VAT on Taxi Ramps Blamed on Europe!
Over the past two months I have visited both Ireland (Dublin) and France (Lille) and I have to say that I enjoyed them both. The Euros I had over from Dublin I just took out and used in France and I can see the benefit in having just the one European currency so far as the traveller is concerned. But that isn’t what this piece is about…
   You may remember an interview I did with Tony McNulty, HMG’s Minister or Transport, several months ago and which was reprinted in several other taxi mags. One of the questions that he couldn’t answer involved Taxis and the VAT element on any costly  conversions they have to

 undertake in order for us to provide a service to the disabled. After trying Chancellor Brown’s office, we finally ended up with Customs and Excise, only to find out that behind the waffle, the REAL reason why we cannot be exempt from VAT on the disabled additions to a Taxi is because of an agreement with Europe!
   You can read the full text of the response in this issue, but I think that my view on Euros cannot hide my disappointment to find that Brussels and not TfL/PCO really run our trade…

Saving or Wasting Money on Meters?
There has been much written of late in the trade press about the necessity of drivers having printed receipt facilities. The majority view seems to be that we have enough differently sponsored hand-written receipt pads floating around to make extra hardware unnecessary. Sadly, that argument is doomed to fail because although our reputation as honest and trustworthy Taxi drivers is second to none, the same cannot be said for all passengers – some of whom like to ask for blank or undated receipts to fool their boss and the person who pays the bill!
   As of January 1 next year, the argument becomes irrelevant because we will then have no alternative but to offer a printed receipt if one is asked for. What I’m concerned about is that Dial-a-Cab drivers – with the PCO’s blessing – do not need new meters with attached printers, but will be able to continue using the printer attached to our terminal.  However, I can’t see the meter manufacturers making some meters with printers and some without, so the question then becomes: Will we be forced to have the new style meters costing around £50 or more extra each year, even though we don’t need them? Someone, somewhere must know the answer…?

TXII and the Trade Press
Yes, the question won’t go away - is the TXII the worst vehicle in the universe and possibly far worse than that? Some early TXII drivers did have problems and other than the rare rogue case, most have been sorted out under warrantee and drivers such as I, with later TXII models, have benefited from those early problems. Those buying cabs next year will no doubt benefit from any problems I get – although none so far!
   Sadly, that is the way of the world; the second after you are born you start to pick up imperfections and you go through life always battling something – no matter how minor.
 

   But a recent two-page spread in a trade paper, written by a cab proprietor criticising every aspect of LTI, M&O, KPM and their cabs, was obviously designed to create panic in the trade among those thinking of purchasing a new Taxi. It showed several photos of burnt out cabs giving the impression that all cabs catch fire. 
  One driver in the paper says he has, but how many have you seen? Have you seen any? I’ve seen more buses on fire and I’ve only seen one of those! It also claimed that the new engine has put the trade back 17 years to pre-Fairway days. I hold my hands up here. My knowledge of any engine is second only to my knowledge of the Ecuadorian capital of Quito… not very much! However, as the phrase that the AA have put into the language says - but I know a man that does!
   He has worked for Ford for many years and I asked him if our engine was a "stinker!" He told me that it was one of many variations of the 2.4 DuraTorq engine. Without wanting to be quoted directly, he said that there were many variations all designed to fit different Ford models and that the company were delighted with it.
   The proprietor also slags off M&O and KPM because he claims neither will touch any work if the owner has been to the other garage. So I asked someone at M&O – it would also be unfair to name him either – whether the claim was true.
   "Total rubbish," he told me. "We get lots of KPM customers here and we treat them as we would any customer. I’m sure that the Sales departments of both aren’t quite so happy, but you’d expect that – they are in competition. Drivers often try to get the best deal by putting one against the other, but generally speaking, the problem regarding service doesn’t exist so far as M&O are concerned."
   The proprietor adds in his article that if we had the Merc converted cab, we’d be able to take them to any Mercedes dealer who would welcome us with open arms. Well, no, actually…
   The Merc may or may not be an excellent vehicle, that is nothing to do with the story except for the fact that this proprietor obviously wants as many alternative cabs on the market as possible. That’s another argument, but ask any owner of a Merc Taxi if he can leave his cab at "any" Merc dealer and they will laugh at you!
   Everyone is entitled to their view and I don’t blame the Editor of the paper for grabbing the story, however, I can’t be so charitable to the proprietor who seems to have an ulterior motive for his attack.
   And one question: As most younger drivers passed their driving test on an automatic, would they be licensed to drive any alternative taxis as I believe they are only available as manuals?

Alan Fisher
Editor