The Alternative View?
I have read Call Sign for many years now and it may just be a perception on my part, but I believe that the editorial and opinions of the Editor in Mailshot invariably accord with the views of the Board and the direction the Board is taking the Society. I am also observing Editor comments that, in my view, could leave the Society open to some form of action in a court of law.
   The Editor may feel he is constrained in his views, somewhat, due to his position being one of patronage. So to remove the element of patronage, how about the Editor standing for election in the same manner as the Board? This may remove a perception, held by some, that the Editor is not relaying Society affairs to the members in an equitable manner.
   How about removing some of the regular bland tired twaddle that fills up the mag? Stuff like ‘her indoors’ or the right wing ramblings of Chas. There are sport articles (non-DaC related of course), theatre reviews etc. I can get all this from other mags and journals. I want taxi stuff in general and more to the point, radio circuit stuff.
   How about a new regular page that is an alternative to the Board member’s views and indeed the Editor’s views? This input should be selected because it is an alternative and not an agreement or plaudit to the Board. Credit where it is due is fine and we get a lot of that in Call Sign already, however, as we are bombarded with trumpet blowing and dictates from Board members and concurrence from the Editor, this new page ought to be reserved for an alternative view. Perhaps it could be called The Alternative View - there's originality for you - then contributors would know it is reserved only for alternative views. If there is not an alternative to publish in any issue, then the page is dispensed with for that month and not used up with how marvellous things are.
   Now I am talking a proper page and not Mailshot. This page or two should stand without immediate comment from any parties until the next issue and then any comments made about the piece could only be incorporated in Mailshot. That's fair, isn't it? That is what the Editor and Board do every month. What think you members?
Maurice Haben (G17)
Thank you for your letter Maurice. Firstly you say that my comments could leave the Society open to legal action and then you say that I am possibly constrained in my views. I’m not sure that I can be both. Yes, I do speak my mind and there have been several complaints from outside sources, but that’s to be expected if someone doesn’t like what you say - it doesn’t make it less true though. I know that it irked you when I suggested that the Chairman should be paid more and tied to DaC by a contract, but I said it because it was my view and like everything else in the magazine, it was uncensored.   Had you been Editor, you would have had the right to suggest that Brian Rice be paid less and to provide a blanket for him to sit outside Brunswick House with a begging bowl!
   I don’t relay Society affairs to the members in an equitable manner? In my view, Call Sign gives a better view into what is happening inside BH that any other taxi organisation gives it’s readers. Does TAXI slag off the LTDA? Does CTN slag off the Union? Does Taxi Times or Mountview News dish the dirt on RTG? Is there an anti-ComCab word in their new magazine? I assume that you belong to a trade organisation, Maurice, do you have a go at any of them? But Call Sign DOES have a pop at the Society when drivers feel it necessary via Mailshot. As for what you refer to as "twaddle," there are others who like a mag to have something other than just taxi news, after all, how much news can there be in an industry with less than 25,000 drivers? I refuse to fill up Call Sign with press releases. I use those I feel to be interesting, but will not use one, for example, where a Newcastle taxi firm have changed the type of taxi they use. If other trade mags want to use those types of PR, that is up to them. So I use other items to help make what I hope is an interesting read. Theatre reviews? Don’t think I’ve ever had one. Non-DaC sporting events? Are you talking about Russell Hall? If you read his articles – which you obviously don’t – you’ll see that in the majority of issues, the comments are by or about DaC drivers. Should I not mention the DaC football team or the sponsorship that Call Sign gave to the late Johnny Wells and former telephonist Donna Merry in their skeet shooting exploits that gave DaC so much publicity in non-trade magazines – which incidentally Maurice, non-taxi drivers read. You only want taxi-related stuff and I assume that if there isn’t any, then you’d prefer a few sheets of stapled paper. You are entitled to your view, Maurice.
   There are restaurant reviews, but only written by DaC drivers. You don’t like them? Fair enough, just skip to the next page. A page for an alternative view? What is that? Do you mean something that will be anti-BoM for no reason other than the writer doesn’t like anyone that gives orders? Or will it be a page where drivers can pass on Internet-related gossip? And then you talk about "trumpet blowing" in Call Sign. Does that irritate you Maurice?
    And what do you have against those who vent their wrath in Mailshot? I have published articles in the past that have been anti-Board – especially when Sovereign were looking to buy us out. But it seems that you want to be able to criticise without any response – something I disagree with in a monthly magazine because by the time the next issue comes out, readers will have forgotten what the original text said and those who deliberately write in response, will have readers scratching their heads and wondering what they are responding to. I brought in the concept of immediate answers and I have no intention of giving that up unless I believe that the majority want it – and that is not what most drivers tell me.
   As for the Editor standing for election, that is nothing to do with me – but what if no one stood? The easiest thing in the world is to stand on the sidelines and criticise …Ed

