Whistle App

[U Wha]

They seem to be building  up a head of steam. Ads on sunshine fm, stickers on taxis, downloadable app on play store.

I downloaded the app, doesn't appear to be fully functional yet. I signed up and sent a seperate email and got a reply saying come in for a sticker but no phone number or address.

The website says taxi cooperative but is it?

If it is for real, then maybe its not a good idea to have two driver owned apps kicking off together.

Might be better to work together for drivers.

Sent a couple more emails  but no reply yet.

Any body hear anything or know where they are based?

Like to go and meet them and see if they are a genuine co-op.

[U Wha]

found a number 01 5252888

[U Wha]

Claiming to be a co-op, Can't check it on CRO website as co-ops are registered with Registrar of Friendly Societies. Same building but the records aren't online.

[Rat Catcher]

http://www.solocheck.ie/Irish-Company/Whistle-Taxi-App-Limited-593891

Company Name:Whistle Taxi App Limited
Time in Business:11 Months
Company Number:593891
Current Status:NORMAL
Principal Activity:[4932] Taxi Operation
May Trade As:Whistle Taxi App Ltd

Registered Address:
6 the Court,
Ashbourne Industrial Estate,
Ashbourne,
Co Meath

Directors
John Boyle CO MEATH

http://www.solocheck.ie/Irish-Company/White-Dove-Taxis-Limited-477443

Company Name:White Dove Taxi's Limited
Time in Business:8 Years
Company Number:477443
Current Status:NORMAL
Principal Activity:[60.22] Taxi Operation
May Trade As:White Dove Taxi's Ltd

Registered Address:
86 Cluain Rí,
Ashbourne,
Co. Meath
A84 KP08

Directors
John Boyle   CO MEATH
Frances Comiskey DUBLIN 9

[U Wha]

http://www.solocheck.ie/Irish-Company/Whistle-Taxi-App-Limited-593891

Company Name:Whistle Taxi App Limited
Time in Business:11 Months
Company Number:593891
Current Status:NORMAL
Principal Activity:[4932] Taxi Operation
May Trade As:Whistle Taxi App Ltd

Registered Address:
6 the Court,
Ashbourne Industrial Estate,
Ashbourne,
Co Meath

Directors
John Boyle CO MEATH

http://www.solocheck.ie/Irish-Company/White-Dove-Taxis-Limited-477443

Company Name:White Dove Taxi's Limited
Time in Business:8 Years
Company Number:477443
Current Status:NORMAL
Principal Activity:[60.22] Taxi Operation
May Trade As:White Dove Taxi's Ltd

Registered Address:
86 Cluain Rí,
Ashbourne,
Co. Meath
A84 KP08

Directors
John Boyle   CO MEATH
Frances Comiskey DUBLIN 9

Cool thanks. So not a co-op, they may be telling porkies unless they are setting up a whistle app co-op for drivers  that will have some say, own or part own the limited company.

The email indicated they had a new office but no address.

Have to arrange to meet them and find out what they are really about. If it is a genuine co-op, no point confusing drivers with another, see if we can work together, if it is a genuine driver co-op that shouldn't be a problem.

[Rat Catcher]

Let us know how you get on.

[U Wha]

Eventually got through on a bad line to a lady who told me the office was at 23 Fitzwilliam square. So jumped in the taxi and headed in. I met the MD John Boyce. I outlined the proposal for eircab and asked if whistle was an driver owned co-op. He said drivers buy 1 share each for €50. He said he owned one share. It is not a co-operative society it is a limted company so that could be problematic unless very clearly stated. I asked what is in it for him. He said he wants to.recoup his investment and be the CEO/MD. Left thinking
that he was open and answered the questions I asked. The ownership element is vague. Don't know if that was on purpose or maybe unaware how a co-op shoukd be formed and controlled. The shareholder.agreement has holes all over it and quite amauterish. I left saying if I could be convinced that it was a genuine co-op. I would back off with eircab and and get involved and support him. He said he would think about it. Gut feeling wont hold my breath on him calling or its  genuineness as a co-op.

