Author Topic: An Appeal From The Heart  (Read 1508 times)

Offline Rat Catcher

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An Appeal From The Heart
« on: December 10, 2025, 07:48:01 pm »
Boycott Uber

http://intaxi.org/forum/VID-20251210-WA0009.mp4

They have the platform. We have the power!
If it doesn't have a roof sign and door stickers it's not a taxi.

Offline mercenary for hire

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2025, 07:57:41 pm »
He even has his limo driver suit on.I really don't trust this chap as much as I'd like to.Why would a limo driver care about us.Zero progress in the short term.Where are the details of the meeting?

There's still no mention of Freenow/Lyft offering discounts.I'd be glad to delete Uber if there was a fair distribution of the work on Freenow.They seem to be promoting discounts before full fare work on the passenger app too.


Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2025, 10:57:21 pm »
Looks more like his funeral attire to me.

As to why a Limo driver from Cork cares about fixed fare taxis in Dublin. He doesn't but he cares about Uber subsidizing Limo fares in Cork and he offers a fixed fare taxi dispatch service in Cork which is also likely to lose business and drivers to Uber because Uber is subsidizing it's fares and paying drivers a lot more than it charges riders. He probably can't do that, at least not for as long as Uber might or can if it wants to. Of course, Uber won't subsidise fares forever. Like Free Now it will want a profit at some stage. That's when drivers will have to either cover the discounts themselves or lose the work. Of course, drivers outside of the traditional taximeter areas will be well accustomed to fixed fares and will know which ones are and aren't worth doing but, for the most part, they won't be used to paying 15% (inc VAT) commission which will obviously increase the amount the fares will need to be to remain viable which isn't good for customers.

An Oireachtas Committee seems like a reasonable course of action from Govt perspective. There will be liberal left politicians on the committee who may side with drivers to some extent and, at least, there will be meaningful debate at Govt level.

In conclusion, I would encourage all drivers to listen to Derek and delete Uber. If Uber survives any legislative change on foot of the work of the committee you can always go back in a few months/years.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2025, 11:12:34 pm by Rat Catcher »
If it doesn't have a roof sign and door stickers it's not a taxi.

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2025, 11:07:10 pm »
As regards Free Now encouraging clients to choose its Taxi Saver option I agree that makes no sense. If they (like Uber) made the full/metered fare the default option far less riders would select Taxi Saver. I'm tempted to suggest that the way it's set up is just down to incompetent programming and/or common sense not being too common. Obviously they'd make more in commission if less riders selected Taxi Saver. However, maybe certain personnel are invested in Taxi Saver being a significant success for corporate brownie points or whatever.

The bottom line, however, is that Free Now are a great bunch of lads and they really care about us and our opinions. They are only giving discounts because they have to compete with mean and nasty firms like Uber and Bolt.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2025, 11:10:18 pm by Rat Catcher »
If it doesn't have a roof sign and door stickers it's not a taxi.

Offline Taxi driver42

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2025, 01:19:07 am »
Next yr just after Xmas??
Ah the strikes and Xmas shoppers won't be affected there be no slow traffic
Seems we being fobbed off with empty promises in new yr

Don't like the masseys suit he looks like a hearse driver


Long 5 minutes saying fuck all
Seems he likes the limelight maybe he run for president next for ff

« Last Edit: December 11, 2025, 01:22:54 am by Taxi driver42 »

Offline Bob Shillin

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #5 on: December 11, 2025, 02:21:12 am »
Didn't get 1 FN offer in 7 hours 19.00-02.00. Did 7 Uber meter, and 4 street, rejected multiple Uber FFs.
€171 net after commission.
I reckon that's not much above minimum hourly wage for night work after all running expenses are paid.
Rejecting the FFs is as far as I can go on this, bills to pay.
« Last Edit: December 11, 2025, 02:26:21 am by Bob Shillin »
Trump has called for help, so I'm on a plane heading for The Strait of Hormuz, talk soon.

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #6 on: December 11, 2025, 08:49:17 am »
The December blues, BS. Not exactly work coming at you from every direction!

I guess it's an egg and chicken situation. As long as drivers are available on Uber riders will hire them simply because their fares a lot lower than hiring a taxi on the street or using other rideshare platforms such as Free Now. As long as Uber have the work drivers will cover it. Most drivers are only interested in the next €50 and don't care who puts that in their pocket or, more importantly, why. Forgive them for they know not what they do.

The downside of an Oireachtas Committee is that it will give Uber and Bolt a platform that they will use to promote P2P rideshare. We have already witnessed Uber taking to social media to take the piss out of Dublin taxi drivers upon whom they currently rely to drive their riders. In reality, they would probably be happy enough to get the current temporary moratorium on the issue of saloon hackney plates lifted as a compromise.

In any event it will be interesting to see if Derek's passionate plea for help results in any impact on Uber availability. One would hope that it will, at least, reduce supply sufficiently to eliminate the 30% discount Uber currently gives it's riders.
If it doesn't have a roof sign and door stickers it's not a taxi.

