Black Taxis - not on, but stopping

rl290

I used to have lots of sympathy with black cabs in London, especially as they spend years doing the knowledge to enter a market against much cheaper LICENSED minicab companies (yes, there are plenty of illegals, but people who are able to afford London black cabs generally book legal minicabs as an alternative).

The problems are:
1) That London black cabs are so expensive. A 10 minute trip will cost £5. I once went from central London to north London and it cost £50 (it was at my company's expense). When I made the return trip, I phoned up a licensed minicab, and it was only £10. Seriously?! I know they have the knowledge, but minicabs have satnavs which in most cases are fine. In most other world capitals (NY, HK, Singapore) cabs are so much cheaper!

2) They are selective about the journeys that they do, even though they are obliged to take you. I've been refused being taken on trips that would cost £30 for the cab, because they want to get a trip to essex for £100. They have a responsibility to offer people journeys, and a lot do not do this.

3) On several times, I've got into cabs at Heathrow, and the drivers have a lot of agro because, after waiting for a fare, they are "only" going to get £50 for taking me to the office in central London. !!!!!!!

Yes, I think cab drivers have an amazing knowledge of London. But their cost is so great as a result that you begin to wonder if the prices offered in, say, New York are the way of the future. Yes, they'll have to use sat nav a bit more, but for a quarter of the price I wouldn't mind.

R

rl290

Mankysteve wrote: »

Iam sure they are allowed to be selective. If a cabbi doesn't want you in his cab I'am sure there allowed to refuse entry just like any other business.

Just to confirm what others have said, they are NOT allowed to refuse you a fare within a certain area (covers most of London and some extremities). It is a requirement of their license (and the number of licenses for black cabs are very limited and competed for).

littlefeet_2

BFG wrote: »

AFAICR they're not allowed to 'be selective' - they are either available or not. They want the cream of the fares and stuff Joe Public.

I think they can be reported for failing to stop if they have their light on. So this seems to be whey they are driving around without the for hire light lit.

I'm not sure it's all about the 'cream' of the fares. My taxi fare isn't very large, but I've never had one that stopped with his light off refuse to carry me. I tend to chat on to the driver, and they've consistently said that they have several hours left on their shifts, so it's not like I've been exceptionally lucky to find ones who are going my way on the way home.

voiceofreason

BFG wrote: »

The issue is that [in London] the licensed taxis HAVE to take you whereever you ask [within x miles of Charing Cross station, but pretty much all of metropolitan London], so it's not a matter of them picking and choosing who they want to give a lift to!!!!!!

They whinge about how difficult it is with all the illegals and how they took x yrs to get the Knowledge/badge and you're not safe with these illegals, then the self-same whingers want to pick and choose who and where they go to.

It's not even that they want to 'go home', they just want 'easy' fares ie short hops where they hit max income. [If they go out in the stix [coz you live there!], they 'have' to come back empty........hence they try to pick and choose.

They get a monopoly on taxis in London, and in return they are supposed to provide a service that the capital can be proud of; instead we have them pi55ing off a lot of people. The illegals wouldn't be there if the black taxis provided the cover that the public expects.


I usually threaten to report the to553rs if they don't put the light on and take me to where I want to go...............seems to focus their mind somewhat. Especially when I suggest several of my friends may also be complaining over the next few months, all direct to the PCO [Public Carriage Office], and explain how it can be done online very easily.

Thye want to have their cake and eat it ie a complete monopoly on taxi work, yet only doing taxi work when and where they want; they can't have it all.

Bang on, mate

before_hollywood

black cabs are expensive compared to private hires, they are round here anyway

ukjoel

Black cabs at airports can spend up to 4 hours waiting to get to the front of the queue. The benefit to them in they dont use up diesel, they spend time with their mates, and their vehicles dont do any miles. That means though that when they get to the front of the queue they cant afford a 5 quid round the corner trip. Which is fair enough.

Why dont you try the one at the back of the queue who has just got there and wont mind doing it and coming back and queuing again.

olly300

BFG wrote: »

I usually threaten to report the to553rs if they don't put the light on and take me to where I want to go...............seems to focus their mind somewhat. Especially when I suggest several of my friends may also be complaining over the next few months, all direct to the PCO [Public Carriage Office], and explain how it can be done online very easily.
.

Don't threaten start reporting them.

If enough of your friends start reporting them they will soon realise they have to stop playing games.

Oh and I generally use minicabs.

And one trick some of my friends' and relations use is to phone the minicab's head office at the airport before getting into the cab to make it legal.

BFG_2

ukjoel wrote: »

That means though that when they get to the front of the queue they cant afford a 5 quid round the corner trip. Which is fair enough.

Why dont you try the one at the back of the queue who has just got there and wont mind doing it and coming back and queuing again.

Airport queues {heathrow anyway] are fairly controlled...if a taxi gets a 'local fare' the attendant gives them a 'pass' to get straight back to the front of the queue...so they don't have to wait another 3 hrs.

Not allowed to use the cars at the back of the rank...it's all controlled.

hollydays

Who are these "ill Eagles " you speak of?

hollydays

littlefeet wrote: »

I've seen taxi drivers drive round Manchester without their for hire lights on. Usually this is about pub/club kicking out time, they seem to be using it to be selective about who they pick up, in case of trouble.

Makes sense to me.