Taxi Driver Online

Sheffield taxi firm's new fare tariff branded 'ridiculous and unsafe for drivers'

https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/traffic- ... fe-8551255



Sheffield taxi drivers out of pocket after introduction of “unsafe” and “ridiculous” new tariff system
A Sheffield taxi driver has branded a new fixed fare tariff introduced by Veezu, which has seen his earnings plummet, “ridiculous” and “unsafe”.

Manzal Ali, aged 21, says he is one of many drivers who migrated to Veezu from the decimated hackney carriage industry, however he claims the firm is now “taking advantage”.

On Thursday, May 14 a new fixed fare tariff system came into effect - meaning the price of a journey is locked-in beforehand by the firm regardless of traffic, waiting time and sometimes extra stops.

Speaking about the changes, Manzal said: “Hundreds of drivers have complained, I’ve not come across a single driver who says this is a positive thing, but we’ve not received a response.”

Under the new system no allowance is made for passengers changing journeys inside the cab or requesting additional stops - sometimes leading to arguments which put drivers at risk, he said.

And with no requirement for house numbers, only postcodes, when jobs are booked, drivers can be left significantly out of pocket in some cases, the taxi driver claims.

Drivers are now having to contact dispatch mid-journey when extra stops are requested so the fixed fare can be adjusted - however drivers say this is causing dangerous distractions and sometimes rows with drunk customers.

Manzal said: “There’s a lot of time being wasted - there are a lot of arguments between customers and drivers now.

“If a customer wants to put another stop in drivers are having to contact dispatch to add the stop in but people often don’t want to give their house number to a driver.”

Manzal and others say postcodes can cover a huge area, meaning longer trips than expected.

He said: If you take Abbeydale Road for example, that’s a long road and so if we’re having to go as far as the Carter Knowle side it’s £2-£3 more.”

Another “major issue” for drivers is the loss of the late-night 10pm to 3am tariff, which was applied to compensate for the risks and conditions drivers face late at night.

Manzal says last weekend he took £150 less than before to the tariff change.

Veezu takes a 20 per cent cut of the takings from 60 jobs - reducing down to 16 per cent on 84 jobs.

With insurance costs, higher fuel prices, licence fees and car maintenance on top of the stingy new rules, Manzal says he and most other drivers are operating at a “loss”.

“People are scraping the barrel to make a living - it’s just ridiculous,” he said.

“They’ve reduced the earnings but they’re not reducing rent. It’s a lose-lose situation and our lives have become extremely difficult. Our earnings have plummeted.

“Our drivers now have no choice but to put a lot more hours in. People have bills and mortgages to pay and families to feed.

“If operators are exploiting drivers they have no choice but to do ridiculous anti-social hours - it’s unsafe.”

Manzal and other drivers have started a petition demanding the fixed fare be scrapped. It can be accessed HERE. https://www.change.org/p/demand-for-vee ... LkCMPMpf5k

It has been signed by over 150 people.

Veezu has been contacted for a comment.

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IDFIMH

Clueless, and clear evidence of a firm led by people who have never driven a taxi/PH.

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IDFIMH

But who understand how to please consumers. Until there aren't enough cars and drivers to cover the work

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

How old was he when he became an HCD and then 'migrated to Veezu'?

I mean, does he really look 21 in the photo?


Plenty more that could be said about this, though

But suffice to say that anyone driving a metered car for just a few weeks could predict all this kind of stuff if moving to a fixed fare regime