Dear Editor...
Your item in Februaryʼs issue made interesting those areas for the first time. I can tell you THAT • The cost of a 1 mile journey ranges from
reading. Itʼs not a new idea - I first heard it caused a lot of arguments with customers in
£2.80 (Rochdale) to £3.70 (Manchester) - a
mooted back in 1976 at the time of Local South Trafford for some time afterwards.
difference of over 30%!
Government reorganisation.
• The cost of a 10 mile journey ranges from
However, a brief study of the ten fares tables
£17.80 (Tameside) to £22.60 (Stockport)
Further bad news for Manchester drivers? The
reveals that harmonisation is a logistical nightmare!
guys who pick up flags in every Borough in the
County quite openly (try Old Trafford on match
Believe it or not, a 10 mile journey on night rate in
• Tariff 1 flag fall varies from £1.60 (Oldham
days!) and rip people off with their surcharge for
a Salford cab is cheaper than it would be on day
and Rochdale) to £2.30 (Manchester)
crossing the boundary? Well bring it on!
Tariff 2 times vary from starting between
rate in Bury, Trafford, Stockport or Oldham (the
•
10pm and midnight, to finishing between
first two of which have a boundary with Salford!)
But the problems are rather more complex
than you might at first think. The fare tariffs in
5am and 7am
the TEN licensing areas involved vary wildly.
• Tariff 2 rates vary from 17.39% (Salford) to
So - good luck to the poor souls allocated the
Obviously, they would have to be harmonised,
33.09% (Manchester)
thankless task of dealing with this can of worms!
as happened in my Borough, Trafford, in 1978.
• Bolton charge Tariff 2 in the daytime at
I canʼt see it coming into existence during MY
It wasnʼt a difficult exercise back then. The four
certain points in the weekend
working lifetime (Iʼm 62) if at all.
existing Boroughs (Altrincham, Sale, Stretford,
• Manchester charge for crossing boundaries
and Urmston) werenʼt actually that far apart in
this is not common elsewhere
Phil Jordan
their charges, and the principal change was • Bank Holiday surcharges also vary
Stretford
the introduction of night fares in the first two of considerably Manchester
A new tale to tell as the Mystery Tipper heads to Canterbury
Early on the morning of the 11
th
February, I set off on my latest secret Remember, no sticker, no tipper, so make sure you get yours now to keep
tipping mission. Destination: the historic city of Canterbury. When I left, in with a chance of winning in 2010. All you have to do is call Swinton Taxi
little did I know that my plans were about to be foiled. The city was in icy Division for a quote on 0800 024 1013* or by visiting the brand new Swinton
grip of the latest cold snap. A thick blanket of snow enveloped the county, Taxi Division website at
swintontaxi.co.uk – where youʼll also find all the
causing chaos. Roads were blocked, trains were cancelled. It seemed latest taxi driver offers. Terms and conditions do apply, go online for details.
that the only way into Canterbury was in a gritter. I had no choice but to
turn back. Frustrated that my tipping mission had failed, I vowed to brave P.S. You can also keep track of me on Facebook and Twitter to see which
whatever the weather threw at me the week after. cities Iʼm off to in 2010. Have your say on which city I should visit next – just
search for ʻMystery Tipperʼ to get all the inside info.
So a week later, on the 17
th
of February I tried again. The city had thawed
and finally I was able to enjoy some of its scenic delights - my eyes peeled
*Calls may be recorded. Terms and conditions do apply – please call or go online for details.
as always for that flash of blue and orange on the window of any cabs. I
wandered the winding streets and headed towards Canterbury West Gate
Towers, but still nothing.
Then I was heading towards Watling Street when out of the blue a taxi
' R E
A T T
A X I
pulled up next to me. Thatʼs where I saw it. A mysterious blonde holding a
fistful of cash… it was my sticker!
I N S U R A
N C E D
E A L
S
The timely cabbie was Dean Baddiley and itʼs fair to say he was over the
moon with the £1,000 tip!
P L
U S
‚
T
*
I P
S
“Iʼll be the envy of Canterbury! Itʼs the first thing Iʼve ever won! Iʼm so
shocked. I was talking to other taxi drivers about it all of last week. I canʼt
believe itʼs me!”
Choose Swinton Taxi Division for:
t
COVER for private and public hire
t
EXTRA peace of mind with Breakdown
cover and Driver’s Legal Protection
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t
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) ´ M B A
C K
' E T A Q U
O T E G E T A S T
I C K E R
A N D
I T C O U
L D B E Y O U ) T I
P ‚
' E T Y O U R G R E A V A L U E Q U T O T E A N D - Y S T E R Y 4 I P P E R S T I C K E R T O D A Y
# A L L
6 I S I T W W W S W I N T O N T A C O U X I K
O R F I N D M E O N & A C E B O O K A N D 4 W I T T E R
*For full terms and conditions please visit
www.mysterytipper.co.uk
Swinton Taxi Division is a division of Swinton Group Limited, registered in England number 756681, which
is connected for the purposes of the Insurance Companies Regulations 1994 to MMA Insurance plc and
Gateway Insurance Company Limited. Registered offi ce: Swinton House, 6 Great Marlborough Street,
Manchester M1 5SW. Calls may be recorded. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
25
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