Comments on: Police target Facebook taxis

By: boocurr

boocurr — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 10:33:38 +0000

ok so sit the test or buy a map – not that difficult is it
if taxi drivers want to make money then work the hours the public wants /needs them
not 9-5 monday to friday

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By: bcb

bcb — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:46:34 +0000

Is He declaring it all along with tips? just asking.

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By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:48:47 +0000

So true Sanguine,

My husband does Sundays (day time cover from 10a.m. onwards) and quite often, especially in winter, doesn’t even make the minimum wage for the hours that he has put in that day.

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By: Oh Dear

Oh Dear — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:48:40 +0000

So in an 8 hour shift he earnt £70, I don’t think he’s working very hard. That’s the equivalent of four fares. That’s nonsense.

People don’t JUST use taxis because they’re too drunk to drive. My family and I have always used them to take us to the airport/harbour rather than drive. I know of elderly people who take taxis everywhere. This notion that the weekend is the only time people use the service is ridiculous. You can bet that the majority of people will give tips as well. I know I always have.

It’s also quite well known that a lot of drivers don’t write down their entire earnings. I would bet £50 that tips wouldn’t be mentioned on tax forms for the majority of drivers.

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By: Oh Dear

Oh Dear — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:39:31 +0000

How can you call me a liar?

Why would I lie?

My figures are based on what friends have told me. One of them works very long shifts. Airport run and late night shifts. My other friend has his own plates and people driving for him and giving him a cut.

So this cabbie of yours is struggling so much for money he’s hired an accountant? Okay…

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By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:30:41 +0000

If you can’t get a taxi on your first call just keep calling. It’s not a static situation it’s one that can change quickly within five or ten minutes.

boocurr just issue more plates is it. You’ve obviously not seen the island knowledge test that Taxi drivers had to pass to get their PSV.

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By: Sanguine

Sanguine — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:16:06 +0000

Funny that, i know a taxi driver who was out for 8 hours one day last week, he made £70.

£200 can be made if you work all night on a Saturday and are lucky with your fares.

£200-300 a night for 7 days, thats working everyday with saturday night conditions for over 10 hours a day.

I think you are a bit of a liar don’t you?

My source; i am an accountant doing the books of a cabbie, and I can tell you now, its not as much as you all pretend it is.

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By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:00:03 +0000

Yes after deduction of tax JohnT. Not everyone is as dishonest as you would have us believe.

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By: Guernt

Guernt — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:28:06 +0000

I do not think so, as they seem to retire these days and get the same job back as a civil servant, look at the last two in the paper, both going back to the same job, I am aware of 5 others, who have all gone back as civil servants, being paid their pension and then another salary from the States, none of these jobs have been advertised.
Something wrong somewhere!

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By: ChrisM

ChrisM — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 23:19:31 +0000

I have a job already and I am pleased for now thanks, but one day maybe – I work in a job where we are constantly in competition with others and I get no “States” protection whatsoever. I call it the real world!
Sure I can get a license but then can I get a Taxi Plate of my own – no unless I buy one and for a lot of money. That’s my point, why limit taxi plate numbers and please dont say its for the good of anyone except to protect the trade itself. I do not know of any such protection for shoe shop owners or hairdressers etc.
Of course I understand that people can’t work 247 – that’s not my argument!
As in the article I think people are avoiding taxi’s because of the high cost – I have paid £12 for a 12 min. journey and that isn’t what I would call reasonable. Fuel may cost 50p for my trip and insurance cant be more than a few hundred pound a year – on that basis I’d have thought the returns were rather excellent and we all have mobile phones these days so taxi’s don’t even need an office. The car might cost say £2,000 a year to maintain and to allow for depreciation but I bet they use the same car on their days off too – mine cost me almost as much to run too!
Sorry but if others can do the same job for a lot less (including pizza delivery) then I say let the floodgates open and let the market be what it is…

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By: boocurr

boocurr — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 23:08:19 +0000

I can understand why the taxi drivers would be upset by this howeevr there is one simple answer. Just say there are 120 plates in issue -probably more but say 120,then on Fri and Sat night ( busiest nights of week ) states dept that issues the plates insists that at least 80 are working ensuring we all get home safe.
If the drivers wont work then issue more plates.

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By: walrus

walrus — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 20:22:33 +0000

It didn’t but its clear from your rant that you have overdid the sauce again!

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By: States House

States House — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:02:19 +0000

Im all for my mates giving me a lift home, whether they say they are available on facebook or elsewhere, I dont care.

Taxi drivers are complaining that they are stealing business? They need to wise up. I phoned a few taxi firms last night and was told id need to wait till 1am for a lift or that they had nothing available at all. Either they are cherry picking or there is a real need for these extra lifts and luckily my mate gave me a lift and the dopey taxi firms lost out on an easy £20.

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By: Pete

Pete — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 05:50:18 +0000

Many drivers are part time and only get half the Taxi fare. Also consider this unlike other jobs where people know when they go to work how much they will be paid, they don’t, as they don’t know in advance of what work they will get.

How many people who are critical of Taxi fares would do night work if they didn’t know how much they would earn by the end of the shift.

As for the Police have nothing better to I quite agree, for what is better than the Police upholding the law.

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By: JohnT

JohnT — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 08:26:05 +0000

Karen
” And after deduction of tax” Dont make me laugh, its a well known allegation that Taxi drivers love cash in hand, and only declare the bare minimum, that would keep the authorities off their backs.
In fact one driver, I know, had to check with other drivers how much to declare, so he wouldnt rock the boat.

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