Taxi Driver Online

We are having our tariff increase implemented on 3rd Feb 2011 (3% on running mile only) and have been advised that the fee for the council to check the calibration will remain at £14. The cost of calibration varies by agent/manufacturer and is usually around £25.

The council have also informed us that if we have a Hackney test booked between Friday 4th Feb and Fri 4th March 2011, we will still pay £14 over and above the test fee of £60. We have to pay each item separately and produce receipts at time of test.

My question is- As the testing and sealing of a meter is an integral part of the Hackney test, why are the Council permitted to levy a separate charge?

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

when i had a meter, Pitts (notts) used to visit, do 40-50 hacks at a tenner each and bobs yer uncle

cash..............

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

We get our meter calibrated/fixed at whatever agents do them.They get tested at inspection times anyway.Its in the price.

Because they can, and until such times the local trade challenge it, they will.

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IDFIMH

So you mean they normally break the seal and reseal it at the test?

What's the point of that?

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Caledonian Cabbie

fair point. I didn't mean that. the calibration is part of the test, so they are charging £14 purely to seal the meter.

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

Indeed, an expensive seal.

I suppose the LA could argue that if they're breaking even on fees then if they lose that revenue then they would have to put up other fees to compensate, which might be unfair to everyone else.

And that it's unfair on others if some only have to visit the depot once and are not charged for sealing the meter.

In an ideal world I suppose the fairest way would be to charge a bit less to those getting it checked as part of the annual test, and a bit more for those coming in just for the meter test.

But in an ideal world I suppose, for example, they should be charging more to test a 10 year old motor with 200,000 miles on the clock than a brand new one - because I suspect it's a lot easier to test the latter - but obviously that doesn't happen. (Although some LAs test older motors more frequently, obviously.)

If it happened to me then it's probably the kind of thing I would mump and moan about a bit but pay up anyway and take it no further, and consider that if I'd had to come in for a separate meter test then it would have been a lot more hassle but the same fees, so to that extent I've gained

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Caledonian Cabbie

Oh I find that hard to believe.

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IDFIMH

that's exactly what I'm doing, as are many others

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

It should be in the fee for your propriorters licence, LGMPA "aggregate fee for administering the licence."

Mr Sussex, if you knew me you'd realise that I very rarely mump and moan about anything

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Caledonian Cabbie