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Either write to Call Sign at Dial-a-Cab House or email us at
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Cars on ranks?
Hi Al
I’m was waiting outside McKinsey when a car driver asked me if I could
move up so that he could park on the rank. I pointed out as politely as I
could that it was a taxi rank and that he should look elsewhere. He then
said that he worked at Tiger Tiger and that he parked on the rank
every night. He went on to add that anyone could park on the rank after
6.30pm.
So isn’t it amazing that if we park on a rank out of regulation
hours, we soon get a PCN...
Barry Spear (Y16)
Call Sign took a look at the rank signage and there is no mention of any
time limits. That means no one can wait there other than Licensed London
Taxis …Ed
John Boca
Dear Alan
It was with much sadness that we learnt of the passing on Wednesday 1st
December of Adolfo Giovanni Bruno Boca – known on Dial-a-Cab as John Boca
(ex-A64). He was the younger brother of the late Alan Boca (ex-B99) and
the two of them used to run the cafe opposite our first radio office in
Pentonville Road. Born of Italian parents, they decided to do the Knowledge
and joined ODRTS (as we were then called) in the early 1960s I believe. The
pair were always a credit to the circuit.
Alan and John were not the only brothers we have had on the circuit
in years past. I remember Stuart and Malcomb Webster, whilst we still have
my brother Ken - who has been on the circuit since 1965 - and myself (1970).
There must have been others as taxi driving does run in families. Ken and I
have 2 uncles who drove from before the last war, one is still with us and
now in his 90s.
But for now our thoughts go out to John’s son John, a taxi driver
with Radio Taxis and his sister Tina, who is married and living in
Australia.
Rest in peace John, from ALL your friends in the taxi trade.
Martin Freeborn (C67)
There is an article on John and Alan elsewhere in this issue …Ed
E14 and voting
Dear Alan
Some time ago I was talking to another driver on Finsbury Square and he
said he had emailed Brian Rice concerning the workings at E14. The things he
said sounded very sensible but nothing has come of it. His suggestion was
that E14C and E14S should be disbanded, leaving our cabs free to put onto
any of the ranks – including hotels – while being on the electronic E14
rank, but not restricted to the two longest as at present. Mr Rice replied
that he would put it to Keith Cain. Surely it would have been better to put
it to the drivers via their terminals? We all have a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ button.
On the subject of E14, could somebody please explain why we cannot
soon to clear into E14 after 9pm? There was a gripe some time ago
about drivers being rude to clients, probably not so, just an attitude for
which management take no responsibility. If a driver has been waiting some
time for a job and gets a local, he has to wait until the client has cleared
the cab before he can book in. This benefits nobody, especially the driver
concerned.
I would have liked to propose that anything directly affecting the
owners of the Society be put to them via their terminals. However, according
to Rule 29, 25 seconders are needed and can only be proposed once a
year. Also in this rule, management are free to do as they please.
I don’t know if anybody agrees with me, but if you do print this
letter Alan, perhaps at the end a simple agree/disagree Call Sign
signature to be returned to where we trust you have the best interests of
the drivers at heart.
Tony Guerrier (L28)
Interesting letter Tony and because the answer about E14 is fairly lengthy,
I’ve asked Allan Evans to answer it elsewhere in this issue. I should also
add that I showed it to Brian Rice and he trawled through many, many
emails to find the one the other driver says he sent because I know from
experience that the Chairman always answers emails from drivers.
Consequently, I assume the BoM looked at the situation and decided against
any change and the member you spoke to would have been advised of that. But
Tony, surely you don’t believe for a single second that the BoM
would implement procedures purely to damage the Society, because if they do
then they aren’t making a very good job of it? They have to consider what’s
in the interest of the majority of members (and clients), not just in the
interest of a small percentage of members. So far as voting is
concerned, would you want daymen voting on procedures that affect nightmen
and vice versa? That’s why an organisation such as DaC needs a BoM - to
initiate procedures that are fair to the majority. However,
through Call Sign, every driver can always have their say – something
I am very proud of.
Our terminals have been used for surveys on occasion, but not for
anything important. Being ruled by a computer would lead to sheer chaos.
After all, if the Board decide to go for a nationwide GPRS
system with chip and pin in the next generation of terminals – which I
personally hope they do - should it be put to drivers first and then DaC
would go by the majority decision? I don’t think that method of voting is
the way ahead.
