Call Sign December 2016

Page 3

from the editor’s desk

UCG demo

Job distribution

In times past, the United Cabbies Group

At a recent meeting with Chairman Brian Rice, he

seemed to want nothing more than attack Dial-a-

told me of a letter someone had written to him

Cab while using pseudonyms. Nowadays they

that mentioned me. It wasn’t one of the more flat-

have matured as a respectable trade organisation

tering letters I had ever heard about myself - but

under the leadership of Len Martin and recently

let’s face it, not everyone in the world loves little

organised a demonstration that was attended by

old me. How can that be, you ask...yes, it’s a puz-

several hundred taxis going round and round

zle, but each to their own!

Whitehall, bringing the immediate area to a

The driver’s inference - I wasn’t told his

standstill. The reason for the demo was one Call

name - was the old chestnut that I would say

Sign has great sympathy with - TfL’s poor man-

black was white with green spots if that’s what

agement in regard to congestion and the danger

the Board said. I don’t intend trying to con-

to health that causes.

vince him otherwise, because I still have to

decided to push a different option - this was

Call Sign is also having problems with TfL; we

write an Editorial and he can either believe it

option two, which was to complain about taxi

have said that if they really insist on credit card

or not. Apparently he still reads it otherwise

or private hire drivers! Yes, dear Call Sign

PEDs being placed in the passenger compart-

he wouldn’t know what it actually said!

reader, you’re ahead of me now, aren’t you!

ment, then they should be on cables as our cur-

His beef was in regard to last month’s Editorial

There was the usual message about calls being

rent ones are so that in the case of any problem,

where I spoke of the new VAD system of job dis-

recorded and then literally within ten seconds

they can then be passed through to the driver

tribution and said I liked it. The driver - for some

someone picked the phone up! So now we know

rather than he/she having to enter the passenger

reason I’m assuming was male - claimed that he

why we have to wait so long - TfL obviously expect

compartment. But they don’t yet seem to under-

didn’t, neither did anyone else other than me and

to get complaints about us and are putting all their

stand that either.

I only did because I was scared to say otherwise!

call takers on that line. Taxi drivers can wait!

But back to the UCG demo; it was well organ-

Well I’m not and I do like it, I like the fact that I get

ised, held in a friendly atmosphere and gave their

trip offers where I don’t expect them because

The Screaming Donalds???

General Secretary, Len Martin, the opportunity to

under the V6 system, like many others I would

Going back to the early 1960s, I met David Sutch

hand-deliver a letter to Prime Minister Theresa

probably have been booked into a nearby zone

several times - albeit quite briefly - at the youth

May, a letter we have published inside this issue.

where I thought there might be a better chance of

club I attended. Knowing that he was coming, I’d

It was well written and covers all relevant topics.

a trip. But what I didn’t do - and it sounds as

rather nerdishly wait by the door and offer to help

But my question is this; I have been on many

though this unidentified driver did - was to do

carry his coffin (!!!) into the hall where we had our

demos over the years - I couldn’t guess at how

what I was actually joking about in last month’s

Sunday dances! He was a really friendly guy who

many - but I can only ever remember one that

piece. I wrote:

appeared at our “socials” every few months and

caused enough of a rumpus to get something

“I know that a small number aren’t happy with

who would always sell the place out.

done. It was many years ago and an LTDA idea

VAD because it doesn’t allow them to book into

Then at 7.30, the lights would go out, his coffin

that caused every newspaper to put the story on

EC5 from Woodford... but hey, nothing is perfect!”

would illuminate at the front of the hall just by the

as a headline.

VAD is ultra-smart. Try booking into one of the

stage, booming music that your mother wouldn’t

We all awoke early, hovered on the south side of

sub-ranks when you’re not in it. The system will

like came out of the two speakers - and the coffin

Westminster Bridge and as soon as the London

send you a polite message telling you that you

lid would suddenly open! Then out would come

County Council’s offices at County Hall opened,

aren’t there and cannot book in! So yes, some dri-

the man we’d all gone to watch and hear. David

taxis piled in and filled the car park. When LCC

vers who used to chance their arm to a much

Sutch went into the coffin, but it was Screaming

members arrived and couldn’t park their cars, there

greater degree than just booking in one or two

Lord Sutch that came out!

was absolute uproar! They weren’t used to walking!

zones from their actual position may be well

As the years went by, Screaming Lord Sutch left

I’m telling the story not because the UCG

down in trip numbers. The problem was that dri-

the world of singing and in 1964 started his own

demo wasn’t any good, it was. It’s just that I

vers who were actually in town working often lost

pirate radio station with Radio Sutch and broad-

believe that TfL, alongside the Government are

out to those who might have just been starting

casted from an old fort at Shivering Sands on the

happy to put up with a few hours inconvenience

and already booked into their favourite zone from

Thames Estuary using car batteries to try to get a

and then put it away until the next time. We really

way out.

signal. Within months, he sold it on for £5000 and

need another way of putting our point across

Look, we’ve all at some time or other

it became Radio City, whose office in Clifford

forcibly because I don’t think demos work any

booked in earlier than we should have

Street, Mayfair went on to open an account with

longer. I admit that isn’t going to be easy but it

because whilst in reality it’s true that drivers

ODRTS. Unfortunately, the partnership that started

has to be done somehow.

could legally just wait in a zone, the chances

providing taxis in December 1966 lasted only until

So called “flash” demos that are organised

are that most were on their way to the zone

8th February 1967 when a court found Dorothy

online do have an immediate effect, but again

from elsewhere.

Calvert - whose husband Reg had been shot and

very soon become tomorrow’s chip paper

If you did that regularly, then you will now be

killed on the station just 10 months earlier - guilty

because they are ignored by everyone within

down in trip numbers. You could be down even if

of broadcasting without a licence. That night at

hours of the demo. We need a few clever people

you used to work 100% straight down the middle.

midnight, Radio City closed down and by the time

to get together and dream up a way that will catch

But looking at things logically, someone must be

the ODRTS admin department asked for their

the attention of the Mayor - one where he will

doing the work because driver numbers on DaC,

money at the end of the month, the company had

have to listen. And yes, we do have some very

whilst increasing of late, haven’t gone through the

already moved on and became our first real debtor!

clever people in this trade.

roof and the job numbers are fairly stable. So the

But I’m getting waylaid! Screaming Lord Sutch

question has to be just who is doing the work?

later decided to move into the world of politics

Complaining about complaints!

Well, what is undoubtedly happening is that the

and having previously stood at the by-election to

I recently needed to phone LTPH at the number

system has become ultra-fair and trips are being

replace disgraced MP John Profumo under the

given with their Palestra address on TfL sta-

spread around and whilst still true that the longer

banner of the National Teenage Party, Sutch

tionery. Of the four options given, none applied to

you have been in a zone the better the chance of a

soon decided to form his own political party - so

me so I pressed number one for Taxi and PH

trip offer, that no longer includes just being

in 1983 was born the Monster Raving Loony

licensing and then just hung on... and on and on

booked in - but actually being there and not hav-

party! When David Sutch died in June 1999, the

while a voice kept repeating that I was in a queue

ing just left home!

BBC described him as Britain’s longest serving

and because there was a “high demand,” I might

For the record, the unidentified driver had

party leader!

have to wait.

apparently rejected almost one third of trips

So going back to the beginning of this piece,

Suddenly a voice came on the other end

offered and I’m a big boy and can answer for

it seems that following the recent US elec-

that sounded different. I was about to talk

myself had he written to me direct...

tions, had Screaming Lord Sutch been born in

when the voice just spoke over me saying that

the USA, he would probably have ended up as

I would be answered within ten minutes! I just

President rather than the Monty Pythonesk

Alan Fisher

hung up in frustration and called back several

way his party is looked on as. After all, The

callsignmag@aol.com

hours later with exactly the same result! So I

Donald did it...

Call Sign December 2016

Page 4

Reflections of the Chairman

What with the de-merger and a host of other

Progress

situations, we really didn’t need this last

No doubt you are all wondering how the situa-

episode regarding the PED software.

tion regarding the building is progressing, espe-

Regarding PEDs, I admit reluctantly sur-

cially as I wrote in the last issue of Call Sign that

rendering to TfL and it is not an episode I

you would be receiving more correspondence

will ever forget. They have completely

from me, but as yet you have not received it.

neglected the security of taxi drivers.

There are not any problems, but unfortunately

I visited a workshop with templates

we cannot move faster than the organisations

Roman Way had made, in an attempt to

with whom we’re dealing with will allow - name-

have brackets made for the PEDs; the

ly Companies House and HMRC. However, it

brackets will be attached to the grab han-

will all be resolved in the near future.

dles on the back seat so will not necessitate

In the meantime, I’ve been pressing on

with the sale of Dial-a-Cab House as hope-

any drilling of the vehicle. The brackets

fully, when your business has been de-

Anyway, the rest is history as they are now out

have been passed by TfL. I have been argu-

merged, the issue regarding the building

of business; however, as they only paid the

ing with them since March of this year

will be ready to go. I have already

minicab and taxi companies on a monthly basis,

regarding the siting of the PEDs, especially

instructed an Agent, but unfortunately

I just hope they did not owe the taxi companies

as I had written permission from TfL dating

there is more to it than just that. You also

any money for the month prior to them going

back to March 2011 giving me permission

need an Architects Feasibility Study, a

out of business. I have spoken to both Addison

to install our PEDs in the front of the taxi.

website has to be produced together with

Lee and ComCab and they both told me that

However, there came a time when I had no

a glossy brochure; then of course there is

option but to capitulate and order brackets,

Karhoo went bankrupt without owing them any

the Rights of Light Survey and an Energy

otherwise there would have come a point

money. Hmmm, that was fortunate, wasn’t it...?

Performance Certificate.

when TfL put ‘stops’ on drivers cabs. They

Last and by no means least, there’s the

knew it and that they had me over a barrel. If it

Measurement Survey and undoubtedly

PEDs

was just me that was going to be affected, I

there’ll be something I have forgotten to

You will read elsewhere in this issue about the

would have carried on because they have got

mention. So as you can see, there is plenty to

enormous problems we’ve encountered with

this wrong and drivers will be put at risk. I

do whilst we’re waiting to de-merge the com-

Ingenico and Barclaycard regarding our

even enquired about a Judicial Review and

pany; but when we do, everything else will be

PEDs. There isn’t any doubt that there has been

was told it could cost up to £120,000! So it was

in place.

one tremendous blunder (not really the word I

probably easier and cheaper to surrender.

was looking for!!) by either Barclaycard or

However, I now view TfL in a different light and

Ingenico - with both parties blaming the other.

they should remember that every dog has its day...

Karhoo

Our IT department found out purely by

It was recently announced that another App

chance that a software upgrade was due and

has gone out of business, leaving substantial

Season Greetings

we had not been informed. I made calls to

debts behind. It was basically a price compari-

It seems that regardless of your religion,

other PED suppliers and their acquirers had

son site that was started by a man with the

this time of year will be a celebration of

informed them in September that this

rather unfortunate name of Daniel Ishag. I’ll

some kind. So either way, I send you all

Algorithm

upgrade was imminent.

just refer to him as Daniel! Anyway, he went

the season’s greetings. If you don’t follow

Consequently, it’s been all hands to the pump

about raising Venture Capitalists money and

any religion then I hope you just have an

in an attempt to rectify the situation before all

getting numerous minicab and taxi companies

enjoyable and financially rewarding

our PEDs ‘died’. As you can imagine, this put a

to subscribe to his site.

December...

tremendous strain on our IT department and

The customer would enter their destination

into the App and the software would come

Roman Way and caused inconvenience to you,

Brian Rice

our Shareholders. I can only commiserate with

back with the price the cheapest companies

Chairman

all three groups and just hope we have rectified

would charge for them to get to their destina-

the situation by the time you read this piece.

Dial-a-Cab Ltd

tion. My guess is that most of the time, the cus-

tomer would choose the cheapest option and I

really couldn’t see that being a licensed

London taxi. From the customers’ point of

view, they had to lodge their credit card with

Karhoo and any ride they took would be deb-

PAUL’S TAXI SPECIALISTS LTD

ited to their credit card. At the end of the

month, Karhoo would deduct 10 percent from

the fare and pass the remainder to the minicab

Unit 10, Ford View Industrial Estate, 83 New Rd Rainham, RM13 8ET

or taxi company.

They came to see me on three occasions in

Tel: 01708 553037

an attempt to get Dial-a-Cab to sign up to their

App. I refused on each occasion as I couldn’t

FREE AIR FILTER WITH EVERY SERVIC

WE ALSO HAVE CABS FOR RENT

understand why on a price comparison site,

the public would not choose the cheapest

TX1 servicing from £48

TX1s, TX2s, TX4s and Vitos

option because if they did not want the cheap-

TX2 servicing from £70

Rentals from £165 per week

est price, they would probably be using anoth-

TX4 servicing from £90

er App. I also couldn’t understand how if any

trips went to licensed taxis, how the taxi com-

All Work Undertaken

pany could pay the driver the metered fare and

Servicing - Running Repairs - Overhauls - Small Fleets Welcome - Discounts Available

then Karhoo retain 10% of that fare before pay-

All TX1, TX2, TX4

ing the remainder to the taxi company! As you

Starters - Batteries - Alternators - All with 2 year Warranty

might expect, they told me how silly I was as

RTG were on there, along with ComCab and

Fax: 01708 551443

Web: www.PaulsTaxiSpecialists.co.uk

Addison Lee and they had also signed up City

Fleet in Singapore.

Call Sign December 2016

Page 5

KARHOO GOES UNDER...

n February, Call Sign wrote about a new

Were we against Karhoo? Not really... but

loaded the app and

Taxi/PH comparison site that had contact-

that was probably more to do with us being

supported what we

ed us for our view on an app they were

worn down after years of fighting against

were trying to do.”

putting out which they claimed would

minicabs. Even Mountview/Gett - they of the

Call Sign’s

compete with Uber; our first question to them

“we only work with black cabs” - went on it.

question is why,

was whether they really expected taxis to be

But although we wished Karhoo luck,

when they say that

happy to share a platform with minicabs? The

we really couldn’t see how it could work

hundreds of thou-

answer surprised us when they said that both

and that was proved right on 8 November

sands of people

Dial-a-Cab and ComCab had signed up along-

when Karhoo announced that they had

downloaded the

side Addison Lee. It turned out that they were

failed to secure the backing they required

Karhoo app, did

wrong about DaC, but that ComCab had

to keep going and had to shut up shop.

they find them-

indeed signed to go onto Karhoo, as had Addy

Their announcement said that it was with

selves in a posi-

Lee and other minicab companies.

regret that they had to close its service. They

tion where they

I also asked how they could expect black

continued:

had to cease

cabs to compete on a price comparison site

“The Karhoo staff around the world in

trading? They

with minicabs and as an example asked how

London, New York, Singapore and Tel Aviv

recently sent out

many passengers would select a taxi from

has over the past 18-months worked tirelessly

a press release

Cabot Square to Heathrow when minicab

to make Karhoo a success. Unfortunately, it

claiming London was a huge suc-

prices began at around £36.

became clear two weeks ago that the financial

cess with fleets reporting revenue increases

My problem was a feeling of concern

situation was getting dire, with Karhoo in

of up to 30 percent. They said they had signif-

that after constantly seeing black cab

urgent need of funding. Discussion with a

icant funding, a scalable model and a UK net-

fares as always showing up more expen-

potential new backer ended last night, forc-

work of more than 90,000 cabs. Either they

sive, many of our prospective customers

ing the company to stop trading. We would

lied or something serious went wrong???

might have stopped comparing and just

like to thank our staff, partners, fleets around

Jamie Corum

gone straight to minicabs. Either way,

the world that shared our vision and the hun-

we’d have lost.

dreds of thousands of

people who down-

Call Sign Online

As the House of Lords talk about driverless

GMB: PH language

technology for London

tests are ridiculous

SINGAPORE DRIVERLESS

peaking of what he referred to as “ridiculous lan-

guage tests that

CAR HITS LORRY!

forces London

A self-driving car

private hire dri-

that was described

vers to fork out at least

as a taxi and being

£180 to prove they speak

trialled in Sin-

gapore by US

English,” GMB Professional

based start-up soft-

Drivers’ Secretary Steve

ware developers

Garelick said that it could

for self-driving

see a private education

cars, nuTonomy,

has had its first

firm (Trinity College

accident.

