Taxi Driver Online

Taxi fares set to rocket

Taxi fares in Stourbridge and Dudley are set to rocket as cash-strapped firms struggle to combat the soaring price of fuel and the costs of keeping vehicles on the road.

The news has sparked fears among revellers their nights out will become more expensive and some say they would ditch the town to stay closer to home and save cash.

One of the Black Country's biggest private companies has already said it may be forced to put up prices by as much as 100 per cent because fuel, insurance and licence fees are "spiralling out of control".

Drivers have been left fuming after the AA Motoring Trust revealed the price of unleaded petrol has little chance of coming down soon following another surge in oil prices prompted by tensions between America and Iran.

It is a new blow for hauliers, taxi firms and bus companies in Dudley and the Wyre Forest, who are likely to suffer most from the rise in the cost of petrol and diesel.

Dudley Private Hire Association chairman Omar Ali has even warned of a price war between companies but admits it wouldn't last long.

He said: "It is a competitive market and people have to make a living but if one firm charges £2 and the other £4 for a trip it wouldn't last long because of the running costs involved. You'd be making a loss."

Stourbridge-based Falcon Taxis, carries scores of passengers across the Black Country every night and operator Nazabud Mahmood said factors such as the rise in price of licence fees from Dudley Council and petrol were to blame.

He said: "We are talking about putting up prices because everything else, is going up."

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

Petrol prices have obviously risen quite sharply, but how would they justify a 100% increase in fares?

And even a doubling of licensing fees would barely register in terms of fares. My insurance has come down a bit since a few years ago as well, and most other drivers seem to be the same?

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

So exactly how many people are going to be put off going out at night by a £2 increase?

That aside, my fuel bill hasn't doubled, so WTF should I double my fares?

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IDFIMH

And even if it had doubled, WTF would you double your fares?

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