Westminster PCNs
I recently received a PCN (Penalty Charge Notice) from those lovely people at Westminster Council whilst picking up a job in Soho Square having been spotted by their ‘spy in the sky’. I appealed as I was on a Dial-a-Cab job. I thought, erroneously, that helping out the business ratepayers of Westminster with a taxi service might hold some sway with the Council. The reply I received seems to make picking up in any Westminster street if you are called to a job, almost impossible. I quote from their reply, which in their view clarifies the situation:
   "The City Council appreciates that picking up and setting down of passengers is sometimes necessary and most regulations provide an exemption for this purpose."      
It goes on…
   "Picking up is where a vehicle slows to a stop at the kerbside next to a waiting passenger, allows the passenger to get into the vehicle and immediately drives away. Waiting at the kerbside for passenger to arrive is not permitted. In most instances, the exemption applies strictly to allow the passengers to board or alight the vehicle and does not include waiting for or seeking out the passenger. The vehicle should not be left unattended."
   I don’t know how the Council makes up its rules, but they seem to lack a certain amount of practical commonsense. The word sometimes regarding picking up is interesting. I would contend that in all cases it is essential, or how else do we do our jobs? How often do you get to a job from the screen and find your passenger waiting for you outside? What should you do if you are asked to make your own contact? Find a parking bay, ring the Council’s telephone lines to pay for the space for an indeterminate amount of time, then go and seek out your passenger who may come down in 1 minute or 31? How are you supposed to deal with wheelchair passengers or those with mobility problems in the west end?
   In my own case, the council say they saw my passenger had come out and was by the cab, but, (my words, not the councils) decided to finish his ciggie and mobile phone call before the journey. So I got penalised because they hadn’t got in! I have no control over their actions and should the passenger’s account be charged the additional cost of the ticket?
   Perhaps one of the trade bodies - or even all of them - should ask the Council(s) to be a bit more practical. Of course I understand that they need to raise revenue, as well as stopping people blocking up London’s arteries any worse than they already are, but PLEASE, lets have some help for we who are trying to help London’s businesses and residents by providing a service that helps them. You don’t see those rickshaws getting harassed do you?
Robbie Donald (O47)

And more…
Picture this, an account customer on board going to Wardour Street. As we near High Holborn, he asks me if I can set him down in Dean Street? Of course, I reply and I set him down just before Carlisle Street, reset the meter and go on my way. A normal thing for all we cab drivers to do - pick up at destination A and set down at destination B. I’m sure that you will all agree this is what our job is all about. So why in the West End, the area covered by City of Westminster, do we face problems? 
   Two weeks after doing this job I received a PCN (fixed penalty charge) for parking in Dean Street. It seems that the cameras the City of Westminster use cannot differentiate between setting down a passenger and parking a vehicle. Such councils are targeting our livelihoods. It seems so ridiculous that in order to just do your job, you could potentially get fines of up to £120 just for picking up and setting down a passenger in the area covered by the City of Westminster. We need some sort of legislation through parliament and I need support of all our members to get a petition together to try get this legislation in place. I intend to visit my local MP with this petition to get the ball rolling. Have you had a similar experience? Do you agree with me and would like to offer your support. Please email me with your comments or experiences at HERE or alternatively send me a letter c/o Val or Nuala at Driver Services, Dial a Cab. The more support I get, the more chance I will have to try to something about this problem and stop the City of Westminster and other councils issuing these ridiculous fines just for doing our job. Be lucky…
Anthony Mitchell (T88)
There is an article elsewhere in this issue from Martin Hizer (M47) in a similar vein and I have put him and Anthony in touch with each other. A petition seems like a good idea in addition to contacting MPs …Ed

And even more…
Regarding the ongoing problem of the CCTV camera tickets that we are getting whilst attempting to go about our job, I have personally had two this year, the second of which was while waiting for an account customer in Beak Street, W1. I decided to appeal against this ticket, so I sent a letter explaining the situation to them on the 26 September. I finally received a reply from them on the 29 October rejecting my appeal.
   To say that I am annoyed and totally frustrated with the situation is putting it mildly. I decided to write to my local MP, Lee Scott, and he told me in his reply that he has written to Westminster parking services on my behalf and has requested that my concerns are looked into. We both await their response.
   In the meantime, Alan, I suggest that we all put a concerted pressure on the powers that be to act with a common sense attitude to the problem ?.
Morris Abrahams (R85)
   Lee Scott is an excellent representative MP for the cab trade and is also on the Call Sign mailing list and a good ally to have on our side …Ed

