Taxi Driver Online

Derby Evening Telegraph

November 8, 2007 Thursday

Bogus cabbies 'stealing' fares

Taxi drivers at East Midlands Airport say that bogus cabbies are stealing their business and putting customers at risk.

Workers for Checker Cars - a taxi firm based at the airport - say they are losing money because unauthorised drivers park up in an attempt to pick up passengers.

The only taxis allowed to stop for people flagging down a taxi at the airport are Checker Cars, unless a pre-booking has been made with a customer.

But the drivers say private hire vehicles from other firms, Hackney carriages and even unmarked cars all tout for business at the airport.

They say that customers could be paying over the odds because the fares charged by the bogus cabbies are not regulated by North West Leicestershire Council - the authority that licenses taxis for the airport.

And a recent inspection by the council at the airport caught cars with dangerously worn tyres, other minor defects and drivers without insurance.

If an unlicensed taxi had a crash, then the customer would not be covered by insurance.

Tony Barrell, 62, works as a driver for Checker Cars.

Mr Barrell, from Long Eaton, said: "We're all sick of it because we're losing out.

"But people could be getting ripped off because the fares are unregulated. And if a customer had a complaint after a journey, they have no redress if the cars aren't licensed."

Colin Henderson, 50, from Lathkilldale Crescent, Long Eaton, also works for the company.

He said: "We are losing out on jobs, which means some drivers are earning next to nothing.

"I think the main issue, though, is that people are getting into cars that could be unlicensed, therefore they are uninsured."

North West Leicestershire District Council regulates taxis that can legally pick up from the airport.

Councillor Nicholas Rushton, portfolio holder for environment at the council, said: "Our licensing team is investigating complaints of unlicensed vehicles operating at East Midlands Airport.

"We license taxis and hire cars to protect customers by making sure that drivers are 'fit and proper' and that vehicles are safe.

"I would urge all people using the airport to only hire licensed vehicles driven by properly licensed drivers - and never get into a vehicle you have not asked for."

Inspector Chris Brown, commander of the local policing unit, said they had been carrying out enforcement operations and others were planned in the coming months.
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