DFDS Terminal: Misinformation

August 2nd, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

Readers of our Comments section may have noticed a little “Tit for Tat” occurring over the last couple of days. this appears to be sour grapes on the part of a certain Berwick driver working from a certain Private Hire company. It seems there was something that put his nose out of joint on Thursday at the DFDS Terminal or the Albert Edward Dock, No the DFDS er! I mean the Albert Edward dock!

Well about half a dozen Hacks went to the Albert Edward Dock as they have probably done since 1648.There was a Cruise ship in and they were probably sniffing around for some work.They didn’t Tout or importune they merely sat there looking like Taxis for hire. Actually that’s what they were “Taxis for Hire” anybody in North Tyneside requiring a Taxi who comes across a North Tyneside Hackney Carriage, which is availble for Hire may Hire it. That’s a Hackney Carriage and like it or not that’s what they are for.

Now this commenter is being a bit mischevious and putting it about that what these Hackney carriages were doing was illegal. Not so Chum and I would stand in Court with you on that if you care to.

Not only that but his story is all over the place. He has put this incident at the DFDS Terminal when it was not. It was in an entirely different place,The Albert Edward Dock, where if he looks carefully he will find a Hackney Carriage stand, mind you we do have a bit of difficulty finding it ourselves, nevertheless it is there. Hackney Carriages can go there anytime they wish. On this occasion as there was a very big Ship there, with lots and lots of passengers on board, it was a knocking bet that there would be some Hacks in attendance. I must admit it was a bit annoying to see all the passengers kept in a line behind a 6 Foot fence by so called “Taxi Ambassadors” and a handful of Port of Tyne security officers. The passengers were let out as and when a Private Hire car was called over from the car park roughly 20 Feet away. When you keep people behind a fence until your cars can pick them up, i.e. not giving them the freedom to get anywhere near to the Taxi Rank which was provided for the passengers of large ships. I would hazard a guess that there may be something a Tad unlawful about that, it’s only a guess but a fair one, maybe there are some people in the Legal profession reading, I would invite them to comment.

The Laws pertaining to Taxis & Private Hire are many and complicated but I have a feeling they will become clearer as time goes by…..Keep watching!

aaa

There Are 20 Responses So Far. »

Comment by Brown Bear on 3 August 2008:

Last night,I had the dubious pleasure of speaking with a cockney chap who works for a private hire firm based in Whitley Bay.He was also under the impression that the so called “incident” occurred within the confines of the DFDS.
It seems to me that whoever has fed you this misinformation and encouraged you to spread it on this site has,in fact,made you look a wee bit foolish.
Also,can somebody please tell me how a “marshall” acting for and on behalf of a private hire operation,have the word TAXI on his high vis vest?

[Reply]
Comment by admin on 3 August 2008:

The Law:
Touting for hire car services
(1) Subject to the following provisions, it is an offence, in a public place, to solicit persons to hire vehicles to carry them as passengers.
(2) Subsection (1) above does not imply that the soliciting must refer to any particular vehicle nor is the mere display of a sign on a vehicle that the vehicle is for hire soliciting within that subsection.
(3) No offence is committed under this section where soliciting persons to hire licensed taxis is permitted by a scheme under section 10 of the [1985 c. 67.] Transport Act 1985 (schemes for shared taxis) whether or not supplemented by provision made under section 13 of that Act (modifications of the taxi code).
(4) It is a defence for the accused to show that he was soliciting for passengers for public service vehicles on behalf of the holder of a PSV operator’s licence for those vehicles whose authority he had at the time of the alleged offence.
(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.
(6) In this sectionâ€”

“public place” includes any highway and any other premises or place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted to have access (whether on payment or otherwise);

and “public service vehicle” and “PSV operator’s licence” have the same meaning as in Part II of the [1981 c. 14.] Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981.
(7) In section 24(2) of the [1984 c. 60.] Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (arrestable offences), after the paragraph (i) inserted by section 155 of this Act there shall be inserted the following paragraphâ€”
“(j) an offence under section 167 of the [1994 c. 33.] Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (touting for hire car services

[Reply]
Comment by Stephen (FKA Central Enth.) on 3 August 2008:

If TA & Co want to see all the Hacks pushed out of town, then they must want more Cars at there Office, because the Hacks need to earn somewhere like everyone else, so if they loose there areas, then they will just work from a Office.
So think TA, more Cars at the Offices, more competition, is that what you want?????
A associate of mine used a EC Berwick car last night to go out, he was informed by the Driver that EC & BLT are the only proper Taxi firms in NT!, “Don’t use Central, they are not proper Drivers?”, Don’t use the f**king Hacks, they will rip you off!”, he was told by the Driver.
Can anyone elaborate where he gets this idea from??????
EC Driver please justify your comment as he stated that he views this site!!!!

[Reply]
Comment by Sam Harrington on 5 August 2008:

A message for YT and a few others by the sound of it.

Life isn’t like a box of chocolates… It’s more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today… might burn your ass tomorrow!!

