One month proudly served, Hackneying my way around the fairest of boroughs and yet, despite overcoming the relative mountain of red-paper tape and the rest to become fully fledged, I’m still not 100% chuffed 100% of the time. Why not? Well…
There’s a group of pubs in the borough, at night it’s pretty much the only place to drive past/circle round/park up for a bit. There’s no rank but that doesn’t seem to matter.
My/our/the world’s problem is Private Hire vehicles, often from large companies, sitting around, and, being from large companies, being recognised as ‘legit’ (although, of course they’re not) and folks clambering in them a la Hackney “You booked?...Can you tek us to…?” Mr, Mrs, Mz and Master Punter are probably quite chuffed (little do they know eh) as effectively unlicensed Private Hire (not even from the borough) offer cheaper fares than the legitimate, legal, Hackney/ rate, so, what to do?
I’m new to all this, and damp behind the tabs maybe, but it’s not good and proper practice, is it? So, I’ve made notes, badge numbers, vehicle regs, make and model of vehicle, Private Hire company, time spent flying, and time of illegal pick up (ones I’ve actually heard being arranged). What should I do with this information? Naturally I don’t want to be a grass, then again, having spent many sleepless nights and a not inconsiderable sum getting my licence and vehicle, it’s so unfair [/Kevin the teenager]. After all I don’t go and park up outside their offices, the fact I wouldn’t dare to is by-the-by. Anyway, who, if anyone, should I approach?
The Council/Licensing Authority – as the offences are being committed in their borough and their drivers are the victims?
The companies concerned – anonymously of course…one company proudly proclaims it’s vehicles are fitted with CCTV and ‘computer controlled’ (I assume the latter refers to some sort of tracking system). I nonchalantly approached the company office and asked:
“Are all your vehicles fitted with CCTV?”
Why? Have you been in an accident?
“No, nothing like that, I just heard they were, that’s all.”
Most are, yes, but they only record what goes on inside the car.
“They record everything that happens in the vehicle?”
Yes.
Kinda digging their grave it seems. They should have footage of their own drivers breaking the law, right?
I’m thinking it’s probably best to approach the council. Obviously I don’t want to face the wrath of large established companies, but, they are being a tad naughty, and there’s not exactly a non-stop queues of punters week round. My ideal outcome is the licensing officer contacts the companies involved, and that does the trick. Or, if s/he doesn’t take my word/carefully documented accounts as read, then s/he takes a trip to the crime scene and checks the shananigans out for his/herself, and then writes to the offending firms.
Am I right to do so? Or should I just ‘grow up’ and forget it? Or should I take another course of action, other than the options outlined above?
I feel sure this sort of thing happens/has happened to several folks here, so I’m tapping this boundless font of taxi wisdom. Thanks in anticipation.
|
