FAQS...FAQS...FAQS...FAQS
I’ve only just started out as a hackney carriage driver, and have already come across some areas of confusion. I have the tariff sheet issued by our council which sets out the maximum fares that we can charge our customers. However, there are other taxis that are working in the area – some from outside the district - whose drivers are charging for all sorts of “extras”, and making money from these charges. Also the private hire drivers in our area are charging different rates for different things. How do I find out what I can charge for, and which charges are unlawful?
Without intending to be flippant, the obvious thing to do is for you to contact your council’s licensing department and have a chat with one of the licensing officers, who can clarify for you in detail – if your tariff sheet is not clear – exactly what you can and cannot charge for in your district.
As always, we present you with the legal terms under which these fares and extras may be charged: namely section 65 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976: “A district council may fix the rates or fares within the district as well for time as distance, and all other charges in connection with the hire of a vehicle or with the arrangements for the hire of a vehicle, to be paid in respect of the hire of hackney carriages by means of a table (hereafter in this section referred to as a ‘table of fares’) made or varied in accordance with the provisions of this section.”
The complications arise, as always, because there are 374 licensing authorities across the UK - 365 of which set hackney fares - and every single hackney carriage tariff sheet is different from all the others. But the most important thing to remember in any of these districts is that you can only charge for those items that are listed on your council’s tariff sheet.
We’re not trying to Teach Grandmother to Suck Eggs here; these points are for the benefit of the enquirer, who is a newcomer to the trade. Getting down to basics, first of all it is crucial to note that the hackney carriage tariff structure in any one licensing authority is strictly set by time bands; ie. generally Tariff One for daytime, Tariff Two for nighttime and public (Bank) holidays, and Tariffs Three and (sometimes) Four for Christmas and New Year; the time included in that band is normally set out on the tariff sheet.
Of course the definition of “daytime” differs across the whole of the country, and the trouble often arises when a taxi driver in a neighbouring authority charges the Tariff Two rate after 11pm, whereas you are not allowed to do so until midnight.
Similarly, many an offender has been caught out by charging Tariff Three rates on an ordinary weekend night or a May Bank Holiday. It is an offence under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 via the local byelaws to be convicted of overcharging, which so easily happens – either by accident or design. This is why so many councils organise “test purchases”, to check on the rates being charged by taxi drivers.
76 EXTRA, EXTRA – READ ALL ABOUT IT
Now we come to the fun bit: the extras that may be charged to a passenger, which as stated previously must be detailed on the tariff sheet issued by the local authority. The National Association has conducted surveys on this matter (as for many other taxi and private hire licensing issues nationally), and there is quite an extensive list of extra charges on tariff sheets all over the country. This list covers most of them; if you’ve heard of any more, or you’re provided with a tariff structure that includes anything we’ve left out, you know how to contact us.
Fouling charge:
A charge for passengers who are sick in the taxi, or who make a mess with takeaway food or any other items (such as exceedingly muddy boots) causing the
vehicle to have to be
cleaned/valeted. This charge varies around the country anywhere from £25 to £150 (that’s some gold-star valet!). We do believe Uber went rather OTT when one of their drivers charged a £25 fouling fee to a woman who left half a chip in the car… see story this month.
Extra passengers:
Depending on the size/seating spec- ification of the vehicle, a charge may be made for extra passengers over either 4 or 5 as specified, per extra passenger.
Extra luggage:
This is a subjective one: what is “extra” luggage? Most taxis/PHVs can accom- modate certain numbers of cases/bags, so this must be made clear either from the tariff sheet at the rank or at the point of pre-booking the vehicle.
“Booking fee”:
This is put down under various terms depending upon the local authority. Basically it is an extra charge allowed to be made by hackney carriages that undertake rural jobs, to compensate them for dead mileage on the return journey – particularly if they’ve gone out of district and cannot ply on the way back.
Credit card payment: Tricky one now, this… as of last year credit card charges may not be passed onto individuals, but they can still be levied on businesses. You’re a business, right? – but you can’t recoup the charge from your customer. That’s why a lot of drivers are resisting the use of PDQ machines and contactless payment, irrespective of the convenience to their passengers.
“Kiss & drop” charge:We are of course referring to the mounting number of UK airports that are making a charge for the picking up and dropping off of passengers outside
MARCH 2019
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