John Fisher or Stirling Moss?
If I tell you that my eyes are brimming over with tears, it’s because my wife has just ordered me to cut up half a dozen Spanish onions and most certainly not because John Fisher (C45) seems to be in competition for Dial-a-Cab’s ‘moaner of the year’. I cannot believe that a professional driver who has been caught speeding four times in the past 12 months, expects the rest of us to feel sorry for him. Ok, he drove for 20 years with a clean licence, but the reason for that is because previously there were no speed cameras. If there had been, most of us would have acquired plenty of penalty points! He asks if he has suddenly turned overnight into Stirling Moss? I doubt it because you see Stirling Moss was paid to drive fast, whereas Mr Fisher is paid to drive slowly. If he can’t, then I suggest he takes up motor racing, but then he might end up with a face like Stirling’s! I suggest he concentrates a bit more on his driving or perhaps he is suffering from a severe case of ‘pedalitis’ – a severe malfunction of the right leg that obviously needs specialist treatment. He should pop along to his GP who could give him a letter for the London Foot Hospital where his problem can be cured. One thing he mustn’t do is to drive on a knife-edge, because if he does that, he’ll tear his tyres to shreds…
Stanley Frankel (K46)
Thank you Mr Sensitive. John Fisher is on the verge of losing his livelihood at which all you can do is crack jokes. So as you insist on dissecting John’s crime – yes, stupidity perhaps – let me ask you two questions taken from your letter: Do you really believe that speed cameras have only been around for 12 months and do you also believe that we are paid to drive slowly? I’d hate to get into your cab if I were in a hurry. John copped what most of us are lucky enough to get away with. No doubt you, Stanley, have never been flashed and felt relieved when no offence notice arrived on the doormat – or perhaps you just couldn’t read it because you were peeling more onions …Ed

A gentleman on a gentleman’s circuit…
I would like to thank the Dial-a-Cab driver who stopped and assisted me after the accident I had at 6.30am on Friday 18 November on the Romford Road. Not only did he call for an ambulance and police, but also spoke to my wife and refused to leave until the ambulance had left and keeping my wife informed as to what was happening. A true gentleman on a gentleman’s circuit.
John Ward (D63)
Hope you are back to normal now and thanks for taking the time to write …Ed

All tied up?
Can someone please tell me why Brian Rice has a permanent speed hump in his tie?
Terry Catherall (Y90)
Don’t tell anyone, but he keeps his lunch under it! …Ed

Thanks to M&O
I wish to express to all those in the M&O Service Department my sincere thanks for an outstanding year of excellent support and marvellous communication skills. Without their remarkable skills, I'm sure that all sorts of problems would have occurred, but they've all rallied around for my cause and for that I am truly grateful. I hope they will continue to provide these excellent support skills. Their department must be the envy of the opposition and other trade garages who would be more than happy to have 10% of M&O’s knowledge and wisdom.
   I should add that should TfL choose to go down the route of alternative vehicles, rest assured that I would never consider any other vehicle for my working environment than the London taxi - a truly iconic and recognisable vehicle throughout the world, versions of which I have been privileged to own and use for 26 years of my working life as a London taxi driver. I'm truly proud to be associated with their department.
   However, Mayor Livingstone once said that only a moron would axe the Routemaster bus, so mark my words, he’ll be after the London taxi next…
   Finally, can I wish you all and your respective families a very prosperous New Year.
Tony Arnold (F03)
Come off the fence Tony… do you like M&O or not!
As for the Routemaster, it isn’t just a shame - after all, if the bus was no good then there would be no point in keeping it because of its tourist value. However, as someone who drove one for six years, I know what a reliable workhorse it is and to replace it with ‘bendies’ that are usually half-empty outside of peak hours, seems so pointless – unless of course, it’s not your own money that you are spending …Ed

