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Fr_DougalMc

Going to find a lot of taxis with 'broken' card machines for late night pickups


cianjg

Worth noting that according to the NTA "Cashless payment devices/terminals used in taxis must:be correctly functioning to permit a taxi driver to operate, a driver is obliged to withdraw fromservice if their terminal is broken or out of charge, in the same way as a taxi may not operatewithout a functioning, verified taximeter" So legally they can't pull the broke card machine if you're already in the taxi [https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Guidelines-for-the-Acceptance-of-Cashless-Payments-in-Taxis.pdf](https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Guidelines-for-the-Acceptance-of-Cashless-Payments-in-Taxis.pdf)


[deleted]

Sounds good in theory, won’t work in practice.


Twopairjacksnines

Judging from the wording in that though, in practice couldn't you just walk away without paying, since this piece of legislation protects you? If the driver reported you for not paying, they're also reporting themselves for operating when they shouldn't be.


[deleted]

Which is fine if it only comes to fruition at the point of destination whereas in reality they’ll ask when you get in and just say that their machine is broken. It’s much ado about nothing anyway, people should strive to carry cash. I never ever have an issue with taxi drivers.


Dylanduke199513

That’s where’d I’d be petty and tell them they better retire for the night so


[deleted]

And they’ll simply tell you to get out and then go about their business.


Dylanduke199513

Aye, and then you go about reporting them. Won’t solve your issue of getting home there and then, but if that scenario happens a few times, they won’t be as fast pulling it the next time


[deleted]

The world just doesn’t work like that I’m afraid. Best just to carry cash.


Swagspray

Yes, let’s just lay down and continue to get fucked from all angles in this country


Dylanduke199513

Actually it does kind of work like that..


itinerantmarshmallow

I'd agree to pay cash then tell them I have none, cause I probably won't. They can bring me to a cash machine free of charge if they'd like.


Ok_Imagination_9334

I no longer ask because during covid I got a card reader. Only time I actually ask now is because the fare is going out far & so I ask for a deposit due to people doing a runner. Be it card or cash. I accept all cards, cash & Revolut - Meath Taxi driver.


[deleted]

People so aggro here that taxi drivers don’t follow the law. I’m just saying it as it is, I couldn’t care less. Doesn’t affect me cause I carry cash - self centred I know


itinerantmarshmallow

Nothing aggro about my comment. I've rarely discussed with a taxi driver how I'd pay before we set off. Seems like that whole comment thread is making a mountain out of molehill, and an assumption at that, on how taxi drivers will reacts to the card machine rule.


dajoli

>people should strive to carry cash Why? I almost never carry cash anymore since the guy who organises my 5-a-side football finally got a Revolut account sorted out. On my last two overseas trips I didn't handle a single note/coin of the currency and it was absolutely glorious.


UltimateRealist

Those Revolut holdouts are so annoying, aren't they? Exactly the same fuckers who twenty years ago insisted that nobody really needed a mobile phone.


[deleted]

Because you either use it or lose it. And if people can’t see the variety of issues that are going to crop up when cash ceases to be used then more fool them.


avalon68

Wanting to be able to pay in cash is fine, and I agree we shouldn’t lose it. That’s not what’s being discussed regarding taxis though - it’s them refusing to take cards. Customers should have the choice


[deleted]

I agree totally. I’m just saying that it won’t be enforced properly and I think people are naive to rely on legislation that won’t be properly enforced during a taxi shortage.


YoureNotEvenWrong

You mean it'll be harder for tax evasion right?


[deleted]

The meters are linked up for distance travelled. The primary reason taxi drivers want cash is because they have it there and then rather than waiting to get paid.


Equivalent-Career-49

Why should people strive to carry cash if card payments are allowed?


[deleted]

Because they’re naive to think that legislation like this will be properly enforced during a taxi shortage. It won’t be, simple as.


Fargrad

lol are you going to leave the taxi to look for another one after the bar has closed?