Forty jobs…
Re the Ian Lingham (K64) letter in January's Call Sign, I would like to ask him a question; why are you still working for DaC? 25% of 360 job offers is 81, which equals 9 jobs a month. If we all had the same attitude as you Mr Lingham, there would be no DaC. Why don't you let someone else have your mobile?  There are drivers on the waiting list. I work in the real world and if I had just dropped off at Kings Cross and there were 100 jobs in the system, I wouldn't go inside. You can bet your life that if you were in N1W, you would get a job offer. It might not be N1W, but it would offer plenty in the back up zones, nothing like 3 miles away.
   81 jobs in 9 months-subs equals £1170. You would be lucky if you covered your subs with the amount of account jobs that you did, how clever is that? If you don't like running for work, how does it feel to know that you have given away over £1000 and not got anything in return?
   I'm not a relation of Tom Whitbread or anything, but to slander is to tell an untruth is it not? If he told the truth, it's not slander. Don't you think that whoever was the Complaints Officer would react the same way to the lack of account work that you have done?
   One last thing Mr Lingham, I think by writing a letter in January's Call Sign, all you have done is to severely embarrass yourself and I am one of 800 members that won't forget your letter when it comes to re-election.
Keith Hancock (R47)
A strange letter, Keith, not because of the content, but just by the fact that you have supported the Complaints Officer! Now Tom might take that as the football manager’s dreaded vote of confidence and not be able to sleep! …Ed

Radio v street work…
I was fascinated by the assertion by Glen Roberton (E54) in the January Call Sign that "90% of radio work is not worth running for" and that in the old days radio work must have been better because of false positions etc. He overlooks the fact that you can’t give a false position any more, but that drivers still try to beat the system. I wonder why…?
   I recently spent 20 minutes with a calculator and worked out that over the past year, my average radio credit ride was £16.50. Can’t be too bad! Perhaps even worth the 11 minutes of lead time to which he objects…
Geoff Levene (K43)
I suspect that your figures are the average of a dayman, Geoff, because the average trip over a 24-hour period is higher at around £26.  Speaking personally, I rarely do street work - not because I’m a wonderful person who only wants to help the Society, but more because I’m a lazy so-and-so who would rather do one account trip than three street rides! And that is the big difference between the two …Ed

Get well soon…
Through the letters page of Call Sign, I would like to thank Dial-a-Cab for the lovely bouquet of flowers which arrived today. I am recuperating at home and feeling a bit better each day with Martin waiting on me hand and foot! I very much appreciate the kind thoughts from the members of Dial-a-Cab with the card and flowers.
Thank you all once again.
Doreen Freeborn (Mrs C67)
Delighted to hear that you are progressing so well, Doreen and my thanks to hubby for the regular updates …Ed

Is GPS the answer…?
Just a few quick points that need to be raised urgently. The first week in December was very busy on the streets and very busy on the radio - except that street work was less hassle and radio work was a major hassle, so much so that I turned the radio off for about 5 days because I was so fed up with it. The reason? Yep you guessed it, the thing does not work when it gets busy! The system needs radical updating and brought forward into the era we live in - not the 1920s. My whole nights are often spent resending and trying to accept jobs. Then you get sent jobs with blank screens or just a frigging-mad-beep - accept or reject. Accept what? Air?
   On a very serious note, I think it’s only a matter of time before someone has a major accident because so much time is spent looking at the MDT trying to accept or resend etc. This surely has to be addressed; when I was on ComCab I do not ever remember signal fiascos such as