London) pocket £20mil-

A spokesperson

lion.

said the driverless vehicle

The GMB claim that

(which actually had two engineers on board) had hit a small lorry while

the new rule has caused

driving at about four miles per hour. It described the incident as a

“small prang” and said that there had been just minor damage and

outrage among PH dri-

that neither of the two engineers was hurt.

vers, especially those

According to the BBC, the Singapore scheme was the first around

that were born and

the world to trial driverless taxis, however, the nuTonomy spokes-

raised in the UK. TfL

person added that small accidents were not unexpected during the

trial period and that the idea of the testing was to learn what went

have mandated that unless

wrong.

the drivers can prove they have an English GCSE, then they

The project uses six Renault and Mitsubishi electric vehicles,

must undergo a language at a cost of around £180.

equipped with nuTonomy software and cameras. Each car uses a sys-

Mr Garelick added that in his view the tests were not only

tem of lasers that work in a similar way to radar and monitors the

unnecessary and demeaning, but would “shovel huge sums of

vehicle’s surroundings. The on-board drivers monitor the performance

and are there as a backup in case something goes wrong - as in hit-

money into Trinity College’s coffers, thanks to a virtual monopoly.”

ting a lorry! Although described as taxis, needless to say they do not

What Mr Garelick needs to understand is that there are a

pick up passengers!

great many PH drivers whose command of the English language

Most major car companies including BMW, Ford, Volvo and sev-

is little above nil and that there has to be a way of separating

eral Chinese car makers in addition to Google are currently testing

those that can from those that can’t - and a GCSE seems to

out driverless technology. One spokesperson claimed that by 2020

the technology would be good enough to put a driverless car onto

make sense as that divider.

the road.

Call Sign December 2016

Page 8

UBER AND THE TAXI TRADE

ctober’s Employment Tribunal

Undoubtedly our campaign is beginning to

ruled that Uber drivers were not

change how politicians view Uber; initially

self-employed

- as Uber often

almost every politician I met made a com-

claimed - but are employed, enti-

ment about competition or new technology;

tled to holiday and sick pay and the national

but now there is universal agreement about

minimum wage. Even though the decision

the damage being done and the problems

applied to just two drivers, Employment

being caused by the Uber set up. The recent

Tribunal decisions apply to ALL UK tribunals

report by the right wing Policy Exchange

and as such seen as precedents. Uber are

which highlighted Uber's tax avoidance is

appealing the decision...

shortly to be followed by another report,

Following the Tribunal result, The LTDA

again expected to criticise Uber, from the left

issued a statement to its members via the

wing Institute for Public Policy Research

Association’s General Secretary, Steve

(IPPR). Evidence of the success of our

McNamara. He said:

involvement with these reports with the

“Whilst this decision has been appealed by

media and politically is that Uber is now

Uber and is likely to change, our lawyers have

becoming viewed as a 'toxic' brand and not

reviewed the transcripts of the hearing and

the friendly tech company that it was original-

consider that some aspects of the evidence

ly perceived as and wants to be again.

are relevant to Uber's continued ability to be

Steve McNamara and the LTDA will be

Uber are fully aware of what is happening

licensed in London; especially when viewed

attempting to block Uber re-licensing

and are concerned enough to be attempting

in conjunction with evidence previously pro-

next year

to obtain details of the LTDA’s meetings with

vided at the recent court hearings in

and congestion by getting the exemption to

the Mayor, senior City Hall figures, politi-

Toronto. Our first opportunity to mount a

the congestion charge removed from Private

cians, Government Ministers and advisors

legal challenge against Uber’s continued

Hire Vehicles. Our All Party Parliamentary

through a succession of Freedom of

licensing will be when they apply to TfL to be

Group will be meeting shortly to formulate a

Information Requests. I see this as further

re-licensed early next year.

strategy and I will be making these the lead

evidence that our strategy is the correct one!”

The LTDA will be setting out a fully detailed

items on my upcoming meeting with

Mr McNamara added that although the

and researched case as to why Uber should

Government Transport advisors.

LTDA has been asked to support a variety of

not be re-licensed, using the same expert

At Mayoral and TfL level, our primary focus

militant actions and while they supported the

legal licensing team that we have engaged

is on highlighting and changing the disparity

sentiment behind all of them, their political

and who are currently assisting with our

between the proposals for Taxis and those for

advisors had said that supporting them

'Plying for Hire' prosecutions.

PHVs in the Ultra-Low Emission Zone

would be counter-productive to the

The primary focus of our political cam-

which starts in January 2018. How can it be

Association’s “detailed and extensive Political

paign is now on securing a requirement for

acceptable to allow 100,000+ PHVs to con-

Campaigns.” The General Secretary added

Private Hire Operators to be made responsi-

tinue to run polluting diesel vehicles whilst

that it was “...better to be inside the offices of

ble for insuring all the cars on their platform

insisting the taxi trade is compelled to buy

Government talking to the decision makers,

(Operator Insurance) and to tackle pollution

new Zero Emission Capable cabs?

rather than blocking the roads outside.”

Motorway speeding

tickets up 50,000!

And that’s just between 2010 and 2015!

New research taken between 2010 and

into attitudes around speeding cameras

2015 has revealed that fixed penalties

reveals that over a quarter (28%) of

issued on smart sections of motorways have

motorists believe that cameras are just

gone up from 2,000 to 52,000. The data

a way for the police to make money.

was taken from 12 police forces across the

Amanda Stretton, former racing driver

UK that monitor major stretches of smart

and motoring editor at Confused.com said:

motorway (M1, M25, M4, M42 and

“With speeding tickets on smart motor-

M6) and revealed that 52,516 tickets had

ways rising sharply, our research shows that

Thanks to all staff and drivers who

drivers are highly cynical over the increase

supported the annual Macmillan

been issued in 2014-15 compared to just

of speeding fines. However, exceeding the

‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’

2,023 in 2010-11. There are more than 236

speed limit is dangerous and the law should

held at Dial-a-Cab House back in

miles of smart motorways in England,

be enforced. Speed cameras have been put

September.

which use the hard shoulder and variable

in place to prevent accidents and slow

We have just received a certificate

speed limits to control traffic flow.

down drivers. If motorists are caught speed-

of thanks from Macmillan - which

Drivers are being caught out by changing

ing, they can face fines of up to £2,500

can be viewed on the Dial-a-Cab

speed limits which have been introduced at

depending on the particular speeding con-

Facebook page - in recognition of

traffic black spots to control congestion.

viction, as well as a strong chance that their

the impressive £300 raised on the

The fixed penalties mean that revenue on

car insurance premium will rise as a result.

day.

each of the years increased to over £1.1mil-

While motorists might see speed cameras

Many thanks again for your

lion compared to £150,600 just over five

as annoying, they help to keep speeds

support...

years ago.

down and the roads safe for motorists and

Further research by Confused.com

Brian Rice

pedestrians alike.”

Call Sign December 2016

Page 9

Brazil Calling

Special General Meeting

rides from Karhoo.”

The first thing that must be mentioned in this article is of course the

This may seem a far off land

events of the 18th September 2016. Whilst as Board Members we have

to some, but Addison Lee and

been writing Call Sign articles on alternate months, therefore I have not

ComCab may be caught in the

yet had the chance to thank subscribers for their faith in returning me to

cross hairs of this debacle and

the Board - albeit as a Director. It has, in my mind, always been a great

possibly left holding the baby

privilege to represent you and it remains to be, so thank you for your

when it comes to paying dri-

votes and as I’ve said before, I’ll do everything in my power to improve

vers. Karhoo founder, Daniel

the value the Society has to each of you. My commiserations go to

Ishag, the son of a banker and

Michael Son BEM and Garry White, both good men with the cab trade

CEO of Karhoo, incidentally

coursing through their veins. Both of them will be missed, but I’m sure,

stepped down a few days

as all of you know, both will be out there fighting your corner just as they

before. A member of staff at Karhoo stated that they had ended up having to

always have.

deal with a lot of fraud prevention in their app. So much for the free ride

policy; who knew that would fail?

So what changes?

In August, The Financial Times reported on its disappointing app

Well, as the structure of the company at this time is now that of a Limited

store reviews that Daniel Ishag said were down to “not using the promo

Company, it means terms like ‘Board members’ have been surpassed by

codes properly” and that issues got resolved after they had spoken with

the term ‘Director’; in the final meetings, we should see the division of

customers. The fact is that free rides don’t buy loyalty.

Dial-a-Cab, if ratified, become two separate companies under the

The Karhoo statement ended: “The world needs Karhoo.” Well it would

umbrella of a Dial-a-Cab Limited Company.

seem that that is no longer the case and the bottom line of our competi-

This of course gives DaC the flexibility to allow for the sale of the build-

tors may prove that they didn’t need it in the first place.

ing as an asset and allow for the distribution of monies to you, the share-

holder, in the not too distant future. For many drivers this can’t come

And finally...

soon enough, but great care must be taken at this stage to ensure the best

Thanks for sticking through the article; here comes the information bit.

outcome for you, the shareholder, and with the right professional advice

I’ve had a few credit card trips requesting chargebacks from our drivers;

being in place and a motivated Chairman and Directors, we will do every-

these can sometimes be for considerable sums. Please, please keep your

thing in our power to ensure a positive outcome for all of you.

credit card receipts for six months after you have issued them. If a query

The first Directors meeting allowed for a few changes within the inter-

is raised, without the receipt it becomes very hard to argue on your behalf

nal structure. I will now be at the office two days a week, Tuesday and

for payment.

Wednesday. The duties that have now come under my remit are that of

I hope you all have a happy, peaceful Christmas and a good financial

Driver Operations, which will include an overseeing brief at Roman

one if you intend working...

Way, driver recruitment and marshalling activities. This of course will not

Joe Brazil, Director

be exclusive, and as I’m sure Allan Evans will be mentioning at some

Head of Driver Operations

point, it also allows for inclusion in the project to move the PEDS, from

the front compartment to the rear of the taxi. We have already had a visit

from TfL and agreement for a non-invasive fitting that will reduce; if not

remove, the need to drill holes in the centre partition has been given a

tentative nod. Hopefully we will have found out if approval has been

granted by the time you read this, good news for drivers leasing vehicles,

as £700 to replace a partition has been suggested by some suppliers.

The Baker Street irregulars…eliminating the

impossible!

News has reached us that Karhoo, the Baker Street vendor of other com-

panies’ vehicles, has had to close its service. This App - or digital disrupter

as most of us see it - has fallen after just 18 months trading. Within a mar-

ket saturated with empty promises and false dawns, this worldwide App

EVERY SATURDAY AT WEST THURROCK BOXING &

or ‘website’ as it saw itself, trading in New York, Singapore, Tel Aviv and

of course London closed with job losses of around 100 people in London

FITNESS GYMNASIUM

alone. It was reported that UK staff were told that their employers were

unable to make the payroll. Karhoo apparently raised a huge £202 mil-

From 10.15-12.15 - £10 per pupil

lion investment round last October from Nick Gatfield, the former CEO

Minimum age of 16

of Music Entertainment and David Kowitz, the co-founder of hedge

Kids Class: 12.30-1.30pm from age 8yrs to 15yrs

fund Indus Capital Partners. However, that number has been called into

question by multiple sources who claim the company only received

£5.00 per pupil

between $10 million and $20 million according to the ‘business insider’.

Suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to

The article continued: “Since launching, the company has been

accomplished boxers

burning through cash at a phenomenal rate in a bid to grow its user

Female ONLY classes subject to demand

base, with several customers claiming they received multiple free

Watch out in the City

Several drivers have contacted Call Sign over

the past few weeks to tell us they have been

“nicked” for exceeding the City of London

20mph speed limit. One also added that he was told

he would be reported for not wearing his badge.

So beware; you may consider 20mph as being a

ridiculous speed limit at night, but it’s the law!

Call Sign December 2016

Page 10

On 8 November, a taxi demonstration along Whitehall protested against

TfL’s failure to deal with traffic congestion and the resulting air pollution

caused by their policies. At the same time, UCG General Secretary Len

Martin delivered a letter to PM Theresa May. This was the letter...

UCG Letter to Theresa May

Dear Prime Minister,

I write to you as the General Secretary of the United Cabbies Group (UCG), a trade body that represents the interests of the Hackney

Carriage drivers in London and other UK cities.

1. Our members have called upon us to arrange a formal protest today as they now have no confidence in TfL and its management

team; today, we the Licensed Taxi Trade, bring our discontent with TfL to Whitehall to raise awareness of serious threats to London.

We do not call these protests without giving serious consideration to the effects they have on the general public and we apologise for

any inconvenience our protest may cause; however, we feel we are left with no other option as we have exhausted every possible

avenue in our attempts to get Transport for London to address our concerns.

2. Whilst we have a number of unresolved issues with the day to day administration at TfL, our main focus is on health, safety and

the economy. A number of recent reports on the worrying decline in London’s air quality, coupled with excessive journey times, have

resulted in an unsustainable increase in traffic congestion; this manifests itself in pollution taking London well above safe limits.

Approximately 9,500 people are dying prematurely every year, twice as many as previously thought. London has breached EU safety

limits on NO2 for five consecutive years (source King's College London).

Oxford Street has the worst NO2 levels in the world. As working Taxi Drivers, we are exposed to this toxic pollution more than any

other road user; it is often suggested that the Taxis we drive disproportionately contribute to these levels. Whilst this is true, it is not

of the driver’s choosing. We have a very limited choice over the model of Taxi and design criteria of the vehicles we drive.

Transport for London have failed to provide the Taxi trade with an affordable choice of vehicle that is more environmentally friendly

and thereby allowing us to compete in an increasingly competitive market.

Buses (subsidised by TfL) are the highest polluters of all vehicles on London’s roads, followed by private motor cars (because of the

number of them on the roads at any time). Taxis are in third place (source King's College London).

