SHEFFIELD DRIVERS BUY CHEAP INSURANCE WHICH IS INVALID
A police investigation is underway after spot checks by Sheffield Council discovered a large number of taxi drivers had been sold invalid insurance - the second time the prob- lem has occurred this year.
Around 50 private hire and black cab drivers based in the city had taken out substantially cheaper policies from a Rotherham firm - which did not provide the correct type of cover.
The discovery comes after the same prob- lem was found to have affected a similar num- ber of drivers earlier in the year.
Cllr Clive Skelton, chairman of Sheffield Council’s licensing
board, told the Sheffield Star: “The latest problem came to light when we checked documents whilst renewing and issuing licences. It was noticed that insur- ance policies taken out by some drivers cost well below the normal level.
“When even the cheap- est reputable insur- ance policies were being undercut by 50 per cent, it raised a few hackles among licens- ing officers.”
When checked, the policies were found not to provide the right type of cover.
“After we made the discovery, we asked police to investigate,” Cllr Skelton said. Cllr Skelton warned
SCAM SCENARIO OFFICERS PROBING ONLINE
TAXI FIRM OVER LINCOLN BOOKING
cabbies: “You don’t get something for nothing in this life. I can understand driv- ers are looking for the best value but they should ensure the products they buy are suitable and comply with the law.”
Hafeas Rehman, chair- man of Sheffield Taxi Trade Association, added: “I am aware of this problem. I would advise any taxi driver to check that they have an appropriate insurance policy and to beware of cheap deals.”
The previous occur- rence of taxis found with invalid insurance was revealed in June - coming to light when police stopped a taxi in Rotherham for a routine check.
Lincolnshire police have launched an investigation into an online taxi firm follow- ing a complaint about their practices.
Liz Barnes, 63, of North Scarle, contact- ed the firm to book a taxi for herself and her elderly father.
The online firm allegedly offers a taxi booking service, but Mrs Barnes says she was misled into think- ing she was dealing directly with a taxi rank. She told the Lin- colnshire Echo: “I was online searching for taxis and found a site, which specifically stat- ed it offered Lincoln black cabs. I phoned up and booked a taxi with them and was asked to pay a £5 deposit.
“When the taxi arrived I was a bit surprised it wasn’t a black cab. When the driver asked me for a payment, I asked him about the £5 deposit I paid. “He said that he’d never taken any kind of payment over the phone. It was then someone must have intercepted us as an agent.
“The driver phoned the number I’d origi- nally called, but they hung up. He said he’d never given anyone permission to act as a booking agent.
“The site also had links to firms in differ- ent cities - so it could be something on a national level. I just don’t want anyone else to get caught out
by this website.
“I gave them my card details and I’m lucky they didn’t take more from me. It could have been a lot worse.” Trading Standards are reminding Lincoln- shire residents to stay vigilant when it comes to buying or booking services online. Becky Guy, legal and democratic services manager at the City of Lincoln Council, said: “We believe the website is not official- ly a taxi operator in the city, which means the city council has no direct enforce- ment role. We are working with the police and trading standards to help with their investiga- tions.”
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PAGE 54
Dozens of people who were long-term unem- ployed were duped by a serial conman from Yorkshire who offered them fake jobs as chauffeur to the stars. Mark Shortland, 43, advertised for drivers on the Jobcentre Plus website and held inter- views in Liverpool, Manchester, Castle Donington and Luton, a court heard.
He offered about 80 people driving jobs and many of them sent him £100 retainer as a deposit for the keys to a luxury car.
They
thought they would be earning up to £30,000 a year.
One victim interviewed by Shortland in Man- chester said: “They told me I would get three tailor-made suits, a mobile phone and a fuel card and that I would be driving people like Simon Cowell about town.” Shortland, from
Sheffield, was jailed for three years after admitting a series of frauds including the car scam which netted him £100,000.
As reported in PHTM, police were investigat- ing that swindle earlier this year and sentenc- ing Shortland last month, Judge Alan Goldsack said: “It was the most wicked of frauds.”
He said of the victims: “They were clearly taken in by you. There were no jobs. Many had been unemployed for a long time and pinned their faith on the job.
“Others handed in their notices at exist- ing jobs believing they had a new job with you. You have shown not a hint of remorse.” Shortland, who has 18 previous convictions for dishonesty includ- ing a conviction for illegally operating a taxi business in 2007, ran
his fraudulent empire from a rented flat. DC Juliet Faram, who investigated his frauds, said: “He was very convincing. He had a Savile Row suit and a sunbed tan and people fell for his patter. He even told the author of his pre-sen- tence report that he only had only one pre- vious conviction. One Liverpool victim was suffering from cancer and still receiv- ing treatment when he handed in his notice at his previous job. Police were alerted to the swindle after other victims contacted the MoneySavingExpert. com website to com- plain of Shortland’s tactics.
Judge Goldsack told Shortland: “One of your victims has described you as a lying, untrustworthy, dishonest conman. I can’t improve on that description.”
PHTM NOVEMBER 2010
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