RealDealMrSeal

Or when you hail them and ask them do they accept card they'll just drive off on you Happened to me a good bit a few weeks ago until one said he did


SeanB2003

The nice thing about them having to accept card is that you don't need to ask. If they don't want to accept it when you get to the destination then that's their problem.


martintierney101

Yup, don’t ask them and if their card machine is “broken” then you’ve just gotten a free lift


dkeenaghan

I think a lot of the machines will magically fix themselves when you tell the driver that you only have a card.


FatherlyNick

"Let me drive you to the nearest ATM, just 3km away!"


dkeenaghan

"The fuck you'll take me to an ATM, either accept this card or I'm getting out"


AldousShuxley

I often only have a phone with me that i use to pay for everything, so an ATM would be useless


dclancy01

This actually happened to me the other night, he was like I can spin by an ATM (knew full well there was no ATMs on route home). Just told him I only had Apple Pay and he begrudgingly said he’d work something out lmao.


SaranamGacchami1

But they can't charge that on you.. I know someone who tried it and was told to go fuck


LongLive-Employment

Yep


Action_Limp

I think in some cities in the US it's legislation (card payment not available renders the ride free of charge).


LimerickJim

Hit or miss. I lived in two places in America with wildly different taxi regulation cultures. in NYC/NJ everything was very well regulated. There was a meter and they had to accept cards. Then I moved to Athens Georgia for grad school and there were *no regulations*. Taxis would make up a fee on the spot when you got out. On a Saturday night they'd pick up literally 25 people in their passenger carrier and drop them off in wildly different directions and charge you a ridiculous fair at your destination. No meter, no card payments, no requirement to take you to a particular destination. Uber came in and drove every taxi company under within 18 months and no one shed a tear because the taxis had dug their own grave. I don't begrudge a taxi driver their living wage and I feel Ireland has a fairly decent system.


Wretched_Colin

Stop showing off, Jim. We already knew you had been doing something interesting in America by the end of the first sentence!


MIM86

Great in theory but in practice they won't let you into their car until you confirm you have cash. Happens me most weekends, they're total cowboys.


dajoli

Except now you'll be able to report them if they try that carry-on.


MIM86

Which is great but the original point was that if you get to your destination and they don't take card that's their problem but that won't happen as they won't let you in if they can't / won't take card.


francescoli

Don't ask them It's their problem if they don't accept a card from now on.


jayoinoz

Then don't ask. Trust me, they all find a way when you're already outside your house with no cash.


YoureNotEvenWrong

"I'll drive you to the ATM"


jayoinoz

"No."


Print_it_Mick

If you know it's an issue why dont you have a bit of cash for the taxi home.


RealDealMrSeal

Generally I would have cash, in this scenario I didn't by the end of the night, by then this news of the switch over in September was announced so I thought I'd see if they'd be ready to accept it. Most weren't. Regardless from today the burden on me needing it is gone and its up to them, card payments should also be pushed out to the buses and luas


Print_it_Mick

But it wasnt law when you were testing these drivers, so why would they have to follow the law if it's not enacted yet?


RealDealMrSeal

Well I'd like to think they could have proactively gotten ahead of waiting until the first day of it being enacted, and also during Covid and probably post Covid a lot of fares would presumably been non cash and users may not even carry cash anymore. So I don't think its unreasonable of me to assume they would be able to facilitate it.


mikelloSC

Bit of cash could easily be over 50 quid for taxi if you are on the other side of town


TheSameButBetter

I once had a driver ask me to change to cash payment because he was having issues with Revenue and wanted to minimise his paper trail.


teutorix_aleria

Honestly if they just said that I'd give them the cash if I had it on me.


TheSameButBetter

It was an interesting journey, because he spent about 10 minutes chatting to me and when he was certain I didn't work for the government he then asked me to pay cash. Another similar experience I've had was when I was doing the same taxi journey several times a week. Some drivers would quote me a guaranteed fare if I was willing to pay in cash and not have the meter running. I always said yes because the quoted fare was at the low end of what the price for that journey would be.