3. Another consequence is that of massive real losses to London’s economy. We have used official figures to calculate the loss of produc-

tivity to London every year. The figures are simply staggering and costly; anybody who needs to travel for business, logistics or the emer-

gency services can attest to this. Transport for London has implemented road traffic management policies that have caused serious dam-

age to London’s health and wealth.

When Leon Daniels took on the role of Surface Transport director at TfL, road speeds in London averaged 8.98mph. This is now below

7mph.

Sustrans reported in 2014 that 9.6 million trips as car driver/passenger were taken every day (this figure is rising). Based on official figures,

London is losing 1.4 billion hours every year stuck in traffic jams, creating congestion, pollution and costing UK businesses £millions of

lost income.

There are a number of other worrying issues regarding TfL and their fitness to run London’s transportation system. One of the most con-

cerning issues is the continual rise in rape and sexual assault figures pertaining to Private Hire drivers in London; TfL have failed in their

duty to protect the public and their licensing practices must be investigated. The last published figures showed 111 sexual assaults com-

mitted by Private Hire drivers; the latest figures that were due to be released in September 2016, are still unavailable and despite FOI

requests remain so. Leaked information suggests this has risen to 263 for the six months to

September.

4. There have been several allegations of corruption at TfL, ranging from contracts awarded for underground 3G infrastructure to ten-

dering for bus contracts. There is an individual who has claimed he was directly told that unless he submits a payment, his solution to

a pollution problem will not be accepted (I have this person's details and he has repeated this accusation to me).

There are also some very dubious and questionable relationships between senior TfL staff and minicab company Uber that have been

uncovered in leaked emails, amounting to “Coaching” answers to difficult questions that would expose illegal behaviour. We believe

this was done with the sole purpose of misleading the public and the Greater London Assembly (GLA).

There is also the security risk from lack of enforcement on counter terrorism. A while ago, there was the potential for two very serious

incidences. A Private Hire Vehicle (aka minicab) was left unattended outside a London nightclub whilst filled with gas cylinders; the

vehicle was towed away (oblivious to the danger) and upon unloading at the car pound, a bomb was discovered - fortunately it failed

to detonate. A second vehicle, disguised as a minicab, was identified nearby by police - that also failed to detonate. With so many PH

vehicles parked outside venues and TfL’s total lack of effective enforcement, this could happen again but next time with unimaginable

dire consequences.

5. TfL is an organisation with a budget of £10.4bn in 2016/7 but is not accountable to anyone. Even the Mayor seems to have no

power to deal with this behemoth of an organisation that is now very apparently out of control. There is something very seriously

wrong at TfL, but this is not just our view. A recent GLA future proof report described TfL as woefully inadequate; we believe this

warrants an inquiry.

We therefore formally request that you grant a Statutory Public Inquiry for the sake of London's, health, safety and wealth.

We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your representatives in order to discuss our concerns in further detail.

Yours faithfully

Len Martin

General Secretary

United Cabbies Group

Call Sign December 2016

Page 11

n this series so

Some people are on the pitch, they think it’s all over!

far, we’ve looked

back in time at

some London

football clubs’ previ-

ous grounds that have

in the main either

Bob Woodford looks at London’s long lost sporting venues

become victims of the

wrecking ball or cov-

ered over. But I’ve also taken a look back at

their origins, the unique heritage that each of

these famous old institutions hold dear.

We discovered that Millwall was started

up in 1855 when a group of Scottish

labourers in a tinned food factory on the

Isle of Dogs began kicking a football

around during their tea break; Queens

Park Rangers were formed by members of

a youth club who were ex-pupils of Droop

Street School in 1882, and Arsenal was

begun by munitions workers down at

Woolwich in 1886.

This month I want to feature some south-

west London stalwarts who used jumpers for

goal posts under the sails of a windmill -

these were ex-pupils of Old Central School

at Camp Road SW19 in the autumn of 1889,

who looked down at the already established

This was left after Wimbledon moved to Milton Keynes!

Wimbledon Association FC at the bottom of

the hill near Parkside.

The Wimbledon Common Conservators

been a tad marshy, although 18 years later

Football in London was all the rage by

felt the last straw had arrived when the foot-

this difficult plot would not deter South

the

1880s, even in leafy Wimbledon,

ball hit a passing Hackney Carriage knock-

London Greyhound Racecourses Ltd

where the Old Central School was once

ing off the top hat of a seated passenger!

building a huge new London Stadium.

proud to have had William Wilberforce

New accommodation was sought and

Merging with local borough workers

among its first trustees.

found behind The Swan Pub on the

meant a new Wimbledon Borough FC was

I’ve read many London sports historians

Ridgeway, but there is no point looking for

born and in 1912 they took a leap of faith

appreciation on how the beautiful game

that old pitch now; it is covered up jointly by

and purchased some swampy land, which

exploded in the late 19th century, usually put

the Ridgeway Riding Stables and late-

had become a refuse dump on the oppo-

down to how successful the predominantly

Victorian housing on Thornton Road.

site side of the river on the corner of

Midland-based Football League was develop-

The new century was a time of change and

Plough Lane and Haydon’s Road.

ing; it was the oldest such competition in

the club moved to a brand new ground at

Immediate improvements were made, the

world football - but let’s not forget the annu-

what was then called Worple Road West (now

ground was fenced in, dressing rooms

al FA Cup Final had been up and running

named just Worple Road) at the junction of

built and a stand to seat 500 fans erected;

Pepys Road and Cottenham Park School

since 1872 in London!

welcome to the new home of Wimbledon

The fact that between 1872 and 1886 the

was used to house the changing rooms.

Football Club in Plough Lane until 1991.

It was in

1905 that ‘Old Centrals’ was

Cup Final was held continuously in the capi-

Call Sign readers will know that the old

dropped from the club’s name and the boys

tal MUST have inspired our local football

Plough Lane football ground has now been

from the Common end of town would be

clubs - The Oval in Kennington was used 16

swallowed up by private housing and not the

known simply as Wimbledon FC. But

times during that period with one Final held

originally intended Safeway supermarket

ground drainage issues in Worple Road

at the Lillie Bridge Ground (now covered

chain - Reynolds Gate Estate (named after

caused the club to experiment using other

over by a car park in Seagrave Road). The

former

1960s prolific goal scorer Eddie

grounds for home matches - playing fields at

game of football had come a long way in

Reynolds) has six individual blocks named

Grand Drive near Raynes Park Station, at

nearly 20 years and the new Association rules

after other star players.

The Chase in Merton Hall Road, at

dictated that ‘throttling an opponent could

How coincidental that when AFC

Burlington Road in New Malden and at

no longer be fair practice’. Forget bruised

Wimbledon was re-founded (after their

Malden Sports Ground near New Malden

shins, biting was a more common injury!

previous owners upped sticks and dis-

Station.

The Old Central held practice close to the

gracefully moved to Milton Keynes) the

Perhaps the idea of a ‘Crazy Gang’ mentali-

Windmill until they managed to arrange their

players had no choice but to train just

ty came in 1908 when a report from the

first friendly, which took place on the com-

yards away where it all started over 100

Boxing Day match said there had been ‘sick-

mon close to Robin Hood Road - the other

years earlier under the sails of that

ening scenes’ after a humbling defeat to

side of the London Scottish Golf Club

Windmill - using jumpers for goalposts!

Kingston FC and Dons star player Dave

which had been around since the 1860s.

From 2018, the Dons will be back in

Walker was brutally assaulted as he made his

History was made when a 1- 0 victory over

Plough Lane - Greyhound Racing Association

way off the pitch - so much for Christmas

Westminster FC got the ball rolling (no pun

recently sold their Stadium so that the club

cheer!

intended) and further fixtures and wins over

can turn it into a football stadium. Come on

Seeking a new permanent ground, the

traveling opposition ensued. There was a

you Dons!

Club looked to the local authority for help,

happy bunch of founding fathers that would

but not for the first time the forerunners of

gather up for regular meetings at the Coffee

Wishing Call Sign readers a great

the London Borough of Merton were not

Tavern on Ridgeway. However, just as

Christmas. I shall be back in the New Year with

forthcoming - football activities were actually

Wimbledon Old Centrals were gaining

the story of London’s oldest Professional

suspended for a whole season.

increasing numbers of spectators and just

Football Club.

In 1910 the Dons joined forces with some

like our other London sides at the time, they

council workers who had a pitch at

had to seek an alternative suitable home

Coppermill Lane to the east of the River

Bob Woodford

ground.

Wandle (off Plough Lane), which may have

Call Sign Online

Call Sign December 2016

Page 12

Call Sign’s Marc Turner (R97) is also known as Drumslayer. This

month he is writing about problems between taxi drivers and the

people that use us - our customers...

KEEPING THE CUSTOMER SATISFIED

However, we still have much support

respect, which borders on arrogance,

from Joe Public, despite a few of us (per-

makes him feel undervalued and unsur-

haps unwittingly) sometimes falling

prisingly added that this rudeness does

below the standards our patrons pay for

our trade no favours at all!

hilst out working and as we head

and rightly deserve.

Many cabmen obviously do not enjoy the

towards another Christmas, I'm

People often tell me that they want to put

job and feel that chatting to mates helps the

often chatting to passengers and

their hard-earned money into taxi drivers

time go quicker. But just imagine entering a

doing (unofficial)

market

pockets, yet suffer disappointment when

shop where the salesperson ignored you, dis-

research. Of course, these days Londoners

those drivers lack manners, good grace and

tracted by a conversation on their mobile

are so spoilt for transportation choice and I'm

customer service.

phone. Would we accept that? I doubt it! Yet

bowled over when a hand goes up because

One fellow told me how he often hails cabs

we expect our punters to do so with grace.

someone has chosen me!

where the drivers are on their mobiles and

As the old adage goes: “He who pays the

The public in general are well informed

who don’t even make eye contact with him,

piper, calls the tune.” What better song is

regarding the current precarious situation our

just beckoning him brusquely into the cab.

there than “Keep the customer satisfied!”

trade - often due to no fault of its own - finds

Then apart from ascertaining the destination

itself in. We, especially day men, still have the

they just continue with their call, not even

I wish you all the seasons greetings...

lions’ share of the work despite it feeling other-

interrupting it for payment, just offering a

wise. Night men on the other hand are feeling

Marc Turner

curt nod as a thank you.

the shift in public taste big time! Recent week-

He went on to tell me that this lack of

Call Sign Online

ends resemble a basket case.

Simon Scott is one of the new generation of taxi drivers whose life is captured as

a blog. The continuing story of his time as a butterboy is…

A Blogger’s Tale

This morning whilst thundering down the

course he has had a few well document-

A1 towards London, I listened to an inter-

ed problems.

view on the radio given by a young man

However, he is a very gifted man who it

whose career I have followed closely. He

seems has come out the other end of that

was talking about his new novel and I

experience very well balanced and philo-

couldn't help but admire his eloquent and

sophical. I'm looking forward to reading his

confident performance in front of the

novel…

microphone. I cast my mind back a number

To be continued…

of years to a job that at the time seemed a little, but not overly disturbing…

Simon Scott (O40)

I was driving along Newgate Street approaching the Old Bailey on my left, when

Call Sign Online

across the road one of the two men standing near the Viaduct Tavern put their hand up

to hail me. As I slowed and started to manoeuvre a turn, another cab travelling in the

opposite direction stopped for them. The elder of the two leant forward and said some-

thing to the driver and with a shrug of his shoulders he drove off. I pulled over and my

punter leant into the nearside window and said 'the cheeky so-and-so tried to steal your

job'. I mumbled something about bad manners but thanked him and they climbed inside.

Immaculate White

“Do you want to go to Essex, the passenger said. Well of course I did, but I main-

tained a poker face and just asked which part. He said Chigwell and off we went. Now

Cab Available for

I try not to listen to conversations in the back, preferring to listen to the radio and con-

centrate on not killing anyone along the way; I think it began to rain and that slowed us

Weddings

down a bit. My mind began to wander and I glanced at them a few times in the mirror,

they seemed to be related - probably father and son I thought with the elder of the two

in his thirties and the younger in his teens. There was a strange atmosphere in the back

that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. The younger man didn't say much at all, most of

the talking was coming from his father and at one point he made a phone call; I over-

heard him trying to reassure someone by telling them 'it'll be alright, don't worry'.

As we neared Chigwell, the older man asked me to wait whilst he went to buy fish

and chips, he insisted that I have some as well and he was very persuasive. I waited for

his return reading my newspaper, but with the sense of unease that I had picked up

from my two passengers. He returned and we went on our way, they got out in front of

one of the big houses that always make me envious and he turned to pay me. I remem-

ber him telling me that it was a nice journey and to take care, he gave me a big tip -

£10 over the meter - and we went our separate ways.

Some weeks or even months later, I opened a copy of the Evening Standard and

read the news that Ronnie O’Sullivan had been given a life sentence for a murder that

Female driver

took place in Soho. I looked at the accompanying photo and instantly recognised him as

10% reduction for Dial-a-Cab drivers

my Chigwell bound passenger and the young man with him was his son, who would

Contact Debbie (W18) on

become the famous snooker player of the same name. I had thought many times about

how having his father imprisoned at such a young age would have affected him and of

07956 317040

Call Sign December 2016

Page 13

There’s an old saying that has

TfL: “No problems with card readers safety. If something happens

been used by cab drivers

then we’ll look again...”

throughout the years - trust

your first instinct! Of course,

MIKE AND THE BILKERS!

that instinct could be wrong and

Mike tells his

someone you suspect of being

passengers that

up to no good could well be

they won't get

fine and someone you wouldn’t

out until they

consider capable of any wrong-

pay

doing could actually try and

take you to the cleaners. And,

of course, when it’s a bit quiet

out there, you might be tempt-

ed to disregard that initial

instinct.

That’s exactly what happened to Dial-a-

Cab driver Mike Appleby (L73). Although

Mike has been on DaC for over 14 years, he

has been driving a taxi for twice that time and

The three

when three prospective passengers tried to

“gentlemen!”

get into his locked cab, Mike had a bad feel-

ing but disregarded it. Mike told Call Sign

his story...

“I always keep my doors locked and when

someone hails me, in 99.9 percent of times I

release the lock. It matters not where they are

going so long as they look like genuine cab

punters. But I broke that rule when three

young guys with hoods up tried to get in at

the Welbeck Street lights where it meets

Wigmore Street. They were rattling the han-

dles in an attempt to open the locked doors

and my instinct said not to let them in. But it

was quiet and I thought that perhaps it was

me prejudging them, so I unlocked the back

and they climbed in.

I also kept inching forward to put more pres-

“It was only later when I thought about my

“They said they wanted Knightsbridge near

Harrods with a stop on the way at a

sure on them. I then phoned the police and

offer to let them pay by credit card; what

made sure the three of them heard. By then,

would have happened had they realised we

McDonalds. So I politely explained that there

was a McDonalds just past Knightsbridge, so

the meter had gone up to almost £18 but this

all took credit cards? I read a recent piece in

there was no need to stop on the way. That’s

was all about the principle of them not get-

Call Sign and it suddenly hit me that they

when I got the first hint of an attitude problem

ting away with attempting to bilk a taxi driver

could have just said the CC reader wasn’t

and knew straight away that my initial instinct

so I was happy with the £14.

working in order to try and get me into the

had been right and there was no way that they

“The police said they were on the way and

back. Would they have then actually attacked

intended paying - or they could possible even

remained on the line while the three passen-

me? After all, they obviously had no intention

have something worse on their mind. But I’d

gers were mumbling. One even started look-

of paying; yet according to the article TfL say

come across people like these before and was-

ing in his inside pocket in a threatening way

they’ve had no incidents of it happening!

n’t overly concerned so long as my doors

and I think - very briefly - I spotted a minia-

Never mind my three bilkers, more pertinent

remained locked.

ture laser beam pen in his hands. Whether he

is whether TfL even care about us?”

