Taxi Driver Online

Some of you will remember that the L.A in our neck of the woods took up an unfounded complaint made against me by Mr Or Mrs/Miss/Ms no name.

The complaint was that I had refused a fare. Anyway I proved that it was not me and went I about trying to find out as to why they had gone about things in such a heavy handed manner.

The topic was "They read me my rights".

I have sent numerous letters complaining about the way they handled the diciplinary procedure, and that they have ignored various questions that I have also asked within my letters. I also pointed out that they have infact ignored their own diciplinary guidelines but I am no further forward.

In a nutshell each and every department has basically done a hand holding exercise.

Now TBH I am very peeved about the fact that they seem to be able to call us "Self employed drivers" in at the drop of a hat and without any substance.

In the event of, as in my case there is no charge - would it be appropriate to "invoice" them for time incurred. In my case it was a twenty mile allround journey plus about 1 1/2 hours in the office.

So I am thinking of! " Cost wise" the meter from my house and return (20 miles) plus waiting time ( 1 1/2 hrs )spent in the L.A office.

My afternoon off was ruined or I was prevented from earning my livelehood, both I believe deserve compensating.

Any sensible views please, bearing in mind that we are self employed.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

If they have acted in a way they shouldn't, then the best way forward is to contact the Local Gov Ombudsman. http://www.lgo.org.uk/

It's cost nothing, and you can even down-load the form now, and send the complaint off tonight.

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IDFIMH

The only problem is that the Ombudman is a Gov department, and having had dealings with them in the past I do not have a lot of faith in them.

They all move in the same circles and lots more hand holding goes on than one would like.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Pretty sure this lot don't really like that lot.

What you could do is to ask the questions, that haven't been answered yet, via the Freedom of Information Officer at the council. His contact details will be on the council's site.

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IDFIMH

Your licensing officer has to answer to your local Councillor place all your correspondence through him or her and then watch him jump

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Hi Trevor

The only problem is that I live outside the borough that I work in, so my local councillor would be from another area. What clout would he have, if any?

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Hi, that makes it awkward, have they or him replied to you at all,

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Deffo the freedom of information act, i asked our LO to disclose what was on my file and they complied without a problem.
Made interesting reading as well, nearly every phone call, and even a print out of one of the threads i answered on here was on file

As a licensed driver you are fully entitled to write and get a response from the Chair of the Licensing, or Regulatory, Committee.

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IDFIMH

Geoff - Sussex


Some good points from both,I will follow up on both if I do not get the desired result.

Trevor the only correspondence that I have had has been from the various offices that are supposedly investigating, but it is a no more than being seen to be done exercise.

Any of you guys got any views on a financial charge against them, I am thinking that if they fail to pay then I could go through a small claims court.

Possibly something they might want to avoid, and it would also make them think twice about calling someone in on some flimsy groundless complaint.

_________________
if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Just a thought, but until the council called you in they didn't know that the complaint was groundless. They do have a duty to investigate any complaints. We are quick to moan when they don't take complaints seriously. I doubt that you will be able to claim for loss of earnings or anything else. If I were you I would just let it go and put it down to experience. Just think how much time you are spending on this.

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Grandad,

You are quite right in what you say, but I do not mind spending time on something if it makes them do it properly in future.

In this instance they did not adhere to their own guidelines.

The Licensing Enforcement policy states, " There must be sufficient ,admissible and reliable evidence that an offence has been committed and that there is a realistic prospect of conviction" It also says " Evidence must be useful and reliable.

Allegedly someone came to me and I refused a fare, okay so far.

But! (1) There was no description of me.
(2) They did not have my badge number.
(3) they did not have my registration plate number.
(4) There was no mention as to whether my "To Hire" light was lit or not.

All that was offered was my carriage number on the rear of my vehicle.

Initially the L.O claimed that there was four people as witnesses and then there was two , the actual complainant allegedly completed a formal witness statement under a caution of prosecution.

What I am saying is that there was neither sufficient or reliable evidence. Are they trying to say that there was two to four people and all they could muster between them as evidence is my Hackney plate number. I would hardly call that useful or reliable

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.