October 2015 | Taxi News

Urgent Statement From The UCG, Re Renewal Delay And Possible Class Action For Compensation

by News Desk | Oct 30, 2015 | London News

It is obvious from the constant phone calls emails texts and tweets we are receiving now on a daily basis at the United Cabbies Group that the debacle of the CRB / DBS checks continues, Existing Cab Drivers worried sick that their licence has or is about to run out, and Knowledge Boys who are being delayed from getting their badges.

In July 2015 we contacted Liberty asking them if they could help us in any way with the problems being created by the Metropolitan Police who would seem to be the main protagonist in the broken CRB / DBS system. After many emails and phone calls at the end of August 2015 to our great delight we were told by Liberty that they felt Drivers Human Rights were being violated and subject to enough evidence being found they had been allocated a budget to issue legal proceedings against the Met Police.

We were asked by Liberty not to tweet or put this out on any website or Trade Magazine as they felt that it would warn the Met what was about to take place and there was also a possibility that an awful lot of misinformation could be forwarded by people trying to get this shut down, We then put Liberty in touch with all of the other Trade Orgs and apart from Unite who did not want to get involved ALL agreed to email their members.

At the beginning of this Month an email was forwarded by Liberty to ALL Trade Orgs which the UCG emailed to all its Members, about a week later Liberty informed us that the response to their email had been very tepid, and felt that maybe we had exaggerated the scale of the problem. As a result we made enquiries and confirmed via several UCG Members who are also Members of the other Orgs that whilst we could confirm RMT Members had received Liberty’s email LCDC and LTDA Members had not. We were then informed that the LCDC and the LTDA were stating they had never received the original Liberty email, as a result the email was sent to both Orgs again.

In case there have been further mishaps in the distribution of Liberty’s email we would ask any Driver or Knowledge boy immaterial whether in an Org or not that wishes to provide in strictest confidence information relating to delays by CRB / DBS to contact the UCG direct via email to admin@ucglondon.org.uk or direct message to @UnitedCabbies on twitter or call 020 7100 5206 and we will forward the Liberty email to you no strings.

If Liberty gets the information they need to go ahead and they get a ruling against the Met this will leave a possible opportunity for compensation claims in the future

We will have one shot at this People please do not waste it !!

Steve Mepham

UCG

Uber reportedly, spending ‘hundreds of thousands’ of dollars a day offering discounted fares.

by News Desk | Oct 30, 2015 | London News

Is Uber Getting Ubered?

Uber is said to be planning to try and raise another billion dollars on top of the $8 billion it has already raised.

It’s said, Uber is looking to raise its new funding round at a valuation of $60 billion to $70 billion. Its last funding round in July was done at a valuation of $50 billion.

Apparently Uber tells investors that the ultimate game plan is to become a delivery service like Fedex – using private cars to deliver parcels, shopping and meals.

However it does not appear to have had any success with this aspect of its business.

To get into the China market, Uber is, reportedly, spending ‘hundreds of thousands’ of dollars a day offering discounted fares.

In August, leaked financial documents showed operating losses of more than $100 million in The second quarter of 2014

Rio de Janiero has declared the service illegal, London is looking tighter regulations and a couple of execs are being tried in France in a case deferred till February. Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam are considering regulation while numerous cities are investigating the controversial service.

TfL’s Report On In Cab Mandatory Credit Card Payment Facility.

by News Desk | Oct 30, 2015 | London News

We did try to warn you. We said “be careful what you wish for.”

Reports of alleged secret meetings between certain credit card machine suppliers and TfL were all over social media.

Taxi Leaks gave full details of the CC consultation.

We also predicted the outcome, should apathy see drivers not bothering to fill it in.

Well, it appears that only 538 taxi drivers out of a possible 25,000, were bothered enough to reply and now the writing is on the wall.

The consultation results are at this moment being collated. TfL will now do as they like, as usual.

