Taxi Driver Online

Odd that we can't agree on this, I will be asking my local MP to look into this.

In a nutshell, that is why my previous on this was YES.

The PH gang can always charge what they like.

They can charge £1.00 one minute and £3.00 the next.

They can fit a meter and then state that they charge what the meter says and 50% if they like.

On pricing in PH, there ain't any rules.

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

I think we all agree it's wrong, but I'm still not 100% sure quoting a price for a WAV, via a PH booking, is illegal if it's more than a price for a saloon.

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IDFIMH

Good question.

But again the HC scenario is perhaps instructive - someone might be charged extra for an estate car on the rank for abnormal luggage, a charge which a saloon wouldn't attract - but if a normal person got into the estate on the rank with no luggage then they would be charged the same as if it was a saloon.

Thus if the LA allowed an extra charge for abnormal loads would the estate HC be able to charge this from the rank if someone appeared with their oxygen tank?

Presumably not.

Thus in the PH scenario perhaps it would depend if the firm used the WAV or estate for smaller groups or those without luggagae and just charge them the same for a saloon. Thus they would only be charged the premium rate for the WAV or estate if they actually requested it.

In such circumstances it may be difficult to justify charging extra regarding a disablement.

But to be honest I don't really know, and I doubt the authorities do either, but I'm sure there'll be guidance on the issue somewhere, but I'm not sufficiently interested to look for it.

Didn't the relevant minister make a statement on it not that long ago?

But I doubt if it answers the question you pose anyway.

I think the provision in question is in the DDA and applies to all service providers - such as the pub or shop making 'reasonable adjustments' to accomodate the disabled, as they're required to do - thus PH firms would come under this as well. They shouldn't charge extra to cater for a disablement.

Or to put it another way, the disabled shouldn't incur extra charges because of their disablement that an able bodied person wouldn't incur.

Thus to that extent I think that the fact that PH fares are (usually) unregulated by the LA is a bit of a red herring as regards the original question.

I was just stating how Private Hire Operators generally work.

I was fishing, but not for red herrings.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

i run a fleet of WAV, Minibus's, estates & Saloon cars...

We charge extra for WAV and our clients are more than happy to pay the extra charge. A WAV cost so much more than a ordinary Minibus or a saloon car. it needs to be specially converted & you pay for ramps and belts. The day we get stopped charging extra is the day i will have over 15 WAV for sale.

in our council Hackney Carriages do not charge extra for wheelchairs but funnly enough clients always complain that Hackney Carriages are not to pleased to pick up Wheelchair passengers (also refusing service due to not having necassary equipment) ..

my question is can a PH Firm afford to provide a service for Wheelchair passengers without any extra charge?

and if the answer is NO, PH will stop providing WAV...so who is loosing out? sad but true

Yes they can charge whatever they want.

As here in my area the councils insists of anything carrying over 4 passengers, must be a wav.
So there’s more cost occurs, ie car tax like 445.00 per yr and fuel, tyres etc

Now if a wheel chair person phone me up and ask a trip to the airport but has to stay in the chair, the price is the same as if a 5 0r 8 passenger book that vehicle

Against a person book a saloon car

If the firm is of a reasonable size then I think they can quote the same.

Will your firm go under if you don't? I very much doubt it.

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IDFIMH

so long as ALL wheelchair users (able bodied and disabled) are charged the same it must be legal

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

id say HC's are welcome to all the extra charges for providing a WAV, given that meter fares are usually higher than PH, but so are the costs of the vehicles and given that some never see a wheelchair job....

ive been an operator for several years, going back 20 years, never been asked for a WAV yet, ive run 8 seaters and to be honest, im not sure i needed one, im quite happy with £4K worth of mondeo

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Find it strange that you can discriminate against a wheelchair user,nobody charges extra here

I don't drive a WAV but have had passengers who are "legally" diasabled for example blind or who have lost an arm.. They do not take any longer to do a job for, so no issues.

I have a regurlar elderly lady who uses a zimmer frame and does move very slowly but bless her she always tries to be outside ready for when I turn up.

Being non PC, I think what we are all saying is that loading a wheelchair user into and out of a WAV takes a good bit more time than an able bodied person just jumping in. We therefore have the issue time=money.

I hear that a lot of drivers just don't like doing or the idea of doing wheelchair work so avoid it.

I don't think anyone would be saying "We want to charge you more because you are disabled". What we are really saying is " I want to charge you more because it takes longer to load and unload you. I could lose other jobs as a consequence compared to a non wheelchair user getting in and out and I have to buy a more expensive vehicle that costs more to run so I can provide the service you want". I don't think that is discrimination.

If that view was the case, then Cab Direct wouldn't be able to charge more for an E7 than a Skoda.

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IDFIMH

Different altogether,can you charge more for a overweight person cause they take up more room,or elderly cause they take a while to get in ?