Who gets what?
In your December editorial, who gets paid for what, you mention posters that have been fly posted stating how much our Chairman earns. You say that whomever put the posters up over estimated the Chairman’s earnings by thousands of pounds. My question is this; how do you know that? Why should you be privy to this information when the rest of the members have no idea of the Chairman’s pay? It is actually not too clear what information you weaselled from DaC. Let me quote you;
   "The problem was that whoever put the posters up – and I know who it as because he rather stupidly boasted to a client that it was him, the client told DaC and I managed to weasel the info from them – actually lied about the figures as they grossly over-estimated his [Brian Rice] earnings by tens of thousands!"
   Answer a straight question please, as the above is not plain. What info did you weasel out of DaC, was it the name of the poster or was it the Chairman’s earnings? Also you mention that you weaselled this information from DaC. DaC is an inanimate entity that obviously can’t speak. So who gave you this information, was it the Chairman, a Board member or staff member? If you just weaselled out the name of the fly poster, then how do you know what the Chairman earns? If you don’t know what the Chairman earns, then how can you advocate that he should be paid more? Conversely if you weaselled from DaC knowledge of how much the Chairman earns and thus given this information you feel you are an advocate that should promote to the members that he should get an increase, then we should all know what the Chairman earns. If you have this information, then this should be passed on to members as a right so as to see if an increase is warranted or not. I would go further and request full disclosure of earnings and expenses of all individual Board members.
   As I said earlier, if you do not know what the Chairman earns how on earth can you advocate that he should earn more? I suspect that you will now argue that you didn’t advocate that the Chairman should earn more and that you just posed a question for member’s consideration. Again how can the members consider this matter without knowing what our Chairman earns? However, I request that you answer my earlier questions.
Maurice Haben (G17)
How much does the Chairman earn? It isn’t difficult to work out - just multiply £34 an hour by an average number of hours per 5-day week and you’ll have a reasonable guesstimate. It will then become apparent that it is impossible for him to earn anywhere near the figure quoted on the poster. In addition Maurice, if you reread the article, you’ll see that my comments were not so much about how much he earns – although that was a part of it - but that he could get up and leave at any time. I think that is absolutely ludicrous. Next week he could walk across to any of our competitors with information – let alone the personal relationships that he has built up with clients - that could set us back years. I believe that the Chairman of a £40million company should be tied by a contract and certainly not be on an hourly rate. As for how I get my information? Quite often I just ask, sometimes I just happen to be in the right place at the right time and at other times people pass snippets on to me. But Maurice, let me assure you in case you are worried, that there are far more things I don’t know than do …Ed

Tom Tom to Steve Steve…!
Dear Alan, with reference to Patrick Noble’s letter to you entitled "Tom Tom to EC5."
   When he referred to: When one is caught out in the outskirts of SE1, N1, EC1, EC2, I believe that he was attempting to point out to you that his Tom Tom SatNav system that he purchased was surplus to requirements in view of the fact that most work from EC5 does not go beyond the London postal codes. From your reply, you appear to be under the impression that Mr Noble was making reference to other mobiles "not playing the game." I know that sarcasm and facetiousness are not one of your traits (they are mine), therefore I assume that the point he was trying to make either went over your head or you did not wish to involve yourself in a discussion with regards to the quality of work dispatched on EC5.
   Whereas we used to bid each other "Be Lucky" on EC5 when being allocated a job, we now part company with a "See you soon". How times have changed.
Steve Shaller (R75)
You may have been right, Steve, although Patrick hasn’t said that. But answer me this: How come I haven’t seen you for around two years? One of us must have had a good job! …Ed

George Best
I have been a driver for Dial-a-Cab for 14 years and this is the first time I have felt the need to respond to an article in your column. Your criticism of George Best for wasting the liver transplant he received 3 years ago is clearly written by someone who doesn't understand that alcoholism is an illness and not a choice. I’m sure you realise that a liver does not survive very

