350--275--203------Christmas here we come !

[Theoneandonly]

Taxis should be very easy to catch, Welfare asleep on the job

[taxi1990]

There were a lot of taxis working and claiming,it was so obvious.  stupid of them if you ask me.

[stonethecrows]

So at least 2 posters on here are fraudulently accepting the payment whilst working, extrapolate that out and it'd be a fair percentage of drivers, welfare should be setting up checkpoints to catch these cheats

I've already posted this but here goes :

When I was getting my daisies fitted 2 weeks ago the NTA inspector told me that they have the power to go into FN or any other despatcher  and demand info on what taxi driver are working, they can (AND DO) pass this on to revenue to take action as they see fit.

He also told me he was down the country the previous week and were monitoring "Taxi Drivers" working for delivery companies.

I'm sure they are also out and about on the look-out.

[john m]

Danger is if you are not allowed they will want their coin back add in a tax audit and a bill .You might struggle to get tax clearance .

[mercenary for hire]

In a few weeks/months Freenow will make a press release saying that they can't cover all jobs at the weekends with lots of fancy graphs.Then the welfare will start hassling us.Then we will be all back on the road covering discounts wondering why we spent 30k on a new car.

And still no word from the NTA to see of they're gonna increase the geography pass mark back to 80%.By keeping it at 75% they're encouraging new entrants.Lots of redundancies expected later in the year.

I'm not optimistic at all..

[john m]

New night time Mayor for Dublin going to keep pubs open longer and a full 24 hour bus service .Game is going to get harder .

[taxi1990]

In a few weeks/months Freenow will make a press release saying that they can't cover all jobs at the weekends with lots of fancy graphs.Then the welfare will start hassling us.Then we will be all back on the road covering discounts wondering why we spent 30k on a new car.

And still no word from the NTA to see of they're gonna increase the geography pass mark back to 80%.By keeping it at 75% they're encouraging new entrants.Lots of redundancies expected later in the year.

I'm not optimistic at all..

when were they talking about restoring the pass mark to 80%? I though the NTA were looking to recruit new drivers?

[mercenary for hire]

1990 they weren't but they absolutely should.The unions will be whinging about various things to the NTA but the biggest barrier into our industry is the test.The situation has changed dramatically with COVID.Last thing it needs is fresh enthusiastic lads telling us we're idiots for not paying 200/250 a week commission to Freennow.

[john m]

Dear Mr

Ms Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands has asked me to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence regarding the Covid 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment .

Enquiries are being made and a further letter will issue to you as soon as possible.

 

Yours sincerely

[silverbullet]

So at least 2 posters on here are fraudulently accepting the payment whilst working, extrapolate that out and it'd be a fair percentage of drivers, welfare should be setting up checkpoints to catch these cheats

I've already posted this but here goes :

When I was getting my daisies fitted 2 weeks ago the NTA inspector told me that they have the power to go into FN or any other despatcher  and demand info on what taxi driver are working, they can (AND DO) pass this on to revenue to take action as they see fit.

He also told me he was down the country the previous week and were monitoring "Taxi Drivers" working for delivery companies.

I'm sure they are also out and about on the look-out.

Try telling that to RC. He insists Ebbs et al do not furnish information to D.O.S.P. or Revenue when requested. Bonkers I tells ya!

[taxi1990]

1990 they weren't but they absolutely should.The unions will be whinging about various things to the NTA but the biggest barrier into our industry is the test.The situation has changed dramatically with COVID.Last thing it needs is fresh enthusiastic lads telling us we're idiots for not paying 200/250 a week commission to Freennow.

Knowing the NTA they will lower the pass rate not make it higher. 75% is still high enough to keep the thickos out.

[mercenary for hire]

I wish that was true 1990.But they wanted to recruit 1500 new drivers and the way to do that was a 5% reduction on the pass rate.They wouldn't have done it if it wasn't gonna allow the required number to filter through.It was at 80% for about eight years.

With the rest of the fleet getting drilled by the ten-year rule it's really important that they have enough work to survive if/when they return.The NTA plugged one hole but then made another after representations from taxi companies to get more fresh blood.

[silverbullet]

The main barrier to entry is insurance rates.

Bearable for incumbents, but punitive for new entrants.

In the current economic crisis I can't see it paying divivends if your insurance is €8/€14K.

[mercenary for hire]

SB you can get on a renters policy for 3k AFAIK.That was precovid.

While things are shit the prices will plummet again.It cost me less than €1800 to have my own policy nearly eleven years ago.

All them newbies complaining about high insurance may not have even gotten a PSV if the test was kept harder.

It's not just a matter of one question extra to answer.But a significant number of candidates may have only gotten 60/65/75% pass rates but gave up after the second or third attempt.I've heard of candidates sitting the test nine times at €85 a sitting.

I know we all use google maps but I don't underestimate the value of tougher geography testing.

[taxi1990]

I wish that was true 1990.But they wanted to recruit 1500 new drivers and the way to do that was a 5% reduction on the pass rate.They wouldn't have done it if it wasn't gonna allow the required number to filter through.It was at 80% for about eight years.

With the rest of the fleet getting drilled by the ten-year rule it's really important that they have enough work to survive if/when they return.The NTA plugged one hole but then made another after representations from taxi companies to get more fresh blood.

Hard to know what will happen now though since covid, I agree with silverbullet, insurance is still very high for new entrants and you would be mad to start in this game now. still better having new lads driving taxis than having uber rideshare.