New council unlikely to renew Berwick licences held by outside cabbies

Personally i think its shocking that some councils allow someone to take a locality test using a sat nav. I mean come on would the same council employ me as a fitter or mechanic because i own a haynes manual.

LETS START A PARTY(fingers crossed).
News reaches me that The good and proper council that is Northumberland is starting to go through the Bandit plates causing wide spread panic amongst the Bandits.Now lets all keep our fingers toes etc crossed that all of these Bandits who arrived here on Camels or from the back of an Artic are refused a plate and the trade can get back to having fit and proper drivers who have a pride in what they are doing.
So come on Northumberland and North tyneside councils be strong if they cant pass locality tests or prove they live in the Borough DONT GIVE THEM A PLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!.

You are quite right Admin that not every private hire driver is engaged in flimping which is why I stated that the dual badge holder merely appeared to be the only one who managed to do that. The situation we are faced with is that a very sizeable majority have free reign throughout the entire city centre. This group of drivers includes Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside private hire plated cars and nearly the entire number of ‘out of town’ plated cars that have office radios from the operators in these areas.

The reality is that the number of drivers who are now prepared to take illegal non-booked fares off the streets is on a scale that is now unprecedented and largely unchallenged.

There was a time when a situation like this would never have been allowed to happen let alone escalate, because the drivers would have policed themselves. In those days anyone caught stealing your livelihood would get a good hiding. Nowadays, with the advent of political correctness and such like a driver would have to be very careful how he tackled a situation like this.

The problem is also further exacerbated by the known fact that some of these drivers are being helped and encouraged by a small number of the Newcastle hackney drivers; it is also regrettable that some of these private hire drivers are being allowed to drive black cars using the same roof signs as Newcastle hackney carriage saloon cars.

We have all seen these in the city and we have all tolerated them and yet we are all expected to follow a strict colour code within our own trade. This is an intolerable situation that Newcastle city council licensing department needs to address urgently.

The enforcement of these issues and others is obviously a massive undertaking for the council because we are talking in excess of two thousand cars going unchallenged day and night (not including the seven hundred and eighty-eight Newcastle Hackney carriages).

As we all know the police have a limited interest in all of this so it would make sense for the council to look at the whole issue of enforcement very seriously because this one issue can make the difference between a Newcastle hackney carriage driver making an honest living to feed his family or not.

By their own admittance the council are undermanned for the purpose but while acknowledging this we also have the right to proper protection from the pirates when we pay the licensing department two hundred and fifty-five pounds a year for our plate, sixty pounds a year for our badge and fifty-four pounds a time for an MOT. You would rightly expect that this would guarantee us certain privileges within our own trade. The council have a duty to protect us and they have a duty to protect the public.

I have a great respect for our Forum members who are tackling these issues on our behalf but it is entirely debatable which of these should take precedence. We are all aware that we need more official rank spaces but what good is a new rank space when you have already lost your job to the pirate(s) parked around the corner?

Well Mr. dual badge holder (who doesn’t flimp) you obviously make enough money from your dual badge without the need to steal Newcastle Hackney Carriage work off our streets. You should reply and tell us exactly how you appear to be the only one who manages to do this and then all the real thieves can follow your example and stick to their legitimate bookings from their ‘legitimate’ offices.

We’re going to do a survey soon to find out how many of us are left who actually work in this trade for a living rather than for pocket money (and other reasons) and if we reach double figures for those that do we will let you know on this site. Incidentally, if you know what to look for it is easy to tell who genuinely does this for a living.

With regard to those that don’t do this for a living (and make no mistake about it they’re in the majority) they will have no real interest in removing the private hire drivers out of our city especially those that have Berwick and Derwent plates on their cars. Admittedly they will pay lip service to tackling the problem but without any substance, again if you look closely you will discover why this is the case.

You may wonder if I am merely stating an opinion here or talking from actual experience of the problem. You should be aware that procedures were put in place a long time ago in order to allow the pirates to circumvent the new legislation from Northumberland and these will be successful because the real issues are not being tackled at the grass roots level for one reason or another. Ask yourself who really financed all of this?

John Dodds; I never said it wasn’t legal for hacks to work from an office nor did I say that I flimp. What I said was that I am tired of hearing hack drivers winge about flimping whilst taking private hire work from us. You just want the best of both worlds. Oh and by the way my name is neither Hank nor Clint.

PHD; Yes it’s quite true. Flagfall is 80p and fares have been dropped by 10p per mile.

