 |
Powered by NetXPosure |
|
MAILSHOT |
|
Either write to Call
Sign at Dial-a-Cab House or email us at
callsignmag@aol.com
Yellow boxes… Dear Alan, I have received a PCN from Camden Council showing four photos of me crossing a junction box in Shaftesbury Avenue, the last one seems to show me stopped in it for 8 seconds. There is no video evidence available, although it states on the notice I can view camera evidence online. But that is unavailable. Do you know if I can appeal on these grounds and also I seem to recall reading in Call Sign something about asking for the camera operator’s qualification to issue a fine. Sorry to ask but I know you get a lot of enquiries and thought you may be able to help. Failing that, could you put me in touch with our successful Mr Hizer please. Darren Hawley (A80) Darren, Camden’s website where you can view alleged contraventions, is notorious for crashing. However, it usually works eventually. Martin (what’s a PCN) Hizer is always happy to help anyone and his number is 07985 622 638. I’ve had several requests to repeat the email from Mickey Lappin (E46), which brought in the topic of questioning CCTV operator’s qualifications, so I am reprinting it below …Ed From Mickey Lappin, Feb 2009: I received a PCN just before
Christmas for a supposed yellow box contravention in Liverpool Road. I
challenged it on the grounds that the description of where it took place was
very vague. I also asked them to supply me the Road Traffic Law and
Traffic Management qualifications that the operator of the CCTV camera
had as I was going to appeal on the grounds that a vehicle that should have
given way to me from a side road (Highway Code), didn’t, thereby forcing me
to stop in the yellow box. I got a reply back this morning and - I hope
you’re sitting down as Islington parking Services have beaten me to it! It
read: "Had this PCN been issued
correctly it would have been enforceable, however upon looking at the CCTV
footage, I am satisfied that your vehicle entered the box first before the
vehicle in front of you entered the junction from the right. This vehicle
should have given way to you. It is upon these grounds, I have decided to
cancel the PCN." Reply to Allen Togwell… Dear Alan,Since Allen Togwell has invited me to respond (Allen Togwell’s Marketing Place – August Call Sign) and that his reply to my letter is so full of inaccuracies, I feel it only right to reply to what I consider to be complete and utter tripe. It reminds me of a section of the Hawksbee and Jacobs Show on TalkSport entitled "what a waste of ink." My letter wasn’t written in my unsuccessful attempt to get on the Board, but as a subscriber for 17 years who has paid somewhere approaching £30,000 to belong to this Society. It was also written in response to his article and to the Board Member responsible for Marketing, whoever that may be. The fact that it should be him is irrelevant. I would refute completely that I do nothing to promote DaC and he knows that very well. As for his comment that the fault with PH lays with Dial-a-Cab and him in particular is also incorrect, I’ve re-read my original letter and can’t see where I said that. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; I do not see the logic of assisting competitors in a very competitive market to maintain their service levels. After all, you don’t go into Sainsburys to buy something, only to be recommended Tescos because they can’t supply you with what you want. With regard to his hypothetical question, I quite agree, I’d bite their hand off. I have no problem with Concierge if it works as it was originally explained, but that is clearly not happening. Ask any of the Marshals and they will tell you that clients have ordered taxis and have been sent cars when taxis were readily available. That, in my opinion, is not how it should work and is detrimental to the membership. Customers have a choice of what vehicle they wish to travel in, but it should be up to them to make that choice. If they want a taxi, give them what they want, don’t send them a car. Do I card up when going to addresses? Yes I do, one to the house on the right and one to the house on the left. Do I offer a card to every street hiring? Yes I do. So only 21 Cabs have the cash booking number. That’s a shame but what he failed to say is that I’m one of them. He goes on to say I’ve never generated a sales lead. Not true Allen and I invite you to retract that statement. What is true is that whilst I may not be as prolific as Tony Hizer, I have never had any feedback on the leads I have put in. No acknowledgment, no message saying that unfortunately it came to nothing and certainly no £20. Is there any sales literature in Driver Services for the drivers to hand out? No. Are there any prepaid postcards for drivers to give to potential clients? No. If there is one thing to focus the member’s attention