And the other side…Thanks for putting the warning about my PCN in the November Call Sign (Watch out in Park Lane). TfL has now cancelled it much to my relief; so should you have a spare inch or two could you please tell our colleagues the outcome. Hopefully our drivers will have the courage to oppose these outrageous tickets and fight to be able to carry on our daily/nightly business of providing a service to the public.
   Please also pass on to Brian Rice and the BoM my congratulations on providing an excellent incentive for the Xmas rush and an early merry Xmas to them, you, the staff of DaC and all the drivers.
   Just one last question; how do we gain entry to the new building at night to pick up supplies and latest info sheets?
Ian Lingham (K64)
Well done re the PCN. It always pays to appeal as far down the line as you can – even to arbitration at Haymarket if necessary. The problem, and no doubt one that the Boroughs are pleased about, we rarely have the time or inclination. If you can, it often pays.
   Entry to the building in the early hours? A new security system was recently fitted. If the gates are locked, park outside, go to the side door of the car park and push the button. Security will bleep you in provided you can show your badge to the camera …Ed

A "friendly" chat with a Parking Attendant
Alan, these are comments and observations regarding my brush with a Westminster Parking Attendant. I am seething!
Philip Benjamin (K20)
   Re Parking Attendant No. 4612…
   On 5th November at 3.45 pm, I was instructed to attend the Chapel Street entrance of the Edgware Road branch of M&S to pick up a disabled customer, Mrs Alice Cooper, travelling on a Taxicard to take her to her home to Ilbert Street W10. Parking bays are marked on the stretch of road outside the store. All were empty but for one, where Parking Attendant No 4612 was processing a PCN. The exchange that followed went something like this:-
   "I’m stopping to pick up that lady waiting inside the doorway."
   "You'll have to get a ticket."
   "But she's standing there and she's disabled. She needs help with her shopping."
   "I don't care. If you don't pay I'll issue you a ticket."
   "Where shall I park? She's disabled."
   "I don't care."
   "I'll go round the comer (Cabbell Street - single yellow line)."
   "When I've finished this one, if you're still there, I'll give you a ticket."
   With that he began photographing my taxi. I managed to complete the pick up to relief of my waiting customer. This ignorant man’s complete lack of communication skills and inability to understand simple English probably accounted for his failure to understand the word disabled. It was not until the disabled customer’s card was put under his nose that he began to understand the concept of what was being explained to him. I am not the first to experience this sort of behaviour and doubt I'll be the last by some of the people you feel fit to employ as so called Parking Attendants. Kindly note, licensed taxis displaying the Dial-a-Cab logo on their doors are contracted by Westminster Council Social Services, as preferred conveyors of the disabled and incapacitated residing within the borough of Westminster, and carry out a vital service every day of the year. It would be advisable for all parties if during training programmes, your staff - either on foot, operating a remote camera or driving a mobile periscope - could be made aware of our valuable role and other companies who carry out a similar service.
   As made clear, this kind of behaviour is far from unusual, so my question is: What are you going to do about it? Would you rather the disabled be left to their own devices?
Philip D.Benjamin
   Not happy then. Philip? …Ed

Shouting at Shirland Road…
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of Martha and myself to thank Jacqui Chart, Brian Rice and everyone at Dial-a-Cab for making our day there for the new building launch so special. It was most gratifying as a former subscriber and Board member to see the wonderful progress that the circuit has made over the years since its humble beginning – and believe me, it WAS humble! We sometimes had to struggle to even pay our cleaner, Mrs Gee!

Where is Power Pill?
I am a yellow badge driver and have recently purchased my own cab. Having read about Power Pill in your magazine, I decided to buy a years supply from Power Pill online. No pills have to date arrived and I can neither contact the company by telephone or email. Do you have any info on what has happened to this company? If you find that they have gone missing, please inform other cabbies so they don’t lose money just like me.
Mark Hazelton
   Sorry to hear about that Mark. Call Sign tested out Power Pill over a long period and it undoubtedly worked, but you are not the only person to find they have suddenly vanished. I also spoke to JVBright who stocked the pill and they too have been unable to make contact.. I have to assume that this particular supplier just couldn’t make it pay with all the special offers they were offering. But perhaps the hardest kick of all was their hope that the PCO would accept the pill to be used in older cabs instead of the emission systems that, even if they do work, are costing drivers around £2000 each. I introduced PP to the PCO and the biggest stumbling block was the PCO’s concern – and you can see their logic: How would they know that drivers weren’t just using the PP before their overhaul to pass the smoke test and then stopping? I believe that was the final nail in the Power Pill’s UK coffin. It wouldn’t have been so bad if the product never worked …Ed

