Taxi Drivers Protest

[joeluke]

........at an app which stops them from ripping punters off

Anyone actually feel sorry for them?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2654737/Fears-chaos-London-drivers-join-protest-phone-app-allows-users-hail-cabs.html

[weecalf]

I like taxi they should be running the country.Taxi for weecalf

[pixie373]

I saw this briefly on the news this morning. Thanks for the link. Even after reading it, I'm a bit confused. Taxi drivers are saying it's illegal because they have to be pre-booked. So either the app is legal, or it isn't?

[ToraToraTora]

well perhaps they'll be a bit less "sorry mate not going that way this time of night"!

[SirOracle]

Yes they maintain this system is illegal, but it will soon be tested in the courts.
This new system is not only in London,but all over Europe.

The company behind this illegal system is google and other large conglomerates,none of whom are noted for paying tax in this country,or indeed in any country.

[rockyracoon]

I would imagine by using the app you are pre booking just as if you've made a phone call. Not much sympathy for them here.

[black_cat51]

sir oracle - your post is contradictory - you point out it's not been tested in the courts, yet go on to assert it is illegal.

[murraymints]

Black cabs can join in too if they so wish....bit of healthy competition if you ask me !

[rockyracoon]

Absolutely MM.

There's more than few black cab drivers living here in the burbs and when asked how works going they all say the same thing and have done for years

"On the floor mate, on the floor"

It's a standing joke.

[Gromit]

Uber Technologies are not run by tax avoiders Google and Goldman Sachs. They have invested in the company, because it is a good idea.

Every other walk of life has been disrupted by modern technology, so why should taxi drivers remain immune? The app makes travel easier for the commuter, and the public seemingly want to use it. The legislation is outdated, and the regulation of taxis is from a different era.

Just like modern technology broke the print unions, modern technology has caught up with the taxi driving profession, and like Canute, they cannot turn back the tide.

[SirOracle]

Healthy competition Murramints. Join our scheme and we will pay you, eventually, MINUS 20%.

We will see shortly just how legal the courts deem this to be.

[SirOracle]

Gromit It may just make it easier,but will it make it safer ?

[youngmafbog]

Wont make it less safe wil it?

No sympathy for them

[Gromit]

Sir Oracle,

The law will be changed. It is in the interest of the consumer.

Current legislation does not take into account the possibilities of modern technology. It is out of date and will have to change.

[Gromit]

Sir Oracle,

Not sure taxis drivers have an unblemished safety record despite all the checks. I don't think taxis drivers concerns are to do with the safety of customers, they have notoriously fought every bit of legislation designed to make their cabs safer and accessible to all.
No, they are concerned with maintaing the Status Quo because it suits them, not because of concerns for customers.

But thanks for the laugh about taxi drivers and paying full tax.

[Baldric]

Live opposite the 'Stud Hill' private estate in N/Kent, lots of Black Cab Drivers in there (So Cockney it hurts Guv!) will have to see what the word on the street is!

[murraymints]

This was discussed in some depth on Jeremy vine' s show....both drivers participating and customers were more than happy, black cab drivers were the only complainants...but then they could join in as I already said...had too much control of the market too long..imho...

[pixie373]

They can hardly complain if they can just join in!

[askyourgran]

I feel sorry for them too. It's one thing to have your living taken away from you, and it's another having a possibly illegal unlicensed driver taking it from you. Taxi licences cost money, plus the professional driver is the safer ride altogether, natch the customer will want the cheapest deal and not be thinking of the conseqences of a possibly dangerous vehicle or equally a dangerous driver.

[joeluke]

I used to work as an admin assistant for HMRC, data entering tax returns etc and you could guarantee that whenever you saw the words 'taxi driver' as the profession on the forms that their self-assessed tax for that year would be either a minimal amount or zero (I think they used to fill the total earnings box in first - which was usually exactly their tax allowance for that year funnily enough - and then work backwards filling in the rest of the form so that everything added up nicely)

[murraymints]

Joe I worked in LP25 revenue...exactly the same !!