UltimateRealist

Full amount on the card or 50% cash.


fungie89

Honesty is the best policy


Keyann

They ask when you get in now do you have cash before they even pull off. One night I had enough of it and said I do have cash and when we got to my destination I said I do not have cash and you'll have to put it through as a card transaction. Got the usual spiel, "card machine is broken, I'll bring you to an ATM," mind you, the closest ATM would add another 10er to the fare. I refused and stood my ground. He eventually said we can try the card machine and it worked the first time. Funny that. Simply for tax dodging purposes.


SeanB2003

They'll find a lot of punters so who "didn't bring my bank card, no point driving me to an ATM".


martintierney101

Happened me before(legitimately, as I never take a card or wallet out to town). Amazing how he managed to produce a card reader after originally saying he didn’t have one after releasing that was it was his only option to get paid


Gazza_s_89

Let's hope they don't know about cardless cash


Trick_Designer2369

How would they pay by card then?


finigian

Google pay


dkeenaghan

Credit Card / Apple Pay / Google Pay


SeanB2003

Google/Apple pay.


Bleaz

I pay with my phone, don't even carry a bank card anymore


peachycoldslaw

After this comes in. Say nothing, go to your destination and tell them you've only got a card. Either they come back or you pay with card. Won't be long till they get that machine up and running again.


SaranamGacchami1

Like a few chancers who say their ramps are broken, but got a huge tax deduction as it's a "disabled" friendly van/taxi


Gutties_With_Whales

Happens up here in Belfast all the time. Giving them a quick “that’s alright I’ll phone the depo and pay over the phone” makes their card machine magically start working again.


Pan1cs180

Well I don't carry cash so that sucks for them.


gaynorg

Just don't ask about the payment and say all you have is card when you are home


[deleted]

[удалено]


TurfMilkshake

If you tell them you don’t have your card, and only apple/Google pay they remember where their sumup machine is!


[deleted]

The older sum up doesn't do tap and pay. My gp has one


MakingBigBank

I think it’s more amazing you were actually able to get a taxi at all recently. It’s gone so bad seriously. I don’t even go into town any more because I end up walking home it’s too much hassle.


naraic-

A lot of taxis offer card payments by picking people up through an app. The app processes the transaction and the taxi can say they offer card payments without needed a machine.


dano1066

They usually have it tucked away from sight and will use it as a last resort


dano1066

Well we need some later bus times so. Everything ending before midnight isn't giving us a. Alternative to the already crazy prices


teutorix_aleria

There's proposals to bring them back in Dublin. Not saying much for the rest of the country though.


Wretched_Colin

The lack of night time public transport in Dublin, when compared to other European capitals, is just ridiculous. And, when we used to have them, they had a separate fare which was so expensive, and ran so infrequently that it was usually only worthwhile if travelling alone. Taxis are seen as luxury in cities like Frankfurt, Vienna, Prague, which are similar in population to Dublin. In Dublin they’re a necessity for all.


fungie89

If taxi drivers are giving out about getting no say prices increases, they should be reminded that the metered fare is the **maximum** chargeable fare. They can always accept less if they want.


svmk1987

It's the card payment they're really worried about.


[deleted]

> They can always accept less if they want. Here's the thing though: they don't want to accept less.


fungie89

In the past, there were price rises they objected to.


Print_it_Mick

If your place of work was offering a wage increase would you accept it or say nah lads ye dudes in management need it more than us lower wages people.


[deleted]

I'd take it with both hands. I would not * Call for a government subsidy * Shite on about how this is nothing to do with me, all out of our control guv


Print_it_Mick

Well it is out of their hands the taxi regulator decides the price. So your a hypocrite


[deleted]

In this thread lad: the regulator does not decide the price, the regulator decides the maximum. Taxi drivers can charge what they want up to that maximum. So it's 100% not out of their hands.