“One of the three started calling me

was waiting to aim it at me I don’t know, but

Call Sign Says:

‘bro’ and asking me to be fair! So I repeat-

the middle one suddenly bent over as if to

According to TfL there have been no

ed that McDonalds was just past Harrods

clear a gap for him to aim through. I was

reported incidents of passengers deliber-

and their destination was just by there.

looking straight ahead and reiterated that the

ately luring drivers into the rear of the

But I had already picked up the signs that

police would be there in minutes and if they

cab under the pretence of the credit card

made me certain that they were going to

wanted to get out, all they had to do was pay

reader not working. So we ask whether

make a bolt for it once I let them out.

me the £14. I wasn’t worried about the rest,

that just may be because very few cabs

Then they suddenly decided they had to

it was just a matter of principle.

had the PED in the back and whether

stop at a shop along the route, but I said

“I offered them a credit card facility but

once it becomes common knowledge to

no. They said they really needed to stop

they declined. I was talking to them and

people such as the three “gentlemen” in

there so I told them the facts of life -

the police at the same time when sudden-

the above report, such incidents will

which were that as soon as I let them out

ly a £20 note came through the partition

increase. If so, they will surely be the

they would make a bolt for it!

gap. I took it and gave them a £5 note and

fault of TfL who are taking absolutely no

“Eventually we pulled up in Knightsbridge.

didn’t bother waiting to see if they would

notice of our plea and who apparently

My foot remained firmly on the footbrake so

tell me to keep the £1.00!

care very little for our safety. More and

that they couldn’t get out and told them that

“Then they got out but left the door open.

more people in this trade are now begin-

for the whole journey I had been filming

Perhaps they thought I would get out to close

ning to take notice of something we have

them. I then turned the camera round and

it but I carefully drove off with it open until I

been saying for months...

put the lights on so they knew they were

could see them walking in the other direc-

Michael Toomey

being filmed. I told them they couldn’t get

tion. Then I stopped and closed it. I also can-

out until they first paid the £14 on the meter.

celled the police.

Call Sign Online

Call Sign December 2016

Page 14

icky Marshall was on Dial-a-Cab

TfL: “No problems with card readers safety. If something happens

for many years before moving to

then we’ll look again...”

ComCab, but for the sake of this

article Micky is like all of us - a

London taxi driver. At a time when TfL appar-

THE DRUNK AND THE

ently care nothing about our safety by refus-

ing to allow a cable to be attached to rear-

mounted credit card readers so that passen-

CREDIT CARD MACHINE...

gers with card problems can pass the reader

it happened a lot and that he would get it

through to the driver rather than force the

back off her the following day.

driver to leave his cab and enter the rear com-

That was it for me, light out and home!

partment, Call Sign will be publishing any

I was very thankful for his help but we as

article that involves passengers being prob-

cab drivers should not be put in such an

lematic as regards our safety.

awkward position. What if I had got in the

According to our licensing authority, we

back???

do not have such problems with passen-

Go into a petrol station at night and the

gers and have no reason to fear entering

attendant is locked in the safety of his cabin,

the passenger compartment. Micky told

a bit like the front drivers compartment in a

Call Sign:

cab. Should you wish to pay by credit card, he

“Someone hailed me in Commercial

pushes the terminal through to you using a

Street and asked if I could take their friend to

sliding draw and thus ensuring his safety. In

Harrow Road. She was quite drunk but

my opinion TfL should have made CCTV

where work hasn’t been that good, I agreed

monitors in a cab more compulsory than

to take her. Throughout the journey, she, like

credit cards.

most drunks, spoke absolute rubbish but was

I was one of the pioneers in accepting

still quite pleasant, although with 33 years

under my belt that somehow made me feel

credit cards over 25 years ago, but my opin-

rather uncomfortable.

ion is still the same as it was then - it is surely

At the other end, there was £23.60 on the

illegal to force either a company or sole trad-

meter. She gave me a fiver and thanked me

er to take credit cards, even though I person-

Micky Marshall: Drunk female wanted

before adding that she had no more money.

ally think all cabs should accept them - but by

him to go into the back to look at the

So I asked her for a credit card and told her to

choice.

credit card reader

put it into the passenger compartment credit

I also noted Call Sign’s interview with

card terminal and to just follow the instruc-

Helen Chapman; please pass on my

tions.

was present. She then called me a wa**er a

regards and tell her if she ever wants to

no good sh*t cu*t.

“It ain’t working,” she called out. I tell her

come out in my cab for a few hours to

it is but she is insistent and says that I will

Just as I was about to call the police, the

show her what it's really like out there, it

concierge at her swanky flats came out and

have to get in the back to show her how. I

would be my pleasure and of course... no

replied that the only way I was getting in the

apologised while asking much she owed me.

charge!”

I told him and he gave me the dough. He said

back of the cab with her was if a police officer

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Call Sign December 2016

Page 15

There were two reports recently from one of

TfL: “No problems with card readers safety. If something happens

London’s most respected taxi garages of dri-

then we’ll look again...”

vers being lured into the cab’s rear compart-

ment after passengers claimed the credit card

readers were either not working or that the

Drivers attacked

passenger “didn’t know how to use it.”

Both reports came from the Long Lane

Cab Garage while owner Tony Forsythe was

because card reader

away on holiday. Karen in the garage’s office

explained to Call Sign that two of their cus-

tomers - one a female - had gone to the rear

“wasn’t working???”

compartment after being told that their pas-

sengers were having trouble with the PED.

Both were then attacked.

Unfortunately there are no further

details, but if the two drivers concerned

would like to contact Call Sign (callsign-

mag@aol.com), we would like to hear

their stories. We will respect their privacy

should they wish to remain unidentified.

We are very concerned that this could be just

the tip of the iceberg and that once those “pas-

sengers” - whose only aim in life seems to be to

do as little work as possible by robbing and

stealing from taxi drivers - realise that all they

have to do is say the PED isn’t working and dri-

vers will have to get out, then the above sce-

nario will become regular events. In addition,

attempted bilks such as the one involving Mike

Appleby (L73) (see page 13) will turn into

incidents of luring drivers into the back and

attacking them.

A spokesperson at the Mayor’s office told

Call Sign: “Under no circumstances would we

Two Long Lane customers allegedly attacked because the card reader "wasn't working!"

expect a driver to leave their cab should a

problem with the payment machine arise.

port and see whether they can fix the fault or

not have the remotest idea as to how taxis

First of all, the driver should ask the passenger

take an over-the-phone transaction. Once a

operate because we’d love to see him sit in

to try again. If the fault persists, they should

fault has been acknowledged, the vehicle

the driver’s seat with the above passengers

contact the payment device supplier for sup-

should be taken out of service until it’s fixed.

had they requested a south London back

If the card is declined or faulty then a com-

street council estate at two in the morning.

monsense approach should be taken and an

We can no longer rely on Transport for

CREDIT CARD

alternative means of payment agreed upon. If

London, which has demonstrated that so

a passenger refuses to pay and an amicable

far as they are concerned, the only duty of

STICKERS

agreement cannot be found, this should be

care they have is to their own positions.

treated like any other instance whereby a pas-

And the ones that don’t fit!

senger refuses to pay a fare.”

Jamie Corum

We can assume from that the Mayor does

Call Sign Online

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union

Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about

variable bank interest rates?

Well wonder no more! If you are a subscriber, journeyman or

member of staff at Dial-a-Cab, then you qualify to join the

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union. Any member of your family residing

at your address also qualifies for membership!

Then if you are over 18, have been a member of the Credit Union for

over 3 months and have established regular savings, you can borrow

Many drivers with TX cabs where there

up to 3 times your total savings…

are headrests stuck onto the central parti-

The cost?

tion, have told Call Sign that the credit

card stickers sent to them by TfL/LTPH

Just 1% per month on the outstanding balance (or APR of 12.7%).

Loans can be paid back early AND there can be an annual dividend on your shares.

do not fit. We told the licensing authority

and they sent us a photo of an approved

The question is: Can you afford NOT to be in it…?

place where the notice, in the case of

Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585

those where the headrests stop it going

on the glass, can have them stuck. This is

Members of the Financial Ombudsman Service

in addition to the long, thin signs that fit

Member’s funds protected up to limit set by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme

DaC Credit Union Ltd, Peterley Business Centre, 472 Hackney Rd E2 9EQ

on the top of the windows inside of the

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

passenger doors.

Registration number 213263

Call Sign December 2016

Page 18

’d like to tell Call Sign readers a true

Call Sign’s December issue traditionally has a Christmas story in.

story that happened to me while

This year is no exception, except that this time it’s a true one! It

doing a hospital account job on

behalf of Dial-a-Cab. It was getting

comes from DaC driver Peter Moll (K35) and while it has little to do

close to the holiday season and I was on

with the holiday season, it surely contains a “be nice to others”

my way home feeling quite happy at the

Christmas message…

approach of another Christmas. Suddenly

my terminal bleeped and a trip came up,

albeit a short one with a fairly low fixed

price, but it was going in my direction

A SMELLY STORY

and I accepted it.

When I arrived at the hospital, I saw a nurse

and gave her the name of the three passen-

FOR CHRISTMAS!

gers I was to pick up. She directed me to a

small reception area while telling me that one

of my passengers was blind. As I got closer, I

ing a selection of people who seemed to have

started to sense a rather strong, musty smell.

found their evening’s entertainment by

I entered the reception and there, standing

watching us. We were almost at his front door

right in the middle, was my blind passenger.

when he shouted that he had left his bread in

He was holding a white stick in one hand and

the taxi!

a loaf of bread in the other. He also seemed to

So we made our way back to the cab to get

have half the contents of his last month’s din-

the bread, passing the same people who

ners on his teeshirt and joggers!

seemed to be enjoying the entertainment!

The two other passengers, an elderly lady

Then it was back to the flat again, passing

and a not-so-elderly Jamaican gentleman,

those same people yet again and who had by

were sitting nearby. I say sitting, but they had

now replaced their smiles with looks of puz-

more than probably collapsed from the pong

zlement. I was now holding one hand while

because as I got nearer to the blind gentle-

he had his loaf in the other. We turned round

man, I realised that this dreadful smell was

the first bend into the corridor of his flats. I

coming from him and the people sitting

was still holding his hand, but as I looked

down were probably trying to get as far away

back at Bert I couldn’t believe what I was see-

from him as possible! So when I informed

ing - his joggers were down to his knees and

them that we were all going home together,

he was exposing his meat and two veg! What

that was the first they realised that this very

our

“viewers” must have thought was

smelly and dirty person was going to share

unimaginable! I shouted to him that his

their taxi. I asked the blind passenger for his

trousers had fallen down!

first name and I’ll change it to Bert for the

He just said: “I know, I’ve lost 2 stone

every conceivable direction possible - except

sake of the story - just in case!

recently and that’s why I asked you to hold

the way he was walking! No doubt he was try-

I took the bull by the horns - or in this

the bread, so I could hold my joggers up with

ing to avoid direct nasal contact with Bert!

case by the hand! He also asked me to hold

my free hand!”

As we walked towards my taxi, I imag-

his loaf of bread, which of course I did. Bert

I took his bread again while he pulled

ined a path of fainted people lying on the

then raised one hand up into the air level

his trousers up and we took the final

ground as we passed! I was still leading

with his shoulder and pointed out to the

steps into his flat. I opened his door, guid-

Bert to the cab, with the occasional peep

front. So I took it and waited for my flock

ed him inside while holding my breath all

behind to make sure my flock were still

to follow. I felt a bit like a Messiah about to

the time! As I said goodbye, I really hoped

there. I went down a ramp and crossed a

lead my people to the Promised Land!

that I never had to pick him up, or smell

courtyard towards the cab. As we got

I started walking out of the ward, slightly in

him ever again! But I wished him a Merry

there, I turned around to check the flock

front of Bert while holding his hand so that

Christmas and he smiled back, thanking

again. I could see the Jamaican passenger,

the smell was behind me. Once we got some

both me and Dial-a-Cab for being so won-

who by now was about 20 feet behind us,

distance away from the other two passengers,

derful to people with disabilities. What a

but no sight of the lady. I thought she had

they very slowly rose from their chairs and

lovely man I thought as I walked back to

done a runner or a shuffle, when sudden-

with an incredibly reluctant look on their

the cab passing the same people who

ly I spotted her lying on the floor.

faces, began to follow. The lady didn’t seem

were now telling me how wonderful taxi

I quickly threw the loaf of bread into the

too keen on keeping up at all and wasn’t so

drivers were!

luggage compartment and told Bert to wait

much walking as sort of shuffling around five

As I arrived back at the taxi, I heard the end

there. I ran to the lady and realised that a

feet behind us. A further five feet back was

of a conversation between the remaining two

waiting ambulance had left its wheelchair

the Jamaican gentleman, who was looking in

passengers. The Jamaican was saying that

ramp down and she’d walked straight into it.

being blind shouldn’t stop him taking a bath!

I helped her up off the floor and for the first

Call Sign

time asked myself why I hadn’t just gone

I said nothing. Within five minutes I had

dropped both the other two passengers off

home! The un-Chrismaslike words stupid,

December 2016

greedy and git worked their way into my

without any further problems and headed off

Editor: Alan Fisher

back up the M11 towards home. Even with the

Address: 39 - 47 East Rd, London N1 6AH

thoughts too!

Anyway, thankfully the lady was fine and I

windows open and the cold Xmas-time air

Tel: 0207 251 0581 Fax: 0207 553 7293

Email: callsignmag@aol.com

eventually succeeded in getting them - and

blowing all around me, the cab still stunk! Yet

Website: www.22-callsign.co.uk

the loaf of bread - into the taxi. They all lived

I was smiling and almost giggling to myself at

Printers: Premier Print Group

within a mile of the hospital and off we went.

the sight of Bert in that corridor with his jog-

E6 6 LP

First drop was Bert - there is a God I said to

gers round his ankles whilst holding his pre-

Design: Aldan Publications

cious loaf of bread! It also occurred to me that

myself! I got him to his address, a very dodgy

Tel: 07958 300 428

looking block of flats, in double quick time

I should have a bath as soon as I got home, not

Email: debbiefresco@googlemail.com

and helped him from the taxi. With each

to mention get the cab fumigated - and never

Views and opinion expressed in Call Sign must

movement of his body, there seemed to be a

to be greedy ever again…!

not be assumed to represent those of the Editor or

Board.No part of Call Sign may be reproduced

different, far worse smell emanating! I took

A happy Christmas to all...

either manually or electronically without the express

him by the hand in our now tried-out formula

Peter Moll (K35)

permission of the Editor.

and we slowly made our way to his flat, pass-

Call Sign December 2016

Page 19

“By all accounts, Derric Sampson is a model

Travis Kalanick is CEO and co-founder of Uber. Although he once

driver. He has done 7,400 trips on Uber in 18

referred to taxi drivers as assholes, we forgave him because we

months and riders rate him 4.85 out of 5, above

average. The only issue: He’s served time in

know how kind and thoughtful he really is with an inbuilt desire

prison. My friends are often taken aback when I

to give even criminals a second chance in driving his passengers

tell them about Sampson. But people are

released from prison because the state accepts

around. Of course it’s nothing to do with his desire to get hold of

they have repaid their debt to society and

cheap labour; he is obviously just a lovely person!

deserve a second chance. And if prisoners can’t

find gainful employment, they’re much more

The following article comes from the San Francisco Chronicle...

likely to commit another crime, putting them

back in prison.