Dear Brian…
A couple of years ago I asked the question: "Why do we have such a long waiting time at the
HoC before they go to the meter?" If I remember correctly, your reply was something along the lines of "It’s a hot potato as we were in negotiations with the account holder." Well, two years down the line and we’re still in the same position! After speaking with several clients from the HoC account, it’s of no surprise that: the majority do not know that the jobs are on a fixed price and keeping the driver waiting does not help the situation and also that none of the staff have ever been told not to keep the cab waiting around once they have booked or been advised. With more and more accounts asking for fixed prices ie South Place, Cabot Square and Grays Inn Road, would it not be a good idea to now change the waiting times? If we are giving the customer lower than metered fares, surely asking the client to be at the cab within 5 minute of advised arrival, instead of having the driver who has accepted an £18 fixed price, waiting 14 minutes with nearly £12 on the clock before the passenger gets in?
   Another little thing, with all these increases ie subs, service charges, inflation, meter tariffs etc, why have the fixed prices at the House remained the same? After all, Brian, we the driver are your number 1 customers who generate every penny Dial-a-Cab earns.
Tony Lawyer (C51)
Brian Rice replies: Tony, your letter is not correct as the FP's to the House were increased in April 2004 for a two-year period. We agreed two years as the price had been increased by a mammoth 50% on the first six miles. The contract was originally renewed in April 2003 and if you remember we were in a 'downturn' at that particular time. We were advised by members that the 'House' trips would help them home and as long as they were not despatched to SE75 but to SE1E, there would not be a problem, as members would not have to rank up for the trips. That has not proven to be the case, but we cannot touch the prices until April 2006 when we will advise the 'House' to go out to tender as we feel the prices are too low. What will happen then is anyone’s guess.
   Also, what I do not understand is that if the 'House' account is such a bad one, why have you been talking to clients from there? I am surprised you continue to service it, but you obviously do in order to speak to 'several' clients - so it can't be that bad! 
   Regarding Grays Inn Road, they are moving to the City in January, consequently their FP's will be increased and the wait time shortened.
   Finally you state 'we the driver are your number 1 customers who generate every penny Dial-a-Cab earns'. I agree entirely, providing of course you receive the work through the terminal in the first place!

Better in the old days?
Not much comes out of an AGM worth remembering, but I shall never forget many years ago when a gentleman bellowed from the floor: "This BoM puts the Society first, the account customer second and the drivers last." This was followed by a brief, but deathly silence. A direct response to this tirade was an increase in run-ins, an increase in waiting time and the introduction, for the first time, of a £2 minimum fare. You don’t need me to tell you the effect on coverage, suffice to say that the queue for the Moorgate rank was in danger of reaching London Bridge! There were no premiums, no lotteries, no begging letters from dispatchers, no annoying junk mail - not even the latest infuriating ‘pop-ups’ and certainly no criticisms from the Chairman. Does anyone else remember the days when false positions, running positions and hanging-up were in abundance because radio work was superior? If that driver is still out there, is it not time for a repeat performance.
   So, 30% of drivers failed to complete 40 jobs in October (I was one of them I was on holiday for 3 weeks and only managed 33 jobs in the time that was left), doesn’t this send a message to the BoM? How many more jobs would have been covered by the other 70% if they were worth doing? 90% of radio work is not worth running for. Up till last year, I used to cover more than 1,000 jobs a year. Last year, as I am now semi-retired, I only managed 876 or 73 per month. This evidently was not enough to exclude me from receiving a rude letter from the fuehrer, which I told Tom where to put! Don’t blame Tom Whitbread, for he is only the messenger. The message is clear: If clients are not prepared to afford the service we can provide, then they must expect the service they get. 
   Just try it for one day; dispatch pre-booked trips 4mins early instead of1/4 hour and see if you can take some of the heat off my Reject button.
Glen Roberton (E54)
Interesting letter, Glen and I hope you will accept me answering because I’ve also been around DaC as a subscriber for many years. Having attended most AGMs since 1979, I don’t remember the actual incident you refer to, but I do remember the era. The reason there were false positions was more connected to greed than anything else and usually happened when a job to Heathrow was called. I remember allowing myself to "creep" in while positions for an airport trip were being taken, but another driver saw me and gave me a piece of his mind. I never did it again.
   I also think that your memory of the era could be playing tricks. I would probably have agreed with you had I not had the advantage of having every back issue of Call Sign and its predecessors, News and Views and ODRTS Monthly. Very few issues did not contain something from a Board member or member of the Call Centre asking drivers to please cover the work, just as many have letters from drivers, which are similar to yours. Every issue I see them as I pour through the old files looking for a reprint to use for the Flashback page.
   You are right that we could guarantee the coverage of every single job by making them too good to refuse, but sadly, there is now too much competition out there to just pick a number, double and charge that to the client. I’d love it as well, but it ain’t gonna happen – and you probably know that as well as I.
   Your ire was obviously raised by the Tom Whitbread letter. I think it has been well established that Tom’s letter was sent to everyone whose name the computer threw up as not having completed 40 trips. The only other alternative was to check all 700 or so logger sheets individually and if you have ever seen just one, you’ll know what a huge task and waste of man-hours that would have been. That reasoning, of course, doesn’t make the receipt of the letter at the time any less irritating, but those genuine cases should, perhaps, just accept that it wasn’t personal …Ed