As we predicted, TfL are stipulating only approved equipment will be allowed.The major machine suppliers are allegedly rubbing their hands at he news, card payment machines are to be fitted mandatory, under the conditions of fitness regulations. At present, equipment is offer free (under certain terms and conditions). But will this situation change in the near future, when the equipment finally becomes compulsory in every vehicle?

As TfL seem to love a statistic, we would point out, at present over 66 % of the major CC payment equipment suppliers add a surcharge of 10% to passenger accounts. We also predict TfL will be taking active steps to see the driver paying any surcharge, as they feel the customer should only have to pay the meter price.

Again it will be the driver, who will be forced to pay a premium to a third party.

The email below has been sent out to most of the people who filled in the consultation, leaving a valid email address.

Already, you can see TfL starting to spin the consultation replies to fit with their own agenda.

Dear Sir/Madam,

We recently consulted on proposals for passengers to pay by credit or debit cards for their journeys in taxis. Thank you to all those who took part

We received 1,097 responses to the consultation. 49 per cent of respondents (538) identified themselves as taxi drivers – 45 per cent of these were All London drivers (497) and 4 per cent were Suburban drivers (41). 27 per cent of respondents (300) were taxi users.

(That means that almost 256, approx 25% of those filling in the consultation were neither Taxi drivers or Taxi users. Should this not make the consultation null and void?)

86 per cent of respondents (939) supported the introduction of card payments in all taxis in London, with 68 per cent of respondents (743) supporting contactless payments.

(But how many of these 939/743 replies were from non Taxi drivers/users ? If you were to take away the ‘non Taxi drivers/users’, would this show a different result percentage wise?)

We are now reviewing the consultation responses and hope to announce a decision on any changes in early 2016. We will contact you again once a decision has been made.

(Looking at the legal implications contained in the full report found by clicking link below, it seems to us a decision has already been made !)

A copy of the full consultation report and our response to issues raised can be found here >Click Here<

If you have any questions on the consultation, please contact me at consultations@tfl.gov.uk

Yours sincerely,
Gary Murphy
Transport for London
Consultation Team.

Lets have a close look at the legal implications contained in this TfL report, posted on their website on the 22nd of this month.

‘In order to enable passengers to be able to pay by credit and debit card in all licensed taxis it will be necessary to introduce a new requirement that taxi drivers must have an approved card payment device in their taxi when working -and- that device must meet the minimum requirements approved by TfL‘

Funny, when we leaked this information a few months back, we were shouted down by certain third parties who have a conflict of interest. We were also accused of trying to start malicious, untrue rumours !

The legal implications announcement goes on to state:

‘This will be included as a requirement in the Conditions of Fitness, which set out the requirements that all vehicles must comply with to be approved for use as a taxi in London or for the taxi licence to be renewed.

The existing guidelines on electronic payment devices in taxis will also be updated to include the new requirements and all devices will still have to comply with these guidelines – companies wanting their devices to be approved will still be required to contact TfL and submit evidence confirming that their devices meets the relevant standards and also demonstrate where it would be fixed inside a taxi. The Cab Order will also need to be amended to make acceptance of card payments a condition of taxi driver licences.

A new policy will be published setting out what points will be considered and potential action taken when a complaint is received about a taxi driver refusing to accept a credit or debit card payment or not having a working credit or debit card payment device that complies with the relevant requirements.

Where a taxi driver is found to be using a taxi that is not fitted with an approved card payment device then the driver will be advised that the vehicle cannot be used as a licensed taxi until an approved card payment device has been fitted and this has been checked by an authorised officer or someone authorised to carry out this check on TfL’s behalf.’

Before this is finalised, perhaps TfL would like to inform the trade just what they consider to be an approved Card Payment system!

Perhaps TfL would care to explain further if/how they intend to make card payment acceptance mandatory, as at present the law (as it stands) doesn’t allow this. TfL say they will make it part of the conditions of licensing of the driver.

Freedom of choice:

Although it is our policy that more drivers should take card payments, we believe it must remain voluntary. We also firmly believe that drivers should be free to choose which system of clearance they want to use.

