Request for taxi fare hike rejected (From Watford Observer)

Councillor Peter Jeffree says huge excess over supply and demand.
So why not cut the amount available by a third and then the remaining would be able to make a better living without an increase in fares.

Sorry, did I read that right a one mile journey in Watford would be £4.60 but the same journey in Hertsmere £2.40?

Of course to make a property judgement i'd need to see how the fares increase after that in Hertsmere but on that figure it does seem that taxi fares in Watford are a rip off! Its not like a Hertsmere taxi driver is paying less for fuel and maintenance is it?

Trying to get us to pay for their CCTV through the back door? When business is bad the worst thing you can do is put up your prices surely? Well done to the Council for throwing it out anyway.

Councillor Jeffree is being disengenious. It was his party which allowed all these taxis on the roads in the first place, when it delimited the trade. There were warnings then, but they were not taken on board and pushed through by the Lib Dems.

It is only after pressure from the trade itself, did the Lib Dems put a cap on last year.

It's alleged there is a vandetta against the taxis drivers by the ruling Lib Dems. It seems from the news report, this is still the case. The state of the taxis trade, is a result of the Lib Dems in the town hall.

I totally agree with their demand of an increase of 60p , as petrol,insurance and the maintenance costs have increased, d the fact that they have not demanded an increase in over three years how many of us will complain if they same thing happened to us?

The problem is that due to WBC deciding to open up the market, it led to a massive increase in the number of drivers as anyone can see from eg the long lines of cabs outside the Junction Station. This has driven the hourly rate below the minimum wage as they now have to patiently wait in a very long queue for a fare.

Objective comparisons are always difficult without the full facts. If there were fewer drivers, then perhaps they might earn more in an hour as in some areas.Their last fare increase was three years ago and alot of things have changed eg diesel, insurance, rent rises, cost of essentials, etc.

This is almost the same as opening up labour markets to European competition as any local builder will tell you. It has driven down their employment prospects and wages as they scrap for bits and pieces.

Florida has a wonderful slogan 'Everyone has the right to a job'. So if you are paid $3 an hour and someone else offered $2, then they can have your job. No wonder the USA relies heavily on millions of Mexicans crossing the border.

Sometimes we need to walk a mile in someone else shoes to fully appreciate what it is to open up labour markets because it can lead to exploitation as with the growing use of zero contract hours.

The transport system is made up of the big and the small. The bigger you are the more you can do what you like as with the punitive rail increases without any sympathy for the rail user even if your service is rubbish.

someone's got to pay for the damage the pot holes are doing to the taxis

If there is more supply than demand why is the customer expected to pay more?

Normally if there is more supply than demand that actually drives down price, and those that dont make money leave the market.

I appreciate costs going up, but the customer should not be asked to cover the fact taxi drivers may have to wait longer for a fare! No one is forced to be a taxi driver, if its not making you enough money do something else!

You are absolutely correct garston Tony ''No one is forced to be a taxi driver, if its not making you enough money do something else!” Norman Tebbitt once advised the same ie to get on a bike.

The figures below might offer some comfort for those souls seeking a change of career

The UK’s unemployment rate remained at 7.8% in the three months to January 2013, the lowest since 2009 until last month, yet the number of people out of work rose fractionally by 7,000, to reach 2.52m.



The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS’s) Labour Market release notes that while there was a rise of 1.2% in total pay, this was equivalent to a pay cut with inflation measured by the Consumer Prices Index at 2.7% across 2012.

The ONS also finds that the sector with the largest number of job vacancies in the three months to February 2013 was retail, at 71,000, or one in seven of the 494,000 vacancies across industry.

So your timely advice might be to enter the retail sector in our recession hit high street with its characteristic zero hours contract on offer.

I don't think the opening up of the market is the main reason for the 'oversupply.' The reason is that this particular section of the economy in Watford doesn't respond to market forces. There is no restriction on the level of supply of lots of goods and services, but any oversupply is corrected by the market. If there is an oversupply in Watford you would expect the number of drivers to go down. As it appears not to have then perhaps there isn't an oversupply.
As I understand it there was a restriction on the numbers until a few years ago and licence plates were a commodity changing hands for many thousands of pounds. Perhaps the drivers should be thanking the council for enabling them to be taxi drivers, because most of them wouldn't have been allowed to be previously.

Well i shall carry on walking rather than taking a taxi when not driving myself! They have always been expensive in Watford and now even more so!

I think the hackney association has lost its marbles they should be thinking of ways to generate work, get level with the competetion and not worry about fare increases which are high enough infact i think a reduction may help for the current economic crisis and to encourage people to catch cabs.

