Manx Contract a Huge boost to the Liverpool Cab trade....err is it ? ? ?

The government says the company that’s taken over the task of driving Manx patients from airports to hospitals in England has passed a three-month trial.

ComCab will continue to provide the patient transfer service after successfully completing the probation period.

Bridgewater Taxis, which used to have the contract, was popular among many patients and there was a lot of concern when it lost the contract in March.

An online petition gathered well over 2,000 signatures in support of retaining Bridgewater. The issue was also raised in the House of Keys.
Bridgewater lost the contract because ComCab, which is based in Liverpool, said it would do the job for £30,000 less every year, so saving taxpayers’ money.

The Department of Health and Social Care says that concentration on performance, a willingness to listen and adapt to patients’ needs, and a reduction in the number of complaints led to a positive probationary review and the decision that it will continue to provide the service.

The majority of complaints received about ComCab by the DHSC related to the type of vehicle used, black Hackney cabs in particular.
The company has a range of vehicles in its fleet other than black cabs, and feedback about them from passengers has been ’positive’, the DHSC said.

Patients are being encouraged to be specific when booking travel in order for the most appropriate vehicle to be made available to them.

Further issues relating to the level of assistance being offered by drivers, choice of routes and pick up points have also been addressed with the island-based patient transfer team and ComCab working together to establish effective procedures.
Health and Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft MHK said: ’The department understands there was some concern when ComCab first took over the contract, but officers have been impressed by the way the company has listened to those complaints, taken action and made improvements.

’We will continue to listen to people’s concerns and carry on monitoring performance and patient experience.’

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=34664
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BELFAST

Belfast private hire taxi drivers have claimed government officials have used excuses like rushing to the birth of a child, being drunk and even that they have an appointment at the cancer centre, to see if they can get a taxi outside of the rules.

The Department for Infrastructure, however, said it was “very unlikely” the undercover enforcement officers used such tactics and that they do not set out to appear vulnerable as part of their work.

Under taxi regulations Class A licenced taxis - that is those that are the private hire saloon cars - can only pick up passengers off the street at restricted times over the weekend otherwise a booking is needed. Black hackney cabs, which have a B licence, can ply for trade off the street throughout the week.

Private hire taxi drivers have claimed they have been caught up in “sting” operations by officials using underhand tactics to see if they will pick up the fare without a booking.

One man, speaking on the BBC Stephen Nolan show said he offered a drunk man a taxi, but as it was against regulations to allow him into his taxi, he called a friend who was sitting down the road to come and collect him. Resulting in the two drivers getting hefty fines.

Various drivers called the show alleging other tactics had been used in the operations. Among the claims were that an agent said he was rushing to hospital for the birth of his first child while another said they had an appointment at the Belfast Cancer Centre.

The taxi driver who offered the lift to the drunk man said he felt he was acting in the “public interest” to help a “vulnerable man” and was shocked to realise it was a sting operation.

Gerry Maxwell of Belfast Public Hire Taxis, which represents the black hackney cab drivers who can pick up trade from the street welcome the undercover operations.

He told the Belfast Telegraph: “You have to feel for the enforcement agents because they can not come on to the radio to give their side of the story. No one is above the law.

"They are looking to see you have the right licence, are using your meter so you are not ripping people off and giving receipts, that type of thing. Safety is paramount and I love to see them out. We pay for it so I am glad to see it.

Gerry, who has carried the undercover passengers himself and never found to be acting wrongly said there was a need for more officers.

“It’s the only way to catch them,” he said. “I can’t commend them enough for the job they do - it’s our part of the industry that’s affected. If it goes on and these drivers who have not the right licence [sic] are allowed to continue, then we will be out of business.”

A Department for Infrastructure spokesman said staff did not seek to appear vulnerable adding: “The DVA has been responding to an increase in complaints from licensed taxi drivers that their livelihood is being undermined by taxi drivers operating illegally. The DVA’s role is to ensure vehicles are roadworthy and safe, and drivers have appropriate licence.

"At no time will DVA enforcement officers seek to appear vulnerable.  They will use surveillance, for which provision is made in legislation, to prevent or detect crime associated with the use of illegal taxis.  The focus of the surveillance is to target locations where illegal taxi operations are more likely and have been either detected or reported previously.”

http://bit.ly/2sQdHZv 
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CANADA

The former owner of a set of once highly sought after Calgary taxi plate licences is suing the city over their revocation.

Harjit Seroya is seeking damages of $1 million, for the loss of five plates, or TPLs, he accumulated between 1986 and 2002.
Seroya's lawsuit says while he purchased the plates for the total sum of $134,500, they were each worth $200,000 when the city took them from him.

The claim says Seroya authorized independent operators to use the plates he had purchased.
His lawsuit says the plates were improperly revoked in April, 2014, when the city alleged he breached the municipal taxi bylaw by charging a fee to operators using the plate licences.

"Said assertions were untrue and the plaintiffs at no time charged any operator for use of the (plates)," Seroya's claim, file on his behalf as well as three incorporated transport companies.

"The plaintiff appealed the decision of the city to revoke the TPLs, but such appeal was dismissed and the city ordered said TPLs to be transferred to Associated Cab Ltd. without proper compensation or restitution," it says.

"At the time of the transfer, June of 2014, each TPL was valued at $200,000.

"Said transfer was unconscionable and without regard for compensation to the plaintiffs for the value of the TPLs."

The claim does not name Associated Cab Ltd. as a defendant, nor does it accuse the taxi company of any wrongdoing.

Along with the $1 million in damages being claimed against the city, Seroya is seeking "an order deeming the transfer of the TPLs to Associated Cab Ltd. unconscionable."

According to the city, 1,884 taxi plate licences have been issued, or are in the process of being issued.


The plates were at one time highly sought, but with the advent of ride sharing companies have lost their value.

A statement of defence disputing the unproven allegations contained in Seroya's claim has not been filed.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/07/07/city-sued-for-1-million-over-revocation-of-taxi-plate-licences