Claim's Cabbies Corner. UPDATE! Rank Rumblings

[New POD]

On 05/10/2025 at 10:30, timolloyd said:

Don’t get me wrong - I love reading the stories in this thread and I don’t like to see any industry suffer. 
 

But a lot of what’s cited as ‘the good old days’ in that article, is now the opposite for punters like me.

Plentiful taxis, not having to spend ages ringing around, payment by card (including tip!) without fannying around with cash. Quieter and more comfortable taxis, especially in London.

It's interesting how different upbringings resulted in different use of Taxis.  

The only time I used a taxi from aged 0 to aged 42 was when I went clubbing in Southport, and the last train went at 11pm.  With 3 mates to share the cost. 

I remember as a student in Coventry, coming back from home late Sunday on the train, with a massive rucksack and a large sports bag, and walking 4 miles in the rain, because that's what I was brought up to do. 

These days students just Uber it.  I still find it weird. 

Mind you, i recently did 2 weeks of evening hospital visits in the centre of Liverpool, and the journey back via Everton and Walton in the dark in a locked car, made me think that there are parts of miseryside, where you wouldn't want to walk home from the pub.  

[chancer]

Interested to hear from any proper cabbies up and down the land regarding fare structures and job pricing. Up here in Glasgow I reckon we must have one of the best rates in the UK. I feel that it reflects the costs of the business and obviously making a fair wage without having to work crazy hours. About £4 per mile seems to be about right here for a proper black cab. Hearing from Uber drivers that they are currently hovering around £1 per mile. How on earth can that be sustained? Something has to give here, at those prices surely they cannot maintain a vehicle and earn a wage without working over 12 hrs every day. Which then questions the safety of getting in that car. Feels like a race to the bottom is on. Fuck Uber, its slave labour in app form

[chancer]

For comparison. While cab was in for council inspection I spoke to an Asian bloke who drove private hire for Uber. He told me of job he got from city centre to airport. £17 he got, of which he had to spend £6 for the drop off fee. So £11 profit for city centre to airport. His passenger told him Uber took £27 from them. 

Our fixed fare from city centre to airport is currently £39, so minus the £6 drop off fee we get £33 for the same job. 

We still have to head back empty as Glasgow airport is out with our licensed area, so even at those rate we usually lose out on higher earnings within the city

[sheffcortinacentre]

So like every other modern business, one that does the least work earns the most, then once they've priced the competition out  ramps the price up.

[warren t claim]

On 07/11/2025 at 00:35, chancer said:

Interested to hear from any proper cabbies up and down the land regarding fare structures and job pricing. Up here in Glasgow I reckon we must have one of the best rates in the UK. I feel that it reflects the costs of the business and obviously making a fair wage without having to work crazy hours. About £4 per mile seems to be about right here for a proper black cab. Hearing from Uber drivers that they are currently hovering around £1 per mile. How on earth can that be sustained? Something has to give here, at those prices surely they cannot maintain a vehicle and earn a wage without working over 12 hrs every day. Which then questions the safety of getting in that car. Feels like a race to the bottom is on. Fuck Uber, its slave labour in app form

I've worked Uber. The fares are comical but they do keep you busy. 40% commission is a total piss take as well. 

[warren t claim]

On 07/11/2025 at 00:35, chancer said:

Interested to hear from any proper cabbies up and down the land regarding fare structures and job pricing. Up here in Glasgow I reckon we must have one of the best rates in the UK. I feel that it reflects the costs of the business and obviously making a fair wage without having to work crazy hours. About £4 per mile seems to be about right here for a proper black cab. Hearing from Uber drivers that they are currently hovering around £1 per mile. How on earth can that be sustained? Something has to give here, at those prices surely they cannot maintain a vehicle and earn a wage without working over 12 hrs every day. Which then questions the safety of getting in that car. Feels like a race to the bottom is on. Fuck Uber, its slave labour in app form

2 miles is £7.20 tariff 1 day rate here. 

[chancer]

1 hour ago, warren t claim said:

I've worked Uber. The fares are comical but they do keep you busy. 40% commission is a total piss take as well. 

I see it as doing twice the work, twice the miles and probably twice the hours for comparable takings. 

The phrase 'busy fool' springs to mind, but they seem to have trapped some poor folks into having to put up with it

[warren t claim]

On 08/11/2025 at 18:16, chancer said:

I see it as doing twice the work, twice the miles and probably twice the hours for comparable takings. 

The phrase 'busy fool' springs to mind, but they seem to have trapped some poor folks into having to put up with it

Uber passengers, sorry, 'riders' seem to be the most entitled bunch of wankers imaginable. 

