Mailshot is your chance to tell the
subscribers of Dial-a-Cab exactly what you think. Complaints, compliments or just to write
about Call Sign. This is YOUR paper within your magazine....
You can also email your letters to: callsignmag@aol.comPERIMETER
CHANGE
Would it be possible to change the perimeters for NW1W and NW1E? Recently I
was on the Marylebone Station rank and was offered a multiple choice job. As it was a
multi, the pick-up point was not on the trip offer just the book-in zone (NW1W). I
accepted the job and received details. The pick-up was Hawley Crescent. From the station
to the pick-up point could very easily take 15 or 20 minutes at peak traffic times and
certainly £3.80 at any time would not cover the run-in. It would make more sense if NW1W
was the area west of a line drawn from the bottom of Avenue Road through the park to York
Gate and everything east of this line to be NW1E. Or failing this, anything in the park on
the Outer Circle NW1W, anything east and outside the park NW1E.
Eddie Lambert (V27)
Keith Cain replies: I am not against making or proposing any changes to the system.
Isolated incidences do not warrant major changes, but we should show some flexibility in
our operation. However, if this is not an isolated incident then we will try to do
something constructive about it.
UPSIDE-DOWN LOGIC
The last issue of Call Sign was excellent. Geeze, yer don't muck around in
your letters column, mate. Talk about upholding the right to free speech, I've never seen
so vibrant a letters column. It's a real credit to you. Not too many editors would stand
toe to toe with their readers the way you do. I reckon some of your correspondents took
lessons from the Marquess of Queensberry about the same time they took up pencilling. Is
it a mandatory prerequisite for letter writers to Call Sign?
I'll tell you what, it makes Call Sign far and away the pre-eminent taxi mag
anywhere in the English speaking world. I had to restrict it to the English-speaking
world, cos I can't read the others!
John Lanigan
Victoria Taxi Association
New South Wales, Australia
I’m surprised anyone from Oz can even read English through the
fog of all that Fosters amber nectar. In the meantime, I assume that letters such as the
following are what you are referring to…Ed
ALL WHITE ON THE NIGHT - AGAIN!
Your Lordship,
Please accept my humble apologies for not understanding the conditions for writing to Call
Sign under your Editorship:
A/…Only write nice things about Dial-a-Cab
B/…Believe everything you read as the truth when written by:
i…The Editor.
ii…The Board of Management.
iii…Any driver saying nice things.
C/…Keep it short.
I hope this letter doesn’t take up too much of your time as I didn’t realise
that you didn’t get paid for your efforts! Perhaps when you understand about your
budget, expenditure and advertising revenue, you will be able to negotiate a better deal
from the Management. The fact that there is no issue in February should not reflect on the
Society’s fortunes. However, I hope you will forgive me for my confused state of
mind, particularly in light of the Chairman’s latest report which seems to agree with
me in suggesting a ‘…non-executive elected Board and possibly four executives
employed by DaC to carry out those policies on a day-to-day basis which would help to give
us the continuity that we need in order for this company to continue to flourish in the
future.’
Perhaps Brian Rice has been reading Ascough’s report?! (Maybe you should
try it!).Although it would go against the grain for you, would it be possible for the
Chairman to confirm (rather than you answering me!) whether he intends to employ four
qualified professionals to fill the roles of the executives or will it be jobs for the
boys?
PS…Being the lone voice is a bit like peeing in the wind, occasionally it
blows back leaving a nasty taste in the mouth. However, I have always acted in the best
interest of the Society and my conscience is clear. I have never put forward my view for
monetary gain, favour or ego - I desire no increase in ‘political’ status, just
a belief that the service I provide be marketed and sold properly.
Mark White ((B86)
Brian Rice replies:
First of all, I would like to make the point that the way in which you address the Editor
in the above letter is a disgrace and it shows the membership the type of person you
really are.
|
My first dealings
with you were approximately three years ago when you re-applied to rejoin the society
after you had left. You could not get back quick enough after it had become apparent to
you that life was easier being a member of DaC! God-how you drove me mad for a priority
fitting, as I was dealing with new drivers then. If only I knew then what I know now -
what a pest you are! As I have told you before to your face, you are a fully grown man
with a five-year-olds brain and I do not like you - something I again have told you to
your face. You saw at the AGM that you have virtually no support as less than 5% of the
membership voted for you, so are you now trying to repay them by boring them to death?
How dare you purport that you instigated the idea of a non-executive elected
board. That idea was being discussed when you were not even a member of this society and
when you ask whether I am going to employ four qualified professionals, even you must
realise that the responsibility must fall to outside advisers so as to avoid small-minded
people intimating that it was jobs for the boys.
Alan Fisher has sole discretion regarding the content of Call Sign but I can
tell him now that I will not answer your letters in the mag in future as I will not be
responsible for boring my members to death and to give you a platform that you do not
deserve. I will correspond directly to you, as I want the magazine to be widely read and
not discarded.
You have never had it so good as you have it now, more jobs per mobile,
cheapest subs, highest minimum fare, largest surpluses ever, so don't give me any of your
rubbish. We don't run a dictatorship here, so if we are as bad as you say, you are free to
leave at any time... DIAL-A-CAB EVERYWHERE
Please pass on my thanks to Doreen in the Welfare Department for the beautiful plant that
was sent to me during my illness.
I thought you would be interested in this article that I came across in the
doctor’s waiting room. It was from a magazine called SAGA and dated August 1998 and
shows that DaC seems to get mentioned everywhere:
Brian McKenzie (A63)
The article was too long to reprint, but came from the magazine’s problem page
and was in answer to someone who was scared to use licensed cabs as she didn’t know
how much to tip the drivers! The reply was that regular ‘black cab’ companies
"such as Dial-a-Cab" provide account facilities where tipping is included.