Well Dok…your nearly right,with 1 major difference,a `hack` can work legally from either the street ranks or an office,as `WE` are licensed and `INSURED` for public hire…makes no difference whether the job comes from the street or an office.
On the other side,`PRIVATE HIRE`means what it says,by definition,a `privately hired vehicle to transport from A-B,by `private arrangement`,
Therefore,`by going flimping`you are using a vehicle licensed for`PRIVATE HIRE`use,as a `PUBLIC HIRE`vehicle contary to its license and by doing so you INVALIDATE the insurance,therby endangering the public.
The fact that it would appear from the total lack of credible ENFORCEMENT by either the police or certain local authorities,that `driving without the nessesary license or insurance`,is now something that can be tollerated,makes me wonder whether i`d be better off as a `cowboy`and work while ignoring any law that doesnt suit me.

Thanks to all for there comments, Yes a do know Northumberland like the back of my hand, I also have a Newcastle dual licence, and a North Tyneside licence, Any one with a ounce of sense Will understand getting a Berwick Licence makes good Business sense.it is therefore down to the councils to sort out the financial side.
As to the idiot that called me a DUNCE i would love to meet him,he may not be aware of any conditions I have,I thought the idea of this site was to improve the service, and air one’s thoughts,having ran several Businesses and made money I can hardly be called a DUNCE.
Is it not time national Govement stepped it to regulate the Industary,as the problem is Nation wide and not just local.

U hcks have not got a clue,
I was born in Newcastle,have dun for 54 years I know this town like the back of my hand, and yes i have a Berwick plate, I dont know how the hacks pass a locality test, there allways asking me were places are.
Ask the students about hacks, there reply is there two expencive, and the sexual abuse they recieve from certain groups, i would never throw any one out if they were sort off a pound for there fare, as for Blueline all there drivers are licenced and insured, and all there cars are fit for there job,
Hacks dont moan when they pick up are fares,
I agree there are two many that cant speak english or know there way around, both in private hire and hack.
why pick on Berick all the time after all there are other areas that use Newcastle to,
Flimmping must spot, and both private and hack must get there act together.

In response to the comment that people dont trust hacks in town because we are a training ground for rip off artists.
You may well be richt to a point,as was stated else where,there are good and bad in all trades,in Newcastle the only drivers that get any mention tend to be the `cowboys` that speacilise in fleesing people or making uninvited advances to passengers. We never hear about the drivers that do the job properly,and there are a lot of us.
If you want to blame anyone for the complete chaos we have in Town,unlicensed cars,uninsured cars,drivers and all,the two main culprits for this mess are the Police,and Newcastle council.
Before anyone gives me the usual bullshit that its not the problem of the Plod,let me just say this,`using or allowing a vehicle to be used on a public road,without the required insurance cover,IS a moving traffic offence and therefore does come under the remit of the Plod.
As for the Council,the attitude they seem to have of `we dont give a f..k,is rather a stupid road to take,since if any member of the public is injured or worse,due to their incompetance,in licensing enforcement,or in our case `lack of`,I wonder what they will do when someone takes them to court for compensation.
Also,we hear all these horror stories from passengers,and while most are fact,I always ask the same questions,1) did you clock the plate number,or reg number of the car
2)did you ask for a receipt,a signed one
3)did you notice the drivers badge
after this,i ask if the person has a mobile phone….usually yes,did you use it….usually no.
IF the person who has been `done` cant be bothered to ring for help.personally i say they deserve it…due to letting a runt get away with it.
MY final comment is usually if they know they are getting taken for a ride,ring 999 and get plod,I know most people say that rogue cabs arent an emergency….yes they might be,and going back to my work with HM coastguard,we put it down to a call out with good intent. If its sorted..ok no harm done….if not and help is needed,as i tell people..dont think..DO IT.

sorry if i have already missed it, but i hear a certain mr shanks is buying up berwick plates. my first thoughts are.. he is looking for loopholes in the law. where does greed end ? ffs ian, get yourself away on a holiday with the ginger muppet (one way ticket preferably) and spend your dosh, the world economy needs you !!!!

ok 98%

Andy,

You’re an insult to your fellow Hacks and the trade.

Playing the race card like that is bang out of order to the asian hacks that are out there and to myself. It’s people like you that make race an issue and breed racism.

You are a joke!

As for the flimping?

If a Private Hire car is tracked and he doesn’t pick up where his job says and go where his job says well it’s a flimp. Yeah fine jobs may change but the office is going to know who is at it and who isn’t. So to a degree it’s the operators who should be working with enforcement.

Generally I think over 90% of PH’s don’t have the time and wouldn’t risk flimping, however, I have seen and understand how one flimp snow balls into one hundred. A PH driver’s job gets hacked, his job doesn’t turn up, in the mean time someone else knocks on his window, takes the next driver’s jobs, etc etc etc etc.

