Just a thought

[John m]

Why did Free Now or Bolt or Uber not inform their Customers that drivers were entitled to charge extra on the 18th .

[watty]

On one level, maybe it's because drivers set the pricing (subject to the rules).  If FN, for example, started telling us what price to set, we might be considered under their control and therefore 'employees' and then we'd be entitled to all the benefits of such.

Or maybe they were afraid passengers would desert to a rival app...  So they all kept their mouth shut!  Remember Bolt is only doing well because they're giving away free or nearly free taxi rides.

[mercenary for hire]

There's also a good chance nobody in either app knew.None of the keyboard monkeys are likely to be Irish and deffo not likely to be taxi drivers.The apps are automated...that's why they're so shite.All the important people behind these apps were likely on the piss for the weekend with the rest of the country or off abroad for the weekend.

[John m]

It would not serve them to promote drivers interests while they are trying to Compete with UBER and the other crowd you are all promoting who also didnt promote or advise DRIVERS INTERESTS .Wake the FUCK UP .

[mercenary for hire]

These people behind the apps don't care as it was a once off.They're not drivers.They still get a profit on tariff one.

Most wouldn't charge it knowing they'd have to explain the extra charges to drunks or would just take the day off.

[John m]

Merch the point im making is they care not one single fuck about drivers .Wait till they decide if you are liveried up as a Free Now you cannot do other App work .They can write that into our agreement and then sdesign their app not to work along side any other on the same device .Your Car your licence your costs THEIR profits .As the RAt says about Crypto it will all end in tears The taxi industry will also end in tears .The Apps will own the trade and you will do as you are told .Imagine investing good money into this trade !

[mercenary for hire]

They own the trade already.The bit of cash you might be finding is only a small part of the industry.Drivers don't care about handing over work to apps as they know every second street fare wants to pay by card anyway so what's the point in ignoring the apps.

I had a busy day today and the two street fares I got to the airport both tried to pay  by card at the drop off.They didn't even ask if I took card.They just assumed I did.That's the new normal and the passengers don't give a fuk.

[John m]

Merch I did some work on an App with Amazon a few years ago I know a little .Here is a suggestion First why do people like apps .SO they can pay by card .Now is the really simple bit .Why not set up a Drivers app get the Department of Transport on side .It will be a Hail only app .Watch the new Transport for Ireland TV advert they want integrated transport .If the Dep of Trans set it up it could be on condition EVERY TAXI has Card Facilities .So drivers would be responsible for collecting fares not UBER ,Free Now or BOLT but drivers .The taxi bill says all drivers should be cash free .Cash free is code for take cards .I know certain Fucktards who have destroyed this industry trying to settle old pre dereg scores are afraid of Card payments thinking the tax man will know how much you earn and it might leave a record of your trip from point to point and show you are fucking about with the farecard .The answer is really simple take the commercial service providers out of the equation and give it back to the industry a few notes extra on the Licence renewal would cover the costs in fact a properly run app could save both the state and drivers coin at no extra charge .If work went to nearest driver the savings on travel .Emissions and Road erosions by empty cars could be self financing it would also reduce congestion .The only advantage the Apps had was they accept card payments but now Sum Up ,Revolute ,Square .Google Pay ,Apple Pay and many others are just a click away .We no longer need what they are offering just a simple hail app is all that is required we can look after the money ourselves .

[Mytaxi007]

Free now did ,a notification on the app

[Octavia1]

Same reason the nta told us to tell the passengers( apes) .....the row be with us n the apes ....same wit freenow ...if freenow told them of the 20% hike ...the apes wud blame them ....bit like devileera tellin  Collins to meet the brits to sign away the 6 county's so the apes shot Collins instead of the American cnut

[John m]

Free now did ,a notification on the app

Can you post it ?

[Bob Shillin]

State won't compete with private enterprise, " abusing their monopoly position". They should have done it before the privates got involved.

[Malone]

Free now did ,a notification on the app

Can you post it ?

Think it was a link to the Nta site free now had.

[Malone]

18 March 2022 is a once-off public holiday in recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taxi drivers are entitled to a Premium Rate fare on public holidays, Sundays and at night under the Maximum Fares Order 2017.  This higher rate is programmed into the taximeter which automatically calculates it when due. As 18 March is a once-off public holiday, it is not in the taximeter software and was impossible to change quickly enough. The taximeter in your vehicle will calculate the day as an ordinary day on the Standard Rate.  Therefore, on 18 March, from 8am to 8pm, taxi drivers are entitled to add the difference in the rates onto the fare shown on the taximeter.

The increase from Standard Fare to Premium Fare permitted by NTA averages approximately 20% (or one fifth) to be added onto the fare shown on the taximeter at the end of the journey.

If you plan on operating on the 18 March 2022 from 8am to 8pm, please ensure you have the below printed in your vehicle.


Was a link to latest spsv news .

[John m]

State won't compete with private enterprise, " abusing their monopoly position". They should have done it before the privates got involved.

Robbie you are looking at what I said and not interpreting it correctly .The taxi review 2012 which is the blueprint for the industry allows for the State to Develope an app .They wanted us all in off road ranks .We would all be in a virtual rank in the app which is off road not blocking cycle lanes .A taxi hale app would be a bit like the bus app just telling customers when the next vehicle is coming as it would not be making or taking any money it would have no commercial value therefor it would not be competing with commercial interests .

More importantly the taxi review 2012 stated that we should all be cashless.Cashless does not mean we refuse to take cash just that we have facilities to take card .There is an opening on the TAC for a drivers Rep .Whoever that is should insist that ALL taxis MUST accept Card Payments Card facilities should be part of the suitability .This should be advertised by the NTA on TV a big campaign to inform customers that ALL taxis MUST TAKE CARD .That would give back a huge amount of Direct Customer work to drivers as a lot of people choose to use an app as they do not carry cash (how often are you asked do you take card )You can have a Hailo sticker a shiney letter or a union sticker on your roofie but you cannot display the recognized signage that you take card .Nowhere in what I said did I go outside the Taxi review 2012 in suggesting a digital rank and cashless payments its all in the Industry blueprint .