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Either write to Call Sign at Brunswick House or email us at
callsignmag@aol.com
Christmas incentive - yes
I have also had a couple of drivers mention to me
that the chance of winning a car is so small and they would prefer to have a
larger number of smaller prizes (Nov Call Sign). However, the
logical conclusion of their reasoning would be to have 1500 prizes of £25
each. This would hardly be an incentive to get drivers to cover credit
rather than cash work. There are several drivers like myself who would try
to cover the radio work regardless of any incentive, simply because we
realise it is in the best interests of the society. Overall, the Board have
probably got the balance about right; since we do not make a "profit" this
inducement is a fine way of handing back to some drivers part of the healthy
surplus we are making.
Laurence Kelvin (W88)
I agree Laurence. I believe that if DaC offered every driver an extra
one-off £20 to come out on a wet Wednesday evening when Arsenal were playing
and there was a shortage of cabs, the number of cabs over and above those
who would come out anyway, would hardly be noticed …Ed
And Christmas incentive - no
I whole-heartedly agree with those subscribers who wrote in about this
year’s Xmas incentive. We should all write or call in to the B of M and show
our disgust about this inadequate Xmas incentive. One raffle ticket for
every 10 jobs completed within certain prescribed hours and only if you
complete 40 jobs a month? Well, as this is the silly season, I’ll hopefully
cover 40 or more jobs. I’d like to congratulate the 3 DaC subscribers who
will win a 9 grand car each and say unlucky to all the other 1997+ other
drivers who did those extra little jobs for the benefit of our clients.
They’ll be so much happier to reward our loyalty (just like our very own
ODRTS) next year by increasing our subs.
These Xmas incentive ideas should be proposed, voted on and passed
at the AGM, not decided behind closed doors. For instance, I heard this year
that Radio Taxis are to offer reduced subs for the amount of radio work
covered in December. This is what I believe ComCab does all year round as
standard or at least did when I subscribed to them.
Talking of ComCab, re the article from Stephen Gander (V20) on EC5.
If ComCab can use a program of allocating the ‘nearest cab’ to the client
basis via GPS on their system, wouldn’t it be novel to have the same system
for use in EC5? No more unnecessary dead mileage. Now there’s a thought!
After all, we are told that we have such up-to-date, hi-tech, state of the
art equipment in our vehicles that I wonder if someone could perhaps write a
program?
And finally, Mr Rice, resentment or not, if you don’t ask, you
don’t get! A seasonal token or gesture per job, maybe a few pence, bigger
gratuity etc from our clients who want cabs on time, every time this time of
year and not to mention the same quality of service for the ensuing year. Or
are we just to expect 5-10 quid bag jacket or brolley's again?
Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year to everyone on DaC and
your families - including the staff.
Ian Lingham (K64)
Ian, if you don’t like the incentives, what you do is to write a nice
letter to Call Sign or even phone the office and ask to speak to a
Board member and suggest that next year we change the system so that
everyone gets a share out of what you claim is £27,000 (3 x £9000 cars)
between 2200 drivers – which equals £12.27 each. What you don’t do is to
write a letter loaded with sarcasm and expect it to see results. Only I may
write in that manner! As for your comment: "Well, as this is the silly
season, I’ll hopefully cover 40 or more jobs," I would assume that as a
member of DaC – the last circuit to be owned by its drivers - that you would
be happy to provide a service to our clients all year round and not just for
Xmas. Yes, you can get reduced subs on RTG, but it would come off of your
£180 a month that has to be paid weekly and of which you could get 50p
returned for every job you cover over 10 each week. So, Ian, if this is
indeed the "silly season" and you cover your 40 jobs a month, sadly
you’d still not be in line for any bonus. In fact you’d have to do quite a
few in order to bring those subs down to what you are paying on the circuit
you enjoy criticising! I believe that ComCab also operate something similar,
but as you can pay up to £60 a week for that, it might not be what you are
looking for either – although I believe they are looking for drivers, so you
could always go and try it out!
So far as Xmas gifts are concerned, I don’t know what is on offer
as I write, but what happened to "it’s the thought that counts?" With your
way of voting for everything at the AGM, we’d have to allow two days for
every meeting!