on potential new customers, it’s money. Why not give them a small percentage of the account usage for the first 3 months the account is live as commission? If it doesn’t work, so be it, but it would be interesting to see any results if it encouraged even 50 members to be more proactive. It’s not just sales leads I’ve given in. He may wish to remember the idea I put to him both in an email and personally when I suggested having the DaC logo on the rear carpet in the cab, after all it’s normally the first thing people look at when they get in. I’ll look into it he said and get back to you. After 6 months of silence and several follow-up enquiries, I went to the Chairman who, as I would expect, followed it up and gave me an answer in 2 days - the PCO wouldn’t allow it. It took Brian 2 days to do what Allen had failed to do in 6 months. He also failed to mention why it is I sometimes visit DaC House. It’s because I volunteered to sit on the Complaints Panel to ensure all of the membership get a fair crack of the whip. He then goes onto say that I had plenty to say in my election address at the AGM. Well isn’t that what you would expect or should I have said nothing? Afterwards he came up to me and congratulated me on speaking so well. What’s changed since then, Allen? He also calls into question my commitment to seeing this Society continue to flourish. He also knows that not be the case. I didn’t stand out in all weathers for 14 years as a Marshall for the money, you could earn more driving. I did it to give our clients and drivers a better service and he certainly doesn’t need me to remind him of the stand I took when the Chairman’s integrity was called into question, even after personal threats. As for asking him for a detailed list of what he has been doing this year, I didn’t ask for that either, a brief résumé so that the members who pay his wages could see what was being done on their behalf would have done. I notice that there wasn’t any |
comment on my idea
regarding advertising the on-line booking facility on the exterior of our
vehicles, no comment on the DaC Chargecard and he was strangely mute on our
continued association with a company who defrauded the NHS.
I’ve always supported the Board when I have agreed
with them, but because I have the temerity to criticise and question, that
should not be seen as being naïve. As someone who has always taken pride in his appearance, perhaps he should get a suit with broader shoulders and not respond to someone with a genuine interest in the future of DaC with such patronising drivel. Paul Jenner (L19) Allen Togwell responds: Ever since I've been on the Board, I've always been proud of the freedom our members have to voice their opinions and criticisms in our in-house magazine, even during the long periods when I was the Society’s regular Aunt Sally. Yet throughout all the flack I took month after month from our members, many of whom were handy with a pen, and the manner in which I reciprocated, never once was I ever accused of talking tripe. My immediate reaction to that comment was to consider any further conversation pointless. Maybe that was Paul’s objective, in the hope it will give his reply some credibility. However, never having knowingly written tripe before and being as it is the type of literature that Paul is evidently familiar with, I thought I might as well amuse myself at home during this rainy season and waste a bit more ink. Firstly: Where in my reply did I say Paul does nothing to promote Dial-a-Cab? 2nd: Yes Paul, you are right you didn't say the fault with PH lays with Dial-a-Cab and me in particular. I apologise, the words you cannot find were: It wasn't the driver’s fault, it was the fault of the radio circuits ie (Dial-a-Cab who I represented) getting into bed with the opposition. Silly me, thinking it meant the same thing. 3rd: Re my hypothetical question, I'm pleased Paul agrees with Concierge. Just as well because the way it has operated since its inception, without it we wouldn't be in the financial position we are today. 4th: I'm also pleased to hear Paul cards up, wonderful, did I ever say he didn't? What I did say was I had written about the benefits of carding up a few months previously and since then there had been no increase in cards being collected from Driver’s Reception. 5th: Yes Paul, it is a shame that only 21 cabs carry our number… and I didn't mention the other 20 drivers by name either. 6th: My comment that it wasn’t just Paul but almost the entire circuit had not submitted any leads other than Tony Hizer, was based on facts I had obtained from our records. And as a matter of interest, the £20 for a lead is not subject to an account being opened, it’s simply for the lead. So if Paul had submitted a lead, which records say he hasn’t, it would have been followed up and the £20 duly paid. 7th: There is no sales literature in Driver Services or any prepaid postcards for drivers to give to potential clients? There used to be, but such was the negative response, it was a waste of print and money. 