London cabbies to protest over smartphone app.

[PF62]

I assume that Black Cab drivers will celebrating as TFL has taken a positive step to level the playing field and ensure that Black Cabs are as attractive to consumers as Uber.

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2...

[CorbynForTheBin]

PF62 said:

I assume that Black Cab drivers will celebrating as TFL has taken a positive step to level the playing field and ensure that Black Cabs are as attractive to consumers as Uber.

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2...

Hmmmmm

"TfL has also committed to working with the card industry to link card payment devices directly to the taximeter in future."

[PF62]

And of course since Black Cab drivers pay all their taxes, unlike that horrible Uber, this won't make any difference -

https://www.cchdaily.co.uk/hmrc-starts-use-merchan...

[untakenname]

Went on a business trip to Amsterdam yesterday and every single taxi (literally dozens of them) in the first rank outside Schipol airport was a Tesla model S! Cost nearly 40 euro's for the trip to the tradeshow which is probably comparible to a black cab price wise. The driver didn't know what the ludicrous mode was but I think it may have been lost in translation, he swiped something then did a launch from the lights and it certainly felt quick.

All the flights and transport was paid for, got back to Gatwick this evening then got a train to East Croydon. Got off, looked at the taxi rank but noticed a tram was in 2 minutes and so got that instead, says it all really.

Only time I get black cabs these days is when I've had a drink in the City and need to get the last train home and hail one but I use Uber all the time when times not critical.

[CoolHands]

^ re: tesla. We're probably paying for them through the EU for some green inititiative bks.

[Burwood]

PF62 said:

And of course since Black Cab drivers pay all their taxes, unlike that horrible Uber, this won't make any difference -

https://www.cchdaily.co.uk/hmrc-starts-use-merchan...

Waits for the surcharge to use a card . 10% probably. There will be some sting to put the punter off using his card

[Burwood]

Anyone notice whether , say after 12 in the west end there area lot more black cabs with lights on. It used to be kerb crawling journey by negotiation. I suspect now they are begging for business.

All the scumbag mini cabs asking 50 notes from embankment to canary wharf will be out on their ear too.

[PF62]

Burwood said:

PF62 said:

And of course since Black Cab drivers pay all their taxes, unlike that horrible Uber, this won't make any difference -

https://www.cchdaily.co.uk/hmrc-starts-use-merchan...

Waits for the surcharge to use a card . 10% probably. There will be some sting to put the punter off using his card

Nope. From the TFL piece ( https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2...) -

"Customers using cards will not pay any surcharge on their fare. This will mean that passengers will only ever pay what is shown on the meter, no matter by what means they choose to pay."

Also according to the TFL press release "All taxi drivers must accept contactless, Chip and PIN and magnetic swipe. Where a taxi is not fitted with an approved TfL card payment system or found to have a broken or faulty system this may have licensing implications."

Needless to say Black Cab drivers are not happy ( http://taxileaks.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/chairman-o...). I wonder why.

[numtumfutunch]

Burwood said:

Anyone notice whether , say after 12 in the west end there area lot more black cabs with lights on. It used to be kerb crawling journey by negotiation. I suspect now they are begging for business.

All the scumbag mini cabs asking 50 notes from embankment to canary wharf will be out on their ear too.

And +100 from me on those points

Getting a black cab after hours used to be an utter nightmare

[Centurion07]

PF62 said:

Needless to say Black Cab drivers are not happy ( http://taxileaks.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/chairman-o...). I wonder why.

Since the bank/card merchant/equipment provider will all want their slice of each transaction, who do you think will be paying that?

[George111]

Centurion07 said:

PF62 said:

Needless to say Black Cab drivers are not happy ( http://taxileaks.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/chairman-o...). I wonder why.

Since the bank/card merchant/equipment provider will all want their slice of each transaction, who do you think will be paying that?

Depends how much they value their business . . . everybody else has to accept card payments these days, why not Taxis ? Given the state of the taxis I've been in they're not spending much on maintenance, tyres or cleaning so there's got to be a lot left in the pot.

[Centurion07]

Card merchant companies charge more for the wireless facility, so a shop's credit charges might amount to 2/3% of card payments, for taxis it will be A LOT higher.

When you take into account what the average fare is going to be compared to an average shop purchase, taking card payments as a taxi driver works out a lot more expensive when compared to a shop.