Verifone, TaxiWorld, CabVision, CabApp, iZettle, PayPall, Hand Held, Radio Circuits and other Smart Phone Apps are all viable options to most drivers and that’s how it should stay.

There must be no cartel formed:

Which could then manipulate rentals and surcharges.

Taxi Leaks roving reporters have been carrying out a covert survey, talking to and observing drivers on ranks. Our results, based on the figures returned, show that 7 out of 10 drivers now have some means of clearing card payments, be it machine or smartphone based.

Over the last year, there has been a positive escalation in card payments acceptance which will continue to expand.

Boris Johnson on Uber: City Hall owes London black cabbies

by News Desk | Oct 21, 2015 | London News

Boris Johnson, mayor of London, said the state has a duty to protect black cabbies in their war against the taxi-hailing app Uber because they “have been told that they, and they alone, will be able to ply for hire on the streets”.

Uber drivers, of which there are more than 15,000 in London, have private hire licences and are classed as minicabs. The city’s 22,500 black cab drivers have taxi licences and are regulated more heavily. They must stick to strict rules on their vehicles, which govern things such as emissions and disability access.

But they are also given privileges, such as the exclusive use of taximeters, because they have taken “The Knowledge”, which tests comprehensively a diver’s understanding of the city’s roads and routes. So black cab drivers were furious after the High Court ruled that the Uber app does not breach taximeter rules because it does not itself calculate fares. The app sends data to Uber servers in the US, where the fare is then calculated based on journey time and distance travelled.

“The fundamental distinction between a black cab and a minicab […] has been obliterated by technology,” Johnson said at the CityLab conference in central London, where he was joined by the former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“It’s unfair on the black cabs who have consecrated their lives to the study of routes and who have special vehicles and who in return for that very great expenditure they have made on their vehicles have been told that they, and they alone, will be able to ply for hire on the streets.

“So the question is how to strike a balance which respects what’s happened to the cab drivers and try to help them where you can, but also reflects the fact that technology is out there. It’s changed. You can’t put the genie back in the bottle. People want Uber and there are more than a million users of Uber here in London.

“Since the days of Oliver Cromwell, the black Hackney carriage trade had been regulated and governed by the state. Now if the state is going to do that to these people then they’ve got a duty I think to try and manage [the change].”

Uber London — In London, war is waging between black cabbies and the Uber serviceGetty Images

Johnson also said there were congestion problems to think about. He blamed Uber for a sharp rise in the number of minicabs entering central London’s congestion zone. The mayor, who is also an MP after being elected at the 2015 general election, said two years ago just one in 100 vehicles in the congestion zone was a minicab – now it is one in ten.

Bloomberg challenged Johnson, arguing that Uber was simply meeting demand and that they may well be displacing other vehicles. The billionaire founder of the Bloomberg empire said the taxi industry should be opened up to market forces and competition to the benefit of consumers.

He also suggested the Uber technology is beneficial to cab drivers because it allows them to rate their clients. “So when you go on Uber and hit the ‘get me a car’ button, Uber drivers in the neighbourhood see whether you are a good client or a bad client, and they rush to take very good clients,” Bloomberg said. “All of a sudden, if you’re an asshole you’re not going to get a cab.”

Despite overcoming the High Court challenge, Uber is facing a new threat from Transport for London, which governs the city’s minicab system. TfL is consulting on a number of measures that would crack down on Uber, including forcing its drivers to wait at least five minutes before picking up a fare – the current average is three minutes – and forcing them to take bookings up to seven days in advance. Uber does not offer an existing pre-booking service.

