Taxi Driver Online

some london ph firms are trying to opt out of being licensed because they only do contract work.but ken livingstone has written to some local councils to make sure they know this . as some of these firms are doing the school runs . this cant be right surely... some loophope in the law that definitely needs to be changed.

They want the cream but are not prepared to tow the line??

cockney cabbie wrote:





Loopholes do not exist. All PH in London has to licensed, regardless of what work is undertaken. (with the exception of weddings and funerals).

Why would Ken write to the Local councils?

The local councils do not license operatores or drivers nor vehicles, it's nothing to do with them, it is the Public Carriage Office who appoint the Licensing officers allocated to one two or three authorities each and they work for the PCO.

Don't know where you got that from pal, but I have never heard such a load of rubbish in my life.

Alex I am having problems posting also.

Take care

Eric

im from london and very good friend of mine is a carriage officer .some large ph firms want no licensing . but still want to do contract work . maybe its to do with cost . some of these firms are paying salarys of 6/7 quid a hour . so if they become legal they will have to pay proper wages and this means cost will go up and proper taxis will get the work.as they are more proffesional as we all know . it was ok when some of these firms were paying 6/7 quid an hour but after you lose your housing benifit and dole you start to realise the only one making money are the people who own private hire firm.i know cos i usewd to do it . mugs game

How about the lads who drive the Mercs? I heard they were on £10 per hour for 5 X 12 shifts plus they can take the car home with them.

There was a thread on this topic during the summer - the DfT sent out a consultation letter on the subject:

http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=772

It's does need to be changed, and I think it will. However in saying that, a similar exemption has been in the 1976 Act, and we still have it.

That aside, I would love to see how they can amend the London PH Act without also amending the 1976 Act. Because those abusing the London Act will simply move outside the M25, and abuse the 1976 Act.

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