, stylish ladies go each
weekend and expect to be bought expensive drinks by men?
The whole concept of fees, incentives, commission, appreciation -
call it what you will - is widespread. From the salesman giving a bottle
of whisky
at Christmas to customers in the |
hope (inducement) of continued
and increased business, to the barrister paying his clerk a ‘fee’ for each
lucrative brief that lands on his desk, or a radio taxi circuit inviting
favoured clients to an annual dinner dance; all these could be open to
question. I remember working in a souvenir shop in Whitehall many years
ago and each time a charabanc stopped with a group of tourists, the driver
and guide were both well rewarded. This meant that there was a steady flow
of customers spending money and so enabled the proprietor to pay my wages.
This in turn helped finance my days on the Knowledge…
Laurence Kelvin (W88)
Your point is well made Laurence, however life isn’t just in black
and white. Call Sign’s policy regarding table-dancing clubs is well known,
I rejected their ads because I felt that unlike the rest of the trade
press, this magazine is delivered to driver’s homes and is often read by
other members of the driver’s family as well. However, we are happy to
accept benefits "in kind" from advertisers such as The Salieri Restaurant
who give our drivers a whopping 25% discount on their bill or Pronuptia in
Hatton Garden who offer us a 10% discount on dresswear hirings. And what
about Marston Hotels who have entertained many of our drivers on a weekend
break offering them a huge 20% off the price? Perhaps you are one of the
almost-400 drivers who have taken advantage of the Eurostar offer to Call
Sign readers of £49 return to Paris/Brussels etc? I have no definitive
answer, Laurence – except that Poppy is cute, don’t you think…Ed
New Cab Refits
Can Brian and the BoM answer me a couple of questions please: I've just
bought my third new taxi since being on DaC and have just been charged
£129.50 for stripping out and installing the radio into the new cab. I
feel this is a very unjust fee as it took just 40 minutes to take out and
90 minutes to install. They used my old equipment and a bit of new cable,
which to me equates to £60 per hour in labour time! I've upgraded my cab
so clients will hopefully be pleased; I am not leaving the Society, so my
subs will be paid and I feel that with the large surplus of money within
DaC’s bank account, drivers should not have to pay unless they are leaving
the Society. Has Martin Freeborn (C67) paid thirty times? It's a lot of
money if so! The service centre gets paid out of our subs and clients'
money regardless of strip-outs.
The next question is that now subs have increased to £129.50, is it
not possible to have those subs taken out every week if the driver is on
weekly pay, or twice a month if on fortnightly pay? As work has slowed
down, it is hard to cover as many radio jobs as two years ago, so on a
weekly subs of £29.89 (£30) and fortnightly subs of £59.77 (£60), having
the full amount taken out on a monthly basis can wipe out a whole week's
money.
John Hudson (W34)
Brian Rice replies: I do have a certain amount of sympathy with
your situation and I do not totally disagree with your point of view but -
I bet you knew that was coming - DaC actually charge £110 with the rest
being VAT and to my knowledge that amount has not changed for at least ten
years. And yes, Martin Freeborn has paid every time! What I know you will
understand is that Roman Way does have to pay for itself as we are running
a business and the 'strip out and refit' charges go some to helping to pay
that cost. As I said before, I do have some sympathy with you but on
the other side of the coin, members who do not change their vehicles as
frequently as you could argue that
they are subsidising your new vehicle.
Regarding the charging of subs; I think that you will agree that
our work has improved over the past three months so hopefully in the
future it will not be such a hardship regarding the payment of subs. If I
am honest, I like the subs to be charged on a monthly basis as we then
only have one administration task a month to complete instead of four, or
to be more precise only twelve tasks a year instead of fifty two.
Martin Barry
Through Call Sign, I’d like to thank everyone at
Dial-a-Cab for their kind thoughts following the death of my wonderful
father Martin. We send our deepest thoughts to everyone who has lost a
great friend and the world’s best taxi driver.
Mandy Tolga
There is a report on Martin’s passing away in this issue. He was
cremated at Manor Park Crematorium. DaC were represented by Tom Whitbread
and the many taxi drivers who attended to say goodbye to a lovely man …Ed
Thanks from Virgin
We’d like to say a big thank you to you and your team for helping deliver
the ‘customer service plan’ for the Spring Bank Holiday nine day block.
This was arguably the most extensive alteration to our train services so
far and coupled with the Motor Show, set an interesting challenge. I’m
pleased to say that we all met that challenge in a professional and
customer friendly way (whilst still getting on with the normal day-to-day
routine) and I’d like you to pass on the Project Team’s thanks to everyone
involved for a job well done.
Here’s looking forward to some
more interesting days in August.
Chris Dwyer and Janet
Armstrong
WCT Project and Delivery Managers Coventry
This letter was sent to Gary Gates who has been co-ordinating the
WCT drivers from Brunswick House and he asked for it to be published as a
thank you to everyone involved…Ed |