Source: International Business Times

The London Taxi Company unveils next generation ZEC Black Cab & announces further UK R&D investment

by News Desk | Oct 21, 2015 | London News, World News

British cultural icon re-created for modern era
London’s next generation taxi revealed in the presence of Chinese President and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Intention to invest additional £50m to expand new R&D facility in Ansty

October 21, 2015

The London Taxi Company (LTC) today unveiled the new design for its next generation zero emission capable Black Cab, the TX5, at a VIP event celebrating creative industries and design held at Lancaster House, London, as part of the state visit to the UK by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The TX5 design concept captures the spirit of past generations of LTC models such as the Fairway series and draws on more than sixty years of style that has made the Black Cab an iconic sight on the streets of London. While maintaining recognisable key features, the new zero emission capable TX5 has been updated to reflect the needs of today’s passengers and the move towards a low-carbon economy. The prototype of the new model was unveiled in the presence of the Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a four-day state visit to the UK, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

In addition to a new light-weight aluminium body structure and composite panelling, the TX5 benefits from a range extended battery electric vehicle system ensuring no range anxiety and offering the reliability required by London’s Black Cab drivers. Whilst TX5 retains the iconic London Taxi styling, all its 2,000 components have been designed from the ground up, incorporating the latest and best of technologies.

The TX5 has been designed with an overriding focus on the comfort of passengers and drivers. As well as accommodating six passenger seats and featuring improved driver leg room, the TX5 also heralds the return of the rear-hinged door to improve passenger access and, for the first time on a Black Cab, a panoramic glass roof. It has sufficient space for a forward facing wheelchair, helping to meet the travel needs of those with mobility issues. The TX5 is also equipped with WiFi internet capability and provides charging points for drivers and passengers in line with London’s reputation as a hub for tech innovation and connectivity on-the-go.

LTC’s parent company, the leading Chinese automotive manufacturer Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, also announced its intention to invest an additional £50 million in its state-of-the-art greenfield production facility in Ansty, Warwickshire, to turn the site into the group’s UK R&D headquarters. This will bring total investment in the new site to £300 million. If people need the best equity loans for land, they can click on the link here!

At 31,000 square metres, the Ansty facility will now be 50% larger than originally planned to accommodate the enhanced R&D centre and additional technical facilities alongside the production line to build the new TX5. In addition there will 6,000 square meters of office space.

Li Shufu, founder and chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group said: “We will have invested many years of development and more than £300 million in bringing the TX5 to market. This is testament to Geely’s commitment to the UK and The London Taxi Company, and demonstrates our leading position on new energy technologies, our loyal and talented workforce and our competitive edge when it comes to delivering pioneering design and technology. At the same time we are happy to play a part in furthering Sino-Anglo relations by investing in the UK and strengthening business and governmental ties between the two nations”.

Peter Johansen, CEO of The London Taxi Company said: “We are hugely excited to be unveiling the TX5 prototype design for the first time and in such high company. The new vehicle has a wealth of new features, which will all be tried and tested and then tested again to provide a perfect balance of timeless design driven by ground-breaking technology”.

Designing a British Icon

The new vehicle was designed at Geely’s design centre in Barcelona, led by British designers Peter Horbury and David Ancona and supported by a 200-strong team of engineers and designers based in the UK. Before Joining Geely, Mr. Horbury was Chief Designer at Volvo Car Corporation and prior to that he was head of design at Ford in Detroit..

He said: “We were acutely aware of the huge responsibility that comes with introducing a new generation of design for what is already an instantly recognisable and iconic vehicle. We wanted to retain those aspects that make the London taxi what it is and what it stands for, while ensuring that the new design reflects everything that a 21st Century vehicle needs to be.

“We have sought to build on existing features such as the headlights, grille and strong roof lines. But we have also made sure that the new vehicle significantly builds on space and comfort levels for both passengers and drivers.”

Ansty is the first new vehicle production facility to be built in the UK for more than 10 years. Ground breaking on the site took place in August this year and the new facility will begin trial production in 2016. The new Ansty site will work on nine potential product variants, including light commercial vehicles that could be developed for LTC and the Geely group. The investment will create more than 1,000 jobs and around 500 additional jobs in the supply chain.

The TX5 will be launched in the UK at the end of 2017 and across international markets in 2018.

Source: The London Taxi Company