[Reply]
Comment by john dodds on 5 August 2008:

With referance to the incident at the DFDS site/Albert Edward Dock/TCQ
Ro-Ro Quay,call it what u like,I may have misinterpreted this wrong,but as far as I remember,having lived in and around Tyneside all my life….47 now..that area is a public road,so why was a `private hire car`,allbeit with a fancy plate from Berwick stuck to it,arguing with `hackney`drivers,about picking up anyway. A `Berwick plated` vehicle has no right to be there anyway…longer than the time to pick his passenger up and leave.
Also,was the vehicle displaying the plate on the outside of the vehicle or in the window as many are doing…..also an offense.
Personally,I would have blocked the `clown` in until at least some cars had picked up.
Also,as these `clowns` are putting these ideas into passengers heads,why not do some flyers as hand outs putting the public right about dodgy drivers…we tell people in the town nearly every day to beware of them.
Good luck with things down there…..I`m sure in time we will beet these clowns.

[Reply]
Comment by Stephen (FKA Central Enth.) on 5 August 2008:

I agree with john dodds, the Newcastle boys have a bit more fight in them!, a lot of Newcastle Doblo’s have signs on the windows warning of out of town and bogus Berwick Hacks!
But just think come September if evrything goes right, their will be no more of these Bandits to fill up the Offices!
A new name for Berwick Taxi licensing come April 1st 2009…
Bandit Upon Tyne Borough Council, sounds better than Berwick Upon Tweed Borough Council!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Comment by A HACK on 5 August 2008:

Just a little message to you Sam, i think you aimed your last post at the wrong people there, we are the ones who aren’t doing anything wrong so you and your little Berwick posse should take a leaf out of your own book and watch your own ass.

[Reply]
Comment by A HACK on 5 August 2008:

Well said John but there wasn’t just Berwick plated cars there it was also north tyne-side ph cars. They obviously think that they can do as they please but let me tell you they wont get away with it (guaranteed) there’s a lot of support from all directions ALL IN FAVOUR OF THE HACKS OF COURSE

[Reply]
Comment by yt on 5 August 2008:

Sam !”Never,under any circumstances,take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night!”.

TA I think it’s your turn to reply to some of these comments now.Or have you not got anything vaguely resembling the truth to say?

[Reply]
Comment by Brown Bear on 7 August 2008:

Scandinavians,in general,tend to be rather laid back but very efficient.So it was no surprise today,that 10 of them were not impressed with the service they received from a private hire company that operates vehicles at the DFDS terminal.
Having been dropped off in North Shields,they ordered vehicles to pick them up later and take them back to the terminal.When these vehicles failed to arrive at the agreed time,they had to take the three,nasty,horrible,evil,inefficient,black Hackney Carriages waiting at McDonalds.
Believe it or not,these very nice Scandinavian people were grateful and impressed with the service they received from those nasty,horrible, evil,inefficient,black Hackney Carriages.
But unfortunately,they were not very impressed with the service they received from the private hire people.The exact words were “This is not efficient service,it not happen in Norway.This company not last long!”
See you on Monday morning chaps,when the Boudica docks!

And finally,the question of the day;
If electricity comes from electrons,does morality come from morons?

[Reply]
Comment by I.S on 8 August 2008:

with ref to DSDF, its down to years of poor service and drivers ripping off passengers that DFDS took the action of banning the hack drivers from their site. At this point BLT and Eastcost were asked to provide a professional service which they require for their customers. If anybody would like to challenge the legality of DFDS,BLT and Eastcosts actions feel free

[Reply]
Comment by admin on 9 August 2008:

I hardly think people would put have put up with “Poor Service” or Ripping Off” for more than thirty years, unless somebody came along with a satchel full of money. As for “Ripping off” that’s a bit strong mate. Can you show me a single prosecution for said “Ripping off” I think you are resorting to a bit of name calling there,If you are I.S. you should know that your chum is taking someone to Court for name calling! . Everytime I get a Fare from shields back to the boat, I ask the passengers for the same Fare they paid to come in to shields and I can tell you it varies between Â£5 and Â£8 . So please don’t talk about Ripping off. I have as much proof as you have that Drivers Rip off! That’s none at all mate! You got your Franchise so lay off calling Hacks Rip offs with no proof whatsoever! Nobody challenges your Legal right to carry out that which you have paid to do! Personally I wouldn’t work there if they paid me a retainer. Those boats have never been what they were cracked up to be. You can Crack on about “Professionalism” as much as you like and take all your fancy photo’s of drivers lined up etc. but at the end of the day the punter is getting exactly what they got before “A car that will take them where they want to go” The only difference is that they have to queue a bit longer. The best bit is that you are paying for it! Shrewd bit of business that.

