Dear Mr Editor of Taxi Leaks… I saw this tweet today on the J.O.B@joinourbattle time line
But, apparently TfL say there are no hard and fast rules governing Apps. Below is from a page on their website where, after discussion with both trades, they present their view on what should be the regulations.
And it made me ask the main trade bodys this question over twitter in responds to the above tweet.
@The_LCDC @TheLTDA @RMT_LondonTaxi @UnitedCabbies This is what I don't understand & maybe one of you can explain.
As yet, not one org has replied.
If TFL have issued a licence against their own rules and with the fact that there is no phone contact to pre book, why have you not taken a private prosecution against TFL for failure of duty’s to apply the regulations within the regulators set standards?
Here is my thing and please let me state a few points from my point of view and my position.
Firstly I am not a taxi driver I am however doing the KOL and have just broken the back of my 200th run. So I know my view won’t be like so many of you great taxi drivers.
I look at see what the trade is trying to do, and I despair at some of the stupid replies given by taxi drivers to people who have posted a tweet against the big U about an experience. To only then get slatted instead of supported by taxi drivers.
(LOOK if you want people to come back to you! Don’t then go and insult them!)
Would it work with you? NO IT WONT
So don’t go doing it to those that decided to speak out against the U… You need them on your side…!!
Back to my main point and the reason for this email to yourself:-
1) I don’t understand why the main trade bodies haven’t gone directly against TFL and taken them to court for failure to enforce the legislation they do have i.e. guidelines/rules.
a. Uber have no landline for pre bookings.
b. Uber state clearly they don't do pre-bookings.
2) I also don’t understand why a group of 200 or so cabbies haven’t clubbed together and gone to a barrister (with the help of their orgs) and sued TFL for loss of earnings due to them braking/not enforcing their own rules.
Now I am no great legal mind, hell I left school not even being able to read and write, but even I can see there is a case to be answered.
Cabbies have to submit tax earning to the government, so this is a legal document that shows earnings year on year. If you got 200 or so of these, showing year on year losses and can point these to TFL’s door then they would have to defend their actions in court of law.
And if proven, TFL would be left wide open.
And who knows what would then happen…
I realise that I by writing this letter have put my neck on the line. But it is something I feel needs to be said.
Be Lucky
Rob Zappone
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
Although the above passages taken from the TfL website show a prospective of what they would like to see as future legislation, >Click Here< , at the bottom of the page after a line indicating the end of the article, TfL publish current regulations.
As can be plainly seen Uber are currently in contravention of these rules as they put the passenger in direct contact with the driver.
It is stated clearly in this section that any app that puts passengers in direct contact with a driver for purpose of a private hire is illegal. They then go on to say they will take appropriate action against the person responsible for the app....TfL haven't done this in the case of Uber's app.
