Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies claim drivers from outside Cardiff are taking their fares


Cardiff cabbies claim fares are being taken by drivers coming from outside the city during weekends.

Mathab Khan, chairman of the Cardiff Hackney Carriage Association, says his drivers are losing out to cars from outside the capital.

He has alleged cabs from those areas are dropping off customers in Cardiff city centre before hanging around on designated ranks looking for more custom.

Mr Khan says the problem came to a head last Saturday when a driver from outside the city allegedly cut ahead of three drivers in the queue at a Cardiff rank.

And he has now called on Cardiff council’s taxi licensing enforcement department to protect his drivers.

Mr Khan said: “They are picking up illegally.

“They are hanging around after dropping their fares and picking up Cardiff local fares.

“I think this is a complete dereliction of duty by our licensing department.

“I honestly think they should do something about it, and do it fast.”

Mr Khan claimed the image of Cardiff drivers was at risk because the public may not realise the difference between Cardiff drivers and those from elsewhere.

“These drivers are coming from other towns and villages and don’t know Cardiff, so when they pick local fares, for example going from the city centre to Llanedeyrn, they are charging £30 or £40 and demanding that sort of money,” he said.

“And who is getting the blame? The Cardiff drivers.”

Mr Khan said private hire cars with no prior bookings on ranks were adding to the problem.

A Cardiff council spokeswoman said it had not received any complaint.

She said: “It is illegal for outside hackneys picking up without prior booking, and licensing enforcement officers work throughout the day and night to identify illegal taxi activity such as this.

“The licensing section frequently carries out test purchasing operations with South Wales Police and with officers from adjacent authorities to identify those who break the law in this way.

“However, from our experience it is not a common problem and we receive few complaints from the trade or the public about the drivers of vehicles licensed by councils other than Cardiff.

“We are very disappointed that we have not received any details of this matter.”

Source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Will a South Wales area plate solve their problems.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If that statement/quote is true then they are an absolute joke.

For years at the rear of the train station just under a bridge leading to the immediate City centre, anything from outside the West side of the City parked up in droves. They pick up for Barry, Penarth, Bridgend and so on.

We have smack bang in the middle of the City the Hilton Hotel, and anything North of the City just ranks/parks up and waits, usually for Caerphilly.

The cars are 1) either waiting for recognition from punters from their area and just jump in on the pretext that they are a booked fare, or 2) wait for a call from their office to say J Bloggs wants a car. Instead of having to wait for a car to travel 10 miles in, they just so happen to have one down there.

This is not something that you can miss, unless...................The licensing do not work on a Fri and Saturday night

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

I'm sorry to advise that whoever stated that is an absolute liar.

On 7 April 2009 Cardiff's Public Protection Committee met to seek authorisation for Licensing Officers to take action under Section 167 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

They wanted authorisation because "complaints have now been received about taxi touting at Central Railway Station".

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Thank you C.C.

_________________
if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.