The NATIONAL LINK to our local Private Hire [PH] (Taxi) services
For YOUR Private Hire Bookings
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The NATIONAL LINK to our local Private Hire [PH] (Taxi) services For YOUR Private Hire Bookings
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DO YOU KNOW ? Do you REALLY need to know?
UNFORTUNATELY, IGNORANCE IS NO DEFENCE? A Policeman pulls you up at the side of the road, and you find yourself unable to answer their questions, what do you do? What do you say? Only when they leave you and say, 'Have a nice day', they probably mean it! Within this page we hope to go some way to provide access to some of the information /guidance that IS important to you as a PH driver. Too many drivers learn about the trade from a second hand perspective, mostly from mates or other drivers. We, that is to say, the NPHA / ANPHO believe that insufficient information is made available to drivers on both sides of the trade regarding some of our responsibilities. Many drivers believe the controls emanate from local councils...............whilst the latter is true, the law as empowered to the local authority, is in fact that of National Government. Yes, the laws are largely out of date, and do not reflect current demands of commercial / social requirements or take account of modern technology with regard to the running of bases, but as we cannot make our own laws up as we go along, we have to operate within the law as it stands for the present.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A LICENSED DRIVER (HACKNEY / PH)? In so far as you have been, or are about to be given a license to drive a PH vehicle, their are certain expectations, some would say commitments that are expected of you by: The base you drive for Yourself Taxi Licensing Your customers
WITHOUT CUSTOMERS YOU DON'T HAVE DON'T HAVE A BUSINESS!! If you do not service your business properly, you cannot complain when there is none available! Clean Cars Presentable and attentive drivers Politeness Be sociable, whilst keeping your eyes on the road! Of course, take the customer to their destination by the most direct / practicable route! Should you have to deviate from the normal or expected route, it is advisable to discuss this with the customer, FIRST. The above criteria is at least a basis upon which to deliver good PH services.
COURTEOUS DRIVERS Passengers who require assistance are more likely to return to YOUR base in the future, having received assistance , especially when offered without being asked. (Check with your insurance broker for Public Liability Insurance).
CUSTOMERS We are all very aware of the difficult customers, every business has them. In our case difficult customers might be: Those who will not give you specific directions PRIOR to moving off. Allowing children to soil your car seats when they get in. Soiling your car by eating and drinking, and not exercising reasonable care. Customers who will be ill inside the car, not asking you to pull over. Customers who seek to distract you by insinuations. Customers who 'do a runner'. (Those who run off without paying). Physical aggression upon your person.
Despite the above, most customers are very pleasant. The actions as described above does not mean we should not deliver proper services to the vast majority of customers who are perfectly reasonable .................
*SOILING CHARGE A soiling charge may be levied against the customer, in the event that such soiling of your vehicle will prevent you from continuing with your work. The *charge should reflect the cost of time and or materials to re-instate your vehicle to the state prior to the soiling taking place. It is reasonable for customers to be notified of such intention within your vehicle by the presence of some form of sign / notice. (Because it is not always **practicable to valet your car when soiling has taken place, a maximum figure should be displayed upon any notice,**For instance when working nights).
The main laws that govern our trade. ² Town Police Clauses Act. 1847 ² Local Authority (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. 1976 (Part II) The above two Acts contain the laws that govern the way Private Hire / Hackney work is controlled. Like all laws they are the subject of interpretation. Details of the above Act's are available at all main libraries; a copy is held at the NPHA / ANPHO office. There are of course 'Other Laws' like the Road Traffic Act; The Construction and Use Regulations Act, together with those with concerning Criminal activity Local governments who have adopted the above ²laws as a means of introducing regulation for the control of the Private Hire and Hackney trade's, are Empowered to carry out the obligations as set out within the above Acts. The law is the subject of interpretation. As such, (5) guidelines are in place to assist LA's in such interpretation, and we have, through this Web-site, made available the (5) Guidelines regarding convictions for your reference; (5) Courtesy: Nottingham City Council (Taxi Licensing) ² (5) GUIDELINES RELATING TO THE RELEVANCE OF PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS
! ! ! ! 'FLYING' ! ! ! ! One might say the 'technical' term used to describe the process whereby some drivers pick up customers without the customer having FIRST pre-booked the service. To avoid any misunderstanding's, you might care to look at >>>> Section 56 of the Local Authority (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. 1976 (Part II) WHEN A PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER PICK'S UP A CUSTOMER AND THAT CUSTOMER HAS NOT 'PRE-BOOKED' A 'CAB', UNDER CURRENT LEGISLATION, YOU ARE '[GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE]' (For the purpose of reference, 'Cab' means Private Hire Car) BEING 'GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE' This means that your license will be REVOKED (taken away from you) by your licensing authority for a period of time as decided by that authority. i.e. DURING THIS PERIOD, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EARN YOUR LIVING AS A PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER!
> > > > > INSURANCE WHILST 'FLYING' < < < < < You may find in any claim you make following an accident in which you are involved, could be compromised, if in the opinion of the insurers, they feel that you are in breach of the conditions by that insurance company !!!!!! LIABILITY TO CUSTOMERS If in any accident in which you are involved, (whilst 'FLYING') the insurance company may deem you to be in breach of their conditions of insurance, you could then be faced with a civil suite for damages from your passengers !!!!!!!!!! INSURANCE COMPANIES -- DATABASE INFORMATION Insurance companies now contribute to a centrally held database within which details of drivers are kept. It is likely that ALL breaches of conditions will be recorded, together with other matters to prevent fraud. Do you need to tell us something? >>>> 'Your Views' Thank you for visiting our Web-site.We trust you find our service constructive, informative and helpful.NPHA & ANPHO wish to acknowledge the valuable contribution made by W. J. Augustine in the construction of this site.
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Copyright © 2003 Association of Nottinghamshire Private Hire OperatorsLast modified: July 30, 2003 |