As for the 25 signatures before changing rules and procedures; I
don’t remember the Board insisting it had to be passed, it was the Members
who voted for it because from memory AGMs were getting bogged down with
ridiculous attempts at rule changes. If I remember correctly, at one AGM we
had a driver putting forward 11 rule changes and propositions – some of them
being just silly. Because of drivers like that, democracy took a small kick
in the ‘ruperts’ but if a rule change or proposition is worthy enough, then
surely it will get the 25 seconders. Thanks for a great letter Tony and read
Allan Evans report for the answer to E14 …Ed
Call Sign’s speeding letter
Dear Alan,
Would you have a copy of the letter to send to the court about speeding?
I remember it was in the magazine a couple of years ago. Or perhaps you
could let me know the issue it was in?
John Mason (B83)
The original article was in the May 2006 issue (can this loophole save
your licence). I repeated it in the May 2008 issue (is this speeding
loophole still working). Both are available on the Call Sign
website (www.dac-callsign.co.uk) by going to the respective years and
clicking the small PDF logo at the bottom of the icon. A large number of
Dial-a-Cab drivers contacted me to say that the first letter worked, but
only around 50% of the second batch of drivers were successful. Now some 30
months later, I’d be amazed if the police hadn’t blocked the loophole, which
enabled drivers to avoid the three points by taking a one day classroom
refresher course instead. But if anyone tries it successfully, please let us
know and we’ll be happy to pass on the news to drivers …Ed
Happy holidays to all religions?
Mr Editor
l was shocked to find in the December Call Sign
where you itemise religions and wish them all a happy holiday, that you
never mentioned my religion. It’s probably ‘cos like most folks, you’re in
the dark force against us. One day in the future, you will see the
light and fulfil your inner desire. Jimmy Greaves, David Ginola and Stanley
Roth are all members and have now reached the point of gaining their light
sabre early next year - but naturally this is a secret. Please don't be
prejudiced against us. My temple is the cafe opposite the ‘iron lung’ if you
fancy a frock and the ability to whip out your sabre.
I am sincerely your grandmaster knight Jedi, three down, four
across around the corner. May the force be with you. Your servant and
prophet…
Gary Cox (0046)
I knew Gary’s dad, John, very well. He was a really lovely man so I have to
wonder exactly where his son went
wrong. Perhaps it has something to do with
him buying a Vito!!! …Ed
How to insult quietly!
Dear Alan,
Congratulations on your 150th issue of Call Sign. You have
managed to produce a fun magazine and maintain a high standard through the
years. However you let yourself down in your latest editorial when you felt
obliged to send best wishes to Christians, Sikhs, Jews, Hindus, Jains and
Muslims. By ticking all the correct boxes, there was a clear lack of
sincerity. But more important, you excluded the rationalist sensible
drivers who |
could be agnostic, secular, atheist or
humanist. Why should followers of the religions you choose to include who believe in man-made fairy tales about
supernatural powers be given space compared to Druids, Shamanists, Pagans,
crystal wavers, Animists, and Voodoo worshipers?
May I end by wishing you a Happy New Year…
Laurence Kelvin (W88)
Thank you Laurence. I do sometimes get the feeling that whatever I say, I’m
going to offend someone! A happy New Year to you and everyone connected to
Dial-a-Cab …Ed
150 not out!
Hi Alan,
Congratulations on reaching 150 issues, and yet still looking no older
than half that age! As a former editor, publisher, writer and contributor
with various publications, including Taxi Globe and many others, I
know you do deserve acclaim for maintaining such consistently high
standards. By doing so, you have made and kept Call Sign as
the best in-house radio taxi publication.
However, in the December Call Sign, on page 5 the
caption should have included David Day, and I cannot see the robust
Dave Stock in that picture. On page 16 the car is a Porsche, not an Aston
Martin. Only last week I was evaluating - ie "borrowing" - a 4 door Aston
Martin Rapid, but as this supercar starts at £180,000 plus options, I doubt
it can ever be made to pay its way as an owner-driven or fleet taxi, never
mind the cost of insurance, tyres and servicing!
Keep up your good work for the best London taxi radio circuit, and
here's hoping to see you and Call Sign reach 300.