However, it’s amazingly hard to find work if

Travis Kalanick: “Let convicted

you are one of the 70 million-plus Americans

with a criminal record because many compa-

nies ask about your history up front. And if

prisoners drive Uber cars!”

you tick ‘yes,’ the application process ends

before the interview has even started. That is

Archie signed up with Uber after receiving

why Uber supports “Ban the Box” and has

support from A New Way of Life, an organisa-

removed this step from our hiring process.

tion that helps women coming out of prison.

But that’s just one of the many barriers peo-

But without lawmakers and corporations show-

ple face when looking for work. Some 30 per-

ing greater collective courage, her other work

cent of jobs in the United States now require a

choices are almost non-existent.

license - from being a tour guide or real estate

Crime is wrong. But once a person has served

agent to hair braiding. And many of these licens-

their time, we need to give them a second

es include some kind of criminal background

chance. Consigning millions of Americans to a

check.

life of unemployment, with all the costs that

It’s easy to understand why we’ve gotten

entails, may be the easier option. It’s certainly

here. Certain offenders, especially those con-

not the best one for our country.”

victed of violent and sexual crimes should be

Travis Kalanick

prevented from doing some jobs. But these

CEO and co-founder of Uber

types of rules have been extended to cover too

many non-violent crimes, excluding people

Three weeks after Travis Kalanick wrote

the above article for the San Francisco

Chronicle, the GMB union won their case

Taxi

against Uber in London when the London

from low-skilled work for offenses such as the

Employment Tribunal determined that they

possession of marijuana. It’s about fear not fact.

had acted unlawfully by not providing dri-

insurance

Earlier this year, Uber aligned its require-

vers with basic workers’ rights.

ments with Proposition 47, which reclassified

The GMB had brought two test cases on

certain non-violent crimes as misdemeanours.

20 July 2016 and the Tribunal decided on

for DaC

As a result, 3,300 people have signed up to

28 October that Uber drivers are entitled to

drive with Uber to earn a living and stand on

receive holiday pay, a guaranteed mini-

their own two feet in one state alone. Imagine

mum wage and an entitlement to breaks.

drivers

how many more life-changing opportunities we

The Union had heard that at least one GMB

could create if other states followed suit. And

member, who worked exclusively for Uber,

the most interesting part: Prop 47 drivers have

had received just £5.03 per hour in August

the same average rating as their Californian

after costs and fees were taken into

counterparts (4.82 in August). They also appear

On behalf of Dial-a-Cab, Hillier Buchan Ltd

account - substantially below the national

to live in areas where work opportunities are

in Bexley have negotiated exclusive rates

hourly minimum wage of £7.20.

harder to find.

for DaC members. We believe our rates are

Lawyers for the drivers claimed that Uber

competitive in today’s market for experi-

I’d never really thought deeply about criminal

acts unlawfully by frequently deducting

enced licensed Black Cab drivers.

justice reform before starting Uber. Now I realise

sums from drivers’ pay, often without

At Hillier Buchan, we understand every driver’s

reform is desperately needed. For example, the

informing the drivers in advance, including

circumstances are different; therefore our policies

FBI records many companies used to do back-

when customers make complaints. And Mr

can be tailored for the individual driver. We offer

ground checks but don’t include up-to-date data

Kalanick, these drivers weren’t criminals -

a 5% discount for DaC members, with additional

discounts for existing protected Bonus policies.

on whether an arrest resulted in a charge or con-

they were just treated as though they

Hillier Buchan was established in 2002 by

viction. So if someone is arrested and subsequent-

were...by you! So unsurprisingly, the man

David Hillier and myself with in excess of 50

ly acquitted, their “record” may not show that

who cares so much for criminals has

years experience as high level Brokers working in

they’re innocent. This is a terrible injustice

appealed the decision. He probably thinks

the City of London for major broking houses. We

because a large number of arrests don’t end in a

that £5.03 per hour is too much and that

have established a reputation for professionalism

conviction. What’s more, people of colour bear

someone being released from prison would

and service in our chosen fields.

the brunt of this inequity as they are more likely

snap that up! And it may have been just two

We have extensive London Market contacts;

to be arrested than whites. Flaws in these govern-

drivers, but we should also point out that

consequently we are able to offer our clients a

ment databases are one of the reasons Uber

decisions made by employment tribunals

quality of security from companies that are all

screens drivers - and we do rigorous background

are binding across the whole of England

available in the world’s pre-eminent insurance

checks - using county court records.

and Wales.

market. As a result, our clients achieve quality of

security and service upon which we pride our-

Reforms like Prop 47 could have an outsized

Let’s hope that our trade organisations

selves and a competitiveness of premium that

impact on the life of someone like Ingrid Archi,

take a leaf out of the GMB’s book and show

our clients find particularly attractive in today's

who was convicted of drug possession in her

some steel against TfL’s ludicrous decision

climate.

20s. She was laid off when the company she had

not to allow PEDs placed in the passenger

Our philosophy is to build long-term relation-

worked for three years changed its policies to

compartment to at least be on cables, so

ships using balanced service teams providing

exclude anyone with a criminal record. Out of

drivers would not have to leave the front in

continuity and expertise. Compare our prices

work, Ingrid stole clothes for her baby. She was

the case of a malfunction - real or other-

and give us a call. See our ad inside this issue of

arrested for petty theft and having violated her

wise...

Call Sign on page 20.

probation, was sentenced to prison. Under Prop

Phil Buchan,

47, her offense was reduced and she is out of

Alan Fisher

Hillier Buchan, 01322 553313

prison and wants work.

Call Sign Online

Call Sign December 2016

Page 20

No one carries on forever, but when Bernie

Can you almost be pregnant? Can you almost read a book? Can

Silver (F13J and until recently G08) phoned

you almost pass the KoL?

to tell us that he had almost retired, we

queried what that actually meant! After all, he

had been with ODRTS / Dial-a-Cab since 1975

CAN BERNIE SILVER

and although 41 years is a long time, he never

really sounded as though he was even thinking

of calling it a day.

ALMOST RETIRE???

“I’m just fed up with this job,” a sullen

Bernie told Call Sign, “you put your heart and

soul into giving a service to the public while at

the same time earning a living, but when it

comes down to it we have people in this trade

who couldn’t care less about us. There’s TfL at

the top of the pile who seem to do everything

they can to damage our pockets by licensing an

infinite number of minicabs, while blaming the

government for not putting down legislation.

But why didn’t they ask HMG to put the block

on when minicab numbers reached 50,000

rather than waiting till they reached 115,000

and even then still do nothing other than con-

tinually laying the blame elsewhere.

“Then there’s Uber being allowed to ply for

hire via the back route and an app; and whose

fault is that? Again it’s TfL who have given a

new meaning to the word infertility. They pro-

duce absolutely nothing of any use to the

licensed taxi trade and people such as me, who

So fed up is Bernie that he is almost retiring!

have given a lifetime to the trade, are just left in

limbo.

“BUT...!”

Bernie the best of luck in case he goes

“As a result, this job has become worthless.

Hang on Bernie! How can there be a ‘but’

beyond an almost retirement! But please, we

We sit on ranks and watch cars picking up the

when your intention is to retire?

don’t want any Dial-a-Cab drivers writing to

passengers who used to use us, driven by peo-

“But,” said Bernie somewhat quietly, “if

the magazine saying that their other half is

ple working for £5 an hour! That’s what TfL

after three months I find myself struggling

almost preggers!!!

have done to our trade and I can no longer

too much, then I might come back! So you

Ron Yarborough

stand it. So I am going to retire at the end of

could say that I am almost retiring!”

Call Sign Online

November.

So all Call Sign can do is to almost wish

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Call Sign December 2016

Page 21

Every issue of Call Sign takes a look back at ODRTS history through the pages of the

magazines of the time with a Flashback…

DIAL-A-CAB FLASHBACK

This month’s Flashback looks at a piece of history from the May 1998 issue of Call Sign - whether

there should be a Mayoral election for London and what they would do if there was one...

London’s Future - Your Choice

Londoners will be voting on new type of authority for the City on

Thursday 7th May 1998 - whether to elect a Mayor and Assembly

for London.

“Our plans for London are radical and innovative and will restore the

civic leadership and strategic direction which London urgently needs. It

will give Londoners a new style of local democracy with a strong Mayor,

an effective Assembly and new powers to deliver on transport, jobs and

crime,” says John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister.

The Mayor would be responsible for taxis and most main roads, whilst

controlling the underground and London buses through the new

Transport for London body (TfL), bringing an integrated approach to

travel in the capital.

The Mayor would also be responsible for regulating taxis and

approving taxi fares, a role currently performed by the Secretary

of State for Transport. TfL would handle licensing and everyday

licensing work, presently delegated to the Metropolitan Police

and the Public Carriage Office.

But if proposals to regulate London minicabs ever come to

fruition, responsibility for their licensing would rest with the Mayor.

The Mayor would also implement London-wide strategies in many other areas such as economic development, the

environment, health, sport, tourism and culture; oversee a new Fire Authority and organise action on other issues - perhaps even an

Olympic bid for example - with the Assembly agreeing or suggesting changes to proposals.

If London votes ‘Yes’ in the referendum on the 7th May, the Government would introduce legislation quickly, although

the first elections for Mayor and Assembly would not take place before Autumn ‘99.

CARVING THEIR NAMES WITH PRIDE

n 1907, the First Aid Nursing

Princess Royals Volunteers Corps,

Yeomanry was formed. During

attended their annual Remembrance

World War One, it became

Service at the church.

involved by driving ambulances

The London Taxi Benevolent

and assisting in field hospitals under

Association for War Disabled was asked

dangerous conditions. At the end of

to supply transport for some of the veter-

the war, the women of the Nursing

ans to convey them to a lunch at

Yeomanry had received one Legion

the Victory Services Club afterwards.

d’Honor, 27 Croix de Guerre and 17

Thanks to all the drivers who assisted by

names of 54 of these brave women and

Military Medals.

taking these brave ladies to their lunch...

on 29th October 2016, members of the

When WW2 began, they were to

Derek Leone

Yeomanry, which is now known as the

become the motor driving companies that

LTBAWD Hon PRO

formed part of the ATS, many of them

going onto top secret work in coding and

supplying administration and support at

the special training schools. They also

joined the Special Operations executive

where they served in different parts of the

world. A large number were sent into

occupied France and were captured, many

of them dying in concentration camps.

Three of them, Noor Inayat Khan,

Violette Szabo and Odette Hallowes

all received the George Cross - the

first two posthumously. A film was

later made about Violette Szabo -

Carve her name with pride - where

she was played by Virginia McKenna.

On the wall of St Pauls Church in

Knightsbridge is a memorial listing the

Call Sign December 2016

Page 22

Another true story from Geoff Levene…

MY ESCAPE - THE FACTS!

A statement from the Editor:

Nevertheless, that was my chance for fame and fortune and I

was stuck in this dump. So I walked up to the window of the

When the taxi trade complains about Uber,

enclosure and hit it in frustration. Some visitors screamed so I

we tend to say that if you pay peanuts then

kicked the door at the back... and it opened! That wasn't right. I

you get monkeys. In the August Call Sign,

was in a little storeroom. There was a fridge containing guess

we published a response from Bonzo the

what - you got it in one...bananas and leaves!

Gorilla who lives at London Zoo and who

There was another door so I tried that. It wasn’t locked. Someone

asked us why that would be such a bad

had messed up. But now I was in the open. I pushed a turnstile and

thing? He demanded an apology for our

I was out on the road! This was all wrong. I tried to go back through

remarks and a promise from us not to

the turnstile but it only went one way. People were rushing about

repeat them. We were unable to give that assurance but agreed

screaming and yelling. I don't know why, I couldn't see anything

to give Bonzo a platform to express his views and also explain

unusual out there. But I was now outside so I thought I’d have a quick

about his recent escape...

look round. There was a taxi rank across the road. The first driver

Dear Mr Fisher

looked at me, went rather pale and said: “Sorry mate, I've just got a

I just thought I’d bring you up to speed on what I've been doing

Dial-a-Cab job,” and drove off! No wonder you’re losing business.

lately because there has been much talk in the press about me escap-

There was another Dial-a-Cab driver behind him and he opened the

ing from the zoo. I'd like to state categorically that I had no intention

door for me. I jumped in and asked for Hampstead Heath. It seemed

of escaping. Let me explain...

like the right sort of place because if nothing else, there were bound

I’d had a hard day. Got woken early by some animal screaming blue

to be a few leaves lying round. But I’d hardly sat down when he start-

murder - and there would have been a murder had I found out who

ed his monologue.

it was! No consideration at all. Anyway, at 6am it’s breakfast time. Yes,

“Uber are in trouble. Seems their drivers ain’t self-employed after

bananas and leaves again! Can you imagine how many thousands of

all. They've got to pay holiday and sick pay. And what about National

bananas I've had! Whatever I had yesterday, it'll be the same today and

Insurance and Pensions. It’s gonna cost ‘em millions. But they’ll prob-

they're full of sugar, you know. Oh well, I thought, I'll just have to sol-

ably win the appeal and then it’s back to square one... blah, blah,

dier on as usual.

blah...Trying to drive down the Embankment? Forget it. And there’s

I had four hours until the public were due. I wandered round the

no cyclists even using it... blah, blah, blah... Just sitting there in a

enclosure, ate a few more leaves - I think I’m an addict. They do say that

cloud of pollution... blah, blah, blah... Two days guv, two days and it

if you eat too many carrots then you turn orange, so what happens if you

offered me just one job and that was on my way home. Life’s a com-

spend years and years eating leaves? I'll tell you... wind, terrible wind!

plete disaster... blah, blah, blah. Sell the building and share out the

Anyway, I climbed a tree, found a rope and swung back to a plat-

money. And then what?”

form. As Cilla Black famously sang: “I think I'm going outta my head,”

Escape? To that? Screaming people, pollution, moaning cab drivers?

although as any nerd will tell you, it was originally recorded by Little

There was only one thing left to say: “Driver, take me back to the Zoo!!!”

Anthony and the Imperials.

Bonzo (typed by Geoff Levene)

But I digress and thought you might like to know something about

Call Sign Online

my occasional partner, Bonzella. You could say we met on a blind

date - although it wasn't as romantic as that! I was sitting around one

afternoon when the door was flung open and she walked in, although

to be honest it was more like they shoved her in! I don't know who

CORINTHIAN

was more shocked - me or her. Well, she looked at me and I could see

that the way she looked was way beyond compare. Someone should

put music to that...