Re EC5, had you read the article by Keith Cain instead of just the
letters page, you’d have seen that EC5 IS being rewritten and a new system
tried. After all, if that ComCab system was so good, you wouldn’t have left!
I’ve left out your "nudge, nudge" reference because besides being
in bad taste, it would probably lead Call Sign into a lawsuit! And I
wonder what you’d say if I made a similar remark about you and then claimed
that it was only a joke? And by the way, Ian, if you went out to buy one of
the cars DaC have on offer, it would cost you 14K and not £9,000 …Ed
What’s in a name?
Since winning the competition to name the new
building, several colleagues have spoken to drivers who, without knowing me,
were unhappy with my winning entry. I read in the November Call Sign,
a letter from Graham Church (S59) echoing the same dissatisfaction (it could
be they all spoke to him). I entered what I thought was a harmless
competition and tried to be inventive with the name, however dummies are
being spit out. Whether that’s because of the name I chose or the fact that
I may be taking my family out to dinner when they feel it should be them,
only they know. Therefore, I would like to donate the equivalent cash sum
Call Sign offered me to a cab trade charity, preferably with a
Dial-a-Cab connection. There are so many more things going on in this
country that need our attention, this one needs to be put to bed. Anyway,
what’s in a name…?
Mike Pollington (K17)
How sad that some drivers have so little to occupy their minds that they
have to start criticising someone who wins an innocent prize in a
competition designed for fun. Mike obviously read the "rules" before
entering, unlike some who are criticising his win. The winner was supposed
to use his or her imagination to come up with a name for the new building
that even if not used, showed imagination. I got to know Bonnie Martyn
probably better than anyone on Dial-a-Cab, but whilst naming the house after
him would be a sensible option, that wasn’t what the competition was about.
Anyway, The London Taxidriver’s Fund for Underprivileged Children are
getting their video collection transferred over to DVD with payment coming
from Mike’s generous donation …Ed
Female TaxiCard
I was interested in both the Editor’s mention and that of Allen
Togwell’s writing about the old Female TaxiCard. I remember it well
having been one of the three female Dial-a-Cab drivers originally involved
with the project along with Brenda Bartlett (J75) and a lady called Jackie.
The original idea was to get female drivers to cover women’s trips. It never
really worked that way – probably because there weren’t enough women and it
was rather impractical anyway. But the idea was good and I’m pleased to read
in Allen Togwell’s report that it might be coming back.
Pat Graves (L53)
Allen Togwell replies: Yes Pat, you were indeed one of the first three
females to join our circuit in 1992 - the year I introduced the Dial-a-Cab
female taxicard. However, I would like to politely point out if I may, that
I think your memory of the project has become a little jaded over the course
of time and perhaps become confused with similar services involving female
passengers. The DaC female taxicard service was introduced following the
assault of a female passenger by a bogus minicab driver who overheard
details of the pick-up address by
listening in on another licensed radio taxi company's two way voice system.
On realising our new Data Despatch system could not be heard over the radio,
including classified details that previously could be heard by passengers
sitting in our fleet of taxis, I exploited that fact in our marketing
portfolio as well as using it to for a new service strictly for females
travelling alone. Females wishing to use this service would be issued with a
pink plastic card on which would be an exclusive ex-directory telephone
number for booking cabs and a registration number, which when quoted would
indicate to our telephonists the female status plus their pick-up address
and phone number etc. It was a cash paying service and available to the
whole fleet. The driver accepting a trip would identify him/herself at the
pick-up address by their Call Sign and at the end of the journey, the driver
would delay moving off until the passenger was safely inside their place of
destination. To be honest, when I originally launched this service I was
deeply disappointed at the response, particularly as it was at the time of
the Suzy Lamplugh disappearance in 1986 and that was still making headlines
together with the spate of assaults on females by minicab drivers.
Disappointed, because I had written to every female MP as well as editors of
a large number of female magazines and female journalists, inviting them all
to the launch - and not one bothered to attend.