[PF62]

Centurion07 said:

PF62 said:

Needless to say Black Cab drivers are not happy ( http://taxileaks.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/chairman-o...). I wonder why.

Since the bank/card merchant/equipment provider will all want their slice of each transaction, who do you think will be paying that?

The Black Cab driver from their increased profits as more customers will choose to use them as they can now pay by card?

[Burwood]

The thing that annoyed me is you had to take the next cab in the rank. I didn't want some beaten up old Metro cab, the one that looked like it came from a 1950s Soviet factory. I wanted the new Millennium version and they should all have bloody AC, tight gits. The only sympathy i have for taxi drivers(black cabs) is the extortionate price they are forced to pay for what are antiquated rubbish. Something like 30k. This whole top hat and hay bail nonsense needs repealing.

[George111]

Burwood said:

The thing that annoyed me is you had to take the next cab in the rank. I didn't want some beaten up old Metro cab, the one that looked like it came from a 1950s Soviet factory. I wanted the new Millennium version and they should all have bloody AC, tight gits. The only sympathy i have for taxi drivers(black cabs) is the extortionate price they are forced to pay for what are antiquated rubbish. Something like 30k. This whole top hat and hay bail nonsense needs repealing.

There's no reason for it to be so poor. I was a passenger in a Citroen van the other day, 2015 model, had perfectly acceptable air con and was quieter then a black cab, far superior ride and much more comfortable and this was a cheapish Citroen van.

[truck71]

Burwood said:

Anyone notice whether , say after 12 in the west end there area lot more black cabs with lights on. It used to be kerb crawling journey by negotiation. I suspect now they are begging for business.

All the scumbag mini cabs asking 50 notes from embankment to canary wharf will be out on their ear too.

Yep, if you're booze distressed it's now much easier to rescue yourself. Wouldn't want to go to Canary Wharf though.

[Burwood]

truck71 said:

Burwood said:

Anyone notice whether , say after 12 in the west end there area lot more black cabs with lights on. It used to be kerb crawling journey by negotiation. I suspect now they are begging for business.

All the scumbag mini cabs asking 50 notes from embankment to canary wharf will be out on their ear too.

Yep, if you're booze distressed it's now much easier to rescue yourself. Wouldn't want to go to Canary Wharf though.

inescapable when one lives there

[BlackLabel]

order-order.com said:

The black cabbies’ union has launched a PR offensive to convince Londoners they are willing to modernise, vowing to spark “London’s taxi revolution” with super-fast wifi, credit card payments and ranks outside night tube stops. All sensible, consumer-friendly suggestions from the black cab industry, which needs to innovate to keep up with the competition.

Unfortunate then that a group of cabbies are also crowdfunding legal action against new TfL rules to install credit card machines in their cars. Despite the fact that there is huge public demand for this service, Action For Cabbies is asking for £300,000 to challenge TfL over the machines in court. Publicly they want to look like modernisers, less publicly they’re challenging the very same modernisations they claim to support. Why could they possibly be so keen to make sure they’re only paid in cash?

http://order-order.com/2016/04/07/cabbies-try-to-block-card-machines-in-cabs/

[walm]

BlackLabel said:

order-order.com said:

The black cabbies’ union has launched a PR offensive to convince Londoners they are willing to modernise, vowing to spark “London’s taxi revolution” with super-fast wifi, credit card payments and ranks outside night tube stops. All sensible, consumer-friendly suggestions from the black cab industry, which needs to innovate to keep up with the competition.

Unfortunate then that a group of cabbies are also crowdfunding legal action against new TfL rules to install credit card machines in their cars. Despite the fact that there is huge public demand for this service, Action For Cabbies is asking for £300,000 to challenge TfL over the machines in court. Publicly they want to look like modernisers, less publicly they’re challenging the very same modernisations they claim to support. Why could they possibly be so keen to make sure they’re only paid in cash?

http://order-order.com/2016/04/07/cabbies-try-to-block-card-machines-in-cabs/

Yes, how weird. Being paid in cash, or routing your money through Panama.
All above board.
Nothing to see here.

Used Uber for the first time last night.
After some teething problems with accidentally requesting Uber Pool, it was great and cost £6.
Returned in a cab. Cost £10.

[Bullett]

We needed a cab the other day. Neither myself or the wife had any cash on us.
Can we use a card?

No.

Used UBER instead.