Irish Taxi Forum
Public Area => Taxi Talk => Topic started by: Belker on May 20, 2020, 02:37:35 pm
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19 May 2020||||TAXI5@TheLTDA||||www.ltda.co.uktrade.
“If you look at the origins of FreeNow it’s easy to see why they’re changing tack,” says Vinny Kearns, CEO of Xpert Taxis and NXT Taxis and former Vice President of the National Taxi Drivers Union.“In Ireland we first experienced the arrival of Hailo and this model was attractive for drivers as they only paid if they worked with the app and it was only 10% commission. It was a fully automated app, so the drivers got nothing extra to compare with the services of a traditional company - such as advice on legal matters, insurance, taxation and often just a friendly person to help with health or personal matters.”Kearns explains how they bought market share with vouchers and discounts but Hailo ended up failing and were bought out of receivership by MyTaxi. “We should at this point look at who lost out, such as the state coffers, investors and local communities...” says Kearns. “In a similar manner, MyTaxi with new investors and the same business model, blitzed the market with advertising...” adds Kearns. “They slightly altered the model, as drivers commission increased to 12%. MyTaxi then sought further investment and rebranded as FreeNow and raised the costs to drivers to 15% commission. They spent more on advertising in one year than the rest of the taxi companies together spent over a decade. But if you continue to do the same things again and again you get the same results as Hailo.”“As the motor industry (who continue to fund these loss making apps, are in crisis during Covid-19 and may never recoup lost sales), review their investments, you can see what is happening with the imposed merger of Kapten and FreeNow in an effort to stem further losses. Kapten, which is not in Ireland yet, have fared reasonably well as they are concentrating on the private hire market but FreeNow have not. They’re trying to flood the market with their discounts and their in-your-face-advertising.”Kearns adds that “In Ireland we do not have the private hire market that exists throughout the UK, and our National Transport Authority has stated clearly that Taxi Public Hire licenses are freely available - so there is no requirement for private hire other than for the top end executive car chauffeur market. If and when the motor industry ever reviews their policy of investment in taxi apps and seek to exit, they can only exit with substantial losses. If they acted similarly to other major investors, they would have cashed in their chips long ago.”
- Wim Faber.
https://www.taxinewspaper.co.uk/assets/files/downloads/Taxi_468.pdf (https://www.taxinewspaper.co.uk/assets/files/downloads/Taxi_468.pdf)
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Fair play to Vinny... still giving drivers a voice...
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I think being able to provide a taxi almost immediately is what proved to be Hailo/Mytaxi/freenow with their customers.
Advertising isn't as effective as good service.
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I think being able to provide a taxi almost immediately is what proved to be Hailo/Mytaxi/freenow with their customers.
Advertising isn't as effective as good service.
Yes more FN cars available at any time, traceability, easy card payments, immediate voice, and location contact with the driver, the magic of the interweb, the age profile of current taxi users who do everything from the mobile, and the lack of timely action/investment/fundraising by the trad despatchers.
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The fact that Kearns made such a detailed. criticism of the opposition suggest to me anyway,he is in trouble.this is the same fukker who made sure tou couldnt get taxi insurance unless you joined his unuon.a friend of mine took him to task at that time on the Joe Duffy show.needles to say he denied it to the hilt
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The fact that Kearns made such a detailed. criticism of the opposition suggest to me anyway,he is in trouble.this is the same fukker who made sure tou couldnt get taxi insurance unless you joined his unuon.a friend of mine took him to task at that time on the Joe Duffy show.needles to say he denied it to the hilt
That's a pretty lambasting remark to make, do you have a link or any proof at all, or even anyone on here to Second your accusation ?
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Ts going back years ago
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The fact that Kearns made such a detailed. criticism of the opposition suggest to me anyway,he is in trouble.this is the same fukker who made sure tou couldnt get taxi insurance unless you joined his unuon.a friend of mine took him to task at that time on the Joe Duffy show.needles to say he denied it to the hilt
That's a pretty lambasting remark to make, do you have a link or any proof at all, or even anyone on here to Second your accusation ?
Ts going back years ago
So you have no link, no proof or anyone to Second you on your wild allegation ?
There is such a thing as 'Slander' law in this country.
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So let your buddy take me to court then
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So let your buddy take me to court then
Actually it's 'Libel', rather than 'Slander' as it is a printed statement 'Libel', rather than the spoken word which would be 'Slander'.
Most unlikely anyone will take you to court even though you have published your own name on this forum.
The reason being that fer PR purposes it would not look good fer a Taxi dispatcher to be bringing a Taxi driver in to court on Libel charges but if you push a man too far there is no knowing what he will do.
