Wednesday 24 August 2016

CREDIT CARD FIASCO

NO ROOM FOR LUDDITES

Credit cards are good for business - how could they not be?
The public like to use credit cards. And the banks love the public using credit cards.
So it would be silly to turn away business just because it is slightly more awkward than cash.

The public have been 'educated' into believing that a cashless society is the future.
The future for whom?
If we had a cashless society, there would be a charge on every single transaction. Meaning that the banks receive a percentage of everything you buy or sell, every time.
So who has been educating the public about this?
The banks of course.
And who would profit the most from a cashless society?
The banks would.
And who pays for the extra cost to goods?
The public will.

So far I have not made one transaction with a credit card, either as a consumer or retailer, which has been more efficient than cash.

I did have a fitted console in the back - and sometimes it could be a right pain, for both my passenger and me.
I now use a free handheld iZettle machine without a printer.
And to date, I have never been asked for a printed receipt.
Some of the finest restaurants in London use a handheld device.

I agree that all Taxi drivers should have a credit card facility.
This way, the travelling public will gain confidence in our service.
A TfL Compliance Officer can easily check if a driver has a card machine, in the very same way he checks if the driver is wearing his badge. He can ask to see it.

I object to paying for the privilege of giving someone credit.
If someone wishes to use a card, the financial onus should be upon them, surely?
I do not mind taking old fashioned cash or stopping at an ATM.
Another fascinating decision by TfL, was to refuse to cap the handling charge - leaving no protection for drivers, against unscrupulous bankers.

As a self employed, small businessman, I object to being told I have no choice in choosing who I may or may not afford credit.
Being self employed means I run my business my way. I work when I wish and accept credit cards when I wish.
I am regulated by Transport for London, not employed by them.

I object to being forced, under the threat of my Cab License being revoked or refused for renewal, to have a credit card machine fitted in the back of my cab.
A machine in the back of a cab leaves the driver open to physical and sexual abuse, or the accusation of either.
Do TfL not take the health and safety of Taxi drivers seriously?

A driver should not be put in the position of having to get into the back of a cab with the passenger, because the machine is faulty or the passenger is having trouble with it.
And what about the predator? The person who pretends they are experiencing difficulty with the machine, to lure a driver into the back of the cab.

When I earned my Green Badge, thirty years ago, I was told emphatically, under no circumstances must I get into the back of my cab with my passenger.
The nearest I could come into contact with the passenger was to aid them physically with cases, prams or wheelchairs; but not to get into the back with them.
I would be leaving myself open to all sorts of accusations.

Getting out of the driver's cab and into the back with a passenger, could lead to a driver having their money, keys, phone, cab, and even their life taken from them.

Transport for London obviously did not take the driver into account when drawing up their faulty mandate.
It seems that TfL never take the driver into account.
TfL's personal mandate is about money.
They have aided and abetted London into a choking standstill with their ill thought out schemes and their greedy profit-is-king attitude.

Do not believe for one second, that the credit card companies and credit card machine companies are not whispering in TfL's ear. They all have a vested interest in taking away our basic freedom of choice.

What does Helen Chapman know about driving a cab?
What experience has she with inebriated and irritated passengers in close proximity?
When was the last time Bob Oddy or Steve McNamara took a credit card job to Peckham or Harlesden?
All three have cocked up on this subject, through apathy and incompetence.
While they are sleeping cosy in their beds, Taxi drivers are working the mean streets of London.
Working Taxi drivers deserve to have their voice heard on all Taxi matters.

Chapman, Oddy and McNamara should hold their heads in shame, for signing off on a mandate which puts decent, hard working men and women in danger.
You should all resign, in disgrace.



9 comments:

  1. What did the other Orgs do about fighting this criminally insane mandate? Not much it seams. What happens when my cab is out of action and I need a loan cab? Which of the systems do I have to sign up for in order to use a loan cab for a day? My son was given no choice in choosing a provider for his renter and now he is being billed already and it hasn't even been fitted yet! It's not funny.

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  3. Another great hard hitting post Len.

    This whole issue is disgraceful
    I've said it many times but I'll say it again. The reason why there was no residence to the way this has been handle is advertising revenue.

    Both the LTDA and LCDC will be advertising machine suppliers heavily.
    Let's not forget that this was signed off by the UTG. Which is the LCDC and LTDA with Unige just about hanging on their shirt tails.

    At a recent meeting of all trade orgs at Taxi house, which I attended, Unite said they thought TfL were doing a good job.....now they want this statement redacted from the minutes before they are circulated to members.

    Bob Oddy extended the meeting as they wanted to talk about the CC issue....Unite refused to stay behind.

    The outcome : all orgs decided to let Steve MC write to TfL on all their behalf.

    And that was it basically

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  4. Well said lenny. Total shambles as for mac an oddy they should hang their heads in shame AGAIN

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  5. Well said lenny. Total shambles as for mac an oddy they should hang their heads in shame AGAIN

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  6. I understand what you're saying when you said you should have the right to choose whether or not you accept credit cards or not, and it isn't fair that you should have your license taken away if you don't. People don't carry as much cash on them as they used to, if any at all, think about how many people you would be turning away.

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    1. I have been taking card payments since ComCab first introduced their machines, twenty odd years ago.
      I carried on with swipe card readers, when I left ComCab.

      I have never ever refused a card payment.
      I believe card readers in the rear of a cab are dangerous to the driver.
      I will not use rear card readers.
      Card readers should be kept in the front, with the driver.

      Never give up your freedom of choice.
      The hassle and arguments rear mounted machines, and TfL wrongfully informing passengers that drivers have no choice, is unforgivable.
      The passenger often produces a card at the end of the journey now, because of TfL's misinformation.
      If the machine is not working - problems now arise.
      If the passenger knew it was the driver's choice, the passenger would inform the driver at the beginning of the journey, if they wanted credit.

      And to have a situation where you must stop work if your rear machine does not work (no matter if you have a handheld alternative) is ludicrous.

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  7. That was a really intresting post card payment machinethanks for the information. keep it up

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