we get here on DaC.
   Also, on EC5 are there any plans to do away with the system of having to drive halfway across London to book onto a rank to accept radio work? Errr… GPS is the thing now being used in the modern world! Or at least just despatch the jobs to the appropriate zones. I’m hoping things will improve and become modern one day.
   Yesterday (15 December), I was working and getting silly messages telling us there are bundles of work in a system that you cannot get a job from because of joke signals. I tried to accept a NR EXEC account job in Russell Sq going to W2. I spent about 10 minutes resending etc, but gave up in the end and went back to the easier option of street work. About 5 minutes later, the details come through for the NR EXEC job by which time I am already POB with a cash job!
   My suggestion is that DaC stop taking on any new accounts and focus 100% on getting this dispatch and accept sham to at least a workable level. Surely you must be looking at GPS (nearest cab) instead of this dated Zonal system? As I said earlier, this system in its present form is non-productive and dangerous.
Daniel Priddle (N96)
Brian Rice responds: That is fair comment, Daniel. The signals are bad when it is very busy - they always have been except that we tend to look back at the past through rose tinted glasses.  The thing that exacerbates the situation is the amount of 'rejects' going through the system. During some busy periods, we have had up to 200 unmatched trips with, on average, each trip being rejected ten times before it is accepted. Can you imagine the amount of unnecessary pressure that is put onto the system? Incidentally, we have just come through the busiest trading period this Society has experienced in over 52 years. Did you try sending a text message on your mobile phone at midnight on New  Year's Eve when the system was busy - it was taking literally hours for messages to be delivered, assuming of course you could get on the network to send a message in the first place? We are dealing with our problem; we have moved aerial sites, installed new digital land lines and fitted filters to our aerial sites, we have even re-written software for the modems, but still our problems persist. But no one can accuse us of not trying to improve the situation.  I thought it was quite interesting that you believed we should change our despatching system to one similar to ComCab. We have operated a zonal system for over sixteen years and our members like it because during quiet periods, they can be assured of receiving a trip. I find it quite intriguing as to what attracted you to us two years ago? After all, if ComCab have a better despatching system and their signals are better, why were we more attractive - so much so that you were enticed to leave ComCab and join us?   Finally, I was extremely disappointed to learn that you turned the equipment off for five days, perhaps that is why we had so much uncovered work? 