Having said that by no angle is watford borough council innocent of this situation a competent licensing committe could have prevented this scenario years ago. There was never enough rank space, work for the cabs was fine so the council opened pandoras box, in greed for licensing fees and making money for the yearly MOT among other stuff. Cabbies did strikes and marches but the council would not listen until a third party surveyor was called in and practically told them that they are taking the micky, hence deregulation was put on hold. But its to late and the damage is beyond repair. The council in its greed to milk as much money as possible is the ultimate culprit in this situation.

johnny_english1 wrote:
I think the hackney association has lost its marbles they should be thinking of ways to generate work, get level with the competetion and not worry about fare increases which are high enough infact i think a reduction may help for the current economic crisis and to encourage people to catch cabs.

Having said that by no angle is watford borough council innocent of this situation a competent licensing committe could have prevented this scenario years ago. There was never enough rank space, work for the cabs was fine so the council opened pandoras box, in greed for licensing fees and making money for the yearly MOT among other stuff. Cabbies did strikes and marches but the council would not listen until a third party surveyor was called in and practically told them that they are taking the micky, hence deregulation was put on hold. But its to late and the damage is beyond repair. The council in its greed to milk as much money as possible is the ultimate culprit in this situation.

They re in the papers again....I agree with johnny English for a change. The guys talking from experience as a watford cab driver and knows the in and outs of what's has happened to the trade in last few years. But I disagree with his theory on fares decreasing, how stupid is this guy???? The fares should rise with inflation and not to fund their CCTV.

MrBlackCab wrote:

johnny_english1 wrote: I think the hackney association has lost its marbles they should be thinking of ways to generate work, get level with the competetion and not worry about fare increases which are high enough infact i think a reduction may help for the current economic crisis and to encourage people to catch cabs. Having said that by no angle is watford borough council innocent of this situation a competent licensing committe could have prevented this scenario years ago. There was never enough rank space, work for the cabs was fine so the council opened pandoras box, in greed for licensing fees and making money for the yearly MOT among other stuff. Cabbies did strikes and marches but the council would not listen until a third party surveyor was called in and practically told them that they are taking the micky, hence deregulation was put on hold. But its to late and the damage is beyond repair. The council in its greed to milk as much money as possible is the ultimate culprit in this situation.

They re in the papers again....I agree with johnny English for a change. The guys talking from experience as a watford cab driver and knows the in and outs of what's has happened to the trade in last few years. But I disagree with his theory on fares decreasing, how stupid is this guy???? The fares should rise with inflation and not to fund their CCTV.

Mr blackcabguy stop assuming about me. The fares are fine day rate I meant the other tariffs which are unnessary, if you increase the faires would anybody catch a cab? When private hire is cheaper?. You cab in London I'm sure your work has suffered because pco minicabs charge far less. But your target clientele is far greater because your license covers a greater area. I'm curious do you think a increase in fares would do any good in work for you. Apart from money ofcourse.

These cab drivers are just greedy. First they want cctv through tax payers money and now they want a huge increase on what is already well above average prices.

No wonder people aren't taking anymore s*** off them!

Mr johnny English work in London is busy busy busy, if our fares were increased people will pay it as our service is second to none. For this reason we wont suffer. In your case in watford it's a whole different story, for starters there's too many cow boys in your taxi ranks that dnt know the A to Z of watford, why would anyone want to pay a increase fare for this reason alone. 30% of the taxi fleets belong to the scrap yard, hygiene of some drivers should be regulated. So I dnt think you johnny English deserve a fare increase just like you said as the basic need to be sorted first. I think the whole of watford taxi drivers need retesting of knowledge of watford, reading and writing and learn some people skills. The licence committee in WBC needs a reshuffle, same old names still in committee which is why the taxi trade in watford is in such a mess. This mess in watford with the taxis has only happened in the last 10 years, if they left it how it was 20 years ago everyone will be happy and johnny English would not have become a taxi driver.

MrBlackCab wrote:
Mr johnny English work in London is busy busy busy, if our fares were increased people will pay it as our service is second to none. For this reason we wont suffer. In your case in watford it's a whole different story, for starters there's too many cow boys in your taxi ranks that dnt know the A to Z of watford, why would anyone want to pay a increase fare for this reason alone. 30% of the taxi fleets belong to the scrap yard, hygiene of some drivers should be regulated. So I dnt think you johnny English deserve a fare increase just like you said as the basic need to be sorted first. I think the whole of watford taxi drivers need retesting of knowledge of watford, reading and writing and learn some people skills. The licence committee in WBC needs a reshuffle, same old names still in committee which is why the taxi trade in watford is in such a mess. This mess in watford with the taxis has only happened in the last 10 years, if they left it how it was 20 years ago everyone will be happy and johnny English would not have become a taxi driver.

To be honest I think your the watford cabbie in denial lol. There's many decent cars out there better then a clapped out cab not your cab ofcourse cos I dot think you got one lol.