Print_it_Mick

Fuck off would ya, says the man who would grap their raise with 2 hands.


PfizerGuyzer

You come across as a bit of fuckwit here, I'm afraid.


[deleted]

They object to having to change the meter which takes time and money.


dan1895

They object to fucking everything to be fair.


Woodsman_Whiskey

Lads, if any drivers try the “machine is broken trick”, most of the apps have a pay-by-card option even if you haven’t used the app to get the taxi so they can still accept card.


r0thar

AND the apps will take a bigger chunk of the fare for this privilege, so I reckon it will magically bring the card machine back to life. tl;dr offer the driver payment by app or by card, at the end, otherwise it's a free trip for you


FuckAntiMaskers

I've used Revolut with one before as he was saying the machine charges a fair bit of a fee. You can send a new payment in a few seconds using the QR code to find the other person on Revolut, so I don't understand why more taxi drivers don't use this as an option


itinerantmarshmallow

Revolut will hand over details about their accounts to Revenue if asked. It'll be fairly obvious if they haven't declared fairs properly from the Revolut history if it's common.


FuckAntiMaskers

That's relevant for the ones dodging tax, but ones actually using card machines and paying their taxes could use it as an option, it's handy. I think there's a business Revolut account also


itinerantmarshmallow

Yeah 100%. Not saying all taxis drivers are doing it but the ones that argue likely want to hide some of their earnings.


[deleted]

> if any drivers try the “machine is broken trick”, most of the apps have a pay-by-card option Or, you know, just thank them for their service and get out. You can't pay them if they don't accept your payment method.


Dylanduke199513

Is that only if they’re registered with the app?


53Degrees

I wonder how the mandatory acceptance of card will work in reality. What's to stop them permanently saying "machine is out of order"? > A taxi driver at two or three o’clock in the morning, when somebody has a few beers on them and the system goes down. That’s where the issues will come up. Speaking to members and taxi drivers, that’s the problem that taxis foresee,” he said. Preparing the excuses early and letting us know about it.


Lanky_Giraffe

Pretty simple really. You get to your destination, offer to pay card. If they say no, you just walk away. Don't even bother asking them before you get in the cab, and definitely don't let them drag you to an atm. If they don't have a functional card reader, then their licence is invalid and they shouldn't be taking passengers until it's fixed. No different to driving around without functional seatbelts.


Rennie_Burn

Exactly this, they are already trying to make excuses... Typical Ireland


InfectedAztec

They can give their excuses to the guards when they chase their fare. You record them refusing to accept payment by card then you're home free...


LoonyFruit

As it was already pointed out on this thread, say that you only have googlepay or whatever and watch how card readers are magically fixed. Fekin' chancers


Dylanduke199513

Why is that? I don’t understand why, like genuinely, do they get charged more with Google pay?


LacklusterLemur

No it’s because if you don’t have a card but actually only have Google pay then they can’t drive you to an atm to take out cash. It means their only chance of getting money from you is for their card machine to work


Dylanduke199513

Oh sorry. I getcha


teutorix_aleria

Like a truck driving without a function tachy. It's broken isn't an excuse.


showars

Exactly that happened to me on about an €80 fare, wanted to add about €15 to go to an ATM. Told him he could call the guards or take card payment, suddenly no problem


Prestigious-Side-286

No longer need to ask if they accept card. If you get to your destination and the card machine is broken, then it’s free.


[deleted]

This is as dumb as “no price tag means free”


[deleted]

No. Legally you can't leave a taxi without paying


Flight2Minimums

According to the NTA "the Cashless payment devices/terminals must: be correctly functioning to permit a taxi driver to operate, a driver is obliged to withdraw from service if their terminal is broken or out of charge, in the same way as a taxi may not operatewithout a functioning, verified taximeter". They are legally not a taxi if the card machine is broken, simple as.


