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CALL CENTRE CHAT |
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Removal of Mid-Year Inspections Change of licence fee and notification of refunds |
 Booking-in to zones With there being a drop in the number of trips compared to last year, we are seeing far more drivers being booked-in to many more zones. EC5, for example, is a zone that sees the maximum cabs threshold of 99 being reached more frequently. When the zone opens at 9pm, there are many more drivers attempting to book-in. In order to assure members that these drivers are correctly within one of the EC5 zones, our controllers are taking a screen print of all the call signs and then checking each one with the GPS system to view their position. This process is also carried out at other times during the shift and any driver found to be booked-in incorrectly is requested to book-off and book-in correctly. A log is being kept of each driver whom they need to speak with. Anyone who has been spoken to three times is then sent to the Compliance Offer for further action. Those who ignore instructions to book-off, are sent regardless of how many occasions they have been spoken to. I have instructed controllers to send fleet messages regarding their monitoring and further messages making everyone aware of their findings. So far I’m pleased to say it’s working very well and what is more pleasing, is that the vast majority of the fleet are abiding by the rules. The monitoring of drivers booking-in positions is also being carried out during the day and |
anyone found not to be abiding
by the rules can be expected to receive a call from the Call
Centre. I would like to remind all drivers that when you book into a zone that does not carry specific booking-in instructions, you must be able to reach the furthest part of that zone within 15 minutes from the time you book-in. This does not mean you can book-in and travel 15 minutes or longer before you reach the nearest edge of the zone. Dial-a-Cab has always been renown for operating a fair system and I will ensure that controllers do everything they can to maintain the fairness for everyone. Arriving at the pick-up With clients scrutinising their transport expenditure, we are receiving more and more questions regarding amounts on the meter at the time of arrival. Many have requested us to supply software for them to monitor where their taxis are. In order for us to supply this, it is very important that all drivers follow the correct procedures regarding when their arrival button is pressed. From now on, all drivers must only press their arrival button when they arrive outside the pick-up address. Those who believe they are helping the client to get into the taxi quicker by pressing the arrival button a few minutes before they arrive are, in fact, causing the opposite effect. In addition, the incorrect run-in amount is being shown on the trip. Procedures are laid down for very good reasons and following them is so important to the overall service the Society offers. In order to get all drivers to use the system correctly, we will find ourselves having serious discussions with culprits who, for reason best known to themselves, just cannot follow the instructions. Keith Cain |
| Following the
decision to remove the requirement for taxis to undergo a
mid-year inspection with effect from 6 November 2008, the PCO
have now announced new licence fees and arrangements for making
a partial refund to those taxi owners who had paid the annual
licensing fee of £178, but no longer required to present their
vehicle for a mid-year inspection. As a consequence of the decision, the new annual taxi licence fee will be £160, which will be charged to all owners booking a licensing inspection appointment on or after Monday 19 January. A refund of £18 will be made to all vehicle owners who paid a licence fee of £178 and who, since 6 November 2008, have not been required to present their vehicle for a mid-year inspection. The PCO will process automatically all those cases where owners are entitled to a refund, so there is no requirement for vehicle owners to apply to the PCO for a refund. They aim to complete the refund process within a period of 6 weeks from the date of this Notice, which was 15 January. Vehicle owners are requested not to contact the PCO until after the 6 week period has elapsed and only in those cases where they consider that they are entitled to, but have not received, a refund. Any taxi owner who paid a full licence fee of £178 and was required to present their vehicle for a mid-year inspection on or before 5 November 2008, in accordance with paragraph 14(o) of the London Cab Order 1934, but failed to comply with that requirement, is not entitled to receive a refund. |
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