In conclusion, I feel it prudent to mention that whilst the safety
of females before moving off was a feature of the Fem service, in theory it
should really apply to every journey involving females.
Will your God forgive you, Mr Warden? |
I was parked outside JPMorgan at
Finsbury Bars and noticed what appeared to be a traffic warden issuing a
ticket to my taxi. So I went up to him and asked if he was issuing a ticket
to my cab and he said that he wasn’t. Then he went behind the cab and began
typing away, so I crept up behind him and saw him typing in the details of
my cab. I told him that I had seen what he was doing and said that I hoped
his God would forgive him for telling such lies and reiterated to him that
he had lied to his God!
Then my passenger came out and just as we pulled away, the warden
tapped on my window and said that he had now cancelled it! A warden with a
conscience? Nah, can’t be!
Mark Tiller (K90)Bless you, my son …Ed
Regular drivers?
I’ve just read the piece in the November Call Sign about Anja King
and her photography hobby. My question is how do drivers become regular
drivers of clients as Anja claims some are? And also, how can drivers "phone
other regular drivers of clients" to do pick-ups for them? I’m puzzled…
Terry Catherall (Y90)
I know exactly what you mean Terry and whilst not for one second did I
suspect Anja of being involved in anything untoward, I couldn’t help but
feel uneasy, so I looked into it. However, the answer isn’t that bad. It
seems that Anja’s version of regular drivers are the few that she recognises
out of those who take her home each night – often whilst booked on a ‘going
home’ trip (she goes before EC5 comes into operation).
The other incident involving the pick-up was also innocent. After
realising that she had left something at her Gresham Street office, the
driver taking her home phoned a friend who usually finished around then and
asked if he would pick up something and drop it off to Anja who lives fairly
close. He did and would accept no money for the trip, which is why she was
so astonished and why this circuit has the good name that it does …Ed
Searching for the Elisha family
Thank you very much indeed for the article on my great-grandfather, Joseph
Nathan Elisha - it looked great (Oct Call Sign). I saw it on your
Internet issue and through it we have found one relation - Paul Brown (a
cabbie) and his wife Paula. Both are very keen on family history, so the
article did get a result - but our search still continues!
David Elisha
Romford, Essex
Pleased we could help …Ed
San Francisco testimony!
I recently came across the Call Sign website at my home in San
Francisco, California and although that’s my home, I often spend weeks at a
time in London on business. While there, I often use the services of you
guys and seeing your website has given me the opportunity to thank you all
for the great service you provide. Because of you, I can get around town and
do twice as much work than if I waited for buses, tubes or limos. So thanks
guys. Everyone says you’re the best… I KNOW that you are and I’m just
grateful that the company discovered your services…
Arnold Goldheimer
San Francisco, Cali
We do our best … have a nice day! …Ed
The wrong John!
I spoke to you recently outside the office about a letter in the
Mailshot section of the November Call Sign titled Biodiesel in which
the writer makes a comment about an article written by Poppy. My name is
John Addis, my Call Sign is N26 and not K97 and I did not write this letter!
Perhaps there is another John Addis on Dial-a-Cab? I would be grateful if
you would check this out, as I do not want people to think I would write
such a letter.
John Addis (N26)
‘Fraid there ARE two of you, John! Either way, Poppy thanks you for your
nice sentiment …Ed
The right John!
Just to let you know why I have decided I will not be using Biodiesel. Faye
Scott’s (The Environment Trust in the Nov Call Sign) attempt to allay
my concerns re the use of that fuel in my taxi failed. I feel that as a
representative of an organisation promoting the product, she may be slightly
biased in its favour. The paragraph beginning "most taxis are out of
warrantee anyway…" hardly inspires confidence. When her organisation is
in a position to guarantee the product will not damage my fuel system and /
or engine, I’ll probably reconsider. But for the time being, I think I’ll be
careful and take notice of Ford, Bosch, Delphi and Siemens etc who obviously
are not convinced either.
Perhaps LTI could give their opinion – the only one that really
matters to us. Would biodiesel negate the TXII or TX4 warranties? I’d like
to have a bet with Ms Scott on their answer!
John Addis (K97)
Now do you believe me John Addis (1)!