Conditions of Fitness
I read in the January Call Sign about the Conditions of Fitness review resulting in favour of keeping out the Eurocab and I have to say I'm disappointed but not surprised. It seems we have wasted time and money to come to a very predictable conclusion. I personally think we should have been given the choice of the having the Eurocab because even though the licensed cab trade in London is world renowned for the knowledge of the drivers and the vehicles we drive, we are living in modern times and should move on accordingly.
   With the demise of the Routemaster bus, which was much loved by tourists and Londoners alike, we now have the wonderful bendy buses that are not suitable for London’s roads because of their size and drivers who like us to suffer because of it - eg the Devonshire and Great Portland Streets junction being a prime example. Did TfL consider how much time it costs motorists when they block up box junctions, taking wide turns on road etc? I think we all know the answer to that one. With the Routemaster now reduced to a token gesture role on London's streets, it seems that we now have to hold the baton of tradition in London because we are stuck with the TXII. Everyone knows about the problems that have occurred with TXIIs from the day they started out and many of these have not really been sorted – eg noisy engines. There is no universal acclaim for this engine unlike the previous rugged and tough 2.7
   Nissan Diesel. Cab drivers are a difficult bunch to please, but with all the problems that have been occurring with the Ford engine, surely part of LTI’s Listening Programme could listen to drivers who are not happy with it and perhaps consider putting another engine in? From talking to other drivers as well, I've been told that new TXIIs are having starting problems because of the timing chain and tensioner and there is no guaranteed fix to the problem because there is no telling how long the replaced parts will last. It all sounds a bit worrying to me and it costs £600 if you’re not under warranty.  Even with the new suspension on the cab, I don’t think fuel economy has got any better. If we were getting 40 - 45 miles to the gallon, would owners of older cabs still have to shell out a supposed £3000 for the emission conversion?
   I understand all the arguments about identity for taxis, but I'm sure that when the Metrocab first came out, the traditionalists must have turned away in shock and called it gruesome! But the Metrocab gave us a fibreglass body and was wheelchair friendly compared to the old FX4. The fact of the matter is that it became a landmark for change in the cab trade. What would we be driving now had it not come in? I'm not sure what it was like when it first came out, but I'm sure passengers still hailed it down and never believed that it was not a cab. People got used to it and with all the new advertising campaigns for safer travel, they could have easily put a photo of a Eurocab and emphasise prospective passengers to look for the taxi sign incorporating it into the "know what you’re getting into" campaign. I believe the Eurocab would have improved the TXII because it would have raised the stakes and made LTI improve the TXII even more. I would also have liked to be able to walk with my feet when it comes to buying a new cab. When I bought my last cab from M&O in January 2000, I went to pick it up and found the paintwork to be in a terrible state and my gear lever gaiter loose. In hindsight, I should have refused the cab, but just took delivery because I had heard all the stories about LTI blacklisting drivers for rejecting their product. I at least expected my gear lever gaiter to be sorted out, so I asked the Manager if he could get someone to put it right for me and was told that he had no one available - all this considering I had just given him the best part of £30,000. I also have a problem with my TX1 with a steering pull that even now has not been solved, so I have just given up trying to put it right and to live with it.
   I went to see how much my cab was worth in part exchange after two years because the TXII had just come out and I wanted to see what mine was worth against the new cab. Even though I have a manual cab, I did not quite expect what was coming up - I was offered £16,000 for mine and that was not the high residual value that I was lead to believe these cabs were worth. With the monopoly for the TXII now firmly in place, if I don’t want to buy the product because I don’t like it or the way I have been treated, what am I supposed to do? Just go back for a second helping of being told I've got no one to help me fix a problem on a cab when it should never have been given to me in the first place?
   If you explained the situation to someone outside of the trade, they would come to the conclusion that LTI and the PCO are in some kind of cahoots that should not be allowed in this modern day and age. Drivers buy the cabs and they should be able to buy it where they feel they get best value or buy the vehicle they prefer to drive! Perhaps there should be a driver forum which is totally transparent, where drivers can sing the praises or rant and rave so that every driver can get an idea of what other problems drivers are getting before considering buying a new cab.  So if there are any major and regular faults, it will give drivers a chance to make more of an informed choice before they buy a new taxi. I feel confused…. please help!
Johnny Tsang (T90)
Ok Johnny, when I ask for drivers that want to go on the next Call Sign trip to LTI at Coventry, give me a call and I’ll put your name on the list. Then you can speak to the people involved yourself …Ed

FSA interest?
You will recall that in the November issue of Call Sign, a letter from me was published in which I asked the Chairman a number questions regarding the return of the FSA to Brunswick House following the end of their investigation in April. The Chairman declined to answer the questions and instead advised me to ask the FSA if I required any information. I duly contacted the FSA Enforcement Division and they confirmed the Authority had recently found it necessary to speak with both the Chairman and the Board of Management and recommend to them a course of action. I now fully understand the Chairman’s reluctance to provide information publicly about what the FSA had to say to him and the Board. However, the Chairman may consider the privacy of the AGM an appropriate place for him to explain to the membership, to whom he is accountable, the exact nature of the FSA’s continuing interest in Dial-a-Cab.
Tony Gillam (N14)
Brian Rice responds: There is not any continuing interest in DaC by the FSA, the matter is closed! As they found nothing suspicious, they discontinued the inquiry you instigated with Mr Cox.  All you are endeavouring to do is regurgitate the whole issue in order to damage this Society.  Both you and Mr Cox last year attempted to be elected to the BoM to represent members interests - the membership rejected you both. Can you not understand that?  

Call Sign – From the outside!
For many years I have used London taxis and have noted when I use the Dial-a-Cab service that the driver and cab are a cut above the rest with excellent service provided. The management must be doing something right!
   When I was in one of these cabs, I found a copy of Call Sign on the back shelf and for an in- house magazine, it is exceptional. However I would like to make a few comments regarding a letter from Laurence Kelvin (W88) in the January issue. He suggests that the selection procedure by which new drivers to the circuit can come through recommendations from existing drivers is discriminatory and possibly illegal. Presumably he feels that although there is no discrimination against any race or religion by the interviewing panel, the mere process of selecting from a restricted group of candidates, ie friends or relations of current drivers does in itself exclude various groups of people. However, I think that he is being oversensitive. If you need a plumber, electrician, dentist or baby sitter, most people would start off by asking friends or neighbours for a recommendation.