8th: Re giving drivers commission. Many years ago I proposed this idea to the Board and it fell for a number of reasons. Initially there was a suggestion it was against Friendly Society rules, also it would involve PAYE tax, the administration would cost more than the financial return, drivers lack of interest and more importantly it should be remembered that the only accounts likely to be generated from the back of a cab are usually personal accounts, whose usage is only a few hundred pounds a month. Which in volume is OK but singularly for a driver, absolutely useless if they were to rely on commission. As an example; if you gave a driver say 5% of the 15% administration we earn from the average personal account, the commission would still be a less than a one-off payment of £20. 9th: Paul’s idea about our logo on the inside carpet. I had been waiting four months (not six) for a reply from the PCO. By then, a decision had been made which was negative, but which Brice Rice obtained with one phone call, from the head of the PCO who he knew personally. 10th: Yes I did congratulate Paul on what he had to say at the AGM, I also offered criticism on where I thought he went wrong. 11th: Again, where in my reply did I question Paul’s commitment to the Society. If Paul and all the other Marshals didn't stand out in all weathers for the money, that’s very commendable and I’m sure it will be noted when an increase in the hourly rate is next mooted. 12th: The suggestion to put our on-line booking details on the exterior of our vehicles was not a new idea, both RTL and ComCab advertised above the exterior rear window. I don't have the final say on what goes on our vehicles, it is a Board decision and the consensus of opinion was, as proven with our telephone number that being voluntary, the doubts that many drivers would carry it? 13th: The Chargecard issue: I was purposely mute as I was to Paul’s question about whether I contacted the PCO about the PH company who allegedly defrauded the NHS,? What on earth has it got to do with me? The facts were published in a national newspaper, so I'm sure the PCO are fully aware of the details. I started this ‘tripe and drivel’ by emphasising the freedom of the letters page and long may it continue. Asking a genuine question and expressing justifiable criticism in the letters page is every member’s right, although most drivers first telephone if it appears in any way contentious. However to ask questions in a critical manner as Paul did, for example to name one initiative put forward by the LTB, is to undermine the exceptional work that people such as our Chairman does very successfully and outside of normal hours. Frankly, I find that disrespectful and damaging when its goes unnecessarily into print. Nobody on the Board expects praise or above being brought to task. But there are times when enthusiasm can be dented and a feeling of why bother can be caused by petty criticisms, which I fear one day will be detrimental to the future of our Society. Which makes a mockery of people such as Paul Jenner’s claim to have a genuine interest. Editor’s note: Thanks to Allen and Paul for the battle of words, however, I think all points have now been made and answered and I think this particular thread should now end… Vito taxis Dear Alan Re the August Call Sign Mailshot letter from Jimmy Smith (D09), I recently picked up an Iranian passenger who has lived in London for much of his life. He asked me if the new Mercedes Vito taxis cost the same as the TX4? When I said they were close he told me he would never get into a Vito, as he didn’t trust any vehicle that looked like a PH people carrier. He said he only gets into "proper" taxis or sometimes the "flat" one - I think he was referring to the Metrocab… David Heath (ex-W27) Dear Alan, In response to Jimmy Smith's letter (Call Sign Aug 2008) Berc in a Merc, I strongly disagree that Vito drivers are damaging the trade. The Vito is not a minicab but a licensed taxi that complies with the conditions of fitness. It is not the vehicle that should identify us as licensed taxis. New York cabbies, for instance, use a range of vehicles and are easily identified by their yellow and black markings. The crux of the problem in London is that there is now no |
clear means of
identification between an unmarked Vito taxi and a private hire vehicle. All
Vitos should be clearly identifiable by standardised signage. The conditions
of fitness should be amended to include this requirement. The orange taxi
signage already displayed on some Vitos should be compulsory and maybe even
displayed on the bonnet. This would make for easy public identification. I
have written to the PCO to suggest this simple change in the rules and I