Rodney Lewis (ex-D77)
Thanks Rodney, but 300 issues? I don’t think so! …Ed
Eddie Lambert’s ‘additional info’ idea
Dear Alan
What an excellent article and idea from Eddie Lambert (V37) in
the December Call Sign -Competing with the likes of Addison
Lee. Like most drivers, I have had the problem of trying to find an
address in a one-way street and ended up missing it thereby needing to go
round again. As an example, I recently had to pick up a passenger in Earls
Court Road and couldn’t see the number. It turned out that it was in Childs
Place and had I had access to that extra piece of information as explained
in Eddie’s article, life would have been so much easier. So yes, I do hope
the Board will consider his suggestion for the next generation of terminals.
Sid Nathan (K88)
No one seems to dislike the idea (including me), so you never know. Keep
nagging Sid! …Ed
David Brown
My son Simon is on Radio Taxis but managed to get a copy of
Call Sign. After digesting it, he passed it over to me and although
I no longer drive a cab due to illness, I never tire of reading about the
trade.
In your December issue on page 28, there was an article about a
former Dial-a-Cab driver, David Brown and about his loss of
both legs. The article said he would like to get in touch with any old
friends he had before moving out to Gorleston-on-Sea. Well he and I shared a
taxi in the 1970s, which we rented from Jannards at Fairchild Place. We were
also on Mountview for a short time as Mike 25. If you could bring us
together I would appreciate it and I enclose my phone number. Thanks for any
help…
Howard Buskin
If anyone else wants to get into contact with David Brown, just send me your
phone or email details and I’ll pass them along …Ed
PCNs bad for the environment?
Hi Alan
Giving cab drivers a PCN is bad for the environment. Why? Because
contrary to public belief, we don’t have a mattress stuffed full of cash we
can dip into to pay a £60 fine, we have to go out and earn it. Earning a
clear profit of £60 to pay a fine equates to about four hours work - that’s
four hours burning precious fuel and four hours of an engine pumping out
fumes. So, Mr and Mrs London Borough, if you do care about the environment
please be sensible when issuing PCNs. If however, you care more about
robbing people then please just carry on!
Question: How many red bus drivers have received fines for stopping
in yellow boxes? I think I know the answer. And I wonder if that bus in the
December Call Sign (Anyone seen a number 22 bus)
which turned 180 degrees in Brompton Road near Harrods, was fined? I know I
would be. After all, it’s a no u-turn zone!
Oh and please fine me double if I park in a bus lane to pop into a
kebab house, once for parking and once for eating such garbage (James £60
kebab - same issue)!
Rant over – for now!
Terry Catherall (Y90)
Thanks Terry, pleased I could help exorcise your ranting inner desires! …Ed
Cash rides
Dear Alan
I picked up a cash ride this week and when we were near the destination,
the passenger asked why there was £4 and £2 extras on the meter when she got
in? So I did the usual "sorry we didn’t tell you when you phoned and that
the booking fee is part of the fare and that all radio taxis have a run etc.
She paid me off and I sent a message to ask why she hadn’t been told about
the £2 booking fee? I was told that the Terms & Conditions are
automatically on when customers phone and they are given the option of
hearing them, but that she must have chosen to skip them, so it is not our
fault. Had I known that, I would have been able to ask if she had listened
to them and that if not, it would be her fault and not ours.
So Alan, could you please tell all drivers via Call Sign
about the T&C so we can all be prepared for this problem and sort it out
quickly.
Martin Freeborn (C67)
I think you have already done it! …Ed
Chips with everything!
Hello Alan
Just got a TX4 with a new chip (Call Sign tests
super-chipped TX4 – November 2010). I only had a TX2 to compare it
against, but boy what a difference!
Changing tack, could you please ask Brian Rice if any consideration
has ever been given to a ‘black cab’ Concierge - not instead of, but to run
alongside the present model? Clients can then choose a car or cab. All taxis
to be fully loaded (ie all round aircon, sat-navs for rides outside the met,
and for all non-fixed price work, a £25 premium. It would be totally
voluntary - their money, their choice…
Stephen Field (F68)
Brian Rice replies: Passengers can actually do that by requesting a Vito,
which as you know is fully air conditioned (not sure about your TX4
Stephen). I would also hazard a guess that all Vito drivers have a SatNav,
because that's the way they are and that is not meant to be a derogatory
remark.
Anyway Stephen, if I remember correctly ComCab did as you are
suggesting with their ‘Club Class’ taxis back in around 1995 - and it was an
unmitigated disaster, which ended up costing them many thousands of pounds.
I don't believe we should endeavour to emulate that.
John Griffin: I’m guilty as charged…why did they
drop the case?
