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London Cabbie worst job in the country

124

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  • seth plum
    seth plum Posts: 53,448
    bobmunro said:

    Black cabs are part of London's heritage.

    They get my support (as someone who is currently not caught in traffic in central London!)

    Maybe that is the problem. BTW I know the fare rates are out of the control of cabbies.
    However do cab drivers see themselves as a quaint tourist attraction, or as an integrated part of a mass transit system people have a real need for?
    I would say the (shamefully exploited) Uber drivers don't see themselves as part of London's tourist attractions, or part of the heritage of the city.
  • MrOneLung
    MrOneLung Posts: 26,849
    Why should they ?
  • Callumcafc
    Callumcafc Posts: 63,764
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46617584
  • Alwaysneil
    Alwaysneil Posts: 13,806
    I’ve found I et to be more expensive than a black cab recently. Don’t use them unless I can’t get a black cab (effing a Christmas bah humbug)
  • addick05
    addick05 Posts: 2,348
    nth london addick said:

    addick05 said:

    nth london addick said:

    Had a cracking one take me from Euston to Enfield last week weds eve , turned out to be an addick who used to help run the jr reds great stories nice journey home hope he reads on here

    Oh my. I'm pretty sure I know who that is, and yes, if it's him he does read on here and we're going on Saturday (as usual) so I'll be winding him up! Been friends for more years than I can remember, top bloke and 'proper' Charlton!

    Then please pass on my regards really enjoyed the journey home

    It was him - and I did pass on your comments! He said 'cheers, he enjoyed the journey too'!
  • Riviera
    Riviera Posts: 8,167
    Saw this cab in Charlton the other day, made me smile.
  • Ferryman
    Ferryman Posts: 2,921
    Croydon said:

    I got a black cab back from Soho to my flat in Tooting and it cost me 40 quid. Did the same journey 2 weeks later in an Uber and or cost me 20.

    I like black cabs and I've never had an issue with one but in this economy you've got to look out for number one.

    Left my mobile phone in a black cab after traveling from the south bank to Leicester Square. When I realised I phoned it twice from a coin box, the first time to alert the driver it was there and a minute later he answered and brought it back to where he dropped me off.

    I gave him a drink for his trouble but wouldn't expect an Uber driver to do the same.
  • jamesking93
    jamesking93 Posts: 289
    Ferryman said:

    Croydon said:

    I got a black cab back from Soho to my flat in Tooting and it cost me 40 quid. Did the same journey 2 weeks later in an Uber and or cost me 20.

    I like black cabs and I've never had an issue with one but in this economy you've got to look out for number one.

    Left my mobile phone in a black cab after traveling from the south bank to Leicester Square. When I realised I phoned it twice from a coin box, the first time to alert the driver it was there and a minute later he answered and brought it back to where he dropped me off.

    I gave him a drink for his trouble but wouldn't expect an Uber driver to do the same.
    I've had an uber driver go out of his way to return my phone to me having only realised I left it in his car the following morning. A friend had a similar situation where the phone was returned about half an hour later.
  • Riviera
    Riviera Posts: 8,167
    edited December 2018
    jamesking93 said:

    Ferryman said:

    Croydon said:

    I got a black cab back from Soho to my flat in Tooting and it cost me 40 quid. Did the same journey 2 weeks later in an Uber and or cost me 20.

    I like black cabs and I've never had an issue with one but in this economy you've got to look out for number one.

    Left my mobile phone in a black cab after traveling from the south bank to Leicester Square. When I realised I phoned it twice from a coin box, the first time to alert the driver it was there and a minute later he answered and brought it back to where he dropped me off.

    I gave him a drink for his trouble but wouldn't expect an Uber driver to do the same.
    I've had an uber driver go out of his way to return my phone to me having only realised I left it in his car the following morning. A friend had a similar situation where the phone was returned about half an hour later.
    15-30
  • LenGlover
    LenGlover Posts: 31,651
    Milking the lack of trains in London tonight along with their Uber mates. Uber are charging 1.3 x normal rate apparently.

    I can understand something in Ashford affecting the Ashford Line but why have they stopped the trains on every other f****** line too?
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  • cafcnick1992
    cafcnick1992 Posts: 7,413
    Uber over black cab every time.

    Normally quicker as the sat nav they have displays traffic information. Cars are normally modern, instead of smelly old diesel cabs, and they always take card.

    Also if you dispute the fee, you get a refund!!!

    No downsides at all.
  • Stu_of_Kunming
    Stu_of_Kunming Posts: 17,117
    LenGlover said:

    Milking the lack of trains in London tonight along with their Uber mates. Uber are charging 1.3 x normal rate apparently.

    I can understand something in Ashford affecting the Ashford Line but why have they stopped the trains on every other f****** line too?

    It's hardly milking it though, is it. Supply and demand is not a new concept, it's why I avoid Ubers during rainy season here.
  • LenGlover
    LenGlover Posts: 31,651
    Stu_of_Kunming said:

    LenGlover said:

    Milking the lack of trains in London tonight along with their Uber mates. Uber are charging 1.3 x normal rate apparently.