DaC discrimination?
In the last issue you were kind enough to give space to a letter of mine. Although not a panegyric, it was mostly complimentary about the Society and the Board  members. Perhaps I can now balance the scales and point to a policy that could be

Peter Hulme Cross
I could not agree more with your comments about the T&G and the LTDA not meeting with and putting forward our/their views on PCO (Dec From the Editor). I agree with outsourcing the testing and hope that this will also mean SGS doing the same with Private Hire MOTs instead of local garages, unless they change to having franchised garages for each make to do the testing as they would then have an inbuilt reason to ensure the vehicles on the road reflect well on the marquee.
   Outsourcing of the Knowledge? Well I'm sure most of the trade will not be quite so keen on this, but I don't think we should condemn it out of hand yet, but wait to see what they propose - so long as Mr Kaley's computerised system has nothing to do with it.
Eddie Lambert (V37)  
Thanks Eddie; not sure if I’ve heard the suggestion about franchised garages testing their own make of car, but it certainly merits discussion. As for the computerised Knowledge, I wouldn’t like to see that as a whole or even a major part, but there could certainly be some parts where computers are used for additional testing. However, the problem is that before too long, the types of questions asked would become common knowledge (sic) and all over the Internet - thereby self-defeating …Ed

Then and now…?
David Kupler (Y74) was sidetracked by the Chairman when suggesting the BoM work an occasional shift on cabs they haven't got. Brian is right to say that directors working an odd shift on the shop floor are doing so for nothing less than publicity; however, I'm surprised Mr Rice backtracked from the November Call Sign in writing of the BoM knowing their way to the factory, to be replaced by full time professionals.
As for his claim that ‘subs are too low and should be increased to £250 a month’, that is as laughable as is his claim that November 2005 is the best-ever month in the history of DaC.
The ‘halcyon days’ of 89/90 saw drivers pay less subs for more work as is shown by the service charge / subs per mobile ratio. There are 500 extra cabs paying more for lower quality work.
"Never had it so good?" Harold Macmillan also said: "You should be able to detect when a man is talking rot, that is the main, if not sole purpose of education."
Mark White (B86)
Brian Rice replies: Yes Mark, I can detect when a man is talking rot!  Regarding subs being £250 per month, read my piece again. I stated: "But in my view the way in which we do things at the moment is the easiest and best." Please do not endeavour to interpret my words into something that they do not mean - just to support your argument. This Society is doing better now than it has ever done in the past - including 89/90. Do you know what the Society owed to outside creditors in those days? I don't suppose you have a clue (although I am not surprised) unlike today, when we do not have any creditors.  Incidentally, if we were doing so well in 89/90, why did you leave the Society, only to then appeal to my better nature so that you could have a fitting and return to Dial-a-Cab? You can fool me once, but there is no way that you will fool me twice!

