Taxi Driver Online

Sometimes in life we dont always get what we want, you obviously are dying for a free plate, I have to give you credit for trying, but why are you so intenet on fecking up everyone elses livelihoods.

If you want one so bad, just go and buy one, no one is forcing you to drive for anyone, or pay rent to anyone, you could join the PH that you go on about.

As for Carlisle, its funny how Sheffield is never acknowledged.....

finally Mr T, hes a self made man, he doesnt need me to speak for him, the mans worked hard and got what he wants in life, and you obviously envy this.

I never thought of becoming a rocket scientist, why have you?

As I've told you a million times before, do not exaggerate

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

So if you're that worried about other people then presumably you'll be giving someone your plate for nothing when you've finished with it instead of lumbering them with £60k of debt?





Wrong again. If you look back you'll see that I've made the point several times that because no one has provided driver numbers for Sheffield we don't know if the increase in vehicle numbers represents a real increase in supply or merely represents jockies taking the opportunity to run their own cab.

Another point I've made a few times is that the T&G used the limited improvements in waiting times in Sheffield cited by the OFT as evidence that derestriction hadn't made much of a difference from the consumer perspective, thus indicating that from the drivers' angle things weren't quite as bad as was being made out.

The thing is that businesses constantly seek to have the market regulated/taxed or whatever in their favour, and just because a business complains it doesn't mean that this merits action being taken. In the past couple of days I've provided evidence from people like Mr Casey and Gateshead Angel that demonstrates that what they say a lot of the time has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

This scenario is neatly encapsulated in Adam Smith's famous dictum, and since I haven't used it in while it's maybe time to wheel it out again:






Mr T may well have worked hard, but his present position is at least in part due to restricted taxi numbers or he wouldn't get his knickers in a knot about the possibility of derestriction, would he?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

you know TDO, if you weren't a deregulationist, you might almost be a decent guy!!

Not sure where that one came from, but I thought it was being a 'deregulationist' that made me a decent guy

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

[quote="Skull"]Mr. T is copying the posts from this thread onto the scabby forum. Or should I say a selection of posts.

Not like Mr. T to see what he wants to see.





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SCABBY FORUM 20 APRIL 06 .The captain quote .
Mind you, having stated all that I have here, if I were in skulls position I wonder if I'd do anything different.

It appears from here that drivers are treated in a way I have personally never treated anyone.

There are merits in what skull has written before on the various issues and it would be advantageous to give them consideration at some point.

The blind defence of numbers control isnt actually anything but a short term answer.

Captain Cab
quote] Is the Captain about to jump ship and become a pirate ?. streetcars .

I think I will follow Steveo's advice on this thread.

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IDFIMH

Just so everyone knows what happened. I have been out spoken on a number of issues. Most of which has been discussed on this forum.

Three and a half years ago I lost everything to a broken marriage, the house my children and any money I had. Little did I know I had become an insulin dependent diabetic. I was ill for a long time before everything went pear shaped. At one point I was nearly a week without sleep. I collapsed unconscious in a pool of sweat.

I returned to the Taxis after 3 months on the sick, mentally and physically on my knees. This is when the CRT committee decided to use their position to kick me out of the company. I went to ComCab and still fought my case when challenged on the wheelchair issue. Once again I was put out of a job for no other reason than speaking out.

I swore I would bring the whole house of cards down and pay all debts due. Some would be well advise to sleep with one eye open.

“All of this because no one would listen”.

Had Sheriff Mackie ruled in our favour the whole house of cards would have toppled and she knew it.

And thanks to some on this forum we got back-up just when we needed it.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Mr T wrote:


Yes it does you see I have suffered at the hands of people like you in your omnipotent state.
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If by this you mean that people with common sense have no time for your whining then I am guilty, feeling sorry for yourself does not wash with me,

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."
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Over supply of drivers compete for limited shifts with plate holders increasing fix priced rentals. Licence plate premiums go up against a steady down turn in market share negating a reduction in the economic value of a licence plate as an asset.
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In case you haven't noticed there is a oversupply of labour through out this contrary and more coming in every day.

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life."
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It’s not that hard to understand Mr. T. Its called having “contempt” for those who think they have the right to abuse a privilege existence in a free market economy.
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By this I can only assume you hold yourself in the utmost contempt. Don't I remember you saying that you had been issued a plate or plates in the past and sold to the highest bidder. To me you cannot even offer the excuse that you were only recouping your own money you had paid in the past. At least people who buy plates do so knowing that the price can go up or down. Pot and kettle spring to mind.

