MAILSHOT

A cheaper Vito prayer???
Hiya Al baby…
"O lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz," or so the song goes. Well son, not for much longer. Maybe it should be "O lord I'd love a Mercedes Benz - if only I could afford one."
   Then again, can I afford not to? With a clever little thing that cuts out the engine as an option after three minutes, let’s hope the starter motor’s good. Plus a multi-function steering wheel as standard that's a Marilyn Monroe high maintenance, extra-nice-to-hold, expensive to replace object of desire. OK, so you don't need as much of the liquid gold perfume to run her on, but then again a service is not exactly a rub down with the Sporting Life - more a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes!
   Wake up Boris - you old Islingtonion, because by the time we hear who the next Minister for the Arts is, that Coventry-based cab may well be made in China and shipped over. Of course, there is always the option of taking away the two-ton of metal of the rear axle and making it what it is - a posh van - and as the ad says, £16880 plus VAT. Bring it on baby!
   The funny thing is that even if you could buy a Vito van anywhere, KPM would still come out on top - don't worry Mr DaCosta, no need to cancel that helicopter order yet mate! You're just gonna have to work a little harder on all that scrap, because you're gonna shift a hell of a lot more Vito vans, cos even at £27K, boy you'll shift some! Well, let's face it, they don't advertise in Call Sign, so I can say it! One thing you can bank on; those oriental gentlemen are going to build on the TX4 - you can have that as read!
   Then again, just one return trip to Beijing on the credit card, you can pick any cab colour until I get my way and as Henry Ford said: "So long as they are black!" The new Vito is out in April!
Gary Cox (O46)
Nope! Neither am I 100% sure about what Vito driver Gary is on about, but if I had to guess I think he is referring to the ongoing problems with the rear steering that so many Vito owners seem to be suffering from and wondering whether the vehicle should be sold by KPM without it? The estimated cost of the rear wheel steering that brings the Vito in line with the Conditions of Fitness is around 10K, hence Gary’s wish for a £27K model. However, if LTPH said yes, then not only would the CoF vanish, but it would open the door to every single make of car that wanted to become a taxi. And THAT would leave the only group of identical vehicles - all in the same design and colour – as those belonging to Mr Griffin’s mob in Hampstead Road …Ed

Vitos and dog owners?
Hi Alan
I’ve always believed that dog owners eventually end up looking like their pets, but I never thought that those drivers who bought Vitos would end up like the people the vehicle was designed for – minicab drivers! I never really agreed with your original campaign against licensed taxi drivers using the Vito because it resembled a minicab, but I have now changed my mind after seeing Vito taxis forming unofficial ranks outside London hotels most mornings and hearing that they pay the doorman £15 commission for the "privilege" of being given an airport. So you now have a taxi that is really a minicab doing exactly what minicab drivers do and something the taxi trade has been fighting against for years. The words dogs and owners suddenly spring to mind again…
Alex Constantinou (N05)
My only problem with the Vito ever since it was launched in 2008 was that it looked like a minicab. As a vehicle, I’m sure it’s as comfortable as people say …Ed

Speeding?
Morning Al
Drove home this morning along the Westway and noticed a new speed limit painted on the road - 30mph! Are they having a laugh? It used to be 60mph, then they dropped it to 50. I suppose all the extra revenue raised can pay for the lighting they took away after the wind blew a lamppost down…
Barry Spear (Y16)

Hi Alan
Just been on the A40 Westway westbound – the elevated section – and seen 30mph speed limit signs! Is this madness for real! My passenger said she could walk quicker!
Kevin Went (N19)
Richard Massett, LTDA Executive and Chairman of the London Cab Ranks Committee told Call Sign: I am given to believe, although TfL have yet to confirm it, that the markings were put down in preparation for works that are due to take place on the structure of the elevated section. The works have been delayed but are still due to go ahead. The speed limits will only apply when the correct signage is in place by the road.