The new TX4 can use a 5% bio-diesel mix and this would be covered
under warranty. The TXII handbook reads: CAUTION: The use of diesel fuels
with high vegetable oil content of over 5% is prohibited. This includes
products commonly described as bio-diesel. This should mean that the fuel
available at filling stations in the UK and Europe complies with this,
providing that the fuel supplied is to ISO/BSI/EN590 which is the standard
for mineral diesel for road use.
LTI Government Affairs spokesman, Richard Daniels, went on to tell
Call Sign: "I think there is also a wider issue of reducing emissions
and particularly carbon emissions (foot print) which is headlining the
political agenda at present. As you may be aware, LTI has been looking at
developing a marketable hybrid vehicle and developed three prototypes
vehicles, but they are currently not commercially viable. We continue to
work to find a commercially viable solution to reduce emission levels." …Ed
Welcome back Patsy…
It’s great news that Patsy McCarthy (C01) is on the road to recovery
after his spell in hospital. Patsy used to be a driver trainer at DaC and
managed to guide me through that exhausting day back in April 1994. The
great news sentiment also applies to DaC dispatcher Jay Gomez, whose kidney
transplant I read of in Call Sign. It’s just a shame that he supports
Arsenal!
Russell Hall (G44)
Just like it’s a shame that you support East Ham – er sorry, west Ham!
They’re so close it’s easy to become confused …Ed
EC5 et al – again!
I felt compelled to write again after reading Keith Cain’s response to my
last letter. I felt it was used as little more than a platform for
re-election to the Board in the up-coming elections. My initial question
regarding EC5 was basically glossed over by saying they were trying but
having problems with reprogramming, even though we were having severe
coverage problems in the City when I first raised this point over two years
ago. Maybe whoever is working on this should try a little harder, after all
it works in all zones during the morning busy period - so why not in just
the EC zones at night?
The next points I raised were in regard to bringing more drivers
onto the circuit, the subs increase and Concierge. I admit I might have got
it wrong with regard to us needing more drivers and it wasn’t done purely to
get more money in the bank, although I still feel my point regarding
Concierge is more than valid.
On page 4 of last month’s Call Sign, we had Brian Rice
telling us that "our turnover has increased by a massive 15% or £5.5m extra
work and that during the first month of our new financial year our turnover
has increased by a further 9%". So we are obviously doing very well at the
moment - or are we? If turnover is up but profit margins down, then it’s not
so rosy. If that is not the case however, then I ask once again why the subs
increase? Saying that it makes good business sense to increase subscription
rates in line with inflation or in case account charges from customers fall
might be valid if we were a PLC with share holders requiring a return for
their investment, but we are not - we are a friendly (non-profit making)
society.
If the subs previously never went up and on one occasion even went
down, why now that we are having our greatest year ever are they going up?
Before whoever answers my letter says that I have taken my quotes out of
context - another regular statement that’s doing the rounds - I don’t
believe I have. I have interpreted everything as it was written, so please
think about the point you are trying to get across before you put pen to
paper. This letter more than likely will not change a thing, but criticism
if constructive and I believe this is, should be encouraged.
Anyway merry Christmas and a happy new year to everyone.
Steve Gander (V20)
Steve, I think that you are being unfair. You wrote a letter for the
November issue and had a very long and detailed reply in response. Asking
the same questions again won’t change the responses you get and I’m sorry,
but to accuse the writer of electioneering is rubbish. I asked Keith Cain to
write an answer and he took time off from his weekend to do it. I see no
electioneering in that – unless you wanted him to lie and say that things
really aren’t good when they obviously are. Yes, we are a non-profit making
organisation, but it still has to be run like a business. Do you want DaC to
give all its money away and then when there’s none left, to ask for a subs
increase? Yes, it’s a nice thought but totally impractical and would see us
fold ultra-quickly. And who said that profit (surplus) margins were down? I
would expect the figures to show a healthy increase when released.