Otherwise they suggested 10% but never less than 20p. The article ended with a story from
journalist Cyril Ray. He tells of once writing an article beginning: "The best
tippers are journalists, Jews and prostitutes" whereupon his Editor immediately
struck it out fearing offence being caused. "But" said Cyril, "I’m a
journalist and a Jew myself and I’m not offended." "Well" said his
Editor, "the prostitutes might object!"…Ed
BEST JOBS
Each month how about listing the best 10 jobs from the previous month
without identifying the client, the driver or the price?
Ron Pummell (R52J)
Keith Cain replies: While I can understand the interest, I do not
feel that publicly differentiating between one job and another in print is a road we
should go down. After all, many would say that the best job you could get is one going
round the corner carrying a minimum fare.
INCENTIVES TO WORKI have just read the article about the
Christmas drivers’ incentive winners (March Call Sign). I would like to
congratulate those drivers for their efforts. I’m glad that someone was carrying our
clients around while I stayed at home at Christmas playing with my kids and giving them a
happy Christmas - have you ever tried to put together a train set while getting a Sony
Play Station to work at the same time! I’m sure that my wife was glad of my company
over Christmas and the new year as well.
As we all know, next Christmas leads onto the Millennium and I’m sure
that all banks will want their staff to come in through fear of computer bug problems and
if we go into the Euro that could be a 1st of January change-over too if it
happens. If I don’t work over Christmas, I won’t win any incentive competition
and working on New Year’s Eve for one night’s takings - even if it is easy - is
not enough for me.
PS… Sorry for the hand writing. Perhaps my kids will ask me for a word
processor next Christmas. Thank you for Call Sign. I do enjoy it…
Jon Robinson (E88) |
I agree with you Jon. If you can stay with
your family over those holidays then great. But people will still need cabs and if an
incentive helps to provide coverage, then fine. Incidentally, I wonder whether it may be a
sensible idea for ALL the radio circuits to get together and levy the same minimum’s
for Millennium Eve. Any comments?… Ed THE WHOLE KIT AND CABOODLE
I was more than pleased when a driver stopped me recently in Chelsea and
said how much he enjoyed reading my ‘Mind Your Language’ column in Call Sign and
that, as I was an ‘expert’ on words and phrases, could I explain to him the
origin of the phrase ‘the whole kit and caboodle.’ I had to admit that I didn't
know, but promised to find out. So here for that very nice, polite driver is the answer.
In Holland, the Dutch word for your effects or belongings was boedel. Thieves
and robbers gradually adopted the term addressing anything they had stolen as boedel. In
addition, they would carry their burglars tools in a bag known as a kit. So if they robbed
a house and made a clean getaway, they could have been said to have had the ‘whole
kit and boedel.’ However, as the letters ca in Dutch meant kit, it was just
known as ca-boedel, but as a lot of people didn’t understand the term, they re-added
the word kit for more effect and it gradually became kit and caboodle.
The only trouble is that now I’ve now got one less item to fill my
column with!
Bernie Pressman
‘Mind Your Language’
GREETINGS FROM PARIS
May I say how much I enjoyed acting as a guide for Call Sign on it’s
recent trip to Paris. I hope that Caroline, Denise, Brian and Alan enjoyed the day as much
as I did.
Jean-Claude Lanot
Paris
See centre page story…Ed
SPEEDO PROBLEM?
Has any Fairway owner had a problem with their mileometer stopping
precisely on 100,000 miles necessitating a replacement of the speedo head at a cost of
around £150? If so, could you please contact John Able on 01328 830828 - weekends
preferably.
John Able (M31)
FREESERVE / FREENET?
Re Anna Constaninou’s problem with FreeServe: If you can’t log
on, try another ISP. I am running FreeNet, FreeServe and BT. Try FreeNet as I am
connecting at 48,000, which is faster than Free Serve.
Glyn Williams (K28)
THE THOUGHTS OF SID
I would like to make a suggestion - if the Chairman will accept it - that
on any one given day of the week for any consecutive period of two hours in the afternoon,
the Chairman’s diary should be kept totally clear and that the whole period be
allocated for drivers to ring in with any complaints, compliments or suggestions. You
could then get an immediate answer.
I don’t want to know about any meetings he has had with the bank
manager, the doctor, our biggest client or even David Clegg! Just two hours a week is all
I ask!
Please Mr Editor, get me an answer straight away. Will he do it?
Secondly, I was very annoyed to read the letter from Reg Carpenter (March
Call Sign) on his views for the next fare increase. Where he suggests that the meter
should start at £1.80 or £2.00 I have no problem, but where I disagree is when he
mentions that the fare to Heathrow Airport is "already £30+" and that we
can’t compete with minicabs. The return trip alone costs about £6 in diesel and the
time taken for the return trip means that you will be almost working at a loss by charging
less!
And that is before taking into account the usual factors such as
depreciation, road tax, insurance and general repairs including the overhaul. If Mr
Carpenter wants to do the ride cheaper, either let him put a sign in his cab window saying
Heathrow £20 by appointment to HM the Queen or become a minicab driver!
Sid Nathan (K88)
Brian Rice replies: Sorry Sid, but I am not in a position where I could ever
guarantee to be around for two hours on a particular day. However, I do not live in a
fortress and am happy to speak to drivers on the phone or see them personally - although
in the latter case, it might save a wasted journey if you make an appointment.
SPELL IT OUT, ALASTAIR
The finance manager’s report (March Call Sign) says much but
tells us little. The subject of mergers has been well publicised in the national media and
surprise, surprise, most of us do read newspapers, watch news on TV and listen to the
radio. It does appear that there could be a reduction in the |