    I can understand something in Ashford affecting the Ashford Line but why have they stopped the trains on every other f****** line too?

    It's hardly milking it though, is it. Supply and demand is not a new concept, it's why I avoid Ubers during rainy season here.
    I understand supply and demand but that does not make exploitation of people rendered captive through no fault of their own morally right, even if it makes commercial sense, in my opinion.

  • NorthStandUltra
    NorthStandUltra Posts: 2,538
    The fake Taxi fella is a proper geezer, he’s got a career in porn & he’s done the knowledge - what a guy
  • Stu_of_Kunming
    Stu_of_Kunming Posts: 17,117
    LenGlover said:

    Stu_of_Kunming said:

    LenGlover said:

    Milking the lack of trains in London tonight along with their Uber mates. Uber are charging 1.3 x normal rate apparently.

    I can understand something in Ashford affecting the Ashford Line but why have they stopped the trains on every other f****** line too?

    It's hardly milking it though, is it. Supply and demand is not a new concept, it's why I avoid Ubers during rainy season here.
    I understand supply and demand but that does not make exploitation of people rendered captive through no fault of their own morally right, even if it makes commercial sense, in my opinion.

    Now who's milking it, literally no one was being rendered captive.
  • clive
    clive Posts: 19,454

    Black cabs could vanish from London, report warns

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj67pw19yjzo
  • Ilovelondontown
    Ilovelondontown Posts: 292
    Sad but true 
  • cafcnick1992
    cafcnick1992 Posts: 7,413
    Sad but I don't think they've helped themselves.
  • O-Randy-Hunt
    O-Randy-Hunt Posts: 10,641
    cafcnick1992 said:
    Sad but I don't think they've helped themselves.
    How so?
  • cafcnick1992
    cafcnick1992 Posts: 7,413
    Well they're famously expensive (I know they don't set the rates). They're precious about taking card, even though they're required to, and they expect tips.

    The experience with uber/lyft is just easier and less stressful.
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  • Kinsella87
    Kinsella87 Posts: 466


    Nice of them to advertise in this chat 😂
  • carly burn
    carly burn Posts: 19,459
    Government has been out to get them for years. All started with Cameron I think who had close ties with Uber.
    The amount of road changes and closures,cycle lanes etc really hasn't been kind to them.
    Amount of times I've seen people just get out and walk the rest of the way has been significant in recent years.
  • BrentfordAddick
    BrentfordAddick Posts: 1,460
    One of the reasons for the high cost is the need to have vehicles that can take wheelchairs, Uber etc will never be able to offer that. The Knowledge probably isn't necessary or even desirable now, a traffic app will know better, though in central London the ability to use bus/taxi lanes is a really good thing. 
  • O-Randy-Hunt
    O-Randy-Hunt Posts: 10,641
    cafcnick1992 said:
    Well they're famously expensive (I know they don't set the rates). They're precious about taking card, even though they're required to, and they expect tips.

    The experience with uber/lyft is just easier and less stressful.
    If we didn't take card we would earn zilch. I don't ever expect tips but all they do is pay to cover the fees when you do pay with card.

    I'd love for us to be cheaper but its important we don't enter the race to the bottom and if your expenses were 4-500 quid a week you would realise you can't be cheaper.
  • O-Randy-Hunt
    O-Randy-Hunt Posts: 10,641
    Just dropped a guy at the house of Lords and wish the big dope paid with card ffs £3 tip though. Waaahheeeyy.

  • Elthamaddick
    Elthamaddick Posts: 15,810
    the black cabbie I know is doing alright!!!, it's all about knowing where to go and when in my opinion.

    He does 3/4 nights a week in the West End and loves it, makes more than enough 
  • carly burn
    carly burn Posts: 19,459
    Elthamaddick said:
    the black cabbie I know is doing alright!!!, it's all about knowing where to go and when in my opinion.

    He does 3/4 nights a week in the West End and loves it, makes more than enough 
    That's one of the changes right there though. Most I know have to do some evenings/nights now as daytimes are a royal pain in the arse. That never used to be the case and they could literally work when they wanted
    When you think it is a job largely sold on time flexibility the need to do some form of lates/ nights for many might be an issue. 
  • Baldybonce
    Baldybonce Posts: 9,640
    I think there should be a sign on the door of black cabs saying,
    I promise not to talk about,
    Carp fishing 
    Arsenal 
     Chelsea 
    West ham 
    My time share in Tenerife 
    Etc
  • Macronate
    Macronate Posts: 12,892
    O-Randy-Hunt said:
    Just dropped a guy at the house of Lords and wish the big dope paid with card ffs £3 tip though. Waaahheeeyy.

    With that amount of money involved, guessing you picked him up from the House of Commons 😊 
  • Gisappointed
    Gisappointed Posts: 990
    Do Uber drivers pay tax? Do AirBnB renters pay tax? Who is checking if they do?

    If you are not paying tax and NI, you are able to undercut Black Cabs, not withstanding the Knowledge vs GPS.

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