And Yes Vinny is a friend/buddy of mine, is that a problem fer you ?
We too used to be friends until you stepped over the mark.
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When I applied to Aon taxi insurance eleven years ago I was under the impression I needed to be in a union to get a good deal.Turned out not to be not true.
I'm sure certain unions got referral fees for bringing in drivers.Probably a long time ago.
They may even have been based in the same office space.
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MFH I rang my mate to confirm what I said about an hour ago.he comfirmed it without question,and would do so again if need be.infact he said ALL the so called taxi unions blackmailed taxi drivers that if they didnt join and pay up ,they would not be getting insurance.I have no doubt there are old timers on here who are well aware of it .I would be inclined to think THAT is more the reason your pal would. not go to court,then any of the ridiculous reasons you put forward.as far as our friendship goes,if memory serves me right I think you took the hump with at. least 2 other posters for having a go at your mate as well .
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When I started 20 years ago you had to be in a union to get insurance. It only lasted a couple of years.
I'm not an old timer, I just found my calling early !!
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True lizzzy....i even remember BJP including renewal slips for NPH&TA in their blurb.
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Does ken STILL doubt it ?
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1995 --I had to join Mr Usher and Co ---- GRE--Guardian Royal Exchange included their union fees in the insurance quote and renewals !
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And Kens buddy was the biggest extractor of money along with Gormless from what I heard
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And Ken says that IM the one who should be careful inspite of this overwhelmingl evidence that they were fukin gangsters
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I refused to join a union. Mid/late 90s there was a broker in Dundalk or Drogheda (can't remember which) by the name of O'Callaghan who organised policies through syndicates at Lloyds. He never gave a bollix about unions. Early naughties Axa would give you a quote without union membership provided you promised not to tell anyone. By mid naughties union membership was defunct.
I woulda thought you would approve of men being forced into unions, DM... were any of your P&T colleagues non-union?
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I also remember having to be in a union when I joined the ranks about 17 years ago, started off with BJP and had to join a union to get insurance, never renewed after that and was not asked again for proof.
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Wasn't he in a Bridgewater Quay office and had a deal with Allianz I think but it was same deal you had to be in his union !
Tommy Gorman was boss and Vinny was understudy !
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My point is, they were crooks then,and they are crooks now.Unfortunately drivers have forgotten these blackmailing scumbags.
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Bit strong, DM... Did you consider the shop stewards in Telecom Eireann to be blackmailing scumbags? Did you ever try to leave that union and keep your "job"?
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Never tried to leave the CWU.they were a fantastic union then,and they are now also.they looked after the interest of the membership .the taxi unions (-if you can call them that ) were gangsters from my knowledge of them at that time.id say the money that was sunk into the dispatchers at that time was at least questionable where it came from,but I have always said if some day a good investigative journalist goes after them the truth will out
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MFH I rang my mate to confirm what I said about an hour ago.he comfirmed it without question,and would do so again if need be.infact he said ALL the so called taxi unions blackmailed taxi drivers that if they didnt join and pay up ,they would not be getting insurance.I have no doubt there are old timers on here who are well aware of it .I would be inclined to think THAT is more the reason your pal would. not go to court,then any of the ridiculous reasons you put forward.as far as our friendship goes,if memory serves me right I think you took the hump with at. least 2 other posters for having a go at your mate as well .
Think it was called PMPA back then but they asked for proof of being in the union when you went in to renew your insurance.
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Ah the oul PMPA....we're still paying for that!!
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Big Dommos Grandkids need a Passport to get into a pub or club for a gargle now .Dollyer did you ever consider the other side of the coin What if Insurers said we will give your Members a Discount on insurance as long as they can prove they are taxi drivers .I had two months work on a ship in Drydock in Dublin Port an about 1979 I had to Join a British Boiler Makers Union to be allowed weld on Board .Back in the 70s and 80s Union membership was essential just to keep the Bolsheviks quiet .Most Fuckwits thought being in a Union meant they could work when what it really meant was not being in one you couldnt .It was a way of keeping the work for people who paid the ransom and keeping other workers off the job.As soon as there was plenty of work the men told the unions to fuck off .They have now been replaced with Safe Passes and tickets for different shills or Fork lift licences and the likes .
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Ah the oul PMPA....we're still paying for that!!