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #7 on: December 11, 2025, 10:34:02 am »
Bit early - most drivers and drivers' Unions probably haven't watched the appeal yet - but Uber still offering the lowest fare (complete with 30% discount) and fastest pick up for a lift to the station this morning:



If it doesn't have a roof sign and door stickers it's not a taxi.

Offline Octavia1

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #8 on: December 11, 2025, 11:52:18 am »
Boycott Uber

http://intaxi.org/forum/VID-20251210-WA0009.mp4

They have the platform. We have the power!


Very good ... hes absolutely correct .....
 
Im in




 ::sleep
Ide rather be a poor master than a rich servant

Offline Taxi driver42

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #9 on: December 11, 2025, 12:15:48 pm »
Didn't get 1 FN offer in 7 hours 19.00-02.00. Did 7 Uber meter, and 4 street, rejected multiple Uber FFs.
€171 net after commission.
I reckon that's not much above minimum hourly wage for night work after all running expenses are paid.
Rejecting the FFs is as far as I can go on this, bills to pay.




Wait till January nothing doing g
I just don't get that guy if he does discount s around cork

Offline silverbullet

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #10 on: December 11, 2025, 02:50:43 pm »
The December blues, BS. Not exactly work coming at you from every direction!

I guess it's an egg and chicken situation. As long as drivers are available on Uber riders will hire them simply because their fares a lot lower than hiring a taxi on the street or using other rideshare platforms such as Free Now. As long as Uber have the work drivers will cover it. Most drivers are only interested in the next €50 and don't care who puts that in their pocket or, more importantly, why. Forgive them for they know not what they do.

The downside of an Oireachtas Committee is that it will give Uber and Bolt a platform that they will use to promote P2P rideshare. We have already witnessed Uber taking to social media to take the piss out of Dublin taxi drivers upon whom they currently rely to drive their riders. In reality, they would probably be happy enough to get the current temporary moratorium on the issue of saloon hackney plates lifted as a compromise.

In any event it will be interesting to see if Derek's passionate plea for help results in any impact on Uber availability. One would hope that it will, at least, reduce supply sufficiently to eliminate the 30% discount Uber currently gives it's riders.
He has given no explanation as to why he is not working during the annual taxi beanfeast.

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #11 on: December 11, 2025, 03:04:43 pm »
Good man, Octy. It'd be great if he could go in to the Committee next year and show them that his campaign has had a real impact on Uber availability.

Maybe December doesn't work for him, SB. It's my least favourite month of the year. Look at what BS took home for a full shift last night, barely minimum wage. The work is very weekend heavy and very city heavy and there's darts on telly... or maybe he has enough drivers working for him to be able to enjoy the festivities himself rather than ferrying other drunks about. I don't think it's particularly relevant anyway, he needs your help so he can help you.
« Last Edit: December 11, 2025, 03:07:36 pm by Rat Catcher »
If it doesn't have a roof sign and door stickers it's not a taxi.

Offline silverbullet

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2025, 03:07:31 pm »
Good man, Octy. It'd be great if he could go in to the Committee next year and show them that his campaign has had a real impact on Uber availability.

Maybe December doesn't work for him, SB. It's my least favourite month of the year. The work is very weekend heavy and very city heavy and there's darts on telly... or maybe he has enough drivers working for him to be able to enjoy the festivities himself rather than ferrying other drunks about. I don't it's particularly relevant anyway, he needs your help so he can help you.
We should all become local tour guides and charge 5K a week for a trip.

Offline Rat Catcher

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2025, 03:13:53 pm »
There's no barriers to entry. A good few taxi drivers do it as well so it's not wholly irrelevant to our trade, I guess. In any event he seems to have the time, the interest and the energy to run this campaign. All he's asking you to do is stop working for Uber. We all know Uber doesn't care about drivers so it's not really that big an ask particularly if you don't like covering fixed fares anymore.
If it doesn't have a roof sign and door stickers it's not a taxi.

Offline watty

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Re: An Appeal From The Heart
« Reply #14 on: December 11, 2025, 03:30:33 pm »
Good man, Octy. It'd be great if he could go in to the Committee next year and show them that his campaign has had a real impact on Uber availability.

Maybe December doesn't work for him, SB. It's my least favourite month of the year. The work is very weekend heavy and very city heavy and there's darts on telly... or maybe he has enough drivers working for him to be able to enjoy the festivities himself rather than ferrying other drunks about. I don't it's particularly relevant anyway, he needs your help so he can help you.
We should all become local tour guides and charge 5K a week for a trip.

I think JohnM tried that with Dublin history tours in his taxi a few years back (not €5k!) but the NTA called him out and said he could only charge what was on the meter (vague memory, E.&O.E.).  Edit: this was all before we found out that dispatchers/apps could charge what they like on top of the metered fare.
Getting old is compulsory whilst growing up is voluntary.

 


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