Is there a qualified person who can be trusted, is reliable, of decent value and will carry out a good standard of work? I cannot imagine anyone insisting that applicants must include set quotas of left-handed people, atheists, Muslims and Druids just to make sure that no group are being left out.
   I have seen Dial a Cab drivers, both male and female of various racial backgrounds and your current selection process would seem to embrace commonsense
and at the same time, yield first-rate drivers.
Boh Taylor
Chislehurst, Kent
Thank you Boh, we do our best …Ed

Free speech?
Why do you give Mr Stanley Frankel the time and space to endlessly offend people? His latest letter has a pop at John Fisher (C45) for getting 12 points on his licence for speeding. Stanley’s letters on any subject are downright offensive, he has nothing interesting or intelligent to say about anyone or anything, yet in every issue of Call Sign, there it is, Frankel’s ramblings – "who shall I p*** off this time!" Free speech is one thing, but how does this man manage to get a platform for his views when all he ever does is have a pop at people? Surely there must be something more interesting to print rather than the nonsense this man spouts. By the way, if I were John Fisher, I would tap Stanley on the shoulder and ask him to discuss his points face to face. Perhaps, Alan, you could pass his letters onto some of the more flimsier trade publications who I’m sure would welcome being padded out a bit with his old nonsense!  Also, it might cut his audience down somewhat…    
Nick Steventon (J65)
Actually Nick, Stanley Frankel wanted his own column but I refused and instead he has chosen to offend in this way instead! I realise that I have made a rod for my own back with the policy of publishing everything provided the writer adds their name, but the problem is that otherwise it would be up to me to decide what I considered to be suitable for publication and I’d probably end up like the mags you refer to in putting in mysterious unnamed letters (name and address supplied?) that would just propagate my own views.
   As for John Fisher, I spoke to him several times about his 12 points and he was his own worst critic. But more importantly, despite having the threat of losing his livelihood hanging over him, he spent time that in his circumstances he could probably ill-afford in getting information re PH vehicles who were breaking their licensing agreements to Call Sign, which we then passed over to the Cab Enforcement Section. That led to Call Sign accompanying the CES on a sting, which again in turn led to many PH arrests. Other than criticising, I’m not sure what else Stanley Frankel does …Ed

One Voice?
Brice Rice in his column last month (Jan Call Sign) expressed the view that there should be one voice for the cab trade. Apparently the authorities want this. Just because the authorities want something, does it mean that it would be good for cab drivers? He also states that minicabs talk with one voice and are more powerful for doing so.  His view is that London Taxi Network should talk for cab drivers. If this was to happen what body would Messrs Kaley and Riesel join? How could they be taken seriously when most of their organisations profits come from their mini cab operations? They would be able to shape taxi policy and prevent their minicab profits being affected by said policy.
Steven van Gelder (C87)
Brian Rice replies: No, I never said that LTN should talk for cab drivers as they represent the radio circuits only! What I said was that I do believe, and always have, that there should be one organisation that speaks on behalf of our industry. LTN would only form a part of that body. 

Ian Cameron
I was so sorry to hear that Ian Cameron (R12) had passed away due to a heart attack. Ian was one of the most big-hearted guys around, having helped at St Joseph Hospice to ferry patients to and from the hospice for such a long time along with you, Alan, and Ken Freeborn (W6). He was also a supporter of the best football team in London, the Arsenal, both at home (a season ticket holder) and most away matches.
   I, along with everyone who knew him, will miss him very much and I send my wife Doreen’s condolences and mine to his family. May he rest in peace…
Martin Freeborn (C67)
   I met Ian 25 years ago when a group of taxi drivers (including myself and Ian) would take patients to the St Joseph’s Day Hospice in Hackney.  He always had a joke to tell and a smile for the patients. One of Ian's passions in life was the Arsenal. He would attend both home and away matches as well as continental games, which I would then hear all about!
   Ian and his family would always support the Cab Driver of the Year competition, especially when it was held at Battersea. He was a life long night man, so our paths hadn’t crossed so much of late, but he always managed to attend the AGM with a firm handshake, a friendly smile and a joke! Over the 25 years of knowing Ian, our lives crisscrossed sharing not only our troubles, but the good times as well. 
   These few words cannot express the loss I feel and no doubt how many other drivers may be feeling at this time. Ian RIP…
Ken Freeborn (W06)
Ian’s death was indeed a real shock. There is an article elsewhere in this issue …Ed

