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TAKING CARD PAYMENTS INCREASES YOUR PROFITS

The Credit Crunch, Recession or, Depression,
whatever the latest buzz word is, really started in
our trade well before 1st January 2009. That’s
when the corporate world stopped using their cab
accounts on a regular basis. The corporate cab
account holder now finds it more cost effective to
hail a cab off the street and pay with a corporate
credit card; this saves money on the run-In, waiting
time and the radio circuit administration charge.
The massive downturn in account work has led to
great numbers of radio drivers leaving their circuits
deciding the subscriptions do not justify the return on
the account rides they are dispatched. One circuit in
North London is reported to be losing drivers on a
weekly basis. Even the increase in street hailed
credit card rides costs the radio driver a cash
booking fee, which can be up to Ł2 and the card
holder an disproportionate charge, which could be
up to 12 percent. Many more regular cash paying
cab customers now prefer to use a Debit or Credit
Card as a means of managing their money in
these cash strapped times. Any driver without the
means to except Credit or Debit cards risks losing
lucrative trips and airport jobs and the possibility of
a heavy fine for stopping at an ATM for the customer
to collect cash.

123 SEND GPRS

I passionately believe that every licensed London taxi should be able to accept credit, debit and charge
cards. We are competing against an organised professional Private Hire trade and we must take them on
and beat them in this area as we do in every other aspect. This is the reason I have always marketed credit
card terminals in our trade and I have always strived to get the best deal for drivers. There are many credit
card machines on offer to the driver; some are free but the supplier keeps all of the 10 percent transaction
charge, which is very lucrative to the supplier. Some suppliers pay your money in to your bank account,
usually 6 or 7 days after the transaction minus the 10 percent charge, some suppliers charge an annual
airtime charge of Ł25 then Ł13 per month and retain the 10 percent service charge.
I honestly believe that 123 SEND GPRS Mobile Card Payment Terminals are the best deals for drivers; you
get to keep the 10 percent charge or minimum Ł2.50, which means one airport job, will give you at least
another Ł5. The money is paid in to your account in 3 working days and unlike other suppliers your money
is kept in a merchant account which means if the company goes belly up your money is safe and not the
assets of the company. If you are thinking of leaving your radio circuit and want to keep on taking cards or
a street fighter who wants increase your profits in these testing times then pop in and see me for a chat and
advice. You can find me at the Porta-Cabin in Great Suffolk Street; if you don’t know me just ask for George.

George Vyse
The Porta-cabin
Great Suffolk Street
SE 1

123 SEND
Mobile Credit
Card Machines

Calls for official legislation to limit the number of hours taxi drivers are
allowed to work have been backed by Birmingham airport?s cab provider ?
Passenger Transport Solutions (PTS).

Road safety charity Brake is calling on the Government to act fast to avoid
further casualties similar to Gary Glymond, who was knocked down and killed
by a taxi in South Yorkshire on his 18th birthday last year.

The driver admitted he had worked over 13 hours and Mr Glymond family have
joined Brake in their rally for legislation to be introduced

Calls for official legislation to limit the number of hours taxi drivers are
allowed to work

There are 300 proprietors who are still owed their Ł18 refunds from the aborted mid-year inspection fee, that is about
Ł5,400 of our money the PCO are holding. We should be refunded the whole Ł36 as it was the PCO who made the
deal with SGS not us so why should we have to pay off SGS for their loses but whatever I want my money back. You
want your money back then please contact Dave Vidgen, Secretary , London Taxi Branch of the RMT who will lodge
a class action on our behalf.

Once again the taxi trade in London waited expectantly for the arrival of RMT General Secretary Bob Crow at the
Royal Oak taxi drivers canteen near Paddington. They were not to be disappointed. Addressing almost a hundred
London cabbies, Bob spoke eloquently about the benefits of the RMT as a large trade union and how battles could
be won or lost against unscrupulous masters. He said that taxi drivers along with their Union colleagues in other
transport sectors had enormous industrial muscle. It was only by flexing these muscles would the powers that be sit
up and take notice.
In this case Bob made specific reference to the way that the private hire trade in London was stealing the legitimate
of the London driver and the major demonstration that was held at Trafalgar Square in February was a way of
showing the power of the trade. Bob also explained the other benefits that were available to members and also the
democratic ethos of the RMT. He stated that even he as General Secretary was answerable to the membership and
was elected for a five year period. If he didn't perform then someone else would step in. This was just an illustration
of how the RMT views its mandate from its members. It was important for the members of the Union to achieve
results in the work place, in this instance the taxi trade, with the help and guidance of the full time Officers. Bob
received loud applause from those present.

Bob Crow then answered questions from the floor which were answered satisfactorily. In the main these questions
addressed the many difficulties that the taxi trade faced in relation to tariff, including extras reinstatement;
the minicab threat, the disciplinary system and the new Taxi and Private Hire Director shortly taking up his role at
the Public Carriage Office. This would be an opportunity to state the many and varied grievances that were felt by
the taxi trade to the new incumbent. Bob finished his talk and received loud acclamation and many drivers were
handed RMT membership applications.

After nearly an hour Bob Crow was then taken away by taxi to Paddington Station to travel to an urgent meeting
in Swansea.

Bob Crow at The Royal Oak

Can you afford not to Join - Ł5,000 was paid out last Year

The RMT Specialist Transport Union have announced that they will be asking for a full and independent Public
Inquiry in to the workings of the Public Carriage Office .

The call comes after the PCO decided not to allow a Paranoid Schizophrenic who killed
his wife to continue The Knowledge of London. The man was also refused to continue as a
licensed Private Hire Driver and his PHV licence revoked. RMT London Taxi Branch
Government Affairs Officer John-Paul Pace said “ the call for a Public Inquiry was not just
based on the Paranoid Schizophrenic case but the way the PCO operates” .

Just a one off payment of Ł5 per year