Call Sign and the PCO
I could not agree more re your Editorial (out and about with the PCO) in the Nov Call Sign. Last Thursday there were touts galore at the Grosvenor House Hotel, while the PCO were checking taxis at the Hilton Hotel – hardly a hotbed for touting. What is their real agenda here?Eddie Lambert (V47)

And more…
Just read your editorial notes in the Nov Call Sign and I just wanted to commend you on your articles, especially out and about with the PCO. You are spot on mate, if only more people thought like you and I and were in a trade association, we wouldn't be in this mess.
   Once again, cheers and keep up the good work.
Roland Brewer (M38)

Is there a TX5?
I recently bumped into someone who works in my old garage and he asked how I was getting on with my new TX4. He claims there have been so many faults with that model that LTI are going to launch a brand new model in February (TX5) and that it will have a Nissan engine. Do you know if that is true or is it another groundless rumour?
Kevin Went (N19)
   I could phone LTI and speak to them. Contrary to what many say, they have always tried to help - but not when it comes to giving info on possible new models! I asked them whether there was a new cab due just weeks before receiving my invite to see the-then new TX4 launch. They said no! In all fairness, had they said yes, sales of their TX2 would have ground to a halt! A TX5? Could be, but doubtfully a Nissan because the TX4 has been deemed a success even though the occasional problem has surfaced. They will hopefully be cured as the model progresses . The TX5 will probably be some sort of hybrid – possibly running on hydrogen - because that is obviously one of the future options. But Kevin, perhaps you should try to get your name down for the next Call Sign trip to the LTI factory in Coventry. You can ask them yourself because that will probably take place in or around February …Ed

LTI listening!
It is nice when LTI take notice of what is asked. If you remember, I asked if they would fit a radio with a Bluetooth interface. I wonder if they will act on any other of the ideas bought up?Stanley Roth (Y53)
   Stanley made the suggestion when he went to the LTI factory in Coventry as part of the last Call Sign organised, 10-strong driver team. …Ed

Zone hopping?
Remember the days when it was an offence to zone hop? Well it seems that’s not the case any more for early mornings with drivers blatantly banging-in for jobs in any and every outer zone. I have gone to voice and woken the dispatcher up on more than one occasion only to be told the person had not stayed in the zone long enough to be traced. Bring back Joe Brazil I say, the man took an interest when he was dispatching, often reprimanding people and was not afraid to let it be known he was monitoring the zones. I mean how difficult is it to send out warnings every now and then? You may wonder why I am telling you this, well if the dispatchers don’t want to know and the complaints officer is not doing anything about it, then maybe - just maybe - you might put this in Call Sign and you never know, it might shake someone up, even the early morning gaaaaaangsters! I have not written in before, I hope it is not an exclusive clique as I notice the same old names cropping up in the Call Sign letters. Please print this and maybe everybody concerned might start doing the right thing, It should not have to take involving Brian Rice before management jump…
Glenn Broadbent (K42)
   Ok Glenn, it’s in the mag now! I do agree with you that there is nothing more irritating than seeing a job in an outer zone with you patiently waiting for it to appear in the bids, when suddenly a cab appears in the zone next to the trip and both then vanish off the screen. However, I think you are being a bit unfair in saying that nothing is ever done because I have published many complaint results over the years where drivers have been suspended and even expelled for zone hopping into an outer zone, which unlike London zones are physical ie you have to be in the zone. In fact Allan Evans has mentioned the subject of outer zones in two out of his last three complaint reports. I spoke to Allan about your letter and he said that if you believe the situation has occurred, phone the call centre, ask the dispatcher to check the GPS of the driver you believe has incorrectly taken the trip and if the person was not in the outer zone, ask for it to be sent down to Allan Evans. But you would have to phone in at the time and not an hour later because you suddenly feel irritated. And by the way, welcome to the Mailshot pages, I hope to hear from you again …Ed