But back to Bonzella; we were supposed to get to know each other.

GOLF CLUB

And we did - in about 35 seconds. And that was it. We had a few dates

and I suppose I quite fancied her, but intellectually it was a struggle.

Cabbie Specials

I'd ask her what she thought about Brexit and all I’d get was a grunt.

Or I’d ask what she thought of apples instead of bananas. Another

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED JOINING A GOLF CLUB BUT

grunt! So, I have to admit that I’ve gone off her. Yes, we get it together

WONDERED IF YOU WOULD REALLY USE THE MEMBERSHIP?

now and then but I don't think it's going to last - well not for more

Now’s your chance to try our course. Any black cab driver who shows us their

than 35 seconds!

badge gets a 10% discount for green fees and societies on Mondays,

Then, just before the gates were open to allow the public to come

Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and a discounted membership fee.

in, my phone rang.

“Bonzo speaking.”

“Hi Bonzo, it’s Phil.”

CABBIE GOLF SPECIAL

“Who?”

Our 9 hole course is the perfect place for you to relax and get some fresh air

“Phil

Phil Collins.”

in the beautiful countryside of North-West Kent.

“Sorry

I'm not sure who you are.”

Renovated and restructured greens and improved fairways to play on, with

food and a bar on site to refresh yourself after a round.

“You know,” said Phil, “Su, Su, Suddio”. Another day for you

and me in Paradise. And I can hear it coming in the air at night,

oh Lord (copyright Cadburys chocolate - the ad, not the Lord)!”

For more information call Jacquie or Sue on 01474 573116 / 573113

“Of course,” I replied, “you saw me playing in the advert. Oh

A friendly welcome awaits you.

yeah, I know you.”

Corinthian Sports Club, Valley Road, Fawkham, Longfield, Kent. DA3 8LY

So Phil Collins told me he was going on tour but had done his back

corinthians@billingsgroup.co.uk / jacquie@billingsgroup.co.uk

www.corinthiansportsclub.co.uk

in, was unable to play the drums and having seen the ad featuring my

drumming skills, said that he needed me. Sadly I told him that I

couldn’t do it explaining how the Zoo made a big fuss when I did the

advert. But I offered to call Mick Fleetwood for him; he declined my

offer and hung up. Not much gratitude there! I hope his walking stick

breaks.

Call Sign December 2016

Page 23

Poppycabs

Well done to all those Dial-a-

Cab taxi drivers who joined

many other cabbies on Sunday

13 November to help transport

veterans from mainline sta-

tions to the Cenotaph in

Whitehall to commemorate

Armistice Day.

The closest Sunday to 11 November each

year marks the armistice signed at

Compiègne in France between the

WW1 Allies and Germany in 1918 for the

cessation of hostilities on the Western Front

and signifying the German defeat. That

took place at 11am and is remembered as

the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the

eleventh month. We now refer to it

as Remembrance Sunday.

The transportation of vets to Whitehall is

brilliantly organised each year by Mike

Hughes and is known nowadays as

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Poppycabs. In addition to driving the vets,

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

many other drivers helped as marshals

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

along the way and the trade thanks them all

for caring...

We will remember them.

An occasional review from a struggling 14 handicapper at some

of the marque golf courses I've had the privilege to play in my

Book Aiden Kent

golf days away from the taxi…

for your event

SIMON’S

...and make it go with a swing!

GOLF

COURSES

Liphook Golf Club

Down on the border of Hampshire and West Sussex,

there lies a gem of golfing turf. Liphook Golf Club

is a near neighbour of the previously reviewed

Hindhead. Whilst not as visually stunning as

The 18th at Liphook

Hindhead, it can arguably be said that Liphook is

fractionally better as a golf course - even though there is very little in it.

In 1922, Arthur Croome designed his one and only course. A schoolteacher by

profession, he had very little funds at his disposal facilitating the use of the

nature of the land, but nevertheless this is an extraordinary piece of golfing

heaven.

Not long, perhaps, by today's standards - 6200 yards and with a par 70 - it demands

you play good golf. Indeed, for you Zen golfers reading this, it's a course that gently

whispers in your ear: “I want you to play well and think about every shot you make!”

It’s very hard to pick individual holes, as the course itself has a wonderful flow with a

well-thought out classic design. I’ll use the 18th as I took an accompanying photo. This

is a great final hole, a par 5 at just over 500 yards. The longer hitters may be able clear

the plateau ridge and get a kindly run down the hill to leave a 200 yard plus shot to

Tel: 07956 456 360

the green.

But beware that for the last 80 yards there are bunkers guarding the right, no room on

Email:

the left and out of bounds yards of the back. To add to that, the green runs back to

front and is treacherously fast - the ultimate risk and reward finish!

aiden.kent@btinternet.com

As you can tell, I have huge fondness for Liphook...

A happy golfing Christmas...

Web: www.aidenkent.com

Simon Wallis, Call Sign Online

Call Sign December 2016

Page 24

“Probably everyone else has noticed too,”

Danny Lewis (D17) commented, “but the

Are we nearly there yet?”

traffic volume has worsened to the nth

degree lately, which not only affects our

arrival times for picking up account clients,

required yet another calming message from

but is also having a serious effect on actual

her husband…”

journey times in getting people to where they

Continuing his story, Danny said that

want to go.

he decided to use Judd Street, Great

“Last week I picked up an elderly couple

Russell Street, down through Covent

from Kings Cross going to the Chelsea

Garden and into Cranbourne Street rather

Bridge Hotel. The lady was in a wheelchair,

than Gower Street, its various road works

while the gentleman was reasonably mobile

and usual traffic hold ups.

and alert. No sooner had we got ten minutes

“During the course of that 30-minute jour-

into the journey when the lady asked - with a

ney, the lady must have commented at least

sense of urgency - if we were nearly there

four times and as we approached Chelsea

yet?’ I replied that the traffic was bad and that

Bridge, she sighed that they “really” must be

I would do the best I could, which kept her

there soon... and of course, at last we were!

quiet for just a few minutes before she

As they left he cab, a sense of peace and

repeated the same question again! I decided

quietness fell over me!”

to bite my tongue and concentrate on driving

But the DaC driver hadn’t quite finished

smoothly, all the while breaking my head as

with Call Sign, telling us about another

to how I could avoid the worst of the traffic,”

horrendous trip from Kings Cross.

husband interjected by telling his wife that

Danny said, sounding as though he were

“I took a gentleman from the station to the

there wasn’t long to go and that at least kept

doing the journey again!

Goring Hotel; the traffic was even worse

her happy for another ten minutes, after

“At that moment and much to my relief, the

than my Chelsea Bridge trip and it took the

which time the same question returned and

best part of an hour to complete it! Yet when

I apologised, explaining that every way we

could go was the same on that particular day,

LI SHUFU: BREXIT WON’T

the passenger was as good as gold and said it

AFFECT CHINA AND THE UK

wasn’t my fault. It makes your life so much

easier...!”

The August issue of Call Sign ran an interview with

London Taxi Company Chairman, Carl-Peter

Alan Green

Forster, who said the TX4 owners - Geely Holding

Call Sign Online

Group - aimed to produce 10,000 taxis and light com-

mercial vehicles a year by 2020, up from under 1,200

in 2015. He also added that Britain’s decision to leave

WHIPLASH

the European Union would not affect the company’s

current investment plans.

CONSULTATION TO CUT

With their new factory at Ansty Park near

Coventry completed and with £300 million of

INSURANCE COSTS

Geely’s money invested in the new site, Mr Forster

said that although future investments could depend

on the new relationship Britain forges with the EU,

he said that any decisions would not need to be

made until at least 2018, by which time they would

know exactly what the regulatory framework was, together with cus-

toms and duties framework etc. They could, if necessary, then make a decision.

But last month, Geely Chairman Li Shufu gave his view on Brexit and said

that he didn’t think it would have any negative impact on the relationship

between China and the UK. He added that he believed the two countries could

continue their relationship well into the future.

Geely Holding Group is China's largest privately owned car-maker and it has helped

Mr Li become a billionaire. But his wealth has been spread to the Midlands factory

where the taxi makers are said to be taking on 1,000 new workers - among them

he Ministry of Justice has

being highly skilled engineers, managers and advanced manufacturing technicians,

launched a consultation on

who will all be involved in the production of the green zero-emissions capable TX5,

proposals that could

which is due to be launched by the end of 2017.

reduce the high number of

This TX5, with its new light-weight aluminium body structure and composite pan-

whiplash claims and reduce premi-

elling, was designed in Barcelona by British designers David Ancona and Peter

ums. Whiplash claims have risen by

Horbury. It will be battery-powered but can switch over to petrol should the battery

50% over the past ten years and

get low.

cost insurance companies an esti-

The new taxi will seat six people, give more leg-room for drivers and incorporate a

mated £1bn a year.

panoramic glass roof. It will also have in-cab WiFi as well as charging points for passen-

The consultation gives details of

gers wanting to recharge batteries on their phones or lap-tops.

plans to scrap the right to compen-

Li Shufu is 53 and was the man that took Manganese Bronze out of adminis-

sation or put a cap of £425 on the

tration in 2012 at a reported cost of £11.4million, so guaranteeing the continu-

amount people can claim for minor

ation of what many recognised as the London taxi icon. In an exclusive Call

whiplash injuries - and then only

Sign interview in our October 2013 issue, Mr Li told us that Geely were in it for

after giving proof via a medical

the long-term and would be building LTC into a global business. He added that

report. The average whiplash pay-

he had a strong belief in its future and had agreed the right business plan for

out is around £1,850.

its future.

Call Sign December 2016

Page 25

hat’s not strictly true, of course,

Once again Call Sign writes to TfL about credit card readers; once

Transport for London would never

again they say...

say bog off; they just don’t reply!

But to us, that is the same. Call

Sign has been battling for many months in an

attempt to make our licensing authority

BOG OFF! WE’RE

understand that forcing drivers to place cred-

it card readers in the passenger compartment

could put our lives at risk.

NOT TALKING!

The latest letter we sent went to Alex

Moffat of their policy department and the

TX4s had tip-up seat headrests on the parti-

man who checked Dial-a-Cab’s new bracket

tion and consequently the signs they sent just

that will be fitted in the rear compartment

didn't fit. That said it all to me. There may well

should TfL not back down.

be some nice people at TfL but the impression

Many of our readers will undoubtedly be

is that although they are our licensing author-

getting bored by Call Sign constantly going

ity, they are run by machine and there is no

on about the danger TfL could be putting us

room for any movement. TfL says so, therefore

in, but if you have read this issue right

it is!

through you will have seen the number of

If DaC's PED was passed by TfL 5 years ago

bilks/attacks we have found in just one

at a cost to DaC of £500,000, why is it no good

month. No doubt we could have found many

now? And why is it that not one member of TfL

more had we advertised, but we now know

has answered me as to why, if the PED must go

that TfL don’t really care and in this case, we

in the back because TfL say so, why it cannot

didn’t even get the courtesy of a reply -

be on an unbreakable cable as it currently is

which to us is the same as receiving a

on DaC PEDs in the front. Then passengers

response telling us to bog off!

with problems could pass it through to the

The latest letter is printed below. Call

driver if they claim there is a problem. It could

Sign has also spoken to the two largest

possibly be more prone to damage, but better

selling newspapers in the UK - The Sun

to a machine than to us!

and Daily Mirror - and explained the situ-

The Call Sign letters and articles re TfL's

ation. Whilst they have not published the

total intransigence etc are all laid out for the

that really would be pointless).

stories, should any driver be injured due

But Alex, the above isn't the real prob-

December issue. How nice it would be to say

to this stupid mandate, then they will

in the following issue that TfL have looked at

lem because genuine passengers will

undoubtedly go to town on TfL. We have

somehow work out a way of payment. It is

the subject of driver safety and will allow PEDs

also spoken to a legal company but the

to go in the rear or the front provided it is

the few whose only aim is to rob the driver

cost to us is just too ridiculous to even

- and please don't kid yourself that they

accessible to passengers without the driver

think about. But again, should something

needing to touch the card (as DaC's is other-

aren't out there.

happen, then they will know the situation

As I said earlier, I have several more drivers

wise it would not have been passed) and the

and how often TfL were told what will

correct signage is attached.

in November writing of their problems regard-

happen to a driver eventually.

ing credit card payments. One driver was invit-

Sadly, the belief that most drivers have of

IN FACT THE WHOLE WORLD WILL

TfL - ie they could not care less about our

ed into the rear by a drunk lady passenger

KNOW THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WE ARE

who said the machine wasn't working, while

safety - will be confirmed when you either

VAINLY TRYING TO TALK TO...

send me the identical letter I have had from

another even sent a photo of the three young

This was the letter we sent to Mr Moffat...

men who were at the very least looking to get

many at TfL and the GLA that we shouldn't

Hi Alex

out without paying but who, had they known

leave the cab, look for a cash machine or

I don't think we have ever met but Brian Rice

that taxis accept credit cards and the machine

phone the CC company. Or you might not

has spoken of you being a nice guy. So I really

was in the back, would undoubtedly have

even reply because the days when TfL replied

have to write this to you directly, although I

tried to attack the driver after getting him to

to editors has long gone.

know Steve McNamara forwarded on my pre-

leave the front of the cab. You obviously know

Alex, if I sound rude towards you, that isn't

vious email to you.

that if a driver has to leave the front to go into

intentional. It is borne out of the sheer frustra-

As the editor of Call Sign, I am getting

the back, then he/she would not be able to

tion of banging my head against a wall. After

inundated by drivers who say that TfL don't

lock his/her door.

all, I assume the decision to place all PEDs in

care about drivers’ safety and that the only

I have letters from drivers who have written

the rear was taken at a meeting with the trade

thing that is important to the licensing author-

to their MPs and one who has Andrew

(my belief is that Steve McNamara and Grant

ity is uniformity.

Dismore promising to bring up the subject at

Davis were there - and even the founder of

In my next issue (1st November) I have sev-

the December Mayor's Question Time. As I

CabApp, an app that seems to have failed yet

eral drivers writing articles and letters regard-

write this, Caroline Pidgeon is expected to

obviously is more important than DaC so far

ing TfL changing their mind after passing the

ask Sadiq Khan at the November MQT to look

as TfL are concerned). Yet Brian Rice, the first

Dial-a-Cab PED equipment 5 years ago and it

again at the situation and the danger it pre-

Chairman of a radio circuit to mandate credit

being fine to use then in the driver's compart-

sents to taxi drivers.

card usage for all his drivers, wasn't invited

ment, because being removable from its cra-

Yet TfL in their wisdom keep pumping out

and didn't even know it had taken place until

dle and attached to a cable it could very easily

the same misinformation claiming that we

being told your decision had been taken.

be passed through to the passenger. Should

shouldn't leave the safety of our cab. But will

Why? Well, would TfL want someone there

there have been a problem with the PED or

TfL pay us to let these people off the fare

with a different point of view? Of course not!

the passenger was just unable to understand

because the advice to pay by cash is ridiculous

Hence the bruising on my head thanks to TfL.

how to use it, the driver could rectify the prob-

if they say they haven't any and even more

My sincere apologies if I have let out my

lem without the need of getting out of the cab.

pointless is to phone a CC company at 2 in the

frustration out at you Alex. It really isn't per-

I have read on several occasions the official

morning. What should a genuine passenger

sonal, but hopefully you can see my problem.