But to me it is Private Hire hacking other Private Hire work, still doesnt change the fact why don’t these people get a Newcastle Hack?, and if you think price at 3.00 am in the morning is the only issue, you’re wrong.

Sorry guys,

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the Public Perception
of the Newcastle Hack trade, everyone’s fantasizing or telling lies.

And the 1000′s of Private Hire calls that come out of the town each week is by no means proof that there is something wrong with your business.

I am just confused at why 1000′s of fares a week would go to the
hassle of ringing a PH, having to walk to a meeting point, wait in the
cold, when there is a queue of Newcastle Hacks straight in front of them.

They must be dellusional like all the fantasists, liars, and exagerators, because there ‘s absolutely nothing wrong with the public perception of the Newcastle Hack trade.

There was a run a few years ago on investing in ostrich farms???????

@Kinred spirit,

and like i said good luck to trawling industrial estates for distressed girls,,,

but be warned, the police have a name for that …

who are you getting at Hacks, ph, bantit plates yyou really dont make it clear Andy.

firstly i’ll answer mouse,

well over charged, 2 bald tyres, no licences, no insurance, his cousins cab, and he STILL rang the police eh? quite convienient eh?

realitybites,

well mate, i’ve got no problem with helping a distressed woman no matter where she is! Yet in 6 years of driving a taxi, i have never come across one. heard people who have, but you sir, three so far this year! And ALL have had the horror ride home in a newcastle hack, and the driver was it dexter morgan on the badge or his cousin?

well maybe we can have a say back now eh! i charge whats on the meter, no more no less, and i have lost count of the amount of times i have been called a robbing … it’s not that they hounestly believe i’m robbing them, it’s just it’s part of there night. never believe what someone tells you who has been on the drink all day! let me guess they were all sober eh?

let me tell you another ‘story’, i picked a girl up taking her to the liquid (when it was ikon) she was telling me that the taxi driver the week before raped her, she didnt know that i knew who she was, many years ago me and a pal had trouble with two lasses, one of them constantly rang my mothers house threatening me that is was going to get stabbed off her cousin, my sisters usually got the message, even though they wernt out of junior scholl at the time. i’m good at remembering thisngs like that …

… but the moral of the story is, this is what your dealing with, people who fantasise, poeple who verbally assualt drivers, or physicly try to assualt them as part of there night out … the amount of HORROR STORYS by hackney drivers, or experienced myself over the years, would simply crash this site!

but drivers like you, believe everything, are always in every convienient place, see everything … EXCEPT YOUR FELLOW DRIVERS PICKING UP UNISURED IN THE CITY CENTRE!

i can agree there realitybites
about three years ago on a sunday night me and my wife had A NIGHT OUT IN TOWN (very rare for us indeed)as my car was broken so i did not work that night or the week after that was an expensive week.
Anyway the trip home tells a tale !! i phoned blueline who i drive 4 and could not get a car so we walked to the rank at the gate and got in to a hack to go home he made all the right moves to get to my house (well done him ) but there was a big dispute in the fare he wanted to charge me i live 5.5 miles from the city center top his meter off at £26.40 on tarriff 2/ Ah and sattitude and driving was a lot to answer for aswell, when challenged about the massive fare he says i have to pay it. i said ok i just need a signed recipit with his badge and plate no on it and no suprise he refused to give me one so i said i wont pay then and got out his cab and went home. about 15 mins later the police knocked at my door asking me to pay the driver i then explain to the police what went on and i was in the trade with my broken car parked in the street and showed him my badge when i told him the fare was worth aprox £12 and if it were on my meter it would be about 6 – 7 pounds i was willing to pay with recipt with hes details on it it turned out the cab had 2 bald tyres the driver was an illegal body no driving license or insureance as it was his cussins cab he got arrested i did write to newcasle council but not got a reply

yes ian shanks i would like to see the back of all the bewick plates not just yours every ones plate and put up back on a leaval playing field

I agree Brian its just bad buisness sense to have drivers who dont speak even basic English it just looks bad for the operators and i think it would loose them trade.

I think we should take a leaf out of Deva Kumarasiri, he’s the sub-post master who thought it was imperative all his customers spoke English to stop queues building up. Imagine if taxi drivers and customers done the same, i,e a customer had the right their driver spoke English and licenced by the council that car was booked from And the customer spoke in English to the driver or just put your meter on as soon as they get in and try to speak to you in broken english, they’ll soon learn English when they see the meter ticking away.

Lets all pray to god and the bandits who are currently driving the bandit taxis can go back and hide in their caves.