Issue 290 - TAXI Newspaper

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10 TAXI |3 APRIL 2013 www.ltda.co.uk | @TheLTDA LETTERS STAR LETTER “The A Team” I ’m sure almost everyone reading this has at one time used the Texaco garage on Albert Embankment. I was recently at the garage purchasing fuel and a jet wash. Earlier this year, I received a Penalty Charge Notice from the company that monitors the parking at the site, which claimed that I had been illegally parked. I appealed and stated that I was indeed at the garage on that day but as a valid customer. I said the very poor quality photographs that they offered as evidence showed me in the car wash area, the cab having just emerged. The next thing I heard was that on February 20, a debt recovery company was trying to collect £159 from me. I duly phoned them to explain the situation only to be greeted with the most arrogant of responses. I was basically informed that “we are taking this all the way,” and I should pay up or be prepared for a court appearance. To plan your ad campaign in TAXI magazine contact: Dave Challenor After trying to deal with this myself, I decided it was time to call the ‘A Team.’ I phoned the LTDA and was quickly reassured that there was no case to answer. Rather than ignore the debt recovery company and have the matter drag on, I wrote them another letter and this time mentioned the LTDA and its advice. A few days ago, I received a letter from the parking enforcement company, which said that after careful consideration of the photographs and the officer’s notes the fine had been cancelled. It appears that a cowboy parking company has had to ride off into the sunset without its bounty. Thanks to the LTDA I had the right advice when I needed it. D Cronin Thomas Exchange Global Ltd. Retail, Wholesale & Commercial Foreign Money Dealers Travel Money & Overseas Payments Exclusive vee offeroffe fer Holiday money money We offer better rates than Banks, Post Office, M&S, Thomas Cook, Travelex & other major competitors. Show your Taxi ID & enjoy special rates Five branches in London: Strand (Head Office), Victoria, Liverpool Street, Cannon Street & Hammersmith www.thomasexchangeglobal.co.uk - 020 7240 1214 - info@tegforex.co.uk Scan this code on your smartphone to contact us now t: 01727 739 196 e: dave@centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk w: www.centuryonepublishing.ltd.uk QR code reader apps are available for free from your app store or app marketplace “He had a smirk on his face” Hotel stitch up Iwas approaching Seven Dials in Convent Garden, on Wednesday, March 13, at 10am when a concierge from the Mercer Street Hotel put his hand up to hail me. He gestured for me to pull in on Mercer Street at the side of the hotel. From where I was sitting I could see the concierge who had hailed me talking to two foreign ladies with suitcases, I began to tease myself by thinking this could be a flyer. But as the ladies picked up their suitcases to walk out to me, the concierge kept engaging in conversation with them as if to stall them. This went on for a few minutes. Just then a silver car with private hire stickers pulled up in front of me, the driver walked straight up to the concierge and walked back to his car with the women’s cases. The two ladies followed, looking a bit confused as to why they were not getting in my taxi. I walked straight up to concierge and asked him what was going on because I had £5.80 on the meter. He said "can I help you?” and blatantly lied, saying he never hailed me. I reminded him of the gesture he gave me to pull in and the thumbs up he had given me to say thanks but somehow he had no recollection of it. He did have a smirk on his face whilst he said he didn't remember! I walked back to my taxi and grabbed my camera and snapped a couple of photos of him to attach to this letter, that's when he turned aggressive leaning in my taxi trying to grab my camera out of my hand, he then said he was going to report me. I asked him "report me for what exactly?" He replied "you’ll see.” I think we can all agree that the licensed taxi trade will not be getting any airport runs from the Mercer street hotel while people like this are working on the doors, all the decent work will go straight in the back of minicabs. D Shannon Follow @TheLTDA on Twitter for news, updates and warnings Bad manners Over the past year or so, a number of my colleagues and I have experienced an increase in the amount of drivers behaving in such a manner as to query whether they have ever been advised of unwritten cabbie etiquette, such as not overtaking the plying for hire cab in front etc. Imagine the working day where every driver is breaking their neck trying to get in front of each other, no one letting anyone else out just in case they then go for hire and take the first job. I’m not even sure if a talk on cabbie etiquette takes place nowadays; it would seem either it doesn't or those that are taking part don't take any notice. Terry McEwen Now, that’s what I call service Ijust wanted to write in to thank the people who helped get my taxi back on the road. In particular I would like pass on my thanks to Barry Hooper, who gave me advice regarding the LTC website in relation to the goodwill warranty. After researching this avenue because my TX4 was suffering from a failed radiator and alternator after 48,000 miles, I was put in touch with Roland from Coventry. He was more than helpful in guiding me through the procedure with regard to the terms and conditions of the good will warranty, which I had met. Roland then asked what issues I had encountered and then advised me that there was no problem getting them sorted out. He said it was all covered and that the work would be authorised and that it must be carried out by an LTC agent. I proceeded to contact Putney Bridge Taxis, which undertook the work after it was authorised by LTC. The staff there were very efficient in sorting out the problem and getting my cab back on the road. My thanks to Wendy, Carol and Ben at Putney Bridge Taxis for their help and the prompt service I received. Alan Gray
More readers than the rest put together! 3 APRIL 2013 | TAXI 11
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Issue 290 - TAXI Newspaper

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