TfL response that if a passenger says the

do? Wait until the following morning?

As a driver as well as an editor, I know the sit-

machine doesn't work etc, then we shouldn't

The answer, Alex, is to put a proper sign in

uation drivers are in. TfL obviously don't...

leave the safety of the cab but either look for a

the passenger compartment that passengers

and therein lays my frustration and head bang-

cash machine (even though that could add

can't miss, saying the taxi driver accepts credit

ing requirement.

pounds onto any fare and cause even more of

cards - because TfL couldn't even do that cor-

Kind regards

a problem) or phone the suppliers (at 2am

rectly. Apparently they didn't realise that some

Alan Fisher

Call Sign December 2016

Page 26

DaC driver Sean Farrell (B39) looks at trade history from a different angle

Brethren of the Whip

very little while.” This was easy for the foreigner: “A little while,” he

Waiting Time

said, “is a very little while!”

We’ve all had the passenger at one time or

Samuel Joseph was paid his 6s 6d waiting time plus 5s expenses.

another who asked you to wait whilst they

Then spare a thought for William Tapping. Shortly after midnight

tended to their business and were then sur-

in late November 1861, he set down a fare in Brompton and

prised on their return to find that you had

watched as the two gentlemen entered a house. At 2am he saw the last

not stopped the clock! It’s really nothing

lights of the house extinguished as all inside prepared for bed.

new...

At 5am, after sitting on the seat of his Hansom in the cold and

On the last Sunday of

1833, William

drenching rain, he knocked on the door and asked how much longer

Carrington was sitting atop of his Hackney

he was to wait. The master of the house was awoken and confronted

coach on the stand in Knightsbridge. It was a

by a thoroughly wet and bedraggled cabman in front of him. As far as

bitterly cold morning and two gentlemen approached him saying he

the passenger was concerned, he had placed the shilling fare on the

could have a fare when the Exeter coach arrived. No doubt

roof of the hansom through the communicating trap door, which was

Carrington was readily available to do any fare and once he had

right in front of the driver.

earned enough, he would be putting the horses away and placing

The passenger clearly thought the cabman was trying to pull a fast

himself in front of a nice warm fire. The two gentlemen were also cold

one. He knew the fare had been terminated but was trying his luck.

and asked if they could sit inside the coach whilst they awaited the

Magistrate Paynter felt that the passenger should have at least

arrival of their friend from Exeter. They climbed in and waited... and

informed the driver that the fare was ended, instead of putting a coin

waited! After two and a half hours they surmised the coach was

through the trap, a coin that could easily roll off the roof unseen by

unavoidably delayed and thanked Carrington for the use of his coach

the driver. Though he himself was not totally unconvinced the driver

and began to walk away.

was not pulling a fast one. Tapping only received half of the 11s he

Carrington, it can be assumed, was none too happy about this;

was trying to claim and was not allowed any costs. Both cabman and

the two gentlemen had been protected from the elements whilst

passenger were unhappy with the magistrate’s decision.

he sat in the biting wind for over two hours and without a penny

to show for it. After a lot of argument, he managed to obtain the

A very merry Christmas to all...

address of one of the gentlemen and a summons was issued.

Sean Farrell

In court, William Blacklock tried to argue that due to an irregular-

Call Sign Online

ity, the summons was invalid. Magistrate Burrell told him that as he

was in court at the moment, the summons must have done its job.

Blacklock then argued that the Hackney coachman was told he was

only going to have a fare after the Exeter coach arrived, which he had

readily agreed to. The magistrate replied that the hiring commenced

as soon as they climbed into the coach. Carrington was entitled to his

fare - 5s for the waiting time plus a further 8s 6d expenses.

1855, Samuel Joseph agreed to take a fare from

Whitechapel to Ilford and return for 7s 6d (38p). He was kept

waiting over three hours at Ilford and demanded to be paid for

his waiting time, which his German publican passenger refused

to pay. The publican had agreed that though a price was agreed

for the journey, there was no mention of waiting time.

“On your reasoning,” ventured Yardley, the magistrate, “if the cab

was detained at Ilford for a week, he was not to be paid for it.” A wit-

ness stated that the coachman was told he shouldn’t be kept waiting

at Ilford for “a great while.”

“What is your notion of a great while,” queried the Magistrate, “a

week or a month?”

“Oh no, sir,” said the witness, “that’s a long while!”

“Then what is your notion of a little while; a day, or a day and a

night,” queried Yardley.

To much laughter from those present in the court, Magistrate

Yardley was told that “...a day is a little while!”

The German publican called more witnesses, none of whom were

fluid English speakers but who were supposed to have understood

the contract between the driver and his passenger. The publican then

informed the court that “…the cabman was eating bread and cheese

and drinking beer in an alehouse in Ilford at my expense and I was

obliged to wait for him whilst he finished his meal!”

Yardley was incredulous, “What! Do you mean to say he was stuffing

himself with bread and cheese and beer for three hours and a half,”

to which the German replied in the positive.

Another witness told the court that Joseph would be detained just

for a very little while. Once again Yardley asked a witness to define “a

Call Sign December 2016

Page 27

ondon City Airport has been named

the best airport of its kind in the

London City: Best regional

world, picking up the Regional

Airport of the Year award at the CAPA

World Aviation Summit in Amsterdam on

airport in the world!

27 October.

Organisers said the award was given to the

regional airport that has been the biggest

LCA will be providing more

standout strategically, has established itself as

work in the coming year

a leader and done the most to advance the

lion passengers per year by

progress of the aviation industry. The catego-

2025, up from 4.5m today.

ry covered airports catering for up to 10 mil-

“While waiting for planning

lion passengers per year.

permission, we have experi-

Peter Harbison, CAPA Executive Chairman

enced sustained record

said:

“London City has overcome intensify-

growth and managed this

ing competition in the London area, as well

with very constrained infra-

as political obstacles. Despite these barriers it

structure. Crucially, we have

was one of the fastest growing UK airports in

done so without compromis-

2015 with a passenger growth rate three

ing customer experience and

times the national average.”

continued to deliver our pas-

Accepting the award, Declan Collier, CEO,

for an expansion programme that will trans-

senger proposition of 20 minute check-in

London City Airport said: “This award is the

form the airport, creating additional capacity

(door to gate) and

15 minute arrival

icing on the cake of what has been a momen-

for the London airspace system, welcoming a

(plane to train). I thank CAPA for its

tous year for London City Airport. In July, the

new generation of aircraft that will open up

recognition and look forward to building

Government granted planning permission

new destinations and accommodate 6.5mil-

on the success of 2016 in the years to

come.”

London City Airport currently has ten air-

lines flying out of it, serving more than 40

Sayings of 2016!

mainly European destinations. The City

Airport Development Programme, given the

Or there’s one born every minute!!!

go ahead by Government in July 2016, will

As we approach 2017, we wanted to present two

see the construction of a parallel taxilane to

phrases from 2016 that emanated from different

increase runway capacity, seven new aircraft

departments of Transport for London and

stands and a world-class terminal extension.

which allow you, our Call Sign readers, to decide

The plans will see LCY welcoming 6.5m pas-

on as to how applicable they were to real life!

sengers per year by 2025.

1. From TfL adverts both on television and

posters:

“Every journey matters. Safety is our pri-

TX1

ority.”

Call Sign: Does that include taxi drivers

who, if forced to enter the passenger com-

TAXIS

partment following a complaint that the

credit card reader doesn’t work, could

well be leaving themselves open to an

WANTED

attack or robbery as they would also

have to leave the driver’s door

unlocked...?

2. Boris Johnson, as Mayor, after being

asked about the appalling eastbound traffic

along Lower and Upper Thames Streets

from morning till late at night:

“Wait until the roadworks at Tower

Hill are finished and then you’ll see the difference...”

Call Sign: We’re still waiting Mr Ex-Mayor - probably in the never-ending

hold-ups along that stretch of road. At least making you Foreign Secretary

Your old TX1 Taxi is wanted

means you are out of the country more than in it! Pity you can’t take your

bike lanes with you when you go...

✓ Quick viewing and decision

✓ Cash waiting!

✓ Top price paid for really clean

examples

It’s a bit silly, we know, but since December 1997 this magazine

has celebrated Christmas / Eid / Chanukah / Zarathosht Diso /

Please ring Graham on

Rohatsu in the 1 December issue! We just have this silly feeling

that 1 January might be a bit late and in any case we missed

07435 562759

Diwali altogether. So here we are and regardless of which religion you

or e-mail on

follow, we hope your God provides you with a good December...

oldlondontaxis@yahoo.co.uk

Alan Fisher, Call Sign Online

Call Sign December 2016

Page 28

Upgrades

Ladies & Gents

OPERATIONS AND

You will probably know by the time you read

this article, that we have been extremely busy

throughout November dealing with an urgent

COMPLIANCE REPORT

upgrade on the Ingenico PEDs.

The Dial-a-Cab IT department found a

problem almost by chance and immediately

gramme. We are using the yellow grab han-

contacted Barclaycard and Ingenico who

dles as the main securing point, which allevi-

were passing the buck and blaming each other!

ates any additional drilling or fixing holes

It transpired that we had just over two weeks to

that I know many of you with lease deals

upgrade the units or they would all have liter-

were concerned about in case of possible

ally died overnight.

damage it could have caused to the taxi - but

For the upgrade to work successfully, the

no need to worry!

MDT units also needed updated software, so

You will be contacted and given a date and

you can imagine our IT Director, John Bankes

time slot at Roman Way and I’d appreciate it

and his team together with all the guys at

if you could try to keep to the time, as again

Roman Way were under severe pressure to

we are under a strict time frame of 1st

make the necessary changes in such a short

January 2017 to complete the project. We’ve

time and without the prior notice that other

already fitted a number of you with the

providers were given some two months before.

wiring prior to the fitting of the bracket,

Not an ideal situation and definitely not one of

which will reduce the fitting time substantial-

our making.

ly; unfortunately, with the above mentioned

We utilised both Roman Way and DaC

currently on target to succeed.

PED upgrade rearing its ugly head as the

The software update should and would

immediate priority, we could not fit as many

House to carry out firstly, the reprogramming

of the PEDs and secondly, asking you the

have included a gratuity box and pre-

as we originally aimed for.

Shareholders to come to either location - day

authorisations, but due to the gaping hole

or night - to have both the MDT and an updat-

in communication from Barclaycard, rec-

And finally...

tifying the current problem was high pri-

ed PED fitted in your taxis.

Can I wish all of you and your families a

At first the changes that Barclaycard made to

ority and those two updates will be com-

very happy and busy festive period. This

ing in the next release.

reactivate all PEDs did not completely solve

is also the time of year where we can all

the problem, which meant some units were

take time to reflect and think of the loved

still unworkable and more time had to be wast-

PEDs in the passenger

ones that we have lost..

ed on a project already short of time. Through

no fault of DaC, we had to hold off with even

compartment

more calls and apologies from Barclaycard

The brackets were approved by TfL very

Allan Evans

until they finally rectified the problem. Fitting

recently and are currently in production. I

DaC Operations

the fleet in such a short period was a major task

am expecting delivery very soon in readiness

Compliance Manager

and your full assistance has meant that we are

for the commencement of the fitting pro-

Alex: Give pedestrians the roadway!

“I’ve been on Dial-a-Cab for 15 years now, which means I’ve

in with Alex’s moan and he ended by

been reading about driver’s moans in Call Sign for 15 years too!

reverting to his list of moans again:

And you know what...pretty much all of the moans are deserved!”

“I do sometimes wonder whether

We wiped the sweat beads from our fevered brow as Alex

it would just be better to give

Constantinou (N05) told this magazine about the things that irri-

pedestrians the roadway too

tated him, saving his worst one till the end.

because they think they own it

“The cost of a new cab is always up there being moaned about,

anyway. Then the rest of us will all

just as is TfL placing PED’s in the back of the cab and putting our

have to go by bike because there

safety at risk. Then there are the number of licensed private hire

won’t be room for anything else!”

cars - which must be close to 120,000 by now - but way out in

After a quick moan about the weath-

front has to be the state of the traffic! It doesn’t matter where you

er, Alex left Call Sign’s reporter and

go in the daytime, because you will be just minutes away from yet

drove off in a puff of smoke!

another holdup. Every taxi driver knows about the ludicrous cycle

lanes and how they are destroying London, but my problem is

pedestrian crossings.

Keith Reading

“Traffic lights crossings that stay red forever to give

Professional Toastmaster

pedestrians time enough to have lunch and make a phone

Master of Ceremonies

call while strolling across are bad enough, but old fashioned

pedestrian crossings where people don’t wait until it’s safe

but walk straight out without even looking, pointing to the

Tele: 01279 465 938

zebra stripes on the ground after you’ve had to slam your

Mobile: 07774 860 374

brakes on, are just the worst!”

Email: kgr.2@virgin.net

Alex had been in Ladbroke Grove in yet another hold-up when

he saw a bus that had gone into a wall on the wrong side of the

10% discount for DaC drivers and staff

road. Just then a passenger jumped in and asked for Notting Hill.

He told Alex that someone just walked out onto the crossing and

Fellow of the Guild of

the bus had to swerve to avoid them. Alex didn’t know the facts

Professional Toastmasters

to issue blame, so we cannot do so in this case either, but it fitted

Call Sign December 2016

Page 29

Brian Rice throws charge of nepotism at the IEA after its ludicrous suggestion to...

LET MINICABS PLY FOR HIRE

AND USE BUS LANES!

The Institute of Economic Affairs,

panies to regulate themselves according to market

preferences and to level the playing field for both

an organisation famed for doing

taxis and private hire vehicles in a way which

very little other than being a

encourages competition and growth and to

thinktank for Mrs Thatcher when

improve service for consumers.”

she was Prime Minister, has come

He added that in the view of the thinktank, PHV

markets were open and competitive while taxi

back into the world with some-

markets were still heavily protected with the num-

thing they believe will get them

ber of licences capped and that minicab growth

publicity - coming up with a plan

should not be held in. He said that taxi restrictions

that would allow minicab drivers

should be lifted and a level playing field adopted.

to be able to become black cab

Dial-a-Cab Chairman, Brian Rice, told Call

Sign: “This is an absolutely preposterous sug-

drivers, but without having to go

gestion and reeks of Nepotism. The IEA was

through the Knowledge!

founded in 1955 by the late Sir Anthony

Brian Rice accuses the IEA of nepotism

They are proposing that regulations and

Fisher; a current Member of the Board and

restrictions in the taxi market get torn up so

Under the thinktank plans, it would no longer

Chairman of Network for a Free Society is the

that the number of cabs able to ply for hire,

be a requirement for new drivers to spend

daughter of Sir Anthony - her name is Linda

use taxi ranks and fly along bus lanes would

between two and four years learning London and

Whetstone. Her daughter and granddaughter

increase from its current 25,000 licensed taxi

the distinction between private hire vehicles and

of Sir Anthony is Rachel Whetstone, who is

drivers up to around the IEA’s figure of

taxis would be scrapped, allowing minicabs to

the Senior Vice President of Communications

170,000 private hire vehicles out of a total of

roam the streets and pick up street hails. If it’s

and Public Policy at none other than Uber!