Desparation springs to mind. Or more money than sense springs to mind also.
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Well here’s the bad News the courts agree with me “Judicial Review” remember. Sheriff Liddle couldn’t believe the Councils QC when referring to Jacobs stating “no unmet demand”. Any sane person would be wondering where all the work was going? But not in Edinburgh, give it to the Ph and the council bus company. But no plates for drivers just higher rentals, that’s if you can get a job.
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Best of luck with your Judicial Review. I hope you have very deep pockets. I can say that I agree that councils often make their own rules up as they go along and I totally disagree with this practice

Strange someone of such high moral character would look to benefit from it though?
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Funny you should say that Mr. T this is exactly what I though before they kicked me out the company. I had a £25 fine for improper use of the data system. The letter stated once the fine was paid my pin would be reinstated. The owner went to pay it and was told I had to re-apply to get back in and guess what? Ye thanks but no thanks. I was an owner in the company for 10 years and never had a customer complaint.

I then went to ComCab. I wrote a letter to the manager stating my concerns with wheelchairs. I asked them to cover me in the event of an accident. Their response was to phone up the owner telling her to get rid of me before being given the chance to explain myself at their hearing
*************************************************************
Nor knowing the full circumstances relating to this statement I feel I cannot answer this one way or another, except to say that if it is true then certainly I wouldn't have liked it if it had happened to me.

Well sh** it did happen to me and now everyone will pay and pay dearly.
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You don’t have to explain yourself to me Mr. T I would rather judge people by their actions. It’s the here and now that matters to me.

Your opinion of me matters not a jot.

Sting a little did it? No. ..mr T...

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Mr. T you are failing.

Time to retire my old son, your time is gone. Let it go. You have had your day. No more Mr. T. “I am the benevolent dictator of the taxi trade”. The new guys are coming forward prepared to fight for what little they have to take. Without being sold out by the likes of you. Cheap labour I think not. A new bread perhaps? Not asking for permission to breath. At least not from the likes of you, Mr. T “O” omnipotent taxi barn from Sefton. Here’s the bad news, you and I are not to far apart. There are others?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

[/b]

Oh well, if both PH and HC increased then that's proof that The Old Man of York was talking rubbish.

To be honest I don't really know the answer because there's insufficient information to do a proper analysis. For example, demand for taxis and PH has grown considerably in recent years, so vehicle numbers can expand without any loss of work by individual drivers.

Please note that I've never claimed that there may not be a real increase in taxi supply as compared to demand, but my point is that the the simple numbers usually grossly exaggerate the case.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Don't you mean jump out of the sea and back on to the ship?


I found this on the Wayne the Chameleon website:

Wayne changes from one colour to another, depending on whatever he thinks his audience wants to hear.

He flip-flops from one position to another, depending on whatever he thinks you want to hear.

But underneath it all Wayne Casey will always remain anti-restricted numbers through and through.

'I am anti-restricted numbers to the core of my being, as those who know me best will testify'.
Wanye Casey, Taxi "Talk", January 23 2006

Actually, I found it on the 'Dave [Cameron] the Chameleon' website and changed it slightly


Funny thing is that the website has disappeared between last night and today, but it's still in the Google cache:

Google link

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Mr T wrote:

Dear Skully, (this is an affectionate term in Scouse)

Retire, moi? I am having too much fun. Young ones? Let them come!!
I like learning new tricks. Let's face it I should'nt be much of an
opponent, being a thick Scouser who is barely literate.

I hope the new guys enjoy what thay win while they can, for remember,
for every action there is a reaction. The question is are they fighting
for themselves or just being led into believing this.

I think you are old enough to remember when the responsibility and cost
used to lie with local and central government for providing the
disabled with transport, but magically now the responsibility lies
with the business community of which we are a part. Funnily enough
there are less ambulances (less cost to the NHS). Funnily enough the
cost has been transferred to the owner driver (WAV). Now the loss has
become a profit - tax on vehicles, tax on fuel used, cost of licences.
and better still, the disabled pay the fare. I know the NHS pays some
of the costs but compared to an ambulance and crew this is nothing.

The point of this little rant is that the taxi trade is being changed,
not by you and me, but people with a great deal more power.

Cheap labour - and that is exactly what the taxi trade is being
turned into. I see it every day. No overtime for a taxi or ph driver,
no days off in lieu, no paid holidays, no company pension plans.
When you add up all the hours you do for the money you earn, is it
worth it???

I know owners of private hire companies that openly admit that they
keep their rates low so they can keep their drivers hungry for more
money. They work longer hours, provide a better service and the
company grows. More drivers join because more work is being created,
but the question is who makes the real money?

I don't want to see a one-tier system where there are too many vehicles
working the ranks and roads because when you can't earn your money
off the road then you have to resort to paying extra money to a radio
system. Who has control then?

