Uber on the US Federal Trade commission watch list

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2GXl70j

Ride-hailing giants uber have agreed to "expand" the terms of its original settlement with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) which was made in August 2017 surrounding allegations that it made deceptive claims about its privacy and data security. In the original settlement Uber agreed to 20 years of audits and for a new privacy program to be introduced, but following the revelations in November 2017 that hackers stole data on 57 million users and drivers, the FTC decided to revisit the settlement to agree additional terms. The data breach happened in October 2016 and was covered up for over a year. Uber admitted to paying the hackers $100,000 to delete the information they had stolen. The new provisions in the revised proposed order include requirements for Uber to submit to the commission all the reports from the required third-party audits of Uber's privacy program rather than only the initial such report. It also must retain certain records related to bug bounty reports regarding vulnerabilities that relate to potential or actual unauthorised access to consumer data. In a statement the Federal Trade commission said: "After misleading consumers about its privacy and security practices, Uber compounded its misconduct by failing to inform the commission that it suffered another data breach in 2016 while the commission was investigating the company's strikingly similar 2014 breach. "The strengthened provisions of the expanded settlement are designed to ensure that Uber does not engage in similar misconduct in the future"

April 13, 2018 at 07:41AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Great group getaway in Croatia just £108pp - 4nts in 4* apartment & flights (couples from £152p

Ahoy there, we have found this really cool mini-break in Croatia on our holiday finder staying in a 4* aparthotel close to the beach. You will stay for 4 nights in Umag in the Istrian Riviera and upgrades to your board basis are available. Book today with just £63.48 deposit each. Holiday details Duration is… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Inspiring Italy: Mirror house stay in Bolzano, 2nts from £184.50pp (flights from £35 return)

Pirates, up next is some quirky accommodation in the form of the Mirror Houses, located in Bolzano in Italy. The accommodation is well equipped for you to have a great stay, based on 2 sharing why not treat your other half to something different. There is a minimum 2 night stay which we think is… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All inclusive Dominican Republic break £570pp - incl. 7nts 4* resort, flights, bags & transfers

If you're dreaming of the Caribbean this spring, jet off to the Dominican Republic with this bargain offer from our Package Finder! For this great price you'll be staying on an all inclusive basis at Gran Bahia Principe San Juan, a 4* resort that has its own private beach! Also included are direct flights, luggage,… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* Halkidiki getaway from £365pp - incl. 7nts hotel, half board & flights

Pirates, hit up Halkidiki for a 7-night break from £365pp including the beachside 5* Aegean Melathron Thalasso Spa Hotel, half board & flights. These last-minute dates offer a knock-down price for 5* quality in one of the most beautiful spots in Greece - and with two meals a day included in the room rate, you… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

North Island adventure: 13nts in NZ from £636pp incl. flights, camper van hire & airport hotel

Here's something a little different for you Pirates. Head for the open road this summer and experience some Kiwi hospitality. We've found some super cheap air fares to New Zealand and paired them with 13 days camper hire to create the ultimate fly & drive road trip around this mysterious country. We have also listed… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

City Of London To Try To Fool Commonwealth Heads ...Will You Answer The Call And Seize The Days?

London Taxi drivers are up in arms as the City of London Fathers admit the closure of the bank junction to traffic other than bus and cycles, could potentially put the heads of the Commonwealth gathering in London for the government forum in grave danger !

Because of the fear that the Commonwealth heads could be in danger, stuck in the utter gridlock and pollution of the surrounding areas....in their wisdom, they (the city fathers), have decided to re-open the Bank Junction to all traffic....but only while the Commonwealth heads are gathered here in London for their forum. 

They obviously want to give the false impression that all is well in the City..... But, we know that's far from the truth. 

As soon as they leave, the CoL will resume the Bank Junction scheme again and the pollution causing gridlock will be reimposed on the citizens of this once great city. 

Seize the day, 

Will the Taxi trade unite and take this opportunity to demonstrate against the unfair, unjust Bank a Junction scheme?

The ball, as they say, is in your court !

First Trade Org to come forward with support for the ITA's proposals for protests in the City of London is the London Cab a Drivers Club (LCDC)

Chairman Grant Davis had this to say earlier today:

"So the issue over “Public Safety” is ignored for the 3 days?