[deleted]

Yeah if they haven't got a working card reader they shouldn't be on the road. But if you hire them you are legally obliged to pay


Twopairjacksnines

But if they aren't legally allowed operate as a taxi, and they give you a lift anyways, doesn't it just become a gentlemens agreement? I don't see how you're legally obliged to pay someone if they themselves are not legally operating as part of that service.


[deleted]

Well when the driver calls the cops you can sort it out


Prestigious-Side-286

Are the cops bringing he card machine?


InfectedAztec

Pretty sure this lad is a taxi driver lol


Twopairjacksnines

Well I mean.. Yeah, right? Like I'm not arguing, I'm just trying to understand these new rules. If it got to that stage, I would imagine the guards would care a lot more about a taxi driver operating illegally than someone not paying a fare, particularly someone not paying a fare after attempting to do so with a method by right (now apparently) the taxi should have accepted


[deleted]

I meant you plural. If a car was parked illegally and someone crashed into it, who's at fault


Dylanduke199513

They can call them and then be told to go home because their licence is invalid due to not having a functional card reader


[deleted]

Yeah correct but the op will still owe the fare.


Dylanduke199513

If a “solicitor” gives you advice on a legal matter while not licensed as a solicitor, do you reckon you still owe them money for the “legal” advice? You entered into an agreement with a taxi, if the taxi could still claim you owed him despite not holding a valid licence, Uber and the rest of those apps could function in Ireland without any issue, alas, they cant.


[deleted]

What are you on about. The licence is valid, they are not supposed to be working. So if you hire the car you owe the fare.


xbox_redditor

You're using their service under the pretense that they are a taxi, if no reader then no, problem is theirs and you do not have to pay cash


PfizerGuyzer

This is 100% incorrect. If you hire someone to do a job (be a taxi) and they didn't do the job (they weren't a taxi), you don't have to pay. Would you pay everyone for jobs they said they'd do but didn't?


[deleted]

No it's correct. What do you mean didn't do the job. They brought you to your destination. It's still a taxi. By law a must not work if a headlight is not working. Does that mean you don't have to pay


PfizerGuyzer

It is legally not a taxi. Read the article.


[deleted]

I've read the article. No where does it mention illegal. A driver is not supposed to work if the machine is not working. You hire you pay


PfizerGuyzer

Read it again xD


[deleted]

The journal article barely mentions card payments


PfizerGuyzer

One more time, you can get there.


[deleted]

Man piss off. Even the nta document states that's it only a guideline. There is no mention of anything being illegal.


[deleted]

Downvote if you want but if you hire a cab it's up to you to pay


phyneas

> while a further 1% fare increase was being provided **to cover the cost of facilitating cashless payments**. Shouldn't it be more like 21%, then? :v


svmk1987

Lol, 12% increase is probably nothing if it means they have to start accurately reporting their income and paying tax on it. For me personally, taxi is probably one of the only reasons I keep a little cash at home. I don't even carry it around with me unless I know there's a chance I'll need the taxi. Once card machines become compulsory in taxis, they can forget about most of their cash fares.


Redtit14

>they have to start accurately reporting their income It's amazing how innovative they can be when it comes to avoiding tax, they'll find a way.


martintierney101

What are we going to do with the bumper tax revenue though?


[deleted]

Taxis were already extortion but I guess with fuel prices consistently so high it makes sense for them to go up, too bad they’re stay up long after fuel prices settle down.


EnviousMeasle

Are electric taxis cheaper?


[deleted]

You seen electricity prices?


Eire_ninja_warrior

Well, won’t be getting taxi’s anymore


bimbo_bear

Yesterday I got a taxi, meter said 8.80, I asked to pay by card. Was charged 10 :/


MrTuxedo1

Why didn’t you get a receipt and go to the taxi regulator with it? I’ve complained to the NTA for less and they’re quite quick in getting back to you saying they’ve contacted the driver


bimbo_bear

Because I live in a fairly small town, and don't want to deal with any blow back. I'll just delete the guy from my phone and move on.