Call Sign sniping!
I enjoy Call Sign very much, always read it from cover to cover and it is by far the best trade magazine around. However, I do get a bit peed off with the constant sniping from drivers which invariably leads to a not-so-surprising return snipe from the Chairman or Editor. Why do those drivers never offer useful suggestions, but only criticise? I do realise that it makes good reading, but I just can’t help wondering what these drivers get out of their constant sniping. Is it so they can boast to their friends?
Richard Hill (L62)
A difficult one, Richard. Yes, some do have a go and yes, it does help make Call Sign different and again yes, drivers enjoy reading the letters. But I do accept your point. However, it could be termed the price of democracy …Ed

Sid Gold’s breakdown – Leytonstone Motors answer back…
I am writing in regard to an article published in the November issue of Call Sign, which makes reference to my company - Leytonstone Motors. The writer of the article infers that the charges made to Sid Gold (E20) in respect of his breakdown on the A12 were inappropriate by the use of the word astronomical, but this inference has been made without reference to the nature of the breakdown and the time and equipment involved in the recovery and transportation of the vehicle to its destination. I would like to rectify this matter as Leytonstone Motors prides itself in the professionalism with which the company is run and the reputation which it has built up through honest trading since its founding in 1934 by my grandfather, Hymie Jacobs.
   The facts are as follows: The job was passed to our control room by the police at 00.27 on 10 October as an A4 category breakdown. This means that the police notify the car/cab owner of a garage to effect a recovery, but the contract is established between the owner and the garage as regards to charges. It is general practice to quote a price to customers so that they are aware of the charges to be incurred and in the case of Sid Gold, these charges were accepted prior to the job being done. As the rear wheel was adrift, the vehicle required skates in order to be loaded onto the recovery truck and once loaded, the vehicle was taken to Chigwell, unloaded and placed onto blocks.
   The whole procedure took two and a half hours from the time the call was received to when my drivers returned to base and the charges breakdown was as follows:-
   Use of tilt and slide vehicle £195, Specialist skates £55 and VAT £43.75. These charges are
quite common within the recovery industry and not unreasonable given the location (the report said that the breakdown was too dangerous for the AA!), the time and the expertise of the attending operator.
   I am pleased that this article was brought to my notice so that I have had the opportunity to respond, but would like to stress that before making judgemental comments, your writer should acquaint themselves with all of the facts in any story.
   I would be interested to hear any responses should you publish this letter in a future Call Sign.
Robert Jackson
Managing Director
Leytonstone Motors Limited
Always pleased to publish both sides, Mr Jackson, and I thank you for responding. Yes, Leytonstone Motors have been around a long time and do have a good name. But, whilst I accept that the prices you quote are the going rates, if you phoned for a Dial-a-Cab taxi you would be rather miffed if the driver arrived with £15 on his meter because he had put it on from wherever he was when your call came through. Sid’s breakdown didn’t take 2.5 hours so far as he was concerned, which is why he felt that almost £300 was a lot. But yes, as you correctly point out, the AA would have left Sid there claiming it was too dangerous …Ed

Non-bug!
Another one for the software folk to solve. When I do a credit card job via the system, there have been occasions when I have converted the job to cash.  As soon as I have done so, the ‘Booked Off’ notice appears at the bottom of the screen and thus I am unable to do a ‘Soon To Clear’ at any stage of the journey. This appears to be a software bug. Can it be updated ASAP as I'm sure many other drivers have suffered the same frustration as I have!
Robert Richland (N94)
You don’t need software folk when you’ve got me, Robert, because amazingly, I know the answer to this one! When you change from credit card to cash, the system automatically books you off and takes away the soon to clear button because it assumes you are doing a new job. So if you then press the RESYNCH button, the STC facility will return. Software folk indeed!…Ed

Attributes
There seem to be so many attributes, I wonder whether you could publish a list of them in Call Sign?
Russell Poluck MBE (T55)
Many other drivers have asked for an updated list, so see elsewhere in this issue to have your wish come true! …Ed

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