What hypocrisy, I am sure our members will be supporting any action that is called By the ITA."

from Taxi Leaks https://ift.tt/2qrQEkF
via IFTTT https://ift.tt/2qqVuhZ https://ift.tt/12cqxIH

Last-minute Costa Brava on the cheap: 7nts from £148pp incl. 4* hotel & flights

Pirates, bag a last-minute bargain with 7 nights in Spain's Costa Brava from £148pp including the 4* H.TOP Royal Sun Hotel & flights. This beachfront hotel is the perfect location to enjoy one of Spain's premiere holiday destinations. Holiday details: Travel duration: 4 nights (longer or shorter stays possible) Example date: 21st 28th April… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All inclusive Turkey family holiday from £293pp - 7nts 4* hotel, flights, luggage & transfers

Ahoy pirates, we have come across another great holiday in Turkey on an all inclusive basis from the one and only Thomas Cook. Right now there is some great savings on holidays over a certain price using code BOOKIT The hotel is located on the seafront and offers stunning views, a great pool with water… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Plush cottage on the Isle of Wight: 5nts from £125pp w/ beach access - sleeps 4

If the idea of airport queues sends you into a cold sweat or the mere thought of loosing your passport makes you stress then why not opt for a staycation this year? We have discovered this plush holiday home on the coast of the Isle of Wight that is simply perfect for either a family… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Iceland bargain break £157pp - incl. 3nts hotel & flights

Pirates, sometimes you just have to travel like a viking! A short break to Iceland is super affordable when you find accommodation in our Hotels Finder. We've gone for 3 nights at the Arctic Comfort Hotel and added some bargain flights with Wizz Air. The cheapest options depart in May, a great time to see… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Looney Toons Council Plan Pedestrianisation Of Upper Street

Or "how to kill off local businesses in one foul swoop".

An artist's impression of what a pedestrianised Upper Street may look like. Picture: Zaha Hadid Architects

One of the world’s leading architects has tabled a radical plan to pedestrianise Upper Street.

Zaha Hadid Architects said removing traffic from Islington’s signature shopping street would help make it a cleaner and less dangerous place.

It’s part of the Clerkenwell firm’s “Walkable London” project, a more ambitious take on mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s pledge to pedestrianise Oxford Street.

Instead of just one street, Zaha Hadid has called for entire pedestrian networks of major roads in the capital. And that involves a pedestrianised Upper Street, including Islington High Street and Goswell Road towards the City.

Melodie Leung, senior associate at the architects, told the Gazette: “If Upper Street people want to get behind this, we should talk.”

Speaking of Patrik Schumacher, Zaha Hadid’s director, Ms Leung said: “His proposal is to think grand: really long, continuous avenues that would allow walking to be a viable form of transport across the city. Upper Street means a lot to him, as he used to walk that route a lot.

“It would be fruitful for the shops and restaurants in the area. Pedestrianisation would be a natural opportunity for them.

“Upper Street is also so congested with vehicles and buses. If pedestrianised, it would be a really efficient link between the north and south of the city.

“Islington is a very residential community. If Upper Street was used for walking to school and walking to work, it would be a safer and healthier place.”

The 182-page Walkable London plan is in its early stages, but Ms Leung added: “It’s a provocative proposal and there would obviously be a lot of community engagement.” She suggested one way forward would be to do temporary closures of Upper Street, in order for the “community to test the outcomes”.

Steph Palmer, from Islington Living Streets, which campaigns for pedestrian safety, said: “It’s a lovely idea. In theory, I’m all for it. But in practice, what would happen to the streets either side that would take all the traffic?

“I’ve been in Upper Street when there’s no traffic and it’s so much nicer for shopping and seeing people. So it’s certainly something to look at

Source : Loony Toon's Islington Gazzette 

from Taxi Leaks https://ift.tt/2vedEZ4
via IFTTT https://ift.tt/2qmOO4D https://ift.tt/12cqxIH

All inclusive beachside week in Thailand from £891pp incl. flights, 4* hotel, bags & transfers

Sometimes, Pirates, we find something so special - we just can't wait to share it with you. We all love Thailand, that's a given. So why not jump on this great all inclusive deal and escape to the glorious beaches of Phuket. Stay in the 4* Best Western Bangtao Beach Hotel this winter and wave… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber to "get serious about safety" in America

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2GSnsxr

Ride-hailing app Uber today announced several new improvements to double down on safety in the app, strengthen their screening process, and brought in a new advisor to help shape Uber’s next chapter.The changes will first come in across the water in America this summer and include the following:New Features and InvestmentsUber have updated their app with safety in mind, locating all things safety in one central place and making it accessible directly from the home screen during a trip. Existing features like Share My Trip will be easier to find and new ones will be added:Safety Center: Riders will soon have a dedicated place in the app where they can learn about key safety information, including tips built in partnership with law enforcement, driver screening processes, insurance protections and community guidelines.

Trusted Contacts: Riders will be able to designate up to five friends and family members as Trusted Contacts, and be prompted to share trip details with them during every ride. This makes it easier than ever to share your trip, so loved ones can follow along and know when you’ve arrived.

