Hello Ladies and Gents,
There are a number of topics I would like to remind you about
in this article, areas that have become regular bones of
contention for numerous members who have felt the need to
contact me over the past few weeks. I’ve written about them
previously, but I must reiterate that the problems still seem to
repeat themselves…Zone "hopping"
Booking into outlying physical zones from inner postal zones
that are long distances away is not only breaking a procedural
rule, it is grossly unfair for the drivers who are booked in the
correct zones and waiting for the trip to appear on their bid
screen. It can easily be proved through the GPS technology and
is a complaint that drivers will not sympathise with - and one
that will be closely monitored in the Call Centre.
Cabot Square rank (E14C)
Many drivers regularly start work at Canary Wharf and as you
know, it is a very busy area. But the changeover from E140 to
E14C at 6am is causing a problem with some drivers and
dispatchers alike. Again it is monitored, but I believe that
you, the members, have also to play your part and book in within
the spirit of the Society. In the near future and for a trial
period, the rank will be closed for a short time during the
changeover and the dispatchers will then open E14C and send out
a message to ask drivers to book into the rank in their correct
order and queue position. Similar to when EC5 was a physical
rank, |
they may also ask you to display
your hazard lights so that the person behind can also book-in
correctly. It worked well for many years at Finsbury Square, so
let’s make it work at Cabot Square.
Can I also politely ask you to wait until you are actually on
the rank before booking in – that means the south side of Cabot
Square on the feeder rank adjacent to number 20.
Name boards
Some of our valued accounts have requested that you make
every effort to show both christian and surname on name boards
showing in the windows of your taxi. J P Morgan is one such
account and they have also asked if as a full-proof check that
you have picked up the correct passenger, you may at times need
to confirm the destination. It is very important when large
numbers of taxis from the same account and pick-up addresses are
parked outside the client’s address.
Meter charges
I have previously made you all aware that account clients
receive regular reports listing meter charges that they can
verify with us. It is their right to see these listings and it
is a service that we |
as a Society are only too pleased to offer.
It shows a number of readings that can be queried and confirmed
on any chosen trip. Again I would like to remind you that if the
actual meter is not automatically showing on the CLJ form, it is
very important that you contact Tom Whitbread at Roman Way and
arrange for your equipment to be checked.
Complaints committee
During my short time as the Society’s Compliance Officer, I
have selected my Complaints Committee randomly from a list of
experienced members that have been in place for a number of
years. Some of the drivers have now retired and a number of them
are no longer with ODRTS. If you would like to be considered to
sit as a Committee Member on future hearings, could you please
contact me by phone or email? My aim is for consistency and
continuity, but I would welcome new members who are willing and
able to give up their time for the good of the Society and who
feel that they are experienced enough to make fair and open
judgements on many different types of complaints. It can at
times be very difficult to judge your fellow members and can
even be quite intimidating, but I am sure that there are those
of you that could perfectly match the criteria. If any member
volunteers for the complaints meeting - he will of course be
paid.
Thanks for taking the time to read this article and I look
forward to seeing you at the AGM.
Allan
Evans
DaC
Complaints
Officer
allane@dialacab.co.uk
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