Gett, the global on-demand app that works exclusively with licensed black cabs and Hackney Carriages across the UK, has become Britain’s biggest taxi app, overtaking Uber.

Gett is now available in 25 cities across the country, the only app of its kind with true nationwide coverage.

Recent launches in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham drove a 950% increase in monthly downloads, and Gett brought forward its expansion plans to go live in 18 new cities, including Cambridge, Brighton, Bristol, Nottingham and Newcastle.

Today, Gett is launching £5 rides for customers in all the new cities.

Gett is on track to have 10,000 licensed cab drivers on the app this summer, and is leading the market by onboarding more than 1500 new drivers per month. To date Gett has signed up nearly 15% of all full time Hackney Carriage drivers across 18 new cities in just 4 weeks. The inbound demand has been so great Gett has had to create a waiting list for drivers wishing to come on board.


http://www.clickliverpool.com/news/liverpool-news/1222589-liverpools-new-taxi-app-gett-overtakes-uber-in-uk-taxi-wars.html

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A TAXI driver caught with more than a tonne and a half of illicit tobacco in his van as he drove from Bournemouth to his Lincolnshire home has been been spared jail.

Alan Clater was sentenced to 18 months behind bars, suspended for 24 months, more than two years after he was stopped by Wiltshire Police on the M4 near Swindon.

Officers pulled the 62-year-old over before HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers conducted a search in the rear of the hire van and found boxes and bin liners containing 404kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 1.199 tonnes of raw tobacco, worth an estimated £260,000 in lost excise duty.

Colin Spinks, assistant director of criminal investigation at HMRC, said: “We will not stand by and let crooks rip off the law-abiding public, stealing money that should be being spent on vital public services.

"HMRC takes robust action to detect, disrupt and bring those who break the law before the courts.

“These offences have a devastating impact on honest retailers who have to compete with the black market and on the nation’s finances, with around £2 billion lost in excise revenue each year.

“Anyone who suspects cigarettes or tobacco is being illegally produced, smuggled or sold can help us by calling the Customs hotline on 0800 59 5000.”

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/crime/13334164.Taxi_driver_caught_with_tonne_and_a_half_of_illicit_tobacco_spared_jail/
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EIRE

A taxi driver who had his car stolen and burnt out could face legal action if he fails to pay a bill from the fire service in the Republic of Ireland.

Michael Carr, originally from Londonderry, had his vehicle taken from outside his house in May last year.

It was found two days later in Buncrana, County Donegal, having been set on fire and abandoned.

Mr Carr was then sent a bill for over 1,400 euros (£1,008) for the fire service attending the incident.

The letter, from Donegal County Council, warned the taxi driver that it "will resort to legal enforcement where necessary in order to secure payment".

Penalised

Mr Carr said he is "worried about the consequences" of not paying as he could not afford the amount being asked of him.

"I'm paying for someone else to come into my house, steal things from me, steal my vehicle - I feel I'm getting penalised for it," he told BBC Radio Foyle.

The car was stolen by thieves who had broken into Mr Carr's house in Muff, County Donegal, as he was asleep.

Police found the car burnt out two days later.

He later received the letter billing him a total of 1,443.21 euro (£1,039) for "fire charges".

Mr Carr is now receiving final reminders regarding the bill but says he does not see why he should have to pay it.

Blatant

"It does hang over me - it's a lot of money and I can't really afford to pay it.

"Everybody at the minute struggles, and 1,400 euro is a lot of money to be handing anyone."

But the fire service at Donegal County Council said its authority to charge for vehicle fires is set out in Ireland's Fire Services Act.

It said the charge is normally the "full cost of the incident plus 30% to cover equipment, consumables and administration".

It added: "Where a person is on social welfare and also working part-time and no contribution has been received from the insurance company, the invoice may be reduced by 75%."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-33145327