Well it didn't take the press long to take the story that every London Taxi will have to accept Credit Card payments, and turn it in to a barrage of negativity against the greedy London cabbies.
Apparently it's an attempt to win back customers, BUT AT A HIGHER PRICE. As we predicted the fact that cash customers will also be charged the extortionate 20 pence extra on flag fall makes us second only to Dick Turpin in the annals of highway robbery.
The story below (minus the blatant Uber advert) featured in The Memo, shows a picture of the antiquated long gone FX4 to illustrate how outdated the Taxi trade is.
We can expect much more of this type of gutter journalism in the coming weeks, putting an emphasis on the 20p extra flag drop and a proposed 1.6% rate increase.
• There will be no mention of the missing hour as rate 3 drops back to rate 1 at 5am instead of 6.
• There will be no mention of the reduction in waiting time or the tweaking of rate 4 which will actually see more of a rate drop on most journeys.
• There will be no mention that drivers will be expected to pick up the transaction fee of customers wanting credit, as the payment surcharge moves from customer to driver.
THE MEMO...by Oliver Smith.
Black cabs offer card payments, but with a nasty sting
You win some, you lose some.
Every black cab in London will accept card payments from October… but their prices will rise to pay for it.
Transport for London’s (TfL) decision to force all cabbies to take card or contactless payments is a sure sign of progress, but it comes with an unfortunate downside for all passengers.
Black cabs will now hike their minimum prices by 20p to £2.60, regardless of how you pay.
Street fight
This is the latest round in black cabbies street fight against Uber.
Last week cabbies revealed they’re considering legal action to have Uber’s licence to operate in London revoked over the app allegedly not paying its UK taxes. (See Oliver Smith couldn't be bothered to do his research on this so made something up. Still never let the truth get in the way of a good story eh Oliver!)
Adopting environmentally-friendly electric vehicles and now card payments are also part of black cab’s charm offensive to win back passengers.
Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, labelled the decision by TfL to force cabbies to accept card payments is a win-win for drivers and customers:
“Most taxi drivers already accept card payments, but from October our customers can be certain that when they hail a cab, they are not only getting a safe, reliable and professional service, but will also be able to pay how they like, be it card, contactless or cash.”
We’ll have to wait and see whether card payments (but with higher prices!) will be enough to tempt commuters back into a cab.