That was FF baby before an election cheaper insurance .The Biggie that never gets mentioned was Bank of Irelands Bastard Child .The Insurance Corporation of Ireland they were guarenteed by the state to write insurance for the likes of beef exporters who wxported tails and arseholes as prime beef knowing it would be rejected but then they would claim on the export insurance ie Goodmans and Libian Meat .Knowing it was a scam Bank decided to write insurance for all sorts from Americam Aircraft Carriers to Nuclear Powerstations knowing the Irish Government would carry the can if anything went wrong .Even today the Levy you pay on insurance goes to cover some og the Insurance Corporations possible Liabilities as the policies they wrote were all life policies so we still insure those American Ships and powerstations for as long as they exist .
https://www.google.ie/search?source=hp&ei=jTzGXrS_FdCigQbckq3QCA&q=insurance+corporation+of+ireland&oq=insurance+corporation+of+ireland&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQDDICCAAyBggAEBYQHjoFCAAQgwFQ (https://www.google.ie/search?source=hp&ei=jTzGXrS_FdCigQbckq3QCA&q=insurance+corporation+of+ireland&oq=insurance+corporation+of+ireland&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQDDICCAAyBggAEBYQHjoFCAAQgwFQ)
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There is no other word for it except blackmail,and some of the people who turned from poacher,to game keeper are more guilty of it then others.I better not name Kens mate,ir Ken will have me up in front of the supreme court.on another note .I sent 2 pms recently,and although both said sent successfully,neither seem to have reached the recipient any ideas what might be wrong ?
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I was in the NPTHA when Vin..e was Vice something...had my own insurance and Tommy Gorman said to me you would be better off getting your own quotes for insurance....Mr.Humpherys got me a great quote from Brian S..but they never insisted that you had to accept bad quotes...just saying that my experience....
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MFH I rang my mate to confirm what I said about an hour ago.he comfirmed it without question,and would do so again if need be.infact he said ALL the so called taxi unions blackmailed taxi drivers that if they didnt join and pay up ,they would not be getting insurance.I have no doubt there are old timers on here who are well aware of it .I would be inclined to think THAT is more the reason your pal would. not go to court,then any of the ridiculous reasons you put forward.as far as our friendship goes,if memory serves me right I think you took the hump with at. least 2 other posters for having a go at your mate as well .
You're bang on the money Dalymount. To avail of cheaper insurance via - Allianz / Terry Dunne (Stationed in the NTDU office in Islandbridge if memory serves me correctly), you had to pay €150 union membership to the NTDU.
It appeared to be a tied agent allegedly, as there was no choice given.
Liberty insurance wiped the floor with them, resulting in thousands of drivers moving their money. The NTDU didn't last much longer after that.
Having only been in existence for a mere ten years.
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It was Quinn--(Liberty predecessor)--made a grab for the taxi market but it was very much T and C apply !
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And ken says I have no proof,no link,and nobody on here to back up the claim I made about this blackmail.how many drivers have now backed up what I said ? Im afraid ive lost count.Ken would have you believe that his old pal is whiter then white
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I remember Madge behind the desk in PMPA saying to me if I couldn’t prove I was a member of some association my insurance would be an extra 2 or 3 grand
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if you want to insure a classic car you have to show the cunts you're "a genuine classic car enthusiast and that you're a member of a classic car enthusiast club."
y'know because the roads are fuckin plagued with boy racers spanking 30, 40, 50+ year old cars around the kip.
it's all a loada fuckin bollocks.
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What is the Stars........
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AXA never asked me to prove i was a member of a classic car group...but i'm sure it happens when 20 or 30yr olds are looking to insure and tax them on the cheap.
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Never tried to leave the CWU.they were a fantastic union then,and they are now also.they looked after the interest of the membership .the taxi unions (-if you can call them that ) were gangsters from my knowledge of them at that time.id say the money that was sunk into the dispatchers at that time was at least questionable where it came from,but I have always said if some day a good investigative journalist goes after them the truth will out
To be fair the taxi unions of old done a pretty good job in keeping the trade regulated for 22 years. I only refused to join because they represented plate owners' interests which didn't necessarily concur with cosies' interests. However, I did join NTDU when I needed a letter that said I earned as much as I wanted it to say I earned in support of a mortgage application. Back then banks didn't bother with tax returns because they assumed we all earned more than we declared. That all changed when TDFC went to Revenue and told them we're all robbing the State blind. I was also a member of IDTF for a few years when I worked for Blue Cabs as membership was included in freight back then.
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But like Kens buddy coming on here a long time ago and declaring to all in sundry how much a taxi driver could earn
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You did the same yourself...
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Bags of sand all round....hip hip hooray!!
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Did I,dont rwmember.but the difference was I was not touting for anyone to join my company
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We called it the insurance chit . ITDF at one time had 95% of owners registered members. A commission was paid for each chit.