Tenders
Hello Alan,
I’ve just finished reading the latest edition of Call Sign, well done on another engrossing issue. The story regarding Goldman Sachs and Addison Lee's attempt to cover what must be one of the largest accounts in London got me thinking. When an account decides not to use DaC in favour of another company, does the account inform us why we were unsuccessful in our bid? Do they give us an explanation as to their decision or do they just give us a point blank no? I'd be interested to know Goldman’s reason for not choosing to use DaC. Is there a negotiation

process where DaC goes in with an initial bid, then
both sides make compromises until both
parties are happy, or are companies simply asked to submit blind bids? Is there anything more we could be doing to improve our chances of winning such contracts? 
I’d also like to ask how we go about winning the larger contracts from our competitors? Many years ago I was on ComCab and enjoyed covering the London Underground work that is currently covered by Radio Taxis. The extra work first thing in the morning and last thing at night would benefit both day and night drivers. Is there any
chance in the future DaC will be making moves to win this lucrative contract? Also, regarding companies such as Merrill Lynch on Newgate Street, Barclays Capital, Clifford Chance and Skadden, Arps - all on E14. Are we informed when they are going to tender and invited to bid?Mike Parkins (Z03)
Brian Rice responds: Completing a tender for large clients nowadays is quite a complex procedure. Gone are the days when it was all hard copy, today they are mostly completed in electronic format. The client will want to know details of the systems you operate, copies of your Health and Safety Policy, Diversity, Green Policy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Liability Insurance - the list goes on and on. Normally, if you are unsuccessful with a tender you receive a letter from the client/prospective client stating that you have not been awarded the contract. You can then normally have a 'de-briefing' meeting with them where everything can be discussed.
   Over the past few months, we have tendered for and won/retained JPMorgan, Citi and Morgan Stanley, so we are fairly successful with our tendering process.  Regarding the accounts you mentioned, Merrill Lynch is serviced by the independent 'Oscar' system, of which I have written about many times, Barclays Capital by Addison Lee and Clifford Chance again by Oscar. The independent systems such as Oscar do not have vehicles of their own, but supply the client with other vendor’s vehicles, although none of the three taxi radio circuits subscribe to any independent systems - that's our choice.
   DaC did actually tender for Barclays Capital and we produced an excellent tender with all the complex information they required. The final phase of the tender was to supply them with literally hundreds of Fixed Prices. We explained about meter readings, but were prepared to give some FPs to the most frequented destinations. 
   Finally, I had a letter from Barclays complimenting us on the quality of our tender, they wanted hard and soft copies. However, they went on to say we were unsuccessful as we did not give them the hundreds of FPs they required. I must say I really felt like saying that for all the weeks of work we put into that document, all they did was look at the last section with all the prices and probably chose the cheapest - but of course I didn't! The same applied to News International, another AL account.
   Regarding the London Underground account, which is serviced at the moment by RTG and formerly by ComCab, we have never tendered for that account. In the main, that account was serviced by both companies’ Yellow Badge drivers who are prepared to work well under the meter. RTG were definitely servicing the account for 75% of the metered fare and I have since heard that has now been decreased by a further 10%, although I cannot confirm that. Personally, I do not believe our members as Green Badge drivers would be prepared to service the account for that type of remuneration - yellow badges will.
   Mike, the subject you have raised is extremely detailed and quite complex and I could probably fill Call Sign writing about the topic. If you require more information, I would be more than happy to talk to you one-to-one, either in person or on the phone… 

A view from Texas
Alan
The Dave's diabetic PCN appeals fail article (March Call Sign) brought to mind some thoughts I've been having about the adversarial relationship between local governments and general population. By the way, what is a PCN, a ticket? Here we’ve developed a great method of taxation called the "red light camera." Houston voters were told that the cameras were all about safety but provided no statistics as to the decrease in cross accidents versus the increase in rear end collisions at intersections. Safety, it’s all about safety.
Well the day after the vote and the cameras failed, the mayor came out and said that there would have to be some way to make up the revenue shortfall from the cameras being voted out. I laughed out loud. My shop is across the street from the city limits of Houston and thus not subject to their regulations, which saves me thousands of dollars in permits and taxes.  Beyond just the taxicab industry, the local governments tax, permit or regulate everything with patrols to fine you for every infraction of the rules, real or imagined. How is it that we've managed to elect these spendthrifts at every level of government?Have we lost our minds? No matter what level of taxation, fines or fees, it never seems to be enough. 