DaC House launch…
Is it really 24 years ago that Brunswick House opened its doors for the membership to view? Thank you Alan for "accidentally" informing me of that fact! It’s frightening how time slips by. As I mentioned in my previous letter (Nov Call Sign), I couldn’t remember the date but I do recall that weekends were chosen so as not to disrupt very active weekday periods within the building and also this was considered to be the most convenient time for the membership to visit and view. Board members and staff were prepared to give of their time to show the membership what had been achieved by this joint effort. Since this period in time, the membership has increased considerably, which begs the question why were only two hours set aside for the present membership to view Dial-a-Cab House? This was on a Friday afternoon when parking facilities were at a premium. Why would the BoM want the membership to book off their respective zones and compromise the cover of work? What if hundreds of drivers turned up to view during this two hour period? I think the BoM knew that the response to view would be minimal. Why? Well if the BoM do not know, then I do. With the financial success that has grown over the years within the Society, so equally has apathy from the membership. The general census of opinion among drivers that I speak to appear to believe that the Society no longer belongs to them. Many tell me that they no longer feel that the BoM truly represents them and that the only aim of the BoM is to put profit before its members. I assume that the viewing time, which was reserved for the dignitaries and trade representatives the day prior to the memberships, extended to more then two hours? If that was the case, then I too understand why some members view the society as a "them and us" Society. As one member I spoke to said: "Maybe if the membership were made to feel that the Society belonged to them, they might not want to sell it off."
   On a lighter note, I read that Dial-a-Cab have announced that from 1 October "…we will be offsetting our Carbon Footprint." Like it’s something new! I’ve been putting Odor-Eaters in my shoes for years.
Steve Shaller (R75)
Thanks for the letter Steve. There is no point me passing your letter over to a Board member because the answer is fairly obvious – not satisfactory, but nonetheless obvious. As you said yourself – it’s apathy. I don’t know who you spoke to, but I’d bet he was one of the more "mature" members. Not us, Steve, but others! Had there been a rush to get into DaC House during those two hours, there would have been several red faces around, but the fact of the matter is that very few were interested. A few dozen turned up and probably the ones you would have expected and the same ones who always attend AGMs. Most younger drivers couldn’t care less where the work is dispatched from so long as they get it – and logically speaking, why should they? I’m with you, Steve, but it ain’t gonna happen. Of course the Society no longer belongs to us. We’re members and it provides us with work, but if it belonged to us, you would be able to sell your bit if you wanted to – and you can’t, so why pretend that it’s ours. We’ve had the chance to make it ours and rejected the opportunity, so that means we are DaC’s guardians until the next generation come along. Incidentally, DaC House viewing for guests was also on that same Friday with any associated parking problems. Can I also add that if any driver would like a tour of the building, just book a time and I’m sure someone will be happy to show you around. Sadly you won’t get the delicious food that accompanied the original!
   As for your shoes, Steve, I have to tell you that the Odor-Eaters aren’t working! Can’t think why, but they remind me of paella! …Ed

Dear Keith (again)
Would you please clarify in more detail your answer to my questions in the Nov Call Sign. You say we are covered by the society for PCNs if we get one while on a Taxicard job so long as it corresponds with the trip details from start to finish. We are at the end of the job when the Taxicard customers leave the cab and they have paid their part of the full amount. The hiring is then over and finished. It is only then that we would help them to their homes etc. Does this mean that as the hiring is legally over, we are helping them in our own time? Would the Society pay for the PCN if this were the case and we received a PCN while helping the passenger after the job is legally over? I would appreciate some clarification if you could.
   Regarding the distances you would like us to run for jobs. If I am offered a job in the next zone and accept the job, I could be a long time reaching the customer. Apart from the financial downfall to myself, I do not totally agree when you say it is better for the passenger to be told a cab is on the way. There could possibly be other drivers setting down in the primary zone that could reach the customer much quicker and then everyone is happy. If we all go around running to the next zones, we would in effect be giving an inferior service, not a better one. To reject a job in the next zone would actually give the next person on the list the job who could be much nearer. Only yesterday, a regular account customer while talking to me made it clear that when he requires a cab for meetings or to the airport, he would not tolerate his cab being late and would look elsewhere for an account. This is only one person’s opinion I agree, but it is one worth noting. I am sure you are correct when you say that 75% of jobs are in the primary zone, but the problems of getting to the jobs are still the same regarding very heavy traffic. There are no easy remedies to this, but it is something the Board may like to discuss while sitting with their feet up drinking coffee and us drivers are out there battling the elements (the last sentence really is just a joke)!
Tom Reynolds (O85)
Keith Cain replies: In answer to Mr Reynolds question, each trip taken via the terminal, regardless of what type of trip it is, has a beginning and an end. The Accept time and the CLJ time. Any ticket that has an issue time between these two will automatically be honoured by the Society. That doesn't mean to say that it should not be challenged and appealed against. In theory, while assisting the passenger a driver is still hired and the trip should not finish until he/she returns to vehicle. However, I’m fully conversant with such trips because I have experience of them myself. Trips of this nature would have to be dealt with separately. Each trip would be assessed as to the length of time the ticket was issued after the trip was cleared. If it only took a few minutes for the driver to help the passenger to their door and return, then the cost could be paid by the Society. On the other hand, if the passenger just happens to say to the driver "thank you for your help, why don't you let me make you a cup of coffee," which the driver accepted and stayed for some time, then the decision would be different. These type of scenarios must be dealt with on an individual basis.
   With regard to Mr Reynolds's other point regarding running for trips. It is totally up to him and the rest of the fleet to decide how they want to work. If a driver does not want to do something, then I have enough experience to know nothing in the world is going to change that. What is very dangerous is to make assumptions that someone else will be there to do the trip. Unfortunately, Mr Reynolds only sees the Dial-a-Cab operation from his vehicle - and why shouldn't he! I assure you that the whole picture is not what he sees.
   In my last Call Sign article (November), I stated that many central zones have had their back-up zones removed. The reason is to stop trips being offered to drivers in back-up zones when we know full well they will be rejected. Our aim is to reduce the number of unnecessary packets of data going backwards and forwards to hopefully improve signals.