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In other words blackmail pay up ,or no insurance.these fukkers should have been behind bars for that
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Bit like Golf Clubs if your not a member you couldnt play .Remember meself and Big Dommos Brother trying to get a round in in Royal Dublin back in the day .
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Ill have a word with brother for ya John,he is 40 years a member of royal Dublin ,was captain of it a few years back ,so you and Dommo should be alright
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Bit like Golf Clubs if your not a member you couldnt play .Remember meself and Big Dommos Brother trying to get a round in in Royal Dublin back in the day .
Golf or Gargle ?
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Bit like Golf Clubs if your not a member you couldnt play .Remember meself and Big Dommos Brother trying to get a round in in Royal Dublin back in the day .
Golf or Gargle ?
Crow you know me so well.
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We called it the insurance chit . ITDF at one time had 95% of owners registered members. A commission was paid for each chit.
I paid a fiver for mine.
It was just a photocopy with the letter head of some union saying I was a member.
It worked anyway.
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In other words blackmail pay up ,or no insurance.these fukkers should have been behind bars for that
All the radio companies/co ops (except Metro) included Fed membership as part of our weekly base fee. As more pvt radio companies got going they followed Metro`s lead.
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So the radio companies were ALSO in on the blackmail ?
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We called it the insurance chit . ITDF at one time had 95% of owners registered members. A commission was paid for each chit.
As I quoted earlier, we called it tied agency in the 80s when I sold insurance, but for one product only.
A tied agent is limited to selling the products provided by just one life company. They do not have access to all the providers on the market so they may not be able to get you the most competitive or indeed the best product for your particular circumstances. Tied agents often struggle to marry the specific needs of clients with the limited products available to them. A one box fits all approach no longer works for clients and this can be seen with so many clients turning to brokers with their desire for independent thought processes and products.
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When I started in this business nearly 21 years ago I went into the PMPA in Wolfe Tone St to get insurance.They would not insure me.I was told I must join a union/rep group to "prove"I was a full time taxi driver.The gave me the addresses of the ntdu and the itdf.
I joined the ntdu who were then based in Pleasants St.Mr Kearns did not ask me if I was full or part time.All he wanted was £50 and gave me a chit to bring back to the PMPA.
In fairness to PMPA/AXA I was never asked to produce a chit at renewal time after that.Just as well, as I had no intention of giving the ntdu any more money.
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So the radio companies were ALSO in on the blackmail ?
They didn`t get kickback /commission from PMPA , so no, they weren`t party to financial reward.
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We called it the insurance chit . ITDF at one time had 95% of owners registered members. A commission was paid for each chit.
As I quoted earlier, we called it tied agency in the 80s when I sold insurance, but for one product only.
A tied agent is limited to selling the products provided by just one life company. They do not have access to all the providers on the market so they may not be able to get you the most competitive or indeed the best product for your particular circumstances. Tied agents often struggle to marry the specific needs of clients with the limited products available to them. A one box fits all approach no longer works for clients and this can be seen with so many clients turning to brokers with their desire for independent thought processes and products.
I`m sure you`re right. PMPA were the only insurer available to taxis up until late 80`s early 90`s .
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This should never have happened.its completely against the principles of the trade union movement to blackmail men is this way..I have no doubt if it had have been challenged in a court of law that the likes of Kearns ,and Gormless,prevented men from working because they would not subscribe to their. cosy cartel.absolutely outrageous.it reminds me of the stories I heard years ago,where the stevadors used to pay the dockers in the pub,and if you didnt throw drink into them all night,you got no more work.how you guys can now work with the likes of these people these days is indeed puzzling
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PMPA had us by the short and curleys.
When you went into the PMPA offices to renew your insurance you were asked for your union/federation chit.
When you told Madge behind the counter you were not a member she would give you a different quote basically double the price.
And she would tell you the original quote included a discount of being a member.
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Jack I really believe that practice to have been illegal.if I had the money I would have challenged it in court,and shown these gangsters up for what they were.they were no more proper trade union people then the man in the fukin moon.they were gangsters who brought the trade union movement in to disrepute,and disgraced the very name of trade unionism.and to think some of these people have completely changed from screwing you on the pretence to representing you,to now screwing you as a dispatcher,well it defies logic that drivers accept that.this is why the only way to rid the industry of these leeches is to support a state run compulsory transparent dispatch operation
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This should never have happened.its completely against the principles of the trade union movement to blackmail men is this way..I have no doubt if it had have been challenged in a court of law that the likes of Kearns ,and Gormless,prevented men from working because they would not subscribe to their. cosy cartel.absolutely outrageous.it reminds me of the stories I heard years ago,where the stevadors used to pay the dockers in the pub,and if you didnt throw drink into them all night,you got no more work.how you guys can now work with the likes of these people these days is indeed puzzling
Very few of us knew about the commission prior to the break with the Fed when VIPs formed TDS and even then it was kept between two individuals. It emerged slowly and the "discussions" that followed are now part of my colourful history.
