Page 34
Call Sign August 2011
Mailshot
continued from page 33
Anyway Terry, thank you for your sug-
gestion, but I think you will agree we do
not agree on that one...
hoping that at least a few of you out there
will agree with me. I don't expect new dri-
And again...
vers to because that isn't why they come to
Hi Al
DaC, but drivers such as John - who has
I say no to fixed prices and am in total support
done almost 20 years obviously care
of Keith Cain's opposition to them. I personal-
about our reputation. The question is
And fixed prices -
ly haven't done cut-price work for more than
more what they do about it because asking
10 years. Given the horrendous traffic condi-
others what the answer is doesn't solve
another way?
tions 24/7 which is predicted to get worse with
anything and older drivers will know that
Dear Alan
the Olympics coming up, why a driver would
now it's much busier, we just won't cover
In answer to Mike Son's article in the June Call
do a job for less than the official rate is
in-town fixed prices. But, even with the
Sign promoting more fixed prices as a way to
beyond me. I don't think any London postcode
same number of drivers, we still have the
retain our customers and generate more work
should carry a fixed price! Factor in the time a
ability to provide a better radio service
for us, I have to ask why? What point is there?
driver has sat in a zone and then reluctantly
than any PH company the question is
And is there another way? Let's look at my first
accepts a fixed price ride because it's invari-
whether we have enough drivers who
question, why fix? It seems to me that we still
ably the 5th time it has been offered to him
believe that as well.
wouldn't be competitive on longer journeys
(reject number 6 is dusty bin time), the ride is
Incidentally, I have sent John's letter
and service would suffer as we have seen
now of no value to man or beast.
and my reply to every Board member and
recently and drivers would lose out at certain
With most cabs doing a meagre 20mpg and
if any disagree, then of course I am sure
times. What point is there in fixed prices,
at £6+ a gallon, where's the value in "mates
they will say so ...Ed
because I think we must do something right
rates?"
Fixed prices debate
otherwise all of our customers that have
Cash punters readily jump in and pay the
accounts with minicabs wouldn't use us at all!
going rate and in my experience never ask for
Hiya Al
So is there another way? Mike obviously thinks
a discount. We must be doing something right
Re the articles by Mike and Keith (July Call
we are too expensive with certain trips. If we
given the amount of cabs we provide on a
Sign); although they both have a case I am
fix a price, how long before we will have to fix
weekly basis and yes, work is never easy to
inclined to agree with Keith. But I'd like to
prices for all? Anybody who works the Finz
win and retain but cut-price work in my opin-
make a suggestion. My idea is that we carry on
will have noticed the work has changed; even
ion spells certain disaster. I also feel this new
charging the customer the gratuity, but rather
when it gets a little busy there are a lot of short
technology with smart phones and apps needs
than give it to the driver we use it to reduce
trips, Why haven't we lost that kind of trip?
to be looked at as I can see it having an effect
the admin charges because as Keith says, that
Because our service is good! Brian Rice and
on radio taxis.
is the big stumbling block when we negotiate
Keith Cain often tell us that some people are
Finally, having read Michael Son's article, it
new or existing clients' accounts. Surely if we
prepared to pay a little more for service. So we
wouldn't appear to me he's happy to "toe the
were to do this it would create more work,
need a balance.
party line" as Brian Rice states. At this time I
which in time would make up for the loss of
Another way to keep our service yet still be
feel we need the captain and the officers sober
the gratuity. I know it's tough out there, but I
competitive would be to carry on as we are
and singing off the same song sheet to guide
feel we have to give a little as drivers to enable
except for longer journeys ie to outer London
us through these turbulent times!
the Sales team to really have a go at the likes
Postcodes and airports. These journeys
Colin Jenkins (Y22)
of AL and all the other leeches. It's just a
charged on the meter but nothing else, no
Thanks for the letter Colin. Let me assure
thought and I realise that once again the same
booking fee, no handling charge (so no vat),
you that so far as Mike Son was concerned,
drivers will bear the brunt, but I think that's a
no run-in, no waiting time premium, no tip or
he feels that there is nothing wrong in giv-
price we will all have to pay...
surcharges. That's a big saving. Driver and
ing his view on anything he perceives as
Terry Jackson (E56)
Dial-a-Cab giving a little, but the driver paid
being in the Society's interest but also
Brian Rice responds: Hi Terry, nice idea
the full fare unlike a fixed price fare and DaC.
added that he believes in majority deci-
but as you are probably aware I am not
losing the booking fee. This idea may generate
sions and always supports a majority BoM
happy with anything that reduces the
extra income for both driver and DaC as some
decision. That, I believe, is one of the suc-
return to the member. I believe this has a
smaller and medium accounts have reluctantly
cesses of Call Sign - Board members are no
detrimental effect when things get a little
switched to minicabs and may return to us.
longer afraid to put their views in print for
busier as we have seen during Ascot and
Drivers could of course opt out of this type of
fear of drivers thinking there is about to be
Wimbledon. Many members are under the
trip and reject in the normal way. I'm sure
a coup!
impression that we charge an exorbitant
most of you daymen have been approached
Apps? There is a danger, but in my view
administration charge and that is not true.
on ranks by people promoting a taxi app ser-
more of a threat from the private hire one
In fact the member's gratuity is often more
vice for smartphones, many of these compa-
which is said to have around 4000 drivers
than the administration charge. In many
nies want you to arrive with a dead clock! I
signed up (Kabbee) and which several
cases, if a taxi waits more than four min-
think there is one service that wants you to
newspapers have described as having
utes for the passenger to come out on tar-
give the passenger 5minutes to get their hat
taxis on. The real taxi ones are a different
iff 3, then that cost is more than the
and coat, so that's even competition from with-
kettle of fish and remind me of Zingo it
administration charge.
in our own trade! How long before they offer
worked ok-ish when it was quiet out, but
I have always treated the member's gra-
account facilities? I worry that if the economy
flopped as soon as it became busy with
tuity as sacrosanct and if any negotiation
remains as it is for the next 2 years or the Euro
drivers reluctant to pass a street job in
takes place, then it is on the administra-
debt gets worse, DaC's profits will continue to
favour of one on their phone. Also, I'm
tion charge and not the gratuity. We
be squeezed. So a question here for Brian Rice.
not 100% certain but I have a feeling it is
should protect that as long as possible
How much would it cost to buy a good private
against our rules for a DaC driver to be a
before we have to give ground - if we ever
hire company? Could we then use the profit to
member of another circuit. The question
do! Unlike some of our competitors, I do
subsidise our own booking fees? A huge step
is whether any of the `apps' classify as a
not believe in varying gratuity or charging
but we could do it. Please think about it. Times
radio circuit. That rule arises from an inci-
the customer a certain gratuity and then
are changing. So hands up, who wouldn't do a
dent in November 1954 when ODRTS
claw some of it back from the driver to
fare to the coast with no run in?
Committee member David Fiertag (D05)
subsidise
the
administration
Jon Robinson (E88)
was discovered to also be Dog 21 on the
charge. Customers soon hear what others
Brian Rice responds: That is very interest-
York Way radio circuit. He was expelled
are paying as a gratuity and I can assure
ing Jon and it would appear that we hold
and Charlie Young (A24) was co-opted
you they always want charges to percolate
similar views on many issues. Regarding
onto the CoM ...Ed
downwards.