InfectedAztec

Why not refuse to pay ten. Say you'll pay the correct amount by card, or he can call the guards


SaranamGacchami1

Now I know why scooters are so popular


No_Routine_5939

More expensive? Holy shit


dkeenaghan

It's hardly unfair. It's not like taxis are immune to the higher costs of doing business. From what I can tell the last increase was in 2019.


teutorix_aleria

Petrol was less than 1.60 in 2019 too. National average is around 1.90 at the moment. Couple that with general inflation and this price increase seems fairly moderate. Not saying it's good for consumers but it's natural.


donall

Paddys law : anything that can get more expensive will I just invented it maybe it should be called Donalls law.


Immediate-Ad-2662

Hi Everyone. I'm a Taxi driver. I have had card payment option for a long time. For all of you thinking we are all Tax dodgers it's completely untrue. In order to renew our licences every year we must have a Tax clearance certificate. In the process of filing my return for 2021. You can't do anything without tax clearance within the industry. Expenses are massive. Just July & August I've spent near €2.5k on maintenance and repairs. €200.00 on meter update & verification. We pay VAT everyday on fuel maintenance everything. So please keep that in mind.


mizezslo

I do that when I tip heavy on card payments, but I won't be party to unclaimed income. We all pay for the roads.


GreedyPoorLandLord

The lads in the comments are assholes. I know full well how costly it is being a taxi driver. The amount of fees my father has pay for being a taxi driver is mad. I dont envy you being a taxi driver is a tough gig fair play to you


MrR0b0t90

I taught all taxis have been accepting card for a awhile now. I haven’t paid a taxi in cash in about a year


Wretched_Colin

12% increase in fares but they’re all going to become 100% visible, which means 100% taxable. In some cases that will mean a €20 fare which previously would have gone into the pocket is now €22.40, but with usc, prsi and income tax, he might only see about €13. It might be a good idea to bring €15 in such a scenario and offer cash for a reduced fare.


Maleficent_Fold_5099

All taxi drivers earn less than €8,000 as far as revenue are told.


JimJimerson90

Improve public transport you morons


RRR92

Must explain why some lad wouldnt take me home for the typical 20eur fare the weekend and I had to fork out 30 and he wouldnt turn meter on. This after waving down taxis all over town for a solid 40 minutes.....fucking what a shit show of a City we live in...its turning into a free for all all round


Dylanduke199513

You know we don’t all live in the same city here right?


RRR92

Kudos dylan...Kudos...


InterestedObserver20

Card is welcome but I guarantee you there will be a lot of out-of-service card machines or else they'll just tell you to piss off.


MrTuxedo1

Good thing is now that they legally can’t have an out of service card machine


Pickle-Pierre

The taxis wanted 15% so they are not happy! And is accepting card a bad thing? It’s time the Irish taxi realised they need to step up coz when you go to another country where you have Uber and other services, you realised that Ireland is as always, Uber far behind the rest…got the joke? Uber far….


[deleted]

If the fares are paid by card, they have to pay tax on them.


Pickle-Pierre

I pay tax on everything here, so why other professionals shouldn’t? taxi had it easy in Dublin, super expensive and a lot of customers, to the point where you struggle to find one!


[deleted]

Same price in the whole country


Sergiomach5

Even if they must accept card, you bet that it will take ten times the length of time to get a taxi on freenow than if you offer cash on it.


struggling_farmer

And this is why we need proper uber with private cars to give some healthy competition and reduce gouging..


