'Going Home' Facility
The new 'going home' facility has now been added to the software that
operates in your terminal. If you would like to access this facility, you
need to input your home zone into the terminal. You can do this by inputting
code 77. This will bring up the form you need and in the optional data you
just enter your home zone ie N4. Entering code 3 will set the operation in
motion. The system will then only offer you any journey going to N4 or it's
backup zones.
If you are offered a journey, then you must accept it. When you
CLJ the trip, the system will then disable your badge for 6 hours. Drivers
may use this facility on the Finsbury Square Rank, but if they try to reject
the journey offered they will immediately have their badge disabled. If you
have an appointment other than in your home zone, you may change the zone
entered, again with code 77.
You may only use the going home code if you have been working continuously
for 8 hours and completed 3 credit rides through the system. Any drivers
found misusing this facility to gain an unfair advantage, could find
themselves subject to a complaint against the Society's procedure rules.
New Terminals.
I must offer my apologies for not always being readily available since
the second week of August. This is due to me having to run backwards and
forwards to our Roman Way depot trying to organise the fitting of the new
terminals that we have on trial.
There are 3 companies vying for the order, they are from Canada, America and
England. The drivers who have them on trial think the display and extra
facilities are wonderful. The clarity and size of the text puts all of our
competitors in the shade. When we have selected one, I can envisage our
waiting list will grow from the 500 we now have on it, to double or triple.
We have the best drivers and we want to supply them with the
very best equipment in the world. I can assure you that the equipment will
be exactly that!
The Westminster Account
There are still many drivers who continue to believe that the
Westminster disabled account has a minimum fare of £8.00. This is untrue,
it is the maximum that Westminster can be charged - plus any night or
weekend charges. Any fare over and above the Westminster charge, has to be
paid direct by the passenger, plus any extras, ie an extra passenger.
Batteries
When presenting your taxi at Roman Way for fitting or repairs, you
must ensure that your taxi battery is in good condition and correctly
filled with distilled water. We are having an increased number of taxis
going into the depot with batteries that are flat due to bad maintenance,
no water and corroded terminals.
These faults will cause the terminal to malfunction and waste the time of
the depot staff. The staff at Roman Way have been instructed to check the
taxi battery on arrival and if there are any faults, the driver will be
asked to rectify any problems before work is carried out.
So please make sure that your batteries are in good condition and this
will save any embarrassment if the fitter refuses to work on your taxi.
Taxi Rage
We are getting an increase in the number of complaints from clients
regarding drivers who have succumbed to 'taxi rage'. We know that the
weather can be unbearable at times - especially when you are trapped in a
taxi due to severe traffic.
Please try and refrain from behaving in this manner, try
counting to 10 before exploding or go to a gym and stick a picture of me
on a punch bag and knock seven bales of s**t out of it.
Editor's note: For the sake of our overseas readers, I should explain that Tom was probably referring to bales of soot...!
The Value of the Logo.
The other afternoon, some of my colleagues and myself had occasion to order
a taxi to pick us up at Marylebone Station. When we came out of the station
exit, there must have been some 20 to 30 taxis in the forecourt, but against
the kerb was a very clean taxi displaying the Dial-a-Cab logos. This example
was to show us how easy it is for our clients to locate their taxi when
coming out onto a busy street or station forecourt.
This is another courtesy shown by many of our drivers to the
clients and also stands them a chance to win a £300 prize every month in
our logo draw.
The Talk of London.
Danny, the PR gentleman from the cabaret restaurant 'Talk of London',
would like to thank the 100 or so drivers and their wives who took up his
free ticket offer. All of these drivers and their wives experienced a
wonderful night out and I only received telephone calls of praise -
something I am not used to! That must mean that Danny and his colleagues
should be on the road to success.
Do not forget that Danny will pay you £7.50 for every client
that you introduce if they decide to spend an entertaining evening at the
Talk of London. That money will come out of the admission price and not
added to the customer's bill, so be assured that your customer will be
delighted with his evening's entertainment and value. For those who don't
know, the evening's entertainment consists of an excellent three course
meal, a first-class cabaret followed by dancing till the early hours. All
that for £39.50 per person.
And don't forget, there is a free draw each month in Call Sign and the
winner gets a table for four at the Talk of London where his only cost will
be for drinks - which are also very reasonably priced for an establishment
of such high calibre. See elsewhere in the mag for details.
Tom Whitbread