[Reply]
Comment by Stephen (FKA Central Enth.) on 10 August 2008:

Admin!
Our friends from the Boat also claimed the “Bike”, as you well know there has been a Motorcycle show on Beaconsfield this weekend.
I picked up two Blokes involved in this event from Whitley Bay on Saturday night and transported them along the Sea front, they were friendly and polite, when I stopped and charged them Â£4.80p, they asked “Is that the right fare mate?”, I paused thinking that they were going to complain, and then showed them the Table of charges for a Hack, one Guy stated that he had been warned not to get in a “Black Cab” in South Parade as he would be ripped off and taken the longest way!, both customers could’nt believe how low the fare was as one of them was a Hack driver himself in the Midlands.
I asked who had informed them of this and he replied……a —t–a-t driver who brought him into Whitley from a Pub in Tynemouth!
One of the Guys stated that the whole conversation with the PH driver was about “Rip off” Hacks lurking in the shadows of Whitley Bay.
Anyway they were both told only to use ????? to and from the show!
by the PH or Bandit driver!
I think all Hacks should donate a their North Tyneside Table of Charges for a Hack to our dominating comrades from the Coast and the Boat!, so they can learn and understand the difference between a PH and Hack!!!!
Anyway it’s September shortly HA HA HA!!!!!!!
Hopefully no more Bandits and extra revenue for the “Perfect two”

[Reply]
Comment by yt on 10 August 2008:

If the I.S on this site is the ‘real’ I.S from Wallsend,it would be very interesting to hear his views regarding the legality of Berwick plated vehicles operating in Newcastle and North Tyneside,and what he thinks the outcome of the pending judicial review will be.

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Comment by Stephen (FKA Central Enth.) on 11 August 2008:

Another Cruise Ship in the Royal Quays today!
I wonder if there was a Bandit festival at the Dock????
yt!
I dont think that was the real I.S as he would be able to spell “Eastcoast”, not Eastcost, unless he has’nt done one of those NVQ’s/BTEC’s in Taxi work!!
I don’t think any PH operator has any qualifications like Mr Cornetto has!
I think it’s just another TA & Co, sticking a dig on here and not coming back on!
I.S and his B*m Chum will just watch this site to see who says what?, and who does what?, so they can threaten them with legal action. They can afford to with 600 Mugs employed by them between them!!!

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Comment by jimmy1 on 12 August 2008:

A Berwick Driver working from Central stopped for a Flag down on South Parade on Saturday night. He couldn’t have been driving for long as the Flagger was none other than Alan Newton,Taxi Licencing Enforcement officer for North Tyneside. I myself followed a BlueLine Berwick car back from Ashington,all the way to Whitley Bay where he promptly took a fare flagging outside Eden,and they say this doesn’t go on. My old mate Harry,one time NT Hack now Berwick was in court this week for Flimping. Don’t know what he got yet though.

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Comment by Stephen (FKA Central Enth.) on 12 August 2008:

jimmy1..Well done for mentioning the “B” word!
What about the “E” word that picked up 5 (FIVE) passengers on Saturday night at a certain Rugby Club?, it’s a pitty Mr N was’nt around to see that!, anyway I may be wrong if a Ford Mondeo Saloon Car is licensed for 5 people+ the driver!!!!!, by North Tyneside!
PS, I don’t think it was a flimp, it was probably a booking to be fair!
Who was the Berwick Central flimper??????

[Reply]
Comment by BIG SILVER on 13 August 2008:

MUCH BETTER TO BE A BERWICK MUG BANDIT OR WOT EVER YOU LOT CALL THEM THAN A NTC HACK SUCMBAG IN A Â£200 FORD MONDRO SHED THAT STINKS OF SMOKE ON THE INSIDE AND THE OUT . YOU LOT ARE THE MUGS SITTING ON THE THE STREETS ALL DAY AND NIGHT FOR NEXT TO NOWT TO HEAR YOU ALL NO WONDER NO ONE WANTS TO GET IN YOUR CARS !!!!!!!! TAKE A LONG HARD LOOK AT YOURSELF .

[Reply]
Comment by admin on 13 August 2008:

That’s a bit Strong innit? Who rattled your cage? And if I make nowt who’s been payin me mortgage all these years and sendin me on Holiday? God! and here’s me thinkin I was doin alright. I’m depressed now,I wish you hadn’t come on here and said all those nasty things,I don’t know what i’m going to do?? please don’t be nasty like that anymore…..

[Reply]
Comment by john dodds on 14 August 2008:

For the benefit of our `so called` Berwick Bandits who think they r so great,cheating the licensing system and charging what they like,from a Newcastle `scumbag` driver,that I was called on wednesday 13th,outside the Hotspur in the Haymarket,when 2 girls got into my cab,after I nearly took this chaps nose off his car by pulling infront of him.
Yes sir,you were right,the Police could have done me for careless driving….actually the charge would have been `dangerous driving…but we wont split hairs, telling my passengers I would charge about Â£30 to the Kensington Gdns estate,where in his legally licensed cab,berwick plate 17…,I wont embarrass him…the fare was only Â£12…..for his benefit,the fare clocked Â£10.40 on newcastle rates.
Just remember this my `friend`..You can con some of the people,some of the time,and some of the people all of the time,but you can`t con all of the people all of the time. Your day will dawn when people wake up and realise what `scumbags` to use your term you really are.
Along with your friends at certain private hirs companies in Wallsend and Wideopen areas,who are laughing all the way to their banks,at the sort of mugs you lot are for making them millionaires and would you believe…Chris Tarrent no where in site.

[Reply]

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DFDS Terminal: Misinformation

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