Yes, constructive criticism is fine, Steve and Call Sign
thrives on it. Your suggestion about EC5 was acted on as soon as other
equally high priorities were sorted out and I congratulate you on seeing a
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good idea, but that doesn’t mean that the world has to
stop while your suggestion is implemented. Software writing for a
complicated system such as ours isn’t a two minute job and can have very
severe implications if it were to go wrong – not least from the drivers who
would write in their droves that we shouldn’t have rushed a software change!
Finally, Steve, can I ask where in Call Sign you have seen
regular use of the expression "taken out of context" because it isn’t one
that I remember seeing used particularly often?
And finally, a sincere happy Christmas and New Year to you and as
well, Steve …EdImmigration and Christmas "fun"
Tom Whitbread in his last article believes that as nobody has written to
contradict his personal views, it meant that we all must have agreed with
him. He couldn't be further from the truth. There are two reasons why I
haven't written this far in response to Tom and Chas' rants on immigration.
Firstly, I believe that everybody is entitled to their own views and
secondly because having been in this country for 24 years now, you just
learn to shrug your shoulders and get on with life. But I must point out
that reading these articles does offend and hurt. And before anybody
suggests that I am being over-sensitive, then that is because I suffered
similar prejudices when I originally came here in 1982 and then had to grin
and bear it. Was there no crime in this country before the arrival of
the first immigrant? Wow…!
In response to the letters from Mike Appleby and Steve Crisp, all
I've got to say gentlemen is that the incentive is meant to be a bit of fun
while we go about covering our work. These are our accounts and
our work and not the BoMs. With that in mind, do we actually need end of
year bonuses to cover our work?
Stephen Gander mentions in his letter that he tends not to cover
EC5 if he can help it. Thanks mate, you look after yourself while the
majority of us run for miles to cover our work in EC5. I am sure
those lovely cash rides will be there for you come January!
For the record, it takes around 10 minutes to get to London Wall
from Bridge St SW1 and I don't think that’s too much to ask a driver to put
him/herself out to cover work.
Finally, Poppy is entitled to her views, but she is wrong to
suggest that we are against emissions control. We are against being singled
out and having to fund the project with systems that we don't have
confidence in, while the buses get huge subsidies. Maybe she is right when
she says she doesn't understand these things.
Divyesh Ruparelia (V59)
Thanks for the letter, Divyesh. I understand your point of view re
immigration and I’m sorry if anything you read in Call Sign offends
you, but as you say, everybody is entitled to their own views. However, I
think that the most important sentence in Tom’s last article was his
reference to "uncontrolled immigration." I know Tom quite well and contrary
to the beliefs held by some, he is not prejudiced against anyone in
particular – although he often jokes that he is against everyone! He just
speaks his mind and perhaps living in an area considered to be top-heavy
with immigrants from other countries whilst high on the list of violent
attacks, has given him a false impression. I’ve seen him with kids of all
creeds and colours whilst he acting for his charity, Dial-a-Dream, and they
all think he’s great – outrageous perhaps, but great!
As for emissions, I agree 100% with your view that we are being
singled out as the fall guys. If it all went pear-shaped, it wouldn’t cost
the bus companies a penny. We, on the other hand, would not be so lucky …Ed
And more…
I can’t think of anyone whose personal views I would least like to hear, yet
once again Tom Whitbread has decided to treat us to his ‘words of wisdom’.
His views are obnoxious however I support the right to freedom of speech.
The problem for me is the forum used to exercise that right. We are advised
that we should read Call Sign because it is used to impart
important information (I long ago abandoned reading the rantings of Chas
Kissin, confident that I would never miss anything remotely important.
However BoM articles - and particularly Mr Whitbread’s - are often used to
advise of procedural changes etc. This being the case, surely BoM articles
as a ‘must read’ should keep to relevant subjects?
If Mr Whitbread has a burning desire to impart his narrow minded
view on us, then let him put it in a letter to Mailshot like the rest of us.
I suspect that the irony is lost on him, but within his Compliance
Officer’s report he writes: "We have a new office building, most up to date
call centre, IT/DP dept and billing credit control in the licence taxi trade
- a company that is now respected and looked up to." How long, I wonder,
will that respect last when clients and other important people that receive
copies of Call Sign read such ignorant bigoted stuff from a
member of the Board of Management?