   Your CRB cock-up
commentary is a clear
illustration of the issue (Editorial, same issue). Incidentally, your headline certainly wouldn't pass a US editor's desk unscathed! Don McCurdy
Houston, Texas
Don writes the ‘Industry in Review’ page for America’s TLC magazine …Ed

Cash trips
Hello Alan.
In these trying times you would think that most jobs made available by DaC would be covered instantly, however cash trips always tend to suffer and we all know why. I was in SW5 recently and accepted an ASAP cash trip where I was virtually outside the door. I pressed the advise arrival button and got scrubbed with a small amount of money on the meter. About 10 minutes later I received the same job again, which I accepted and said nothing to the passenger, although it was plain to see that on the first occasion I was just too quick to the pick-up and they didn't want to pay the waiting time as they were not ready.
   Another example; I ran down from SW11 to SW4 to cover a cash trip, waited 15 minutes and then heard the passenger had gone, leaving me £10.80 out of pocket. Amongst others, I also accepted a cash trip in SW2 going to W2. When I got to the pick-up, there was a PH vehicle loading up the bags. The customer came over to me and told me that I wasn't needed any longer ie phone DaC and a PH company and the first there gets the job!
   My request is this; would it be possible to do away with cash bookings and introduce credit card bookings only? Then if the customer wishes to pay cash, this could be done after the journey commences just by pushing the change to cash button. Customers would then be informed as part of the booking process that should they fail to honour the booking, their credit card will be charged with what was on the driver’s meter at the time of cancellation. Drivers would then be encouraged to cover these trips, waiting times would be reduced for customers and also should there be a cancellation, drivers would not be out of pocket.
Richard Potter (T51)
Keith Cain responds: Richard, your suggestion is one for the Board to consider. But even if it were to be implemented, it would not stop drivers losing out on certain journeys. The primary reason for this being is that if a client decided to cancel their credit card payment due to the trip not being taken, the clearing bank would then withdraw payment. Unless there is a signed receipt with an impression of the card, there is no guarantee of payment for any driver. Of course, to reduce the number of actual cash-paying trips, we can encourage more passengers to use their credit card. Allen Togwell did this recently in a joint venture with the Metropolitan Police. He had hundreds of thousands of leaflets produced, with more for drivers to hand out. Clients can also use our online credit card facility, which is very easy and straightforward. But can we ever eradicate drivers losing out on some trips? My view is no…

What are the opposition up to?
Hi Alan,
Just a few bits I have come across lately regarding the opposition and what they are up to…
   From The News Shopper (26 Jan) – Chauffeur hid packet of heroin in his pants. The police had previously found heroin stuffed down his socks in addition to 20 rounds of ammunition at his home. I wonder whether he wore a peaked cap and opened the doors for his passengers?
   Also from The News Shopper (26 Jan) – GMB: We warned you about Savoy. This is about the London Ambulance service being handed over to a private company for non-urgent passenger transfers. The company go by the name of Savoy Ventures Ltd. You see a lot of these vehicles around now, especially near the UCH. The article refers to a south London healthcare trust that awarded the contract to Savoy. The GMB now say that ambulance pay has been downgraded and that Savoy’s service is in disarray with taxis often being used to replace Savoy ambulances that don’t turn up. According to the aphasia unit at Queen Mary’s hospital in Sidcup – which deals with people that have a limited ability to communicate due to brain damage - Savoy’s patient service has been appalling, and they are concerned at the psychological effect it could have on the patients. I can’t help but wonder who is behind the firm and whether they are looking at the TaxiCard scheme for their next venture!
   Then there’s the piece from Private Hire and Courier - Boss jailed over benefit claim fraud. This involved the boss of a PH firm and two other companies who defrauded over £45,000 in housing benefit. Why does this story also not surprise me? After all, we still remember the large PH company that defrauded the NHS, yet still somehow managed to keep that account!
   Lastly, it was around lunchtime and I was PoB westwards down The Mall, stopping at the lights with Marlborough Road. I couldn’t help noticing a gathering of police around an Addison Lee minibus that seemed to have misjudged the right hand turn from The Mall and had crashed dead centre into the traffic island. Perhaps the police thought it was a terrorist attack! Sadly I was unable to get a picture because of all the police around – it would have looked great with Clarence House in the background!
Gordon Bennett (Y91)
I’m pleased I don’t drive a minicab with you around Gordon! …Ed