Steve Norris is right (December Call Sign – I don’t think
John Griffin has won). I would have preferred the DfT to pursue the
case against me for encouraging my drivers to enter the bus lane. The two
points worth making are that no individual or group voiced any opposition to
the M4 bus lane. The facts were that the bus lane worked well and visitors
to London were happy with the reduction in their journey times. Secondly why
did closing the bus lane mean that I was no longer to be pursued for
breaking the law? If a group of robbers are caught robbing a bank and
shortly afterwards the bank closes down, are charges dropped against the
robbers? Lets face it, I was guilty, how did I get away with it?
John Griffin
Chairman, Addison Lee
London NW1
Mr Griffin, my belief is unchanged. I think that if your drivers had been
stopped from using the M4 lane, then it would have suited you to see it
totally disbanded. After all, if you can’t make the Heathrow return trip
quicker than normal traffic, I have no doubt that you’d rather we didn’t
have the facility either. For the record, I dislike immensely what you did
re the M4, but would find it difficult to blame you knowing the amazing
weakness of the authorities who were so obviously afraid of standing up to
you – hence the dropping of all PCNs and no charges etc. And congratulations
to our Chairman Brian who two months ago said in his column that he believed
John Griffin wanted his day in court! …Ed
Credit card problems
Dear Alan,
I read with interest Allan Evans article on credit cards in the
December issue of Call Sign and would like to relay to other
drivers the realities of what can happen when a job goes "belly-up." In
April I accepted a radio despatched credit card job from WC1 to the Marriott
Hotel, |
Waltham Abbey (E99). The job was completed and a
printed
receipt with signature and authorisation code was obtained. Four months
later, I was called by DaC’s accounts department to ask for the receipt,
which I sent back the same evening thinking what a clever boy I had been for
having everything in order! I heard nothing more from DaC until I opened my
statement about five weeks later to find that the money(£85) had been
snatched back by DaC. I left a message with Driver Services and when they
called back I told them what had happened and they said that I should be
covered as I had the receipt and authorisation code, but that they would
look into it. One week later I again rang Driver Services and again went
through the whole process of explaining what had happened. I was now told
that the card had been stolen and that was the reason I had the money taken
back (even though I had the printed receipt with auth code) but they would
check my loggers and get back to me. One week later I rang them again and
yes, you guessed it, I had to explain the whole process over again! I was
told it was a Tuesday and that problems were sorted out on Wednesdays (if
you don’t believe that, please check the phone recordings) and I would be
called back. One week later I thought I would try a different approach and
call the Driver Operations Manager, but he was off that week so I explained
the whole process to the lady who was covering for him and that the loggers
were supposed to be checked. She informed me that she would look into it and
get back to me. Guess what? Yes, one week later I rang DaC and the Driver
Operations Manager was back. I explained the whole sorry saga to him and he
said he would look into it and get back to me. One week later I rang him
again to see what was happening and only had to briefly explain the problem
as he sort of remembered - lucky me! I was then told I should have taken a
rubbing of the card, even though I had the printed receipt and was made to
feel like it was my fault, although at no time was I asked if I had taken a
rubbing of the card before the money was snatched back. But he assured me
that he would look into it and contact me. We were now into November, and my
head was heavily bruised from bashing it against the brick wall , so I left
it at that.
Happy days? Last week an envelope from DaC dropped through the
letterbox! Great I thought, they’ve resolved it and are reimbursing me.
Uh-uh, it was a request for the staff Xmas
box! Ian
Skeels (J74)
Hi Ian, sounds like you wish you hadn’t taken the job! However, the reason
you haven’t been paid is because you broke the number one rule that has been
written about in Call Sign so many times by Keith Cain, Allan Evans
and Warren Smith. You manually input the number (I assume because the card
wouldn’t swipe) and the bank will no longer accept card trips where the
number was input manually because according to a Warren Smith article last
year, there are too many stolen cards out there. If it doesn’t swipe, then
you shouldn’t take the job and according to a BM, the loggers show if it has
been swiped or manually input. Perhaps the card is genuinely just worn and
that’s why it won’t swipe, but you can’t take the chance – at least not for
roaders like that one. If the card had swiped and was stolen, you would have
been paid. Sorry Ian, I wish the news was better. And at least you only had
to ask me once! …Ed
The Mayor’s emissions policy…
Hi Alan
Just read on my terminal a message from Brian Rice under the heading of
Hot off the Press regarding the Mayor’s announcement that as of 2013,
no cab aged over 15 years would be passed for use as a taxi but that there
would be two MOTs per year. Thanks to the Chairman for getting it out so
quick, even Taxi hadn’t hit the stands with the news yet!
