Taxi Driver Online

Taxi Price Hike Not Fair; Says Firm

29th August 2008

A Dundee cab firm is resisting moves to raise fares in the city from Monday (writes Maura Bowman).

The average 5% rise was approved by the city’s licensing committee at the end of June, and is due to be brought into force next week.
However, David Young, of private hire firm 203020, says he believes the rise could be “the final nail in the coffin” for taxis in the city.

Mr Young hopes to address the licensing committee on the issue on Thursday, and is refusing to put his fares up in the meantime.

The increase, recommended by Dundee’s Taxi Liaison Group in response to rocketing fuel prices, will add an extra 40p to the cost of an average taxi journey.

Mr Young has applied to the council for a variation on the condition that all cab meters be reset with the new fare structure.

“My drivers are saying it is madness to be putting prices up in the current climate,” Mr Young told the Tele. “The credit crunch is hitting everybody. People are looking for cheaper transport and ranks are filling up because people are reverting to buses.

“We do most of the elderly, infirm and severely disabled people, and it is not fair on them.

“I really think we should be putting a freeze on prices until better days.”

He said taxi drivers have to charge the full fare shown on their meters as their tax contributions and the like are based on the figures logged on the machines.

A Dundee City Council spokesman confirmed the rise, which was approved following consultation, and with the agreement of the taxi trade.

“The fares were advertised and no comments whatsoever were received during the consultation period,” he continued.

Taxi owners will have two weeks to update their meters.

“All taxis in Dundee have to show the same fare, but a company is free to decide to offer a discount on the fare shown on the meter,” added the spokesman.


Source; Evening Telegraph and Post

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Brummie Cabbie.

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That's bollox the drivers have got a chance to earn a few quid more, what's betting the owner put's his fees up when the price rise comes into force?? Councils were warned about high fares when they decided to open the doors.

The average 5% rise was approved by the city’s licensing committee at the end of June, and is due to be brought into force next week.
However, David Young, of private hire firm 203020, says he believes the rise could be “the final nail in the coffin” for taxis in the city.

What the F**K has the hackney price rise got to do with the guy who is from a private hire firm?

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Grandad,

PH in Dundee have meters fitted and run at taxi rates, indeed the article seems to say that they MUST be set to taxi rates, but of course discounting is allowed.

David Young is just about ready to cut his office fee to £50 per week,in the very near future his company are introducing bio fuel to his fleet of taxis,this will slash current fuel cost's and enable him to reduce the weekly office fee.

Since their inception 203020 have had the city's taxi fraternity against them,I ask the question what have the owners of Dundee's other taxi offices done to support their cabbies,well the answer is zero,while the trade has consistently been totally occupied with 203020 the other offices have managed to sneak about increasing there fleets but not even trying to increase the contract work let alone the dailly jobs totals.

The taxicard scheme is an ideal place to start this is not 203020 contract every company can participate but why has this not happened, simple answer the offices will not install the technology required to do the job.

All the while we have numpties complaining it's unfair that we cannot do taxicard work,you pay your fees it's their responibilty to bring in work,Teles sit there never raising their heads above the parapit taking your money not getting any grief while you lot are constantly concerned with 203020

There are many more cases I can refer to but what's the point,the one thing you can never accuse Youngy off is not promoting his company or for that matter leading the way by investing in technology to bring in work,lastly how many drivers have been put through taxi tests by any other companies in Dundee,the majority of operators who have drivers today are guys who got their badges at 203020.

Before you respond think about what your office owners are doing for you!!