[U Wha]

[Rat Catcher]

Wishy washy at best. How much salary is he owed to date? How much is the app owner paid? etc etc etc...

Anywaysanall, did he get 50 notes outta you?

[john m]

ERM cabs only a nifty and I will show you how a rank works how to recognize somebody with their hand out good places to take a piss and how to put juice in your motor .One off payment info last you for life .

[U Wha]

Said he had paid €30k up front for tailored app development with a deal of 10c per job processed through app instead of paying 400k up front. The last page of shareholder agreement that I posted earlier says MD salary shall not exceed 2k per week.

He claimed to have 800 drivers signed up early in conversation. Then later on hesaid he had 220 x€50 shares paid up already. Might have meant that in a different context. He was walking me out and stated that a driver had given  him €10k because he believed.in the idea. Bit confusing was that for shares or a loan.
I reckon he should have waited til new year for radio ads because it is busy now and it will be lost in the christmas noise. Know soon enough either way. Worth going in because it gave me a perspective of wheter I was convinced by the story from the outside.

No didn't give a nifty. Not convinced yet. At this stage I reckon money would be better spent on erm cabs advice. 

[U Wha]

Said he had paid €30k up front for tailored app development with a deal of 10c per job processed through app instead of paying 400k up front. The last page of shareholder agreement that I posted earlier says MD salary shall not exceed 2k per week.

He claimed to have 800 drivers signed up early in conversation. Then later on hesaid he had 220 x€50 shares paid up already. Might have meant that in a different context. He was walking me out and stated that a driver had given  him €10k because he believed.in the idea. Bit confusing was that for shares or a loan.
I reckon he should have waited til new year for radio ads because it is busy now and it will be lost in the christmas noise. Know soon enough either way. Worth going in because it gave me a perspective of whether I was convinced by the story from the outside.

No didn't give a nifty. Not convinced yet. At this stage I reckon money would be better spent on erm cabs advice.

[Rat Catcher]

Why not put yourself forward for MD at first AGM with a promise to refund the €50 to the first 112 (a Nelson would be unlucky) shareholders that vote for you, out of your own pocket? It'd cost you less than 3 weeks wages.

[Rat Catcher]

BTW, the original website stated that the app supplier required no up front payment. Also, not sure how tailored app development fits in with the assertion (on first page posted) that "we will use a taxi software company whom are already running taxi apps successfully in Europe".

[U Wha]

You are right, if it was a true co-op /driver owned company anyone that joined could stand.

I don't play cricket so a nelson would be ok.....    Don't think anyone would get the opportunity. If you read the shareholder agreement, there is a 8 man committee rather than a board. He said his goal was not to own it but have the MD's job. Bit all over the place, could have genuine intentions but I am not convinced at this point. Would have to form a proper co-op or a have a iron clad share structure checked by lawyers for loop holes, to ensure no back door takeover by the boys down the road. To be fair he could be ignorant or unaware of how it should be properly set up. If his ambition is to be the CEO running it under the direction of a board elected by drivers, fair enough, but he would be have to open to competing for the position with others, if it is to be fair and transparent. He would likely have a lot of support as a founder but no guarantees.

Anyway I have no ambition for a MD's job other than running eircab until the 1st AGM, when I would stand down. What's in it for me then? My end game is that when I graduate I will set up a business that consults start ups. The process of researching a business idea, checking the feasibility and going through the set up stages will give me experience and if eircab got going it would look well on my CV and be my first start up client, especially a social enterprise. If  it never gets past research, feasibility or early set up, no big deal, I still learn and it will be helpful to me either way.


Yes, he mentioned that they were using a company that had designed other apps but something along the lines of developing a stand alone version for whistle. Not defending the change/s (if any) in how it is being done, but as you know in business things can change, might have had to re-adjust or renegotiate his position depending on his circumstances. At the same time any changes should be made public or at least to drivers. Maybe they did, he mentioned a whats app group that he uses to update drivers/members.