Whilst this news sounds pretty good, as I get older I become more
of a cynical old duffer and usually find that there is no such thing as a
free lunch and can’t help wondering what the private hire bandits have been
offered for Christmas!
Kevin Went (N19)
You’re right Kevin, there’s usually a piece that we don’t like hidden in
there somewhere and two MOTs isn’t wonderful news, however these are going
to be MOTs and not overhauls – just as PH have been doing for some time. If
your 15-year-old cab were to be licensed on 31 December 2011, then it would
be ok to drive it until 31 December 2012. Otherwise the ‘no to 15 year olds’
will start from 1 January 2012. There will also be a yearly emissions test
that you could be stopped in the street for, but believe me Kevin, the
possibility of a 10-year ban was on the cards and that would have killed us.
The way I see it is that if London Assembly Green Party member Darren
Johnson doesn’t like the plan, then it must be good for us! …Ed
Vito rant?
Dear Al,
I read the whole of last month’s Call Sign and I thought
you'd let me down, but there it was on page 34, the anti-Vito rant. Well
you're going to love me cos I've got a Vito and a SatNav. Why did I get a
Vito? My last cab was a TX2. Nuff said! You said you can't understand why
drivers use SatNavs, well maybe it's because we have a map facility that is
12 years out of date and shows the O2 arena as Millennium Experience (under
construction), the Jubilee Line extension is apparently due for completion
in 1998 - all being well! The A102 extension is due to be finished in late
99. By the way that's the road Swampy was protesting about -remember him?
He’s probably telling his kids about his 15 minutes of fame now. The Croydon
Tramlink will be finished in 2000 as long as we survive the Millennium Bug,
even the Arsenal are still at Highbury!
Al, I can remember you writing a piece telling us how great the new
terminal was going to be, I bet you didn't think we'd still be using it 13
or 14 years later. Maybe you could do another article asking the board why
we still have a screen that you can't read when the sun shines or why the
supposedly bankrupt Radio Taxis are getting their second new terminals while
we’re sitting with £5 or £6 million in the bank and have now got the worst
system in the trade. At the same time, could you ask why after years of
telling us that we are causing the poor signals due to doing queue positions
and sending messages, the signals are as bad as ever? On second thoughts
don't bother; can we have another story about a parking ticket and a picture
of a member of the board?
C.S Clark (F25)
Congratulations on writing the longest letter I have ever received via an
iPhone! You sound as though you enjoyed it and yes, you succeeded in making
me smile! But sadly, your letter has done nothing to convince me that a
vehicle which looks like a minicab complete with SatNav, does this trade any
sort of favour. But hey, it’s a free world and anyone can buy a Vito if they
want to – including minicab drivers. Of course those same drivers can’t buy
a TX4 to use as a taxi as it’s illegal, some silly rule about minicab
drivers not being allowed to drive a real taxi.
You might be right about me and the terminal, but only because
computers lasting this long are practically unheard of and a testament to
the excellent quality of the original product. The map is truly out of date,
but that wasn’t DaC’s fault, it was due to Geographers who pulled the
plug. But I suspect that you are pretending when you infer you need it to
find the O2. Or should they spend another few million quid getting new
terminals just to get another map facility? Isn’t that why you did the KoL?
I carry a SatNav just in case and have used it 4 times in three years. On
those 4 occasions I stuck it to the windscreen, otherwise it stays in my bag
because I consider it to be humiliating when passengers give me a postcode
rather than an address. And in any case I’d bet that by the end of 2011, we
have new terminals that blow away anyone else’s. Anyway, it’s all irrelevant
now. Once we all drive the same vehicles with the latest SatNavs, the trade
that many of us fought tooth and nail for will be a distant dream and all
you will need to become a taxi driver is a licence that you can just send
off for.
Are the signals still bad? I work five nights a week and have had
no trouble for ages and for your information, stories in Call Sign
about parking tickets given to drivers have led to a successful High Court
case which will assist radio drivers in their PCN battles. That story is in
this issue.
Pictures of Board members? Mike Son and Brian Rice led the field in
the issue you refer to with two each! Sorry that was too much for you, but
it was Mike’s 45th anniversary!
I assume we both feel better now! …Ed |
