Page 32
Call Sign July 2011
Mailshot
Either write to Call Sign at
that is good news, it's still just as impor-
tant as ever to provide Westfield with a
Dial-a-Cab House or email us
service when it's busy and not just when
at - callsignmag@aol.com
we drop off there ...Ed
Moving home?
Twitter and DaC?
Hello Al,
Hi Al,
Just wondering why SE75 was moved from
part of that includes any messages that
Whoever wrote the article on Can Twitter be
one crowded page (zone 2) to an equally
go out on our terminals. Why should
a danger to DaC (May Call Sign) is a bit
full one (zone 3) when zone 1 - where all
someone paying nothing on Talc have
misguided and maybe should have
the other SEs are - is only ever half full? I
that advantage? It's nothing to do with
researched it a bit more in depth. Twitter is
reckon there are more drivers interested in
PH because a taxi would have got the job.
mainly used for passing black cab related
SE75 than NN99, which apparently now
Then even worse, the driver boasted
info around to those that want it and who
takes preference!
on an internet chat site that he chatted
are licensed taxi drivers which is not
John Addis (K97)
the passenger up about using Twitter
something that Dial-a-Cab do too often even
Allan Evans responds: Hi John; just as
rather than phoning a taxi circuit.
though they have the means to do it. If a
you mention, zone broadcasts are on
Speaking again to Richard Cudlip, he
Twitter driver spots something like road-
three pages (zones 1, 2 and 3) with each
assured me that isn't Talc policy and that
works or people looking for cabs, everyone
page capable of showing a maximum of
they are not looking to open accounts
signed on will get it, unlike DaC where it
60 different zones. Over the years, with
with passengers and I believe him, how-
only goes out if the dispatcher can be both-
special zones and ranks added to the
ever the driver concerned undoubtedly
ered. So what if the original message (taxis
message pages, they have become
tried to get the passenger he picked up
needed at the Savoy riverside entrance)
full and certain zones are shown on a
before a DaC driver got there to phone
comes from DaC? Surely the important thing
different page. Generally, zone 1 is east
Talc in future. The passenger is the
is that licensed cabs are being alerted that
and southeast, zone 2 is central and
director of an insurance company, so
people need them?
north and zone 3 is southwest and west.
what if he takes the driver at his word
As for the DaC App, AL already has one.
Although SE75 (HoC) is shown on page
and uses Talc for his company workers?
It also seems that Tweetalondoncab is a bit
3, it is by its location a southwest zone...
The chances are that they wouldn't be
more innovative than DaC and you should
able to cover the work, the director
be supporting anything positive for the cab
would assume that all taxi companies
Early morning PCN
trade rather than knocking it, Al.
are the same and THEN private hire
I am nothing to do with Tweetalondoncab
Hi Alan,
would receive a call and another compa-
and neither am I on any forums, but what
Thought you`d like to know that I contested
ny would cross over. That was my con-
chance do we have if people knock something
my PCN (Marc's early morning PCN, May
cern and my view hasn't changed. If Talc
that is trying to get people out of private hire
Call Sign) where I was ticketed via cctv out-
work as per Richard Cudlip's original
and into taxis? We are all licensed taxi drivers
side Whiskey Mist in Hertford Street W1 at
idea, then there is no problem. In the
it's not all about DaC. We are all up against it
3.13 in the morning. However, my appeal
meantime, TaxiStop seem keen on push-
together remember Nobu and Smiths etc. It
was denied so I requested a Saturday morn-
ing the system so time will tell. The last
also works the other way, a non-radio driver
ing appointment with the Adjudicator - well
company to attempt it were Zingo and
puts out a message on Tweetalondoncab and
it works for Barrie Segal! I was given a slot
they are no more ...Ed
a DaC driver puts it out on DaC. It's a win-win
at 9-30 on a Saturday in August, but surprise
situation. Better us than PH. In any case, just
surprise, a few weeks ago I received a letter
because a DaC driver puts out a message that
cancelling the PCN!
Gratuities, fixed
a cab is wanted somewhere, that doesn't mean
Also re your April Call Sign story on
that DaC own that job.
prices and Luke
Westfield threatening to use private hire if
Mickey Lappin (E46)
the licensed taxi service didn't improve, I
Johnson...
Thanks for the letter Mickey. First let me
recently drove a director of Westfield
say that the writer of the original article
Leasing Department who was in UK from
Dear Al
was me. My research involved speaking
the USA while dealing with the Westfield
The last issue of Call Sign was not the first
to DaC drivers who are also on
Stratford operation. She was horrified at the
time you have featured the thoughts of Luke
Tweetalondoncab in addition to receiv-
prospect of PH servicing Westfield and said
Johnson. After the Mayor introduced the 3-
ing a press release from TaxiStop. Two
it was the first she`d heard of it. She told me
way tariff, you re-printed an interview that
she would be looking into it next day. Her
years ago I spoke to Talc co-founder
Johnson gave to The Times in which he
words to me were: "Westfield view their cus-
Richard Cudlip, so I had a good idea
complained that his staff at Belgo were find-
tomers going home in licensed taxis as part
about why it was set up. I have also spo-
ing it very expensive to get home after fin-
of the shopping experience."
ken to him again since the last issue
ishing work. Not long before that, the BBC
Marc Turner (R97)
came out and in fact also spoke to
had made a documentary at Belgo in which
Thanks for letting us know about the
Mickey Lappin on his views. The story
waiters and cooks complained about wages
PCN Marc. It goes to show that if you
wasn't aimed as criticism of Talc when
and working conditions. When Johnson was
don't just pay up when you believe the
doing what they were set up to do. The
challenged about it, he refused to answer
PCN was undeserved, then there is a
question was twofold.
and tore his mic off.
good chance that either the Adjudicator
Firstly, should messages about work
But what does Allen Togwell feel about his
will dismiss the ticket and an even bigger
that go out on DaC driver's terminals be
points regarding smart attire and the lower
chance that the council won't proceed,
put out on Tweetalondoncab if the DaC
prices charged by Addison Lee? Presumably
knowing that they haven't a chance. Too
driver is on both? In the case quoted, a
in favour of the former but against the latter.
many drivers just pay up because they
non-DaC driver saw the message put out
At what point will he bite the bullet and
can't be bothered and councils rely on
decide to offer Fixed Prices to all clients?
by a DaC driver on Talc, shot round to
those people to keep their coffers topped
And what about gratuities? I agree with
the Savoy riverside - where you wouldn't
up, which is why they rarely allow a first
those who think they should be scrapped
normally go late at night - and took the
appeal against a ticket no matter how
(Ivor Belkin May Mailshot). Look at it this
job. I have no problem with a non-radio
good the explanation.
way. If getting rid of them generated one
driver passing, seeing the job and taking
Thanks for the Westfield info. Whilst
more job per driver, it would almost
it, but our drivers pay subscriptions and