[warren t claim]

On 07/11/2025 at 00:35, chancer said:

Interested to hear from any proper cabbies up and down the land regarding fare structures and job pricing. Up here in Glasgow I reckon we must have one of the best rates in the UK. I feel that it reflects the costs of the business and obviously making a fair wage without having to work crazy hours. About £4 per mile seems to be about right here for a proper black cab. Hearing from Uber drivers that they are currently hovering around £1 per mile. How on earth can that be sustained? Something has to give here, at those prices surely they cannot maintain a vehicle and earn a wage without working over 12 hrs every day. Which then questions the safety of getting in that car. Feels like a race to the bottom is on. Fuck Uber, its slave labour in app form

@chancer what's your opinion on taking card payments? I use Lopay and I find it useful and user friendly. Recently I've noticed at least half of the cabs I rank up with are now displaying CASH ONLY PLEASE signs on the rear doors. I really can't see the problem in taking contactless payments, quite often I'll be third or fourth off on the rank and get the next fare as I'm the first in line that'll take a card payment.

 

 

[Mally]

5 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

@chancer what's your opinion on taking card payments? I use Lopay and I find it useful and user friendly. Recently I've noticed at least half of the cabs I rank up with are now displaying CASH ONLY PLEASE signs on the rear doors. I really can't see the problem in taking contactless payments, quite often I'll be third or fourth off on the rank and get the next fare as I'm the first in line that'll take a card payment.

 

What about tip though. Do they add it on, forget it, or drop you cash?

[warren t claim]

4 minutes ago, Mally said:

What about tip though. Do they add it on, forget it, or drop you cash?

A mixture of all three.

[High Jetter]

19 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

@chancer what's your opinion on taking card payments? I use Lopay and I find it useful and user friendly. Recently I've noticed at least half of the cabs I rank up with are now displaying CASH ONLY PLEASE signs on the rear doors. I really can't see the problem in taking contactless payments, quite often I'll be third or fourth off on the rank and get the next fare as I'm the first in line that'll take a card payment.

 

 

I'd imagine they don't like to lose the fee each time, maybe a monthly cost too? I'd ask around a few, they may have a good (or dodgy) reason.

[warren t claim]

35 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

I'd imagine they don't like to lose the fee each time, maybe a monthly cost too? I'd ask around a few, they may have a good (or dodgy) reason.

It costs me pennies to use.

[chancer]

57 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

@chancer what's your opinion on taking card payments? I use Lopay and I find it useful and user friendly. Recently I've noticed at least half of the cabs I rank up with are now displaying CASH ONLY PLEASE signs on the rear doors. I really can't see the problem in taking contactless payments, quite often I'll be third or fourth off on the rank and get the next fare as I'm the first in line that'll take a card payment.

 

 

@warren t claim i dont mind card payments. I have a terminal provided as part of my membership with Glasgow TOA and is issued by Curb. They are a major player in card payments for taxis worldwide so therefore the costs are tiny. Payments on Friday dont hit til Monday night though so weekend payments are a bit of a pain if you get too many.  Vast majority of our work is account based and paid out monthly so cash flow is critical for day to day costs such as diesel, car wash etc. Like you say though, I can be fourth or fifth in line at the rank and get the job cos its card so its a bit of a bonus sometimes. Very seldom get tips though.

[warren t claim]

3 minutes ago, chancer said:

@warren t claim i dont mind card payments. I have a terminal provided as part of my membership with Glasgow TOA and is issued by Curb. They are a major player in card payments for taxis worldwide so therefore the costs are tiny. Payments on Friday dont hit til Monday night though so weekend payments are a bit of a pain if you get too many.  Vast majority of our work is account based and paid out monthly so cash flow is critical for day to day costs such as diesel, car wash etc. Like you say though, I can be fourth or fifth in line at the rank and get the job cos its card so its a bit of a bonus sometimes. Very seldom get tips though.

Lopay allows me to cash out instantly.

[chancer]

Just now, warren t claim said:

Lopay allows me to cash out instantly.

We also accept card payments through our App, that gets paid separately from the card machine in cab. Can get instant payout from that but its an extra cost again so not worth it when its next day

[warren t claim]

2 minutes ago, chancer said:

We also accept card payments through our App, that gets paid separately from the card machine in cab. Can get instant payout from that but its an extra cost again so not worth it when its next day

Are Glasgow plate numbers limited or available free?

[chancer]

3 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

Are Glasgow plate numbers limited or available free?

Taxi plates are limited to 1420ish, PH are limited to just under 3500. Pre covid proper taxi licences changed hands for around 45k not including the cab. Covid and LEZ killed that and for the first time ever the council had taxi licences surrendered as many guys were approaching retirement so wasn't financially worthwhile to sink 70k into a new vehicle to meet requirements. These licenses ate being reissued by the council now but in personal names not as businesses, therefore cant be transferred. I bought mine so can still sell it on at a later date if I wanted to

[chancer]

There are still licences available for the application fee (currently £502 for 3 years) but it needs to be a new or nearly new cab thats attached to it

[warren t claim]

21 hours ago, chancer said:

There are still licences available for the application fee (currently £502 for 3 years) but it needs to be a new or nearly new cab thats attached to it

Does your council still have a knowledge test?