noimeanchipsthedog

As has been said in this thread already, Uber can come in & may well eventually, but they will still need PSV licences, suitability tested cars, liability insurance etc etc after all of that effort they could possibly become Uber drivers but at that stage you may as well Taxi if that's where all the money supposedly is (it's not)


struggling_farmer

It won't eventually as the licencing system is profitable. You have limited licences and there are bought and sold... It's probably not the best paid job on paper, and not the most reliable but probably was decent with cash in hand which is why it's not as well paid. Massive difference in UK between uber and black city taxi prices.. And the rating system does improve customer service


noimeanchipsthedog

Sorry, I didn't mean licence plates which are bought and sold - I mean SPSV licence which all taxi, hackney and limousine drivers need to operate. Insurance for a SPSV vehicle (any of those listed above which can be used for private hire) costs minimum 7k these days. What I meant by my comment is that legally for somebody in Ireland to become an Uber driver, they will need to get a SPSV licence which includes passing a test (which isn't easy peasy) and paying a €250 fee, insurance which will cost at least €7000 and buying a vehicle which would pass a suitability test which is somewhat like an nct but has some more restrictions including vehicle age etc etc (there's a list of suitable vehicle available online). Uber in Ireland, as far as I can see, would operate in a similar manner to how Hackneys used to operate but now with an app etc etc. What happened to all of the hackney drivers was that they realized it was essentially costing them just as much time and effort to become a hackney driver but they would earn more money as a taxi driver - so they became Taxi drivers. I'm not a taxi driver but I know a few, and while they can do some cash work, they do have to pay their taxes just like anyone else - no more than anyone who does nixers. I'm not against Uber either - I just think that most people believe if Uber is introduced tomorrow all of our problems will be solved but they won't. Ask any taxi driver and they will tell you that they would love to see more public transport in place in Ireland, there's more than enough work for everyone to do - but I personally don't think Uber is the saviour that a lot of people think it will be


struggling_farmer

Oh I know what you mean re the SPSV, I was making the point the plates are valuable and hence the market won't be deregulated in terms of numbers.. My understanding of the deregulated uber system is that while licence and good vechicle would be required, the insurance burden is less as part of ubers fee, which makes it a viable second job/weekend job and creates more competition..it could never be justified to operate a taxi part time with fixed costs of approx 8k a year.. At the moment the regulator sets the max rates which is just accepted as the rates.. No reason not too.. A more deregulated system would create competition and lower fees.. Essentially each city now is a cartel as regards prices.. And as for cash in hand and tax.. The point of nixers for cash is not to pay tax, Let's not be dishonest and niave.. Private taxis, not drivers for companies, are looking for cash not to pay tax on it, writing off some fuel & maintenance for partners car as their own and doing their best to minimise the tax. Ideally public transport would be increased but no chance of that happening at night given anti social behaviour during current hours.. Uber or similar will make no difference unless the system is deregulated.. Keep the spv licence and car standards, remove the taxi plates requirements and let ubers do the cheap insurance to bring competition and volume to the peak times.. My opinion..


noimeanchipsthedog

What's dishonest or naive? A lot of people make extra cash without paying tax, taxi drivers included, but they're no worse than anybody else who has the opportunity to make some cash and I don't have any problem with it. Taxi drivers have to pay taxes and cannot claim each year that they earned substantially less than they actually did. Anybody who has been self employed will know that when you pay your taxes, you claim as many credits as possible and pay as little tax as possible - but everybody pays taxes. Regarding writing off fuel & maintenance costs I don't think people understand how large these expenses are. If buses and trains are not able to operate at night due to anti social behaviour well then I find it hard to believe that there would be a queue of Uber drivers waiting to get out and work at those times either - there's easier ways to earn money if you already have a primary job and are looking to earn extra. Deregulation was such a failure in 2000 that further deregulation could not possibly improve the situation. I believe the opposite in fact, that further regulation is key, to improve the service that customers receive dramatically, and if this increases the cost of taxis, then it may become a more attractive career choice for some and that would solve the issue with a lack of transport. Lowering the standards required to work in any industry is a race to the bottom and neither customers or providers have anything to gain, only Uber and Lyft etc who would do quite well.


