WIN A HOLIDAY TO THE UNITED STATES , WEEKEND BREAKS, TICKETS TO LONDON'S TOP SHOWS, CHAMPAGNE AND LOTS MORE OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS WITH…
Dial-a-Cab and Call Sign have teamed up with leading fortnightly newspaper
The American to offer drivers a host of superb prizes.
There are daily spot prizes that you can ONLY win if you respond by
offering a current copy of THE AMERICAN when asked and then answering a simple question.
Every winner from each fortnightly period will be entered into a prize draw
for a weekend break for two.
Every winner during the complete three month promotion will then be entered
into another draw with the winner picking up a wonderful 10 day holiday for two in the
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You can pick up your copies of THE AMERICAN at the following places: Brunswick House, Herbrand Street, Roman Way, The Piccolo and King's Cross Wash. In addition, on the first day of each new issue, copies will be available from: Victoria, Waterloo and King's Cross stations.
THE AMERICAN: THE FIRST ISSUE’S WINNERS
Congratulations to John Fowell (Y14J) whose not only won a spot prize but whose
name was drawn out first as the first issue’s weekend away prize winner.
Congratulations to the following drivers who collected spot prizes for
offering their passengers a copy of THE AMERICAN. The promotion ends on October 1st
so there are lots of prizes left. Make sure you pick up the latest issues as they are
published.
| John Nathan D86 Terrance Sims A27 Allen Evans W63 Ken Crawford B40 John Fowell Y14 |
G. Morris S49 Moses Gonzalez Y9 E. Cohen A60 Del Windsor K65 |
THE AMERICAN
The American newspaper is published fortnightly and read by US citizens
working or visiting London on business or for a holiday. It keeps Americans up to date
with what is going on back home and how to enjoy London at its best. It includes features
on the British way of life and how to get the most out of being here.
If you have any questions about the promotion or what you have to do to win, call Emma Smith or Susan Murray on 0181 742 3388.
The American Connection
Continued from Page 8
It appears that some drivers resent the idea of being classed as public servants. Why, when it is a fact that you ARE public servants just the same as the police, nurses and fireman etc. Are these people ashamed of their profession? Of course not. And as a body of men and women renowned as being the best and most knowledgeable cab drivers in any city in the world, neither should any of you be ashamed. Every one of you should stand up and be proud of that fact.
COMPLAINTS
As a Board Member, I have chaired numerous complaints meetings involving drivers being
accused of making a job their own, a term which in many instances can be extremely
ambiguous. Such an allegation is even worse for a Board Member and a recent experience
involving myself is a good reason why Board Members are at a disadvantage when doing
credit work. With my old A reg having finally given up the ghost, I was forced to purchase
another cab at a cost of over 8K. I decided that when the opportunity arose, to work the
radio at least enough to pay my subs. Last month I was leaving my home in Blackheath at
aprox 6am as I do most mornings and within minutes of booking into SE3 it offered me a job
from SE3 to NW1 and as it was in the general direction of the office I accepted it.
I didn’t do another radio job that week but the following week I left
home at exactly the same time, booked into SE3 and within minutes it offered me SE3 to NW1
via E14. On picking the passenger up, I discovered it was the same guy from the week
previous and on mentioning this fact to him, he told me he was taking this trip on a
regular basis. On hearing this I decided not to accept the trip if offered again for fear
of someone making an issue of it.
My thoughts were justified because later in the month, I was told by a senior
member of staff that there was a rumour amongst certain drivers that I was doing trips
with prior knowledge. I do two radio trips in nine years and immediately there are sudden
allegations!
ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM
All Board Members and staff who have access to the data system, have access to
pre-bookings. The system can, if required, be programmed to restrict access to certain
data. I am probably the only Board Member that has limited access and it is for no other
reason than I have never requested full access.
Only last month I attempted to give a demonstration of our system to a new
client and because I only had limited access and was unable to show areas such as
pre-bookings, I had to ask Keith Cain to log on and do the demonstration instead. I
mention this not only to prove to those drivers pointing the finger that I am unable to
view pre-bookings, but also in answer as to why I have now abandoned the idea of doing
credit work to cover my subs.
Which brings me back to what constitutes prior knowledge or making a job your
own. I’ve had numerous drivers tell me they refuse jobs that they have done on
several occasions for fear of being put on complaint. Most drivers who have been on the
circuit for some time and who work the same hours, are aware of numerous trips that come
out on a regular basis. In my opinion, provided that the driver does not use the system to
retain an advantageous queue position to claim the trip, then he is perfectly entitled to
accept that journey irrespective of how often he has done it previously.
Allen Togwell