[chancer]

2 hours ago, warren t claim said:

Does your council still have a knowledge test?

Only for Taxi licences. Takes a couple of months to get through as long as you have a basic knowledge of the city. We also need to have a qualification in the role of professional driver before we can apply or reapply for a licence. Covers stuff like basic customer service, first aid and safe travel with wheelchairs

[warren t claim]

1 minute ago, chancer said:

Only for Taxi licences. Takes a couple of months to get through as long as you have a basic knowledge of the city. We also need to have a qualification in the role of professional driver before we can apply or reapply for a licence. Covers stuff like basic customer service, first aid and safe travel with wheelchairs

When I applied for my first PH badge nearly 25 years ago I had to pass a written knowledge test pretty much as difficult as that sat by a London yellow suburban badge candidate. When I wanted to upgrade to a hack badge I had to do a road test where a council enforcement officer sat in the car with me asking me to drive several runs from anywhere to any location not just within my area, but three miles into adjoining areas! 

March 2025 we scrapped all knowledge tests. A sad day.

[sheffcortinacentre]

How to ignore traffic lights, not indicate or preferably the wrong way/after manoeuvre, stop suddenly preferably blocking road/exit/entrance Claim not to speak/understand English.double park, ensure your lights dazzle at all times, not give away at all times.

[warren t claim]

3 minutes ago, sheffcortinacentre said:

How to ignore traffic lights, not indicate or preferably the wrong way/after manoeuvre, stop suddenly preferably blocking road/exit/entrance Claim not to speak/understand English.double park, ensure your lights dazzle at all times, not give away at all times.

You've sat the exam too?

[sheffcortinacentre]

Failed it because didn't do any of the above.

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, warren t claim said:

When I applied for my first PH badge nearly 25 years ago I had to pass a written knowledge test pretty much as difficult as that sat by a London yellow suburban badge candidate. When I wanted to upgrade to a hack badge I had to do a road test where a council enforcement officer sat in the car with me asking me to drive several runs from anywhere to any location not just within my area, but three miles into adjoining areas! 

March 2025 we scrapped all knowledge tests. A sad day.

Late 80s, a physical drive was needed here. I forget his name, but the licensing officer was GOD. 

He praised me for route calculation (i'd adsorbed maps and the terrain as lived here for years) and that I presented the N/S to the kerb. 

Hate to boast, but he rang me at home, I was out gigging and he told my wife it was the smoothest drive on test he'd had.

[High Jetter]

Oh, his secretary's surname was Goble, only one b.

[chancer]

1 hour ago, warren t claim said:

When I applied for my first PH badge nearly 25 years ago I had to pass a written knowledge test pretty much as difficult as that sat by a London yellow suburban badge candidate. When I wanted to upgrade to a hack badge I had to do a road test where a council enforcement officer sat in the car with me asking me to drive several runs from anywhere to any location not just within my area, but three miles into adjoining areas! 

March 2025 we scrapped all knowledge tests. A sad day.

Its a sad day. The whole trade has been belittled. I often make the comparison to passengers and ask if a plumber came to their house and whipped out his phone to see how to do the job on YouTube would they be happy? Every time they say no, they would be pissed off. I say well whats the difference when yer cheapo uber driver whips out a sat nav? He doesn't know the job in front of him either. Its definately a race to the bottom, but the proper cabbies need to grab this opportunity to offer something above and beyond. Make the passenger feel special. I open and close the door for each and every passenger at start and end of trip. Never ask for a postcode, only where they are going. Always mention the street just off that, or if its a particularly long street ask what end giving the junction either end. It just conveys a knowledge that instills confidence, and general chat on the way there makes the extra we charge feel worth it. If only every driver done the same we could bury the imposters

[High Jetter]

10 minutes ago, chancer said:

Its a sad day. The whole trade has been belittled. I often make the comparison to passengers and ask if a plumber came to their house and whipped out his phone to see how to do the job on YouTube would they be happy? Every time they say no, they would be pissed off. I say well whats the difference when yer cheapo uber driver whips out a sat nav? He doesn't know the job in front of him either. Its definately a race to the bottom, but the proper cabbies need to grab this opportunity to offer something above and beyond. Make the passenger feel special. I open and close the door for each and every passenger at start and end of trip. Never ask for a postcode, only where they are going. Always mention the street just off that, or if its a particularly long street ask what end giving the junction either end. It just conveys a knowledge that instills confidence, and general chat on the way there makes the extra we charge feel worth it. If only every driver done the same we could bury the imposters

Aye, maps over apps.

[chancer]

14 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Aye, maps over apps.

All the maps are stored in my head. Going to be honest though, Google Maps and Waze etc do have their place. If im doing a distance over the city, putting the destination into maps will highlight any congestion on route. That allows me to make an informed decision on the best route at that time. Our meter works on time and distance to last thing I want is a passenger sitting in tailbacks watching the meter go up. They are always happier when it goes up while moving so thats the ultimate plan. Keep the wheels rolling