Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2011 12:05:20 GMT
1,500 complaints against cabbies in Greater Manchester
August 15, 2011
A catalogue of bad behaviour by Greater Manchester’s cab drivers has been uncovered by the M.E.N.
The shocking incidents include indecent exposure, abuse of traffic wardens, failing to report accidents and refusing to pick up disabled people.
Nearly 1,500 complaints were made against drivers last year, according to figures obtained using Freedom of Information laws.
A number have been disciplined or lost their jobs, including:
A Tameside cabbie sacked for talking inappropriately to a female passenger before flashing at her;
A cab driver in Oldham given a two-week suspension for abusing a traffic warden who was giving him a ticket;
A black-cab driver in Hyde banned from driving Tameside taxis after eight complaints about him being ‘extremely’ rude.
A Tameside town hall spokesman said of the Hyde cabbie: “He made various personally insulting comments, entered into arguments with his passengers, swore at them and on occasions refused to pick up disabled passengers or passengers only intending to travel a short distance.”
Other incidents seen by the M.E.N. include another Tameside driver who received a written warning after talking ‘inappropriately’ to a female commuter.
In Oldham, town hall bosses fined five drivers for plying for hire or having no insurance – while one was convicted for failing to report an accident.
Another Oldham cabbie was convicted of plying for hire and suspended for three months – after a girl flagged him down and he drove off with her handbag in his car.
In Manchester, the town hall, which licenses 3,500 cabbies, last year conducted a ‘mystery shopper’ exercise that gave drivers a 76 per cent satisfaction rate. But since then annual complaints have rocketed from 280 to 485.
Sham Raja, of the Manchester Private Hire Association, said council officers should investigate the reasons behind the dramatic rise. He said all drivers are vetted before being licensed – but said he is ‘not happy’ about complaint levels.
He added: “Licensing need to look into this matter and see why there are these complaints. They need to educate the drivers. Personal attitude is very important – you have got to treat customers in a very good manner, not abuse them. They pay your wages.”
Coun Nigel Murphy, Manchester's executive member for the environment, said the increase is due to the council making it easier to complain.
He added anyone with a complaint can contact licensing authorities through the council website.
Coun Murphy said: “We also have more taxis operating than ever before, which makes it ever more important for the public to contact us if they haven’t received a satisfactory journey, and we are now discussing compulsory training for every taxi driver so they understand the importance of good service.”
The figures also revealed that complaints soared in Trafford – from just seven last year to 66.
Most were about bad driving, although one driver was warned not to make racist comments and another warned for being aggressive.
Rochdale has had 32 complaints this year, mostly about bad attitude and behaviour, but also mobile phone use, litter and bad parking. Stockport had 83 complaints, largely about drivers being unlicensed. In Bolton there were 268 complaints, down slightly on last year. Salford had 118 complaints and Bury 71. Wigan had 145, with a ‘significant’ number being grievances between cab firms.
Source; menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1455745_1500-complaints-against-cabbies-in-greater-manchester
August 15, 2011
A catalogue of bad behaviour by Greater Manchester’s cab drivers has been uncovered by the M.E.N.
The shocking incidents include indecent exposure, abuse of traffic wardens, failing to report accidents and refusing to pick up disabled people.
Nearly 1,500 complaints were made against drivers last year, according to figures obtained using Freedom of Information laws.
A number have been disciplined or lost their jobs, including:
A Tameside cabbie sacked for talking inappropriately to a female passenger before flashing at her;
A cab driver in Oldham given a two-week suspension for abusing a traffic warden who was giving him a ticket;
A black-cab driver in Hyde banned from driving Tameside taxis after eight complaints about him being ‘extremely’ rude.
A Tameside town hall spokesman said of the Hyde cabbie: “He made various personally insulting comments, entered into arguments with his passengers, swore at them and on occasions refused to pick up disabled passengers or passengers only intending to travel a short distance.”
Other incidents seen by the M.E.N. include another Tameside driver who received a written warning after talking ‘inappropriately’ to a female commuter.
In Oldham, town hall bosses fined five drivers for plying for hire or having no insurance – while one was convicted for failing to report an accident.
Another Oldham cabbie was convicted of plying for hire and suspended for three months – after a girl flagged him down and he drove off with her handbag in his car.
In Manchester, the town hall, which licenses 3,500 cabbies, last year conducted a ‘mystery shopper’ exercise that gave drivers a 76 per cent satisfaction rate. But since then annual complaints have rocketed from 280 to 485.
Sham Raja, of the Manchester Private Hire Association, said council officers should investigate the reasons behind the dramatic rise. He said all drivers are vetted before being licensed – but said he is ‘not happy’ about complaint levels.
He added: “Licensing need to look into this matter and see why there are these complaints. They need to educate the drivers. Personal attitude is very important – you have got to treat customers in a very good manner, not abuse them. They pay your wages.”
Coun Nigel Murphy, Manchester's executive member for the environment, said the increase is due to the council making it easier to complain.
He added anyone with a complaint can contact licensing authorities through the council website.
Coun Murphy said: “We also have more taxis operating than ever before, which makes it ever more important for the public to contact us if they haven’t received a satisfactory journey, and we are now discussing compulsory training for every taxi driver so they understand the importance of good service.”
The figures also revealed that complaints soared in Trafford – from just seven last year to 66.
Most were about bad driving, although one driver was warned not to make racist comments and another warned for being aggressive.
Rochdale has had 32 complaints this year, mostly about bad attitude and behaviour, but also mobile phone use, litter and bad parking. Stockport had 83 complaints, largely about drivers being unlicensed. In Bolton there were 268 complaints, down slightly on last year. Salford had 118 complaints and Bury 71. Wigan had 145, with a ‘significant’ number being grievances between cab firms.
Source; menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1455745_1500-complaints-against-cabbies-in-greater-manchester