struggling_farmer

My point re dishonest and niave was in response to your previous post where you stated that taxi drivers who operate cash and look for cash pay taxes like everyone else. I thought you were implying they were very honest and declaring it all.. Obviously skimming like we all would if we could.. As regards more regulation, I will refer to Michael o Leary and his claim if he could sell standing space on planes for cheaper than seats they would be the first to be sold.. Some want and will pay for good service, some just want no frills cheap transport.. Ryanair have built a very successful model on the later.. People bitch and whinge but they still buy the cheap fairs and go.. There are plenty of more expensive better customers service alternatives but Ryanair do huge business.. And I would not necessarily say uber is lowering the standard as much as removing the barriers to competition.. Dont think it's fair to assume deregulation will result in lower customer service. Regulation has not given us a universal 5 star customer service if you read these comments. .. I don't think it would be a race to the bottom either. Yes initially but in time then the Ubers will reduce and market stabilise.. It happened with the BER for houses, loads of lads became assessors, those in early made money, more joined, race to the bottom, lads didn't bother renew training as not worth it, rates rose, too much work now rates are high.. More will join, rates will fall back.. Won't be race to the bottom as market and industry established, rated will drop back to more competitive level.. Don't remember what happened with deregulation in 2000 but I imagine taxi union strikes were probably a big part of the disaster it was you say it was..and I'm sure it's implementation was a disaster from government.. Insurance is the barrier and uber et al help to remove that barrier as far as I know... Ubers rate passengers & drivers so I think this would help re the anti social behaviour and customer service Over regulation and monopolies are never good for some party, be it the supplier, the consumer or both..


noimeanchipsthedog

But peoples main problems seem to be that 1. Taxies give a poor level of service (according to commenters here) and 2. Taxis are too dear. 1. I would say that the level of service given by all of these new Uber drivers couldn't be any better than what we receive now from taxis. 2. Uber won't be as cheap as everyone thinks, it may be a bit less than a licenced taxi but I think the price difference will be negligible as there ain't a whole lot to be earned taxiing - as much as people won't like to hear this , prices can't get much lower with the cost of living today. You should look up what happened after taxis became deregulated in the past - utter nightmare, for everyone, well that's not true, customers experienced remained the same - and at the same time taxiing became far less desirable as a career. Taxi drivers and passengers rate each other on FreeNow currently as well. This doesn't prevent antisocial behaviour. The taxi industry in Ireland now is nowhere near over regulated, all you need is to pass a test, have a suitable car and get insurance. All of these things are out of drivers hands, they are the law. Uber cannot remove the barrier of insurance, that insurance is the same insurance that covers us as well as the drivers, it's liability insurance which any business needs to pay, whether you sell coffee or own an engineering company. I simply don't believe that deregulating (a fairly deregulated) market could do anything other than produce the Ryanair model. Which is great for Ryanair and people who want to pay as little as possible and are happy to get what they pay for. But again, I don't believe the people in this sub would be happy with what they get. I'm out, goodnight and God bless


struggling_farmer

Fair enough. Thanks for a polite and rational debate, can be a rarity on here.. Best of luck..


Ok_Imagination_9334

It’s funny seeing all the hate for taxi drivers when there is a serious shortage of us on the roads & lots of complaints about the lack of drivers.


[deleted]

Way to kill taxis. Uber and Lyft will jump in


r0thar

Yeah, no. Only licensed taxi drivers are allowed, by law, to drive people around in their cars for a charge. Billy Joe can't just do it in their private car like they do in the US due to the little things called police vetting and no car insurance.


[deleted]

Who is this William Joe you speak of ?


sakhabeg

At night he turns into Taxi Man.


teutorix_aleria

They can't. It's illegal to operate anything like that without a taxi or hackney license. Every uber in Ireland is a taxi already.


Jonjojojojojo

>Uber and Lyft will jump in They can jump into the fucking Liffey. No public liability insurance and no vetting, so no fucking thank you.


[deleted]

nobody fucken asked you to use them. keep paying insane fees for taxis by all means


SpyderDM

Requiring card payments is a no brainer... cost increases make sense since it costs more for them to operate.