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Bubba I would like to hear your opinion on wether you would support a proposal for a state run transparent dispatch operation.totally free from any influence,or imput from any current dispatcher
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Bubba I would like to hear your opinion on wether you would support a proposal for a state run transparent dispatch operation.totally free from any influence,or imput from any current dispatcher
I was recently involved in trying to launch a driver owned/run app. It ran into the usual problem, drivers unable to see beyond their noses.
I`d be in favour of a state/driver run operation.
Check your messages.
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Ill have a word with brother for ya John,he is 40 years a member of royal Dublin ,was captain of it a few years back ,so you and Dommo should be alright
So it would seem that it is OK to provide your mates with a round of golf which in these Covid times is near impossible to get.
Even members have to wait weeks fer a Tee-off time, but with a word in the proper ear that can all be sorted out on the QT.
Is that Gangster's style or Cronies style ? Or where does it fit in ?
You Harp on about the Gangsters and Cronies on here DM, then do exactly the same yourself !
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Things must be different in Rebel City--I was up in Powerscourt on Friday morning @9.30--3 juveniles on front course and two guys on back course,not much busier when I was leaving !
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Things must be different in Rebel City--I was up in Powerscourt on Friday morning @9.30--3 juveniles on front course and two guys on back course,not much busier when I was leaving !
Very different down here Punter, Members only, No Green fees, and a long wait and queue system.
My Mum (80) rearing to get back on the course but her course 'Water Rock' closed down due to Covid,
and No Green fees available anywhere so she has to wait till August to restart her membership in a new club.
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My dear belket.its not cronisim,the erm is not my mate,and from what I hear big Dommo is the type of person you dont refuse when he asks.a bit like the way your buddy who shall remain nameless in case he brings me to the ECC for slander.used to do business.hand over 150 lids,or no insurance for you my son
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Ill have a word with brother for ya John,he is 40 years a member of royal Dublin ,was captain of it a few years back ,so you and Dommo should be alright
So can you please explain this post ?
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Ah Jeez I already did,but for some reason it didnt post.basically what I said was,the erm is no mate of mine,and big Dommo is not the type of person you refuse from what I hear about him.he does business much the same way as your buddy whom im terrified to name in case you and he bring me to the European court of justice pay me 150 blips or no insurance for your taxi.
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Can you say it again...for the "Hard at Hearing"
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I dont think Ken likes me any more ,so ill have to refer to him as that man
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Dollyer did you ever pay any of the Taxi Unions to get insurance ?
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What do you think ermy ?
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Just wondering why it bothers you if you didnt .
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It bothers me that such crooks are operating within the taxi industry,and giving the trade union movement a bad name .if they were part of the ICTU which I doubt,I would say the likes of these cunts would have been fukked out if congress had known the way they were exploiting the very people they were supposed to be representing,never mind using threatening tactics to extract money from them.nothings changed though some of the thugs that work under the banner of these certain dispatchers ALSO use thuggery if an independent dares to pick up in what they see as their patch
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Gangsters involved in trade unions... didja ever hear the likes? Do you remember when we had to wait 6 months for a phone line because of the low life scum controlling CWU, DM?
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Boys o boys
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20 years ago i paid pmpa £3,500 to on the naas road .Ye man told o would have to show union subs to avail of this quate .i joined siptu ,Jerry Brennan got me signed up ,and i got me membership card .
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Gangsters involved in trade unions... didja ever hear the likes? Do you remember when we had to wait 6 months for a phone line because of the low life scum controlling CWU, DM?
When I moved home back to Cork in 1972 there was a 2 year waiting list fer a home phone to be installed, but me Da was an influential man and a word in the proper ear (possibly DM, as he can sort Golf Green Fee's in Covid times) saw our phone line installed within a week !
It's Gas to hear a man spouting on about Gangsters and Cronies and doing more or less the same thing himself !
Pot ! Kettle ! Black !!
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Are ya jealous. ya ya ya ya ya corkkkkk ffffffffukkker
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Hust to change the subject for a min.the erm will be interested in this Bariner offering the UK a 2 year brexit delay