I know of nurses that have to train for years then earn really crap wages to save peoples lives, they have not had a pay rise for years. £4.60 for a minimum fare four journeys per hour that is £18.40 an hour, who earns that amount in one hour. Im sure that £10.00 of fuel can get a driver a couple of hundred miles. So how many jobs local do you have to do to get to hundreds of miles. I think these drivers are very greedy and very rude. I was charged £20.00 from Watford General to South Oxhey and that I just cant justify so now I wont use taxis I would rather walk.

skint&desperate wrote:
I know of nurses that have to train for years then earn really crap wages to save peoples lives, they have not had a pay rise for years. £4.60 for a minimum fare four journeys per hour that is £18.40 an hour, who earns that amount in one hour. Im sure that £10.00 of fuel can get a driver a couple of hundred miles. So how many jobs local do you have to do to get to hundreds of miles. I think these drivers are very greedy and very rude. I was charged £20.00 from Watford General to South Oxhey and that I just cant justify so now I wont use taxis I would rather walk.

The cabbie that took you back to south oxhey must had seen you coming hah; your fool for paying that if that was the real fare without you over exaggerating it.

Johnny English I was a watford cabbie till idiots like you came along and ruined it. I'm glad I ve left when I did or what have ended up like you, ashamed of being a watford cabbie. Dnt blame you mate for not admitting your a watford cabbie but we all know you are, idiot Internet warrior.

MrBlackCab wrote:
Mr johnny English work in London is busy busy busy, if our fares were increased people will pay it as our service is second to none. For this reason we wont suffer. In your case in watford it's a whole different story, for starters there's too many cow boys in your taxi ranks that dnt know the A to Z of watford, why would anyone want to pay a increase fare for this reason alone. 30% of the taxi fleets belong to the scrap yard, hygiene of some drivers should be regulated. So I dnt think you johnny English deserve a fare increase just like you said as the basic need to be sorted first. I think the whole of watford taxi drivers need retesting of knowledge of watford, reading and writing and learn some people skills. The licence committee in WBC needs a reshuffle, same old names still in committee which is why the taxi trade in watford is in such a mess. This mess in watford with the taxis has only happened in the last 10 years, if they left it how it was 20 years ago everyone will be happy and johnny English would not have become a taxi driver.

You shouldn't generalise! Im proud of Watford taxi drivers, they are unsung heroes. Picking up hostile customers from town in saloon cars without protection (glass) is not something I believe you have the courage to do. Have you sat in most of the taxis to assume they have hygiene problems? London cab drivers are the most miserable and rudest people on the road! We don't have John Worboys in Watford! Look on the bright side women are a lot safer using a Watford taxi then a London black cab. You can take you rhetoric elsewhere. Too many fallacies in your generalisations.

Mohandas wrote:
You are absolutely correct garston Tony ''No one is forced to be a taxi driver, if its not making you enough money do something else!” Norman Tebbitt once advised the same ie to get on a bike. The figures below might offer some comfort for those souls seeking a change of career The UK’s unemployment rate remained at 7.8% in the three months to January 2013, the lowest since 2009 until last month, yet the number of people out of work rose fractionally by 7,000, to reach 2.52m. The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS’s) Labour Market release notes that while there was a rise of 1.2% in total pay, this was equivalent to a pay cut with inflation measured by the Consumer Prices Index at 2.7% across 2012. The ONS also finds that the sector with the largest number of job vacancies in the three months to February 2013 was retail, at 71,000, or one in seven of the 494,000 vacancies across industry. So your timely advice might be to enter the retail sector in our recession hit high street with its characteristic zero hours contract on offer.

Mohandas, you are of course right. At the moment its not the easiest of times to find work.

However seeing as so many are struggling its probably not the best of ideas to try and squeeze more out of your customers, especially in a market where we are told there is a glut of providers and especially where figures suggest the charges in Watford are for some reason double that of Hertsmere just down the road for the very same service.

MrBlackCab wrote:

skint&desperate wrote: I know of nurses that have to train for years then earn really crap wages to save peoples lives, they have not had a pay rise for years. £4.60 for a minimum fare four journeys per hour that is £18.40 an hour, who earns that amount in one hour. Im sure that £10.00 of fuel can get a driver a couple of hundred miles. So how many jobs local do you have to do to get to hundreds of miles. I think these drivers are very greedy and very rude. I was charged £20.00 from Watford General to South Oxhey and that I just cant justify so now I wont use taxis I would rather walk.

The cabbie that took you back to south oxhey must had seen you coming hah; your fool for paying that if that was the real fare without you over exaggerating it. Johnny English I was a watford cabbie till idiots like you came along and ruined it. I'm glad I ve left when I did or what have ended up like you, ashamed of being a watford cabbie. Dnt blame you mate for not admitting your a watford cabbie but we all know you are, idiot Internet warrior.

The cabbie who took me where? You uneducated school drop out do you even read the sh**e that your disease infested obese fingers type. As if something is scarry there they've all been dealt with long ago. I really don't wish to waste time with a silly old fool from garston manner that's chats hocus pocus cause he's a Internet warrior but a little coco pops kid in person. So In simple English do one. Sit in your room and rate youreself I front of a Pokemon cos on the streets your simply a little fool.