Page 33
Call Sign July 2011
Mailshot
Needless to say, I didn't get a tip. That was
continued from page 32
no surprise, I would not have expected any-
certainly compensate for any loss and would
thing else from such an a*******.
also be excellent PR.
Brian Marcantonio (R73)
Another bit of PR would be to consign the
Thanks for the email Brian. Your view
booking fee to the bin. I know that cash
seems to suggest that the Call Sign article
and credit card work make up a small pro-
written about Luke Johnson was proba-
portion of our business, but how do poten-
bly correct ...Ed
where he had in excess of 2000
tial customers feel when they learn of the
Managing Directors!
£4.20 run-in plus £2.00 booking fee and oh
Addison Lee accounts
Finally John, regarding new accounts;
yes, if it's a credit card then there's the 12.5%
we are not doing too badly under very
Hello Alan,
handling charge with a £2 minimum.
difficult circumstances because believe
It would be very interesting to see a
I don't charge the booking fee any more.
it or not, in this day of technology we
response from Brian Rice to these Addison
I know it costs me £1.50, but if I'm lucky
open most new accounts via the internet
Lee accounts and for him to give the drivers
enough to get an airport job or a decent one
from our website. You should also bear
on Dial-a-Cab some reassurance that they
in town, then it doesn't mean a lot.
in mind that it is not only what you
have not just bent over and allowed this to
Geoff Levene (K43)
open, but also what you retain and as
happen without trying to safeguard DaC.
Thanks for the letter and info about
you know we have in recent times
Also, how about being informed as to
Luke Johnson Geoff.
retained JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Citi
how the Sales team are doing (if anything )
I could ask Allen Togwell for the views
and extended the 'House' contract for a
or if they even continue to exist.
you've asked for but as he has been asked
further year despite the interest shown
John Stowers (K40)
the same questions so many times
in these accounts by AL.
Brian Rice responds: As you can appre-
before, I can save him the trouble and me
Finally, apologies for being a little
ciate John, I can only respond to what
the job of having to chase him! If we
blunt John, but believe me I have not
you have sent to the magazine, I do not
offered fixed prices and then it gets busy,
stated anything that most sensible taxi
know if the figures are correct or indeed
drivers are not aware of.
it will become very difficult if not
who took on the task of interpreting
Editor's note: Although I passed the
impossible to ever put the prices up
them. However, you did bring a smile to
letter to Brian Rice for his response to
again. And as for the booking fee, why
my face when you stated "...to give the
John Stowers letter, it should be pointed
would anyone ever open an account
drivers on DaC some reassurance that
out that the figures John refers to were
when they can get a credit card cab turn-
they have not just bent over and allowed
taken from the LTDF website and I have
ing up for no fee at all? They'd all move
this to happen without trying to safe-
no way of knowing who the writer was
over to credit cards. As for the cash trips,
guard DaC." Do you mean me or my
and whether the figures are indeed
the money pays for the hire of cash call
members? I suppose you must mean me,
accurate. Part of the website email
takers and as all the circuits charge it
as my members never do anything
(with no name) John forwarded stated:
(they keep the whole £2), customers
wrong - just joking fellas!
ALs turnover and profit rose enormously
know they will be charged it. And, to save
AL is a success story and will continue to
over the year, with a nearly £17 million
Mr T saying it, what we object to isn't the
be so as long as they have access to cheap,
(19%) increase in turnover to £105 million
charge, but having to collect it ...Ed
unskilled labour. You must also bear in
and an almost £1.7 million (94%) increase
mind that their turnover will include car
in profit to£4.23 million. There has been a
And speaking of
rental the drivers pay to the company,
significant shift in the way the three divisions
plus radio fee and insurance - which
- minicabs, insurance and training services
Luke Johnson...
comes to approximately £270 per week
- contributed to this performance. The mini-
and which will vastly inflate their figures.
Dear Alan,
cabs saw a 21% increase in turnover to£101
The biggest difference between our
I think I picked Luke Johnson up a couple
million and a 400% increase in profit to just
radio circuits and the minicab circuits is
of months ago (Risk Capital Partners and
under £5 million. The insurance division
their drivers are prepared to do as they
the taxi trade May Call Sign). I was head-
saw turnover increase by 1% to £3.6 million
are told and taxi drivers are not. For
ing south down Kensington Church Street
and profit increase by 21% to £396,000.
instance; at 2am on a Saturday night
by Vicarage Gate when he hailed me and
Against this, the training division had a
there is a cash ride going from Surrey
asked me to be taken to Emperors Gate.
torrid time last year. Turnover fell by 45% to
Quays to Deptford, we would be very
When we arrived, I asked where he would
£684,000 and went from a 2009 profit of
hard pressed to cover that trip (you
£984,000 to a loss for 2010 of £613,000. So,
like me to stop and he said to "just stop by
know all the reasons as well as I) but a
the training operation pretty much cost £2
that taxi." So I continued driving, hoping to
for every £1 of business it did. It looks like AL
minicab company would cover the trip
see the taxi he was talking about. Then he
have severely slowed down their staff
because the driver would be told to do
started shouting "by the taxi, by the taxi" I
turnover or they are not bothering to give
so. No ifs or buts, it's yours... just do
said what taxi to which he replied: "That
their new drivers even the most basic of
it! That is why they are successful and
taxi!" I still couldn't see it and again asked
training they have given them in the past.
whilst that system prevails, they will
him where it was? Then he pointed and said
However, we cannot escape the fact that AL
continue to be so.
"over there" and was pointing - yes you`ve
have hugely out performed our circuits in
I always find it amazing that many taxi
guessed it by an AL car. I said that was
2010 and they are not far off being a bigger
drivers compare us to minicab circuits
not a taxi and that although they try to be
concern than our circuits combined.
and love to 'talk up' minicabs to the
taxis, they haven`t got the balls or brains to
detriment of the taxi radio circuits as if
do what I had done, ie The Knowledge. He
Call Sign Online
minicabs know what they are doing and
went into a building where they have faith
we don't. Well it's not true, they just
Dear Sir
healers and quacks probably like AL, they
operate under a different set of 'easier'
My name is Millie Bruce and I'm a regular
want to be doctors but...
rules. I would just love for John Griffin
reader of Call Sign online. I'd like to thank
It seems he uses people who do things by
of AL to endeavour to run DaC for a year.
you for the excellent information I've found
half measures, ie AL quacks etc. In the arti-
I wonder what would 'give' first - JG or
at dac-callsign.com; it's always a great
cle, you mention he uses AL because he
the members of DaC? My money would
pleasure to read your articles and I have
claims they are better value. Funny that, why
be on JG giving way first. I do not
subsequently become a loyal reader.
did he hail me? Is it because AL`s minimum
believe he could possibly run a business
I live in Banffshire, Scotland where I try to
charge is £13 - £15 and I took him for £6-40?