Dear Mr Whitbread…
Gee thanks very much for your candid response to my letter in (December Call Sign) re my ‘forty job’ complaint letter and for printing such info of my account work (or rather lack of it) for all to see. "25% of 360 jobs offered in 9 months." Wow! Really! AND…?
   Well Mr Whitbread, that’s why we pay subscriptions, part towards your salary I’m sure. I’m just wondering the last time you were behind a wheel of a cab? You know, the real world! If this is your best attempt to slander me, by printing my statistics, then Sir, all you’ve done is to show the other members of our Society who you really are and how low you will stoop rather than accept some general criticism. I’m hopeful that come the next BoM election, they will remember this article and act accordingly, I certainly will.
   Finally, with regard to the Day shift operations Manager, Mr Lee Moreland. Apologies Lee, neither would I tell the 800+ ODRTS Society members that "there is work inside kings Cross Station," especially when we’re dropping off there and probably able to get a job right back to where the main bulk of the work is in the City or the West End. No Lee, like the other Society members, we’ll be all too happy to run 3 miles to cover one of your 100 jobs on the screen only to go back to - YES come on Lee, you’ve got it - Kings Bloody Cross! Or does that sound a bit too much like being a brilliant Controller? Like maybe passing on such fleet messages that may benefit your employer’s clients and your self? Let’s face it Lee, if people come to Kings X station or other main line stations by train, what percentage do you think will continue on into central London? Hmmmmm, I wonder… 
   A happy New Year to all the staff and members of ODRTS.
   Ian C Lingham K064
   Sorry the reply upset you Ian, especially as you were instrumental in helping Call Sign recover the DaC terminal that someone was attempting to sell on EBay, but you did ask the question and inferred that the reason you hadn’t done forty trips in September was because of buying a new cab. His reply suggested that you rarely do forty and like it or not Ian, if I were to ask him to respond again, you would get the same answer.
   As for Lee, there re no set rules and the controllers – like it or not - do what they believe to be best in order to cover the work …Ed

Edna on the mend…
After my lengthy stay in hospital, I’m now safely back home – although still in plaster. The account of my accident in the Nov Call Sign certainly made news – especially now that I can no longer hide my age! We’ll have to just grow old gradually!
Edna Taylor
Barkingside, Essex
Edna, who was married the our late Chairman Jack Taylor, went out to buy a paper on Sept 24 and was hit by a motorbike which knocked her into the air and then sped straight off. We’re all delighted to hear of your progress, Edna …Ed

In memory of John Wells…
I don't even know how to begin. I am so deeply saddened to hear of the death of not only a colleague, but a very true, professional and unique person whom I have known for 20yrs. And, in all these 20 years, I don’t think we have ever had a bad moment. They were always good. You see John Wells was always a happy man, you would never see him in a bad mood and if you were in a bad mood - he was the person to do something out of the ordinary and you'd just end up cracking with laughter! He earned the name of Mr Reliable in Call Sign many years ago, for being the most unreliable person on this planet, but John was John and when it came to work, it was work and when it was play we always had such a good laugh. No-one had a bad word to say about him. John always had this thing about ripping up fivers or tenners. If anyone asked him if he could change them, he'd say you asked for change so here it is! Or he'd occasionally send a telephonist on a wild goose chase with his pranks! Then there'd be the time when you would not see John for years and he'd suddenly reappear and everyone would ask "where have you been John" and with that cheeky grin, he'd make up a story and everyone would believe him except those who knew him well! We’d know that he had been away testing the other circuits. But we also knew he would be back as he was someone that could not keep away from Dial-a-Cab. John, it has been a great pleasure knowing you, rest in peace…
Curls Ambrose
DaC Call Centre
Thanks Curls, I'm sure that there are many on DaC both in and outside of Brunswick House that agree with your comments... Ed

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