As you know we have a radio system in Sefton that has 1000 cars and is
building a new complex. His advertising now is that he is a Merseyside
company. Next year it will be 1500 and the year after that, 2000 and
on and on. In life the big fish eat the little fish.

In my humble opinion, your problem in Edinburgh is that you are where
we were 10 years ago. Lose the battle? The battle was lost a long
time ago.

The new breed will be working for the PH, 3-4000 in one company, every
job logged and how much it costs, easily accessible by the taxman.

Now this is the best bit. I am only an ordinary, everyday bloke that
fights his way through the year trying to make a living. I have spent
hours laughing and chuckling to myself at the vivid imaginations that
some people have regarding my so called taxi empire. You never make
a fortune out of taxiing. You make money by using your brain and
doing something else.

Aye, I think we're not that far apart either, Rolling Eyes except I learnt that
swearing does me no favours.......Mr T.. Wink rant finished Wink


Have a good read!

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Mr T wrote:

Dear Skully, (this is an affectionate term in Scouse)

Well thanks for that!

Retire, moi? I am having too much fun. Young ones? Let them come!!
I like learning new tricks. Let's face it I should'nt be much of an
opponent, being a thick Scouser who is barely literate.

Well Mr. T. you might not be that far from the truth. A level playing field might not suit you? No privilege existence and no cartel. With plate values gone and no drivers dependent on you for a living the game will be very different. You will still be in a position of advantage but for how long?

I hope the new guys enjoy what thay win while they can, for remember,
for every action there is a reaction. The question is are they fighting
for themselves or just being led into believing this.

Yes some might want to live out their lives in abject servility but some will be up for the challenge. All the cheap labour coming into the country has to go somewhere? I am sure you know where it’s going to end up. If qualified hack drivers intend to remain in the trade they have no choice but to fight to shape it. In a few years there will be nothing left to fight for.


I think you are old enough to remember when the responsibility and cost
used to lie with local and central government for providing the
disabled with transport, but magically now the responsibility lies
with the business community of which we are a part. Funnily enough
there are less ambulances (less cost to the NHS). Funnily enough the
cost has been transferred to the owner driver (WAV). Now the loss has
become a profit - tax on vehicles, tax on fuel used, cost of licences.
and better still, the disabled pay the fare. I know the NHS pays some
of the costs but compared to an ambulance and crew this is nothing.

The point of this little rant is that the taxi trade is being changed,
not by you and me, but people with a great deal more power.

We give them the power Mr. T. Without the ability to drag local government before the courts a fragmented trade gives all their power away.

Cheap labour - and that is exactly what the taxi trade is being
turned into. I see it every day. No overtime for a taxi or ph driver,
no days off in lieu, no paid holidays, no company pension plans.
When you add up all the hours you do for the money you earn, is it
worth it???

In a word “no”.



I know owners of private hire companies that openly admit that they
keep their rates low so they can keep their drivers hungry for more
money. They work longer hours, provide a better service and the
company grows. More drivers join because more work is being created,
but the question is who makes the real money?

The fleet owners.

I don't want to see a one-tier system where there are too many vehicles
working the ranks and roads because when you can't earn your money
off the road then you have to resort to paying extra money to a radio
system. Who has control then?

Vehicles don’t drive themselves. Only the drivers who pass stringent qualifications should be able to drive. We have all heard about the London “knowledge” you have to be pretty committed to seek entry into the trade but once you are in you write your own ticket. The value is in the licence not the vehicle or plate. Fleet owners would have to compete for drivers to drive their vehicles.

As you know we have a radio system in Sefton that has 1000 cars and is
building a new complex. His advertising now is that he is a Merseyside
company. Next year it will be 1500 and the year after that, 2000 and
on and on. In life the big fish eat the little fish.

Only if you let the big fish get away with it. Qualifications bar entry into any profession if they are set high enough, except for the few whom meet the required standard.

In my humble opinion, your problem in Edinburgh is that you are where
we were 10 years ago. Lose the battle? The battle was lost a long
time ago.

You might be right.

The new breed will be working for the PH, 3-4000 in one company, every
job logged and how much it costs, easily accessible by the taxman.

Now this is the best bit. I am only an ordinary, everyday bloke that
fights his way through the year trying to make a living. I have spent
hours laughing and chuckling to myself at the vivid imaginations that
some people have regarding my so called taxi empire. You never make
a fortune out of taxiing. You make money by using your brain and
doing something else.

That’s for sure!

Aye, I think we're not that far apart either, Rolling Eyes except I learnt that
swearing does me no favours.......Mr T.. Wink rant finished Wink

You are probably right but do I give a sh**?

Right again!

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"