Mailshot
Page 35
Call Sign February 2012
continued from page 34
I have written about admin charges
then be registered. Even companies could
Competition winner
before and I said then, if we did not charge
join paying a bigger fee if they have lots of
Hi Alan
any admin we could increase work. But,
staff and maybe we could offer fixed
I would just like to say how thrilled I was to
the loss of charges would have to be made
prices on longer journeys. No more scrubs
have won the Christmas competition in Call
up from somewhere else. Subscription
because the wrong contact number was
Sign. The £500 came in very handy so close
charges is the only other income we have
put on the booking form. We give them an
to Christmas.
and it would be the subs that would have
ex-directory phone number and no book-
Jackie Franklin
to increase to meet the running costs of
ing fee. Drivers could have a small scrub of
DaC Contact Centre
the Society. They could increase to double
perhaps £4 taken from the registration fee
Taxi stories?
what they are now. Even if we did not
and a number 1 queue position if can-
charge an admin on the longer trips,
celled - some incentive to cover cash trips.
Dear Sir
which give us a high return, we would still
Of course `one number' and occasional rid-
I am contacting you to ask if your drivers
have to look at the driver to pick up the
ers could still be charged the booking fee.
would be interested in assisting a project to
shortfall or recover the difference by
Sixth question: I would like to see a rule
create a book about London cab drivers' expe-
undertaking more minimum price trips.
change saying that new members must
riences of London. Stacey Publishing are look-
attend their first AGM. This may help
As for Jon's suggestion of a cash club, it
ing for anecdotes from drivers either about
newer members see how some of us care,
would be interesting for Jon to survey his
bizarre or amusing journeys they may have
even help them feel they belong and
passengers to see if they would sign up to
had, people they have met, or an impression or
aspire them to fetch their own ideas for-
something like this. He states that bigger
insight into London from a cab driver's per-
ward. If you want to help me with this
companies could join paying a bigger fee if
spective. The nature of the book would be a
Rule change, please let me know.
they have lots of staff. Sorry Jon, but I
compilation of short tales or scenes, produced
Seventh and last one: What would the
thought the exercise here was to reduce
in collaboration with an illustrator to amuse
BoM and you drivers want as a long-term
the customers costs. Or, have I missed
readers with an insight into the role of a
business plan for DaC? Putting our heads
something.
London cab driver. The black cab is an iconic
in the sand and waiting for this recession
Jon mentions that he would like to see
feature on the London landscape and it would
to end is not a plan. I hope I've got you
some rule changes made. As a member he
be lovely to produce a book from the drivers'
thinking. All I want is to be offered more
has every right to put those rule changes.
viewpoint of London.
radio trips please...
Just follow the requirement stated in the
Is there a way that Dial-a-Cab drivers could
Jon Robinson (E88)
rule book and good luck with them...
be told about this project so that they could
Jon, as the original Editorial made clear,
send their stories in? It would be wonderful
the subject was put in as a discussion item
ECO training
to have their support in this project! They
and was nothing to do with the BoM or
My thanks to Call Sign for organising the
can contact me on cottia.staceyinternation-
any upcoming policy change. It also spoke
free ECO training lessons. It was a very
al@gmail.com.
of buying another taxi company to double
well spent 90 minutes and something I
Many thanks...
our numbers before mentioning anything
have already found to be useful.
Cottia Thorowgood, London W8
about a PH company purchase. Under our
Jon Trevor (W94)
system we can't do that, we can only be
Pleased you liked it Jon. I believe there are
taken over ...Ed
still a few freebies left but once they have
Keith Cain responds to the rest of Jon's
gone then the training course will have to
letter...
be paid for, so get in quick. Details inside
Jon talks a lot about changing the way
this issue ...Ed
we dispatch work to improve coverage. I
am sorry to say the only reason why we
Found him!
have coverage problems in any zone is
Hi Alan
because drivers reject trips. Putting in
I wonder if you could help me, I am look-
more ranks will not encourage drivers to
ing for a John Addis who I used to work
accept trips they just don't want. Neither
with in the 1960s-70s at John Swains print-
would adding additional zones to the EC
ers of Shoe Lane London. I noticed that
areas. Why would a driver in a back-up
there are two John Addis, one call sign
zone to the city accept a trip that does not
N26, the other K97 that have written
go very far, because these are the only
replies about various articles in your mag-
trips that would reach these zones? All the
azine. If either one is the one I am looking
rest, the longer trips, will be snapped up.
for, would It be possible for you to contact
It also does not matter if trips are with a
him with my email address? I would really
destination or as directed, drivers will not
appreciate it if you could. It would be
accept them if they don't want them.
good to know how life has been for him
Those type of messages which inform
after all these years.
drivers when trips will fire out, are not
Thank you...
sent to encourage drivers to book in incor-
David Warren
rectly, they are sent to encourage drivers
First time lucky; it was N26 and his email
who are physically in that zone but are
has been passed across. Nice to be able to
booked into other zones where they are
help ...Ed
nowhere near, to book in correctly.