Naughty Ed?
Having read your page of Novembers issue I couldn’t help but wonder if the contradiction of two of your articles was lost on you or not. Firstly, whatever you do in your own cab is your own business, however when you write about TfL "decimating our trade" and "anyone who doesn’t believe that minicabs will eventually be allowed to ply for hire is living in cloud cuckoo land," you shouldn’t then go on to say in the next subject that you took four people to Victoria "because they looked sad, even though I would normally have my light turned off, read the paper and wait for another account trip."
   We all need a rest and a tea from time to time, but if licensed taxi drivers like you never want to stick your light on and ply for hire on a Saturday night, what are TfL to think? They are obviously going to look at alternatives and to people who ARE prepared to transport people from A to B on a Saturday night. What do you want the public to do...walk? If the day does come when minicabs legally ply for hire, will you look in the mirror take a little bit of responsibility or blame everybody else? If it’s buzzing on a Saturday evening why not put your light on? I'm not saying you alone are going to solve London’s transport problems, but we all need to do a bit if we want to thwart the minicabs.
   Don’t you remember The London Chamber of Commerce saying that London needed more Taxis just a month or two ago and what was your reaction to that? 
Gary Leaver (J54)
Gary, I hold my hands up and plead guilty. However, in my defence I would have added that the radio was chock-a-block with work, the Bid Zone almost half-filled and coverage looked to be non-existant. I expected a bleep at any second and would normally give priority to that, but it would have taken unnecessary space in the article and added nothing to the point I was making about tube fares compared to ours. But yes, I can’t argue your point too greatly because the fact is that when it’s buzzing, I give priority to account work and perhaps that isn’t doing the trade any favours. However, not to do so would be doing no favours to DaC. I have never denied that I do mainly account work, but that doesn’t detract from your well-made point …Ed

Pots and kettles etc!
A recent account trip caused me to negotiate a crowded Highbury Corner. However, I was able to zoom around the bus lane until a blue car lumbered slowly out of Highbury Station Road, forcing me to stop. It was no problem and I waited for a thank you from the driver. But I waited in vain – in fact he didn’t even look in my direction! Perhaps he didn’t see the large black vehicle with the CCC logo across the windscreen. Or perhaps because he was a DaC Board member, he assumed that he had the right of way over us plebs? I await his next article about falling standards in the cab trade…
Geoff Levene (K43)
I spoke to the Board member in question. In fairness to him I won’t reveal which one it was other than to say that he was making his way from Roman Way, where he is based, back home to Dalston! For easiness, we’ll call him Rupert. I asked him about the incident and he said that if he didn’t acknowledge you, it would have been due to the nature of pulling out from that street into Highbury Corner being rather hazardous and he was probably watching out for other cars. However, if he did ignore you, it wasn’t intentional and he apologises if it upset you …Ed

To the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP
I have sent the following to the Prime Minister…
Gary Cox (O46)

Prime Minister,
   I must tell you that the Mayor of London’s election campaign is already doing untold damage to the harmony among different groups of Londoners. Let’s face it, this prat made Labour unelectable for 20 years. If you are not seen to kick him up the a*se hard and quick, you can say goodbye to staying in power. I don’t want another mob in at any cost.
Gary Cox
   PS When the London cab trade turns, we are in the sh*t – I should know, I am one sir.

Thanks for imparting that info, Gary (I think)!!! …Ed

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