Page 35
Call Sign August 2011
Mailshot
continued from page 34
Appleby's letter (July Call Sign) regarding
the suggestion that many drivers think is a
good idea, ie putting the Berwin account into
the FPs, at the moment we do not have a
SE1E or W while the ridiculous Blackfriars
run in, there is not a gratuity, neither is
underpass disruption continues. How far is the
there waiting time and as I have stated
account from SE1? One or two hundred yards?
many times, our admin charge is very
Drivers all know how difficult Southwark
small, sometimes just a transaction charge
Bridge is to reach from the north during the
and VAT only applies to the administration
can't see the wood from the trees, then go and
roadworks...
charge. However, there must be a time ele-
drive a minicab and let somebody else think
John Addis (K97)
ment involved before it reverts to a
for you as well as taking your profit money.
Hi John, to get an independent view I
metered fare otherwise some clients
All most folks want is a clean cab, a driver
asked to see the coverage on that account
would keep the cab waiting for an eternity.
who knows where he or she is going and
(without seeing who the drivers were).
One of the problems we experience is
with a bit of style about them. And on time?
Some trips were covered quicker than oth-
perception; as you are probably aware, the
Well that bit is up to Boris! We get the easy bit
ers but generally speaking all were cov-
public thinks minicab cheap, taxis expen-
because as we all know, driving a cab is easy!
ered within 10 minutes. The ones that took
sive! Likewise many members believe
We are going to win this one because we are
longest were the locals and even they
metered fare fine, FP always well under
us and let's face it, if we get it right we can
didn't take much longer as the prices are
the meter and that is not the case. We
demand more from that nice lady in the Sales
very good. All were on the non-physical
have one particular night account (not
team...
EC5, which means that drivers aren't tak-
mentioning any names) where the vast
Gary Cox (046)
ing that long and I assume that if a driver
majority of their work is on FPs and where
I have been writing for years how silly we
is west of the Bank, they will cross via
they are charged at £3.70p per mile. But it
are to campaign against the words `black
Blackfriars anyway...Ed
gets a little busy and we struggle!
cab drivers'. Ok, so I don't like it either but
It is a fact that some of the more rep-
Old Cab Wanted
the world over knows who you are talking
utable private hire companies charge a
about when you mention black cab dri-
I am a London taxi enthusiast, trade historian
minimum of £14, which also gives you
vers. I assume Gary is responding to my
and member of the London Vintage Taxi
15mins and the first three miles and then
last month's editorial when I queried the
Association and would be interested to hear
£2.16p per mile - I know you can do the
mentality of our trade driving different
from any taxi owner that may have an old
equation. Consequently, as you can see the
vehicles in a multitude of colours, whereas
London taxi that he/she is willing to donate to
longer the journey the cheaper they
our biggest competitor has now almost
preservation as we come towards the imple-
become compared to us (if you know what
taken delivery of his complete order from
mentation of the new age restriction.
I mean). However, on shorter journeys
Ford of 1200 Galaxy cars every single
I am looking for an FX4, Fairway or Metrocab
there is not a lot in it. A six mile journey in
one in black! The difference is narrowing
that I can restore / preserve for the future. I
a taxi would be £22.20p, in a minicab it's
with young people referring to both
intend to use the cab for events such as taxi
£20.48, but as the journeys get longer the
halves of the trade as cabs but still calling
trade shows and, hopefully, children's outings
price differential becomes greater and that
us black cabs. And we don't like it! ...Ed
after its restoration. With older, traditional cabs
is why they get the longer journeys.
being replaced with newer models - and now
However Jon, I'm sure I am not telling any-
Parking or loading?
the Vito too - I feel that it is time to ensure that
thing you do not already know, but you do
the history of our trade is preserved. If any
make interesting points and as you can
Do wardens know
owners have a cab that they would be willing
see, if we scrapped all charges as you sug-
to part with - for a good, genuine cause - then
gest, there would still be a considerable
the difference...
can they please get in touch with me on 07852
disparity.
Dear Call Sign
561 368 / 0151 677 7067 or email vintage-
So how much to buy a car company? Not
I received a PCN at the St Martins Lane hotel
taxis@gmail.com.
very much and yes we could do it, we'd
on 7 June at 09.24. I was at the front of the
Age and condition of the cab is not too
probably have to change our rules
rank and called forward by the concierge to
important, but a running cab requiring just a
first. You pay the minicab drivers 60% of
pick up passengers. When they got in the cab,
little or medium restoration would obviously
the fare and keep 40%, which is the
they asked him where their luggage was? He
be preferable. I'd like to try and get the cab
norm. All taxis on the circuit free sub-
then had to go back inside and retrieve it
into the trade press and will make a sizeable
scriptions, but they would have to do a
whilst they waited in my taxi. This obviously
donation to one of the major taxi trade chari-
minimum amount of trips to clear up all
took more than 4 minutes, so a ticket was
ties and of course, I'd arrange collection
the work that is outstanding - there Jon,
issued as "...there was no visible sign of load-
myself.
you really have opened a can of worms! I
ing/unloading" for the video operator. I wrote
Many thanks for your interest...
can just hear some of our members saying:
in and of course they refused my reasons, so I
Ross Campbell
"I don't want their leftovers," and I can
now have to appeal.
LVTA member
understand that, however, there is a differ-
I will ask concierge for a written confirma-
Good luck Ross. Call Sign is a big support-
ence between being intransigent and run-
tion, but this is a real pain as it is obvious I
er of the LVTA ...Ed
ning a commercial enterprise. Addison Lee
would not sit in front of a rank and get a
would probably then get a run for their
Black is the colour...
parking ticket when I could sit on the rank!
money. But of course you have now made
Any suggestions?
Alan
a noose for me and yes, I put my neck
Jim Cunningham (S88)
`Black' has been the trademark of the London
right in it! Bet the Editor loves you Jon!
Barrie Segal said: "My view is that Jim is
You've really opened up a debate!
taxi trade for a long time, so the next time we
entitled to the picking up exemption AND
Finally, I would like to make it crystal
think of buying a cab just think how much a
the loading exemption. Both these exemp-
clear that the above is just a view and not
whizz kid from an advertising agency would
tions apply in this case at the same time
necessarily workable, it is not something
charge to come up with that. Never forget that
that is going to happen - only the members
because the passenger loaded his/her lug-
we are our own marketing tool. As much as
can decide that and I believe there is too
gage as well as being picked
we don't like the expression of us being black
much 'anti' feeling for it to happen in the
up. Interestingly, the pick-up exemption
cab drivers, well that's what we are! The days
short term.
also includes luggage but as the council
of old cabs are long gone and we have to face
may argue that the luggage was not with
facts it's gonna cost us all a lot more money
Blackfriars underpass
the passenger when they came out but that
to go to work in the future. So really, anything
Hi Al
they went back to collect it, then the load-
for free must be good - and `black' is a free ad!
Brian is sidestepping the main point of Mike
ing exemption would apply."
Why the hell do you think AL copy us? If you
