Taxi Driver Online

Taxis "snub" disabled, users claim


TAXI drivers are overcharging and refusing to pick up some wheelchair users, leading to a flood of complaints to a council.

Private hire drivers are inflating costs, claiming taxis are not available and refusing to make short journeys, a council officer said.

A disabled campaigner today said the move was further isolating disabled people – but a taxi driver said he had not heard of this and cabs were available.

Wycombe District Council licensing officer Caroline Steven said: “We have had a fair amount of complaints, it would be fair to say, over the last 12 months…in respect of overcharging by private hire companies.”

She said: “Often they will not make themselves available if they know they are wheelchair users or are not prepared to take short journeys.”

Some private hire firms provide an “excellent service” she said – but this was not the case for some users.

It came as she revealed Wycombe district still only has one wheelchair accessible hackney carriage, taxis which can be flagged down.

This means disabled people can only use pre-booked private hire firms, which have some bigger vehicles to accommodate a wheelchair user.

She said: “I am afraid we haven’t moved forward on that one at all.”

Alison Lewis, of pressure group Wycombe Area Access For All, which works with the council on disabled matters, said overcharging complaints were common.

She said: “The moment you mention a wheelchair there is an “er” and and an “um” and they will give you a different price.”

She said she was given on quote of £8 for High Wycombe to Marlow which leapt to £20 when she mentioned she had a wheelchair.

“It is making disabled people more isolated than they are already. In the current financial climate they have less money to spend anyway.”

But Mohammed Asif, owner of Royal Cars, High Wycombe, who has spoken out about other issues affecting the trade, said he did not know of overcharging for disabled people.

Mr Asif said: “They are available at any time they want.”

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

No it doesn't it means wheelchair users can only use pre-booked hire firms. I have to say that is better than nothing. My mother can only use pre booked hire because she can't flag a saloon down. I say it's better than nothing

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

The LA should do some test purchasing.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Surely if these company's are PH they are free to charge what they want.

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Grandad,

Explain please. I'm blonde today and I've been on the vodka

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Not according to the act

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Thats ok I speak "Blonde"


Like a "Mystery Shopper"

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Life? Don't talk to me about life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjm2eslm6hI

Lets hope you're fluent in Blonde. To what aim would they have a 'mystery shopper'

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

This is another case of why the PH should have meters fitted and set to hackney rates, it would stop the rip offs once and for all

Why should they be set to hackney rates they're not hackneys

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Because the PH have got away to long with ripping folk off and it would let people know in there areas that it does not matter if they get a hack or PH the price will still be the same
for example Edinburgh where they are both on the same tariff

Oh I see it's the PH that rip people off, that explains a lot. I'm sure the folk this way will be pleased to know that the £30 they get charged for a Hackney to make a 2.5 mile trip through the pipe isn't a rip off

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

They should be asking the Berks (no pun intended) to put the meters on then.
How much does it cost for a car now a days to go through the pipe

£1.40. The hacks won't take them if they don't agree a price before they get in unless of course if it's quiet then they are glad of the fare

Whats a Berks or do you mean a Birk

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I was right first time berks for over charging and cherry picking in Birkenhead