Dear Taxi Leaks
Some Cab drivers are saying ITV's Jonathan Maitland got the message across to the general public; let's have a closer look at his carefully put together message:
Uber are involved in tax avoidance.
Uber drivers are obtaining the incorrect insurance and consequently putting the general public at risk by driving with void policies.
Uber drivers are being exploited with low pay.
Jonathan Maitland explained quite clearly the differences between Private Hire and Licensed Taxis. He clearly understands what a PH driver is permitted to do and not to do. ie, plying for hire, touting, ranking etc.
It was quite deliberate that he omitted ALL of the damaging facts and statistics regarding:
Inadequate Background checks.
Sexual innuendo/ Rape, violent racist motivated attack of a lone female, religious bigotry, terrorist motivated attacks.
Customers thrown out and abandoned in the middle of nowhere.
The atrocious standard of operation of a motor vehicles driven by Uber partners.
The fact that many Uber drivers are intentionally and willfully signing off and back onto the Uber platform to cause price surging to be implemented.
Many Uber drivers speak English to a very low standard. The Uber driver in the program was carefully selected because of his clean appearance and the fact that could speak perfect English !
Uber drivers allegedly sharing their vehicles with unlicensed individuals. There are many instances on social media claiming the driver that turned up for the ride, clearly wasn't the driver on the driver app profile!
Hacked accounts and the plethora of complaints on social media claiming claiming Uber customer service is non existent (Anthea Turner).
Now let's look at Jonathan Maitland's subliminal message - the real message:
London Taxi drivers are paranoid about Uber; they are internet trolls involved in a propaganda smear campaign against Uber using Twitter/ social media and the #beenubered.
Maitland, throughout the broadcast referred to Uber/PH drivers and cars as... Cab drivers and Taxis, OVER and OVER again.
In my opinion this was deliberate and designed to send a subliminal message that PH and Uber are Taxis !
Secondly, WHY did the ITV decide to air this program seven day before Christmas?
In my opinion this program was a carefully crafted piece of propaganda by ITV to promote Uber as a victim of the London Taxi Trade.
Watch complete program here:
Taxi Leaks Reader's Comment:
MESSAGE TO ALL OF THOSE DRIVERS WHO THINK WE ARE NOT IN TROUBLE & WE'RE JUST GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY HIATUS: WE'RE NOT!
Since the 80's, this is the most disastrous Christmas working period I have ever known. I consider it's now been reduced to the point of temptation - i.e to take a chance on work you previously wouldn't touch with a barge pole.
For example; the day long drinker & once a year brigade who can't hold their booze - that are numerous at this time of year! I won't risk it but then again, I don't have a young family. Some younger drivers have to take the risk, as they are really strapped up, particularly at this time of the year.
We really have been let down by everyone, during this ever increasing period of reduced work.Trade bodies, governing authorities and many drivers who have sat back and let others protest, whilst they continue working - if they don't help out soon there will be no work!
(Although, I did see a comment by a driver on social media, that we could be in danger of exaggerating our situation, as apparently, this persons income has progressively increased over a 30 month period - I can only assume he/she started off by doing a 30 minute day and was increased by a minute each day, every shift, over this period - or it's the eighth wonder of the world. However, then again maybe it's just luck - a lot of it!).
Let's now face it - unless we all collectively find a solution, very soon, to our problems and all support one another it's 'goodnight Vienna'! All this talk of the public love us and we're an icon, etc, etc, won't save us and although we do have a lot of support it is mainly associated to our older clientele.Unfortunately, I think a lot of the younger population would get in a dustcart, if they thought it was cheaper than us and readily available. The problem is that in their world it is the fast & cheap service they require. This is the click of a button environment, that has been exploited by you know who, associated to weak regulation.
Why those who purport to act in our interest never saw this coming I don't know. This coupled with a dire and weak enforcement agency, is the root cause of our problems.
If and it's a big if, we can ride this out, we need to make sure we all get together as one.
And ensure we are never attacked in this way again, by hopefully having ONE major body representing us, so we cannot ever be attacked again by the divide and rule brigade.
We have a lot to contend with; poor regulation, driver apathy, big money conglomerates and to quote an old pre decimal observation. . . The bent as a nine bob note scenario (younger drivers, ask your father to explain - or grandfather:-). Be lucky - as we'll all have to be, come January:-)!
Dear Editor:
I have watched the show on catch-up and thought it leaned in our favour, however using just one local small minicab company, Spotty Cars, (what a terrible name - are they based in acne or something?) did little to show the seriousness of the situation! I think if they had spoken to PH giants like Addison Lee or Green Tomatoes, it would have given more insight into how the minicab-trade has also been let down by TfL.
Members from the London Assembly were interviewed, but no senior people from TfLTPH regarding how UBER flout the laws whilst TfL have turned a blind eye!
They did however complain how some taxi-drivers use social media, which reflected badly on our trade. They could have also pointed out some of the many tweets from passengers who have been over charged, assaulted, punched in the face whilst being racially abused, women being told they are inappropriately dressed - the list goes on and on!
It was also good that it was pointed out that a race by two people, from the same start and finishing at the same place was won by the taxi 15 minutes before UBER arrived costing little more than £1 extra - in Birmingham where again a race took place, the taxi worked out £5 cheaper due to Uber's surge charging!
All in all though a good stab at highlighting some of the problems we face, which the media usually always gets wrong! But again Uber were constantly referred to as Taxis and their drivers Cab drivers.
Dear Taxi_Leaks:
Did any of your readers notice, that at the end of the race, the taxi dropped off at the Euston taxi drop off point.
Dear Jim :
AMAZING BARGINS TO BE HAD ON UBER POOL.
SHARE WITH TWO DRUNK MEN AND SAVE 50p
WHAT A BARGIN !!!