urge all like-minded drivers to do the same. Tony Byrne (P29) Tony, your point is well made and totally logical. I just wish that any new taxi had been exclusive to the taxi business rather that to pick one already being used by private hire. After all, if you ever see a TX vehicle as a minicab, then it won’t be a genuine private hire because they aren’t allowed to use them …Ed Fixed prices? Marcantonio’s Dear Alan, Just a line about John Edwardes’ serialised article in the August Call Sign - My Life as a Taxi Driver. The cafe he mentions where Knowledge boys used to go to share their PCO runs was Marcantonio’s and not Mark Antonio’s. I remember my dad taking me there and showing me when I was about 8 or 9 years old. Brian Marcantonio (R73) Thanks Brian. Coming more up to date, you can read about Brian’s PCN collection elsewhere in this issue – something John Edwardes never had to worry about in those early days. You can also read in this issue the latest in John Edwardes’ story …Ed RTG, Heathrow and the Taxi Board Hi Alan I read in Call Sign (and every other trade paper) about the actions of RTG Chairman Geoffrey Riesel, who by his actions at Heathrow was prepared to jump into bed with a minicab firm to take over the running of two terminals at Heathrow, much to the determent of every other licensed taxi driver. The RTG drivers that I have spoken to are very embarrassed by the actions their Board has put them in and I can understand why. As for the London Taxi Board, I can understand why DaC Chairman Brian Rice had to resign as Chairman of the LTB as Geoffrey Riesel has put him in an imposable position and I commend him for that decision. Well done Brian… Pat Keefe Grey 01 Thanks for the letter Pat. I think we should bear in mind that Heathrow Airport Ltd has put the idea on hold rather than scrapped it. Whether it returns depends on any negotiations the trade has with them and whether that includes reducing some of the high prices for out of the Met trips. It doesn’t take a genius to work out how that could easily be achieved …Ed Taxis in 2012? Dear Alan, Your comments about PH vehicles flying around with Olympic officials in etc, especially in designated lanes during the 2010 Games, whilst we slog it out with all the other plebs, has worried me. If we leave it to organisers to sort out, we will be left out in the cold once again. Fortunately there is sufficient time still to make sure our services are used. Boris Johnson isn’t a complete twit and would recognise if it were pointed out to him that leaving the organisation of Olympic travel requirements to a bunch of still wet behind the ears, so-called experts will result in a similar farce to that of the endless bendy buses blocking up the whole of the west end. These are the London Olympics and accordingly should show the world the best London has to offer. There is no reason why the radio circuits cannot offer, during a traditionally quite month, competitive fixed prices when the risks of getting caught in heavy traffic are eliminated. We can also offer a guaranteed service similar to that provided to Virgin trains during the West Coast line shut down periods. The revenues generated for big business and the government during this period will be absolutely colossal and there is no reason London taxi drivers should not have their small share. Don’t let them bully us out of it - enough sharks will be trying their best to do so. Let’s make sure we're ready to fight when the time comes. Events in recent months have shown that when united, we can achieve great things. I also advise to look at how Mssrs Foreman (finest smoked salmon) dealt with the Olympic Property Commission to obtain a viable relocation package when told to move! Finally gents, I'd like to know what you think Bob Crow’s attitude would be on that one. Paul Willett (V12) Brian Rice comments: Strangely enough, Paul, I’m off to see the London Organising Committee of Olympic Games (LOCOG) on 3 September. I can't comment too much at the moment as I am unsure of their current stance, however I do know that although London is quiet in August, the congestion in August 2012 will be something else! There will be Olympic routes in and around London, including the centre, and the only ones allowed to use them will be competitors and officials. However, as you are probably aware, the paraplegic Olympics follow onto the heels of the Olympics and I wonder how competitors will get there? I’m sorry I can't give you any more information, Paul, as quite honestly I don't have it! I do not disagree with your sentiments, however, I do disagree the traffic will be eliminated; with all the Olympic routes I believe it will be very heavy. If and when I have any further information I will of course inform you… |
|
Powered by NetXPosure |
| Copyright 1997-2009 Dial-A-Cab Ltd, All rights reserved. |