Is it really that bad?

[mercenary for hire]

I'd just like to mention that Firewall even though he may have good intentions is not a taxi driver.He admitted he didn't want to be a taxi driver due to the high costs and having to drive a miniwat.

As a limo driver he has no choice but to pay extortionate fees as that's the path he chose.My problem is lads like him accepting the increase is undermining any form of taxi protest by virtue of the fact he can only get app work and has no roof sign.No offence Firewall but limos aren't taxis.Even though you are covering taxi work.So it does matter to us.

[Rat Catcher]

There doesn't seem to be much appetite for protest or any appetite for including freight in the taxi cost index. I haven't heard anything from any of the unions. Our own survey suggests that 50% of drivers will delete the app so, as tensions decrease and reality hits, that'll probably equate to less than 5%. Drivers may use it less but that probably won't last and the work will be covered by those on a mission to cover 100+ jobs so they can benefit from the 10% rate for jobs 61 - 100+... at least until April.

[mercenary for hire]

Yeah I'm sure it will die off but that's just the caliber of driver we have now.

I'm still occasionally protesting on me own about the 10%>>>12% increase six years ago.I don't trust any of the staff on Mount street and some I know over 20 years.I remember them working during the taxi strikes way back with their roof signs off.Back when I was a courier.

[Rat Catcher]

There was generally some legitimate cover during strikes for patient transfers, blood runs - before the bikers stole that work - and such like. I can't speak for all the drivers that covered that work but I know a couple of Blue Cabs men who donated the fares to Temple Street.

I guess if there was enough of a reduction in cover Free Now would have to rethink the policy, like the PUC... but then based on a 50 hour week without working beyond midnight (save a couple of hours of a Sat night) and without covering any pre-bookings, hospitality jobs, airport pickups, pub jobs, match jobs or Hal0 For Business jobs and without picking up south of Collins Ave or west of Ballymun Road (save one or two jobs with destinations north of Collins Ave and east of Ballymun Rd) PUC would equate to c.€140 whereas the increase in freight would only be around €40. Jeez, I remember when €40 was half a week's freight with C2K and we could cover as much or little work as we wanted with bribery costs and all included.

[Firewall]

Ah, everyone in here knows I drive a limo, but I’m stating the obvious which you can all agree on. You’re right, I didn’t want to be a taxi driver based on the costs(high insurance not in my name, renting a plate, renting a car, etc) funny though these costs were not the cause of by a multinational company. I didn’t want to drive a Miniwat either cause I hate the look of them.

 

As a limo driver I don’t have a choice but to use the apps(Uber Commission 20%, FN Commission 15%), however since using the apps I have had no runners, no one getting sick, I get paid everytime, and very few people not showing up. I am also making more money than I did with the apps(driving a taxi).

 

FYI, I don’t cover any taxi work anymore, none. All my work is FN Exec and Uber Black, and my own customers.

 

[mercenary for hire]

We've lots of guests this week so not every reader has a memory like mine.It's important to say who is who to get some context so when the threads are being read a misrepresentation of actual taxi driver opinions doesn't happen.

Your insurance company is most likely a multinational Firewall but that's a separate issue.

It's only recently that you stopped covering taxi jobs.As soon as the economy slows limo work will be like January twelve months a year.Premium(expensive)services always get the boot so you'll be back covering our work fairly soon.I hope it doesn't go that way TBH.

Back to the WAT and how much you don't like them that's just a bit weird.I've a saloon plate and I'm giving serious thought to buying a wheely Van.I don't care what anyone thinks it's a work vehicle and it has a 15-year licence.

[Rat Catcher]

WA work is commission free with Free Now.

[mercenary for hire]

I never said I was looking to pick up the spas...

[Rat Catcher]

Crushed nuts, Christy?...

[mercenary for hire]

Is that a line from Christy Brown or something?Purely accidental on my part.I probably should think before I type.Maybe next year..

[The Liffey Lip]

What about all those guests?

[mercenary for hire]

Good point.Definitely my 2021 resolution.

[The Liffey Lip]

Reckon we're all going to be dead by then anyway.

[stonethecrows]

I never said I was looking to pick up the spas...

Not Politically correct MFH, i have a Downs Syndrome relation who might not be too impressed

[Bob Shillin]

I know yis are all maths geniuses but this is important to understand the size of the increase.Even though RC posted it the details may have been forgotten or just overlooked.Bearing in mind the exact same thing was done after the last fare increase.

Using the example of 20k app work as year a low figure. Multiply by two or three where necessary for the hard workers..or four for VD.

20000 @ 12% commission is 2400
20000 after 4% rise is 20800
20800 after 15% commission 3180

A 780 increase over 2400 is a 32.5% increase.

The 3% rise doesn't show the full effect of the fare increase.Feel free to correct my schoolboy maths.So yes it is that bad.

Jaysus, so of the €800 turnover increase, FN get €780, we get €20 !!!! Something has to be done about this.