Perhaps Allen Togwell’s concern about our image regarding sloppy
dress could be extended to include the rantings of his colleague? We are all
shamed by association and coming as it does from a BoM member, it demeans
the Society.
Finally, whether we agree or not with Mr Whitbread’s sentiments,
surely he should not use his privileged position to treat us to his sad
philosophies.
David Brett (P93)
Thanks for the letter, David. The answer to you as it was to Divyesh
above is the same so I won’t repeat it again other than to say that contrary
to the way his views sound, Tom is not prejudiced against colour or creed,
only against Governmental policies allowing unchecked immigration. However,
I have now asked him to concentrate more on DaC matters. But one thing
puzzles me in all this tirade against Tom’s views; why do those against
write in, but those who agree with him telephone their views but don’t want
their names published? Whilst not necessarily agreeing with all Tom’s views,
I admire him for putting his name to his views …Ed
A difficult year…
To all my many friends on Dial-a-Cab, a big thank
you for your help and support in what has been a very difficult year for
both me and my family. It began with the death of my dear mother and
continued more recently with my wife’s cancer.
To Tom Whitbread, special thanks for your support and also the
lovely flowers you sent to my wife. And to all my friends on the Finz, thank
you all…
Steve Goldberg (A77)
Let’s hope things start to get better soon, Steve …Ed
I know where you are!
Thanks so much for sending me the copy of Call Sign. We really
appreciate your support and thank you so much for including the ad about the
museum which we are delighted with. One of my colleagues was in a licensed
taxi the other day and this time, instead of the driver having no idea where
the Foundling Museum was – something that has been a recurrent problem for
us - he told her that he kept hearing about the museum over the radio and
thought it sounded very interesting. All down to you I think!
Sarah Carr
Marketing and development, The Foundling Museum WC1
Many drivers have now been to the museum and several have contacted me to
say how fascinating it is and that they would never have known about it
without Call Sign (we passed the info over to several other trade
papers as well). London has many excellent museums, but it’s always nice to
find one that you hadn’t heard of before …Ed
Question of the day!
The poor are always with us. So it appears in the vexed question of a dress
code. Whilst not a member of the trackie bottoms, string vest and flip flop
brigade, neither do I follow the shirt, tie and shiny shoe path! To be
frank, I’ve told my wife to bury me in blue jeans, so you can see where I’m
coming from!
But one word keeps popping up during this debate and it gives me
the creeps. It’s redolent of the 1950s; of beige, of "Just slip these on,"
of "How do they feel," of "Oooh! Suits you sir!" That word is slacks! Can
anyone define slacks? Can you buy one slack? Can anyone please let me know!
Geoff Levene (K43)
We have just the man to answer your query! Allen Togwell responds:
Why Mr Fisher asked me to answer your question, I don’t know, but
I’ll try! The definition of slacks in my old Tailor and Cutter book of the
1950s is a pair of lightweight trousers that have a sharp crease, made in
various colour fabrics to be worn with or without a contrasting jacket.
Slacks, as with pants, come in the plural. Whether that is because it refers
to meeting the requirement of two legs, I cannot say for certain, but if so
then it’s not beyond the realms of probability that one day, particularly
with the present fashion of wearing trousers that show most of your bum,
that we might well see those same idiots wearing slacks minus one leg, which
the other idiots - the PC brigade - will then insist on changing the plural
of slacks into the singular, thereby easily answering your question!
Seriously though, Mr Levene, you mention your affection for jeans;
sadly, the popularity of that garment during the 70s was a major cause of
the decline in the fashion industry in this country and worse, a decline in
people’s general appearance - both men and women - of which we have never
recovered.
Thanks from Mrs Grumpy
May I through Mailshot, firstly thank the
Board for the bouquet of flowers and good wishes sent to Chas after his
recent heart scare. May I also thank the drivers who have either called or
emailed asking after him. It would seem that what with last year’s accident
and this year’s heart scare, somebody up there does not want him! Maybe in
the future he will not be so grumpy and just be thankful that he is on this
earth for a reason.
Mrs F.Kissin |