242,000 - no, we don’t know where they get

quiet out - and are there that many passengers

That connection in itself should confine their

their figures from either! They also propose

around to satisfy 242,000 cabs searching for a

findings to the rubbish bin, as it reeks of

that fares be slashed.

hand going up - then minicabs could also use our

nepotism and vested interest. They are sup-

ranks. If they are lucky enough to trap a job then

posed to be a thinktank; perhaps they should

they would - according to the IEA - also be able

get the fundamentals correct before passing

to use bus lanes. The organisation considers that

Vito 2017?

an opinion.”

the main requirement for driving a taxi would be

Transport select committee member, Karl

a clean criminal record and correct car insurance

McCartney, said that IEA needed to ensure there

so that passengers were covered.

was a sustainable future for London’s iconic black

According to the IEA, the distinction

between private hire vehicles and taxis had

cabs by helping to bring the trade into the 21st

century and creating a playing field that recog-

been blurred thanks to minicabs being

booked from street corners.

nised its “unique and traditional role.”

Digi sign on the rear

Mark Littlewood is the IEA’s director general.

A Department for Transport spokesperson

of the new Vito?

He also believes the rich pay too much tax. He

said that while they recognised new technology

said: “Current regulation of the taxi market is

such as the Uber booking app as being a game

Details of the new Mercedes Benz Vito

archaic and needs urgent reform. Much of the

changer and that no one wanted to do anything

are shrouded in secrecy, but a Dial-a-Cab

new regulatory measures taken have been obvi-

that stamped out innovation and creativity,

driver who was at their premises for a

ous attempts to obstruct growth within these

“...there were no plans to change the rules so

totally different reason, got a brief look

companies. The market must be liberated from

that taxis and private hire were subject to the

at an uncovered top rear end of what

overzealous government regulation to allow com-

same regulations.”

was said to be the 2017 electric version

of the taxi.

The driver, who wanted to remain

anonymous for obvious reasons, told us:

“I asked someone why the cab was cov-

ered up and he said it was still secret, so I

assumed it was the electric version. I had

a phone in my hand but didn’t think that

Call Sign would be interested in a photo

of an old tarpaulin cover - even with a

Vito underneath it!

But suddenly one of the mechanics

called out to another and although I

couldn’t hear what was said, I could see

he was going to look at something

underneath. I really couldn’t see much,

but enough to see that the vehicle had

what looked like a digital sign-writer at

the back that would inform vehicles

behind that the doors were opening and

took a quick pic! It certainly made me

wonder what other technology was

about to be sprung on us!”

Call Sign December 2016

Page 30

Mailshot

Either write to Call Sign at

Dial-a-Cab House

or email us at

callsignmag@aol.com

Hire sexual assault statistics (using the

about their dwindling pay deals, which

All online!

Public Interest Exemption) “in the coming

affect passenger transport and their food

Hi Alan

weeks.” But they never did. In response to

delivery service, Uber Eats. Uber have

Is it just me or have LTPH/TfL totally lost it!

another FOI request (August 2nd 2016),

been shown to possess an unbridled disre-

When you renew your licence you get a

TfL said they anticipated publication on

gard for the financial rights of individuals,

choice of filling the application in manually

September 20th 2016 - they still have not

backed up by a team of highly skilled per-

or doing it online and as I do not have a

done so, despite several assurances that

suasive lawyers who know what buttons to

computer, I still do it the old fashioned

they were imminent. During the interim

press and when to press them!

way. Yet when I did that, LTPH/TfL told me

period, women have been sexually

Uber are a soul devouring juggernaut that

that they couldn’t renew it unless I gave

assaulted; having had no warning from

sucks people in and spews them out. When

them an email address. So I told them I did-

TfL of the possible dangers associated with

you work for Uber, you sell your soul hook

n’t have one, but that didn’t satisfy our

using Private Hire vehicles. Having used

line and sinker. Yes, they help you obtain a

licensing authority and they said I would

Section 22 of the FOI Act to justify their

car etc at extortionate rates. They tie you

have to use someone else’s! I did do that

response, I believe TfL will shortly be in

into their contract and you are then an Uber

but it got me wondering about data protec-

breach of FOI regulations as the use of

prisoner. They own you and sin-bin you if

tion regulations and the aspect of allowing

Section 22 is conditional upon the ‘exis-

you don't follow their rules and regulations.

someone else to receive details about my

tence of intent to publish’ BEFORE the FOI

If that's being a self-employed free agent,

licence - a regulation LTPH/TfL are appar-

request is made.

then my name’s Donald Trump!

ently encouraging me to break?

I would like you, as my MP, to demand

I also know that although Uber are des-

Gerry Tobin (L32)

the immediate publication of a complete

perate to start here in Brighton with lots of

It sounds a bit weird Gerry, even for

and comprehensive statistical report of

fares waiting, they just can't get the drivers

TfL! Are you sure you didn’t tick an

the sexual assault data.

because the regulations and enforcements

incorrect box? It reminds me of a time

I appreciate your assistance,

on Private Hire and Hackney all have to

back in 1988 when I first went on email

Graham Waite

abide by the blue book of regulations... and

with Compuserve. I only knew two oth-

it's a long list with an even playing field for

ers who were on email (it was still

all! If only TfL had adopted Brighton’s

called electronic mail back then). There

A clean Christmas...

strategy instead of letting them come on

was former Board Member Steve

Hi Alan

stream so easily!

Sanders and the Editor of Las Vegas taxi

Betty is like that special aunt, the one that if

Dave Heath (Ex-W27)

magazine, Trip Sheet, Dick Kawadler.

your mum dies you've pencilled in to go to

Brighton, East Sussex

When there was nothing to say to either,

live with at the age of seven, knowing that

Come on David, admit it; you’re not

I would have to email myself just to

she can fix your bike and understand the

really Uber’s number one fan! ...Ed

check it was working. Now 28 years on,

long words in your homework. So let’s hope

TfL apparently say you have to have an

that if/when we have to move offices, we can

Rear mounted PEDs

email address whether you have a com-

hold on to the very best domestic in the

puter or not? Are we heading towards

world. So on behalf of my wife and myself,

the day when we all have electronic

happy Christmas to a lovely lady.

Hi Alan

chips surgically implanted to save us

Gary Cox (046) and his domestic, Ally

There has been a problem with rear mount-

bothering to even talk? Then TfL can

Cox

ed PEDs, which TfL should be made aware

just zap us and we’d automatically be

You have a way with words, Gary, whilst

of. Passengers, usually the ones in a big

relicensed!!! ...Ed

Ally must have an amazing amount of

hurry, are removing their Credit Cards

patience! But yes, Betty is exceptional. My

prior to the transaction being authorised. I

Sex attack statistics

only concern is how you know Betty!

have spoken to a few drivers who have had

Hi Alan

Happy Christmas anyway! ...Ed

to ask their passenger to reinsert their

You may be interested in a letter I wrote to

Cards to restart the transaction, causing

my MP, James Cleverly, last month regard-

delays to them and the following traffic. I

ing TfL’s failure to keep their word on sex

Uber, the Telegraph

personally experienced this problem today

attack statistics...

when I passed the DaC PED to my Chinese

Graham Waite (B35)

and Brighton...

passenger, who obviously couldn't under-

Graham’s letter to James Cleverly, MP

Hello Alan

stand the process. The trip was from Pall

for Braintree, is below. The figures have

In the Daily Telegraph, Richard Holt said

Mall to Little Venice on Oct 30th and is

been promised for several months but

London’s black cabs should be consigned to

recorded on my log.

at the moment have still not been

history and that Uber was the way forward.

Dave Cohen (E94)

released. The longer they take to

There are, however, a number of issues Uber

Dave, there is absolutely nothing that I

appear, the more many will assume that

drivers have with their own bosses, culminat-

haven’t told TfL either personally or via

they are so bad that the Mayor does not

ing in the recent High Court case regarding

a third party about what can and proba-

want them revealed prior to the

driver employment status. Yes, their fares are

bly will happen by moving our PEDs to

Christmas rush ... Ed

as cheap as chips for the time being, but for

the passenger compartment. They

Dear Mr Cleverly,

how long? Perhaps only as long as it takes to

range from the one we all know about

I am a licensed London Taxi Driver liv-

decimate the opposition before a radical hike

(possible attacks by passengers deliber-

ing in Braintree. In March of this year

in fares benefitting the puppeteers... sorry,

ately claiming the PED isn’t working) to

and in response to a Freedom Of

driverteers! But take a look inside the compa-

blocking our vision of nearside cyclists

Information request, Transport for

ny; see how they operate and how they treat

to possibly, in the event of a sudden

London agreed to publish Taxi / Private

their drivers who are constantly protesting

stop and the passenger not belting up,

Call Sign December 2016

Page 31

Mailshot

of banging their head onto the rear-

mounted unit. However, I have all but

given up on TfL actually seeing any

sense because our safety is obviously

not as important to them as the unifor-

mity of every taxi having the PED in the

same place.

the problems drivers have, you will know

Bayswater than for Bill Harris’s murder.

I have since then asked Steve

my view. But you are also right that TfL

Sean Farrell (B39)

McNamara, LTDA General Secretary, to

won’t admit that they have cocked up.

Thanks for clearing it up, Sean; I was

ask TfL why, if they insist on PEDS being

Then again they must be used to it...!

about to make a joke about hats, but

there, then why can’t they be on cables

then I remembered hearing about the

as they currently are in our cabs. Then

Congratulations...

murder and there was nothing remotely

passengers could pass them through to

funny about it ...Ed

and sadness!

us. I did actually ask Helen Chapman

Hi Alan,

last month following our meeting, but

Re the November issue of Call Sign, many

Credit card charges

received no reply so I’m hoping that

congratulations to Al Fresco on his 50 years

Hi Alan

someone at TfL will answer Steve. For

as a Green Badge driver. I note that you have

I was very disappointed with Dial-a-Cab for

the life of me, I can’t think of a solitary

been driving for 46 years; I got my badge in

adding on a further charge of 1.5% + VAT

reason as to why they would say no;

December 1955, so between us we’ve seen

on street credit card rides. I was under the

after all, it would deal with our main

many changes in the cab trade over all those

impression that the £7 increase earlier this

problem - that of safety. I also gave

years. But never in my worst times did I ever

year was supposed to have given us sur-

details to The Sun, who several months

think the London taxi business would be so

charge-free transactions. I think we must

ago published an article on the

badly treated by its licensing authority as TfL

have the most expensive PED on the mar-

alleged Uber rapes in their cars, but

does to it.

ket at the moment.

obviously it would suit the paper far

I also read with sadness and dismay in Call

Perhaps it might be a bit fairer to the dri-

more if a black cab driver was severely

Sign that my old paper, Taxi Globe, like

vers if Dial-a-Cab could offer us a service to

beaten up first. Their “ad” for stories

many other taxi trade publications before it,

match the cost, ie payments twice a week

mentions celebrity or scandal, so I

has ceased production. Sad days indeed, but

instead of having to wait almost 2 weeks for

guess a story about our safety isn’t real-

I wish all at The Gentleman's Circuit, ie

some credit card payments to reach our

ly up their street and explains why I

ODRTS, Lords and now Dial-a-Cab, all the

bank accounts.

don’t usually read that paper. And no, I

very best and of course, be lucky!

Peter Moll (K35)

haven’t given up nagging TfL but as they

Rodney Lewis (Ex-D77)

Allan Evans replies: Hi Peter, the addi-

care about our safety little more than

Thanks Rodney; 61 years is some time to

tional amount is actually 1.5% + vat

The Sun, it really is difficult ...Ed

be connected with this trade - albeit as a

which equates to

1.8% on Credit

driver and trade newspaper editor. So

Card (Hail and Ride) Trips. As one mem-

Rear mounted PEDs

yes, who would have thought that this

ber of the new Board of Directors, I still

trade would have jumped through hoops

feel it is more than fair compared to

to get back the old PCO as against the

other providers. The additional amount

Dear Alan

licensing authority we currently have.

is merely to offset the rapid increase in

Thought you should know that I asked

But all is not totally bad, at least those at

merchant fees that DaC pays on all

Andrew Dismore, Labour London

TfL in charge of us are not starving and

transactions and as I have already men-

Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden

off our backs, are earning far more than

tioned, this fee is steadily rising.

to speak to TfL on our behalf. I don't sup-

we could dream of! ...Ed

Moving forward, we have already dis-

pose it will make much difference but there

cussed at length the payment schedule

is always hope. He said he would bring it

Formerly a diamond!

for Hail and Ride trips and it is current-

up at the December Mayor’s Question

Hi Alan

ly under consideration...

Time. I wrote:

“Dear Mr Dismore, I was wondering

I recently dropped off Bob Diamond, the

whether you would be prepared to ask TfL

man who got a £32million bonus from

VAD

not to insist that credit card readers be sit-

Barclays. I told him I remembered driving

I concur with the Editor’s comments in the

uated in the passenger compartment of

him around when he worked at Morgan

November Call Sign re the new VAD sys-

taxis. I work as a taxi driver in London and

Stanley in the late 80s. Yes, he said, they

tem being a much better system than V6

drive for Dial-a-Cab, who have had card

were happy days. And he gave me a 40p tip!

and that the amount of Credit Card work

readers with TfL permission in the driver

A true gent lol...!

has shot up enormously (although tips are

compartment since 2011 with no problems

Jon Robinson (E88)

almost no existent). But I would like to

at all. It seems to me that making us move

Shows how little you know, Jon! By the

make a plea for the next VAD update.

the readers could endanger drivers if they

time he paid tax on it, he'd be lucky to go

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make signing on

have to leave the safety of the front to help

home with £20million. And that’s why

and clearing a job to default to Available...

a passenger in the back, who may be delib-

you only got 40p!!!

erately misusing the reader just to get a dri-

Alan Nash (A95)

ver out of the front so they can rob him or

Why would you want that, Mr Numbers?

her. I think TfL are just making themselves

Wrong hat!

You may sign on but be on your way

look ridiculous over this issue; it seems

Dear Alan

somewhere and not want to be offered

they made a mistake but haven't the

Regarding the letter from Dave Cohen (E94)

a trip; while the same may apply if you

courage to admit it. Any help you can give

in last month’s Mailshot, Jack the Hat

clear a trip and decide to look for some-

us in this matter would be very much

McVitie was stabbed to death in a flat in

where you can stop for a bite to eat - or

appreciated, if you need further informa-

Evering Road by Reggie Kray, whereas Bill

in your case to search for the ‘kicking

tion please contact Dial-a-Cab.”

the Hat was the unfortunate taxi driver to have

out’ times of that month’s events! You

You never know, Alan. Maybe...

been shot and killed in Baker Street. If mem-

would then be writing to me to ask that

Alf Cook (A62)

ory serves me correct, his killer got more time

the following update did not automati-

Well done Alf; if you read this issue and

for the burglary he had just committed in

cally make you available! ...Ed