Emergency Assistance: While no one should ever have to call the emergency services when using Uber, the ride-hailing firm claim no form of transportation is 100 percent free of incidents. The Uber app will soon include a new emergency button that will connect you directly with emergency services. Importantly, this feature will show you your real-time location in the app—both on a map and as an address—so you can share it directly with the operator. This feature will soon launch for drivers too.

911 integration pilot: Federal regulators in America estimate about 10,000 lives could be saved every year if first responders were able to get to a 911 caller just one minute faster. Uber are teaming up with RapidSOS to pilot 911 integration with local emergency authorities, starting in Denver. If a rider uses Uber’s emergency button in one of the pilot cities, their location and trip details will be automatically sent to the 911 dispatcher. Uber will be monitoring this pilot closely and evaluating further expansion.

Modernising 911 communications: Eighty percent of 911 calls come from mobile phones and, because of the way wireless technology works, calls are sometimes routed to the wrong 911 center. Uber are partnering with the National Emergency Number Association on a project to improve communications between the nation’s thousands of 911 centers. In the short term, this investment will create an enhanced, geographically searchable database to help emergency dispatchers more quickly connect callers to the correct 911 center.

Strengthening Driving Screening

Since Uber got started nearly nine years ago, the firm claim to have conducted criminal and driving record screenings on millions of people. Uber day that whilst no background check is perfect, their process is thorough, fair, and relevant to the work at hand. Moving forward Uber have said they will increase due diligence to strengthen their screening process:Annual reruns: In the past, Uber conducted background check reruns in jurisdictions where required. Going forward, the company will proactively rerun criminal and motor vehicle checks each year, regardless of whether there is a legal obligation to do so.New offense notifications: Uber will go beyond annual reruns and be among the first to invest in technology that rapidly identifies new offenses. Using data sources that cover most new criminal offenses, Uber will receive notifications when a driver is involved and leverage this information to help continuously enforce their screening standards.Expanding our safety advisory boardUber’s Safety Advisory Board was created in 2015 to bring new approaches, feedback, and expertise to our safety processes and technology. Today Dara Khosrowshahi excitedly announced their first chairman of the board; Jeh Johnson. Mr Johnson is a former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and will join Uber’s Safety Advisory Board as Chairman. From leading the country’s efforts to keep Americans safe to protecting the traveling public from the Ebola virus, Secretary Johnson is said to bring in global expertise that reflects Uber’s size and scale.Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s CEO said:“Since 2009, Uber has been helping people move safely around their cities, countries, and the world. These changes will build on the safety benefits that ridesharing already brings, such as helping people avoid drunk driving, providing GPS tracked records of every trip, and 24/7 feedback and response from our safety team.“Technology can make travel safer than ever before. And while there’s been a lot of progress, we’re committed to doing more.“When it comes to safety, Uber is ready to move forward.”

April 12, 2018 at 02:43PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

The pedestrianisation of Upper Street just got real

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2qseoo6

In one of the first steps in redisigning some of London's most important thoroughfares, Zaha Hadid Architects have drawn up plans to remove traffic from Upper Street, turning it into a pedestrianised Utopia.

The project, is part of the "Walkable London" initiative, which is designed to allow pedestrians to walk through an entire unbroken network of thoroughfares, free from traffic.

This particular segment would also see the closure of Islington High Street and Goswell Road.

Melodie Lueng, a senior associate at the firm spoke to the Islington Gazette about the project, and praised Zaha Hadid's director Patrik Schumacher for his vision.

The 182 page plan is in its embryonic stages, but the plans are sure to cause some serious criticism as to how and where traffic will flow, in what is a major thoroughfare through London.

April 12, 2018 at 02:07PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Schools out: Lanzarote summer family holiday from £371pp - 7nts 4* aparthotel & flights

Pirates, we have hunted out another awesome holiday in the school Summer holidays this time in Lanzarote. The holiday is based on a family of 4 but other party sizes can be catered for. You can book this Lanzarote holiday with a deposit and you can upgrade to all inclusive board basis at time of… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Exceptional Oxford: Top-rated 4* converted barn hotel from £50pppn incl. breakfast

Pirates, treat yourself and a loved one to an overnight stay at the gorgeous 4* Sabine Barn Hotel from £50pp followed by a full English breakfast including fresh eggs and locally-sourced ingredients. This little gem is tucked away from the noise of the city, and is the perfect location for some real relaxation in a… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Relaxing Formentera island holiday 3nts from £136pp - incl. flights, hotel & breakfast

Ahoy mateys! The tranquil Formentera is Ibiza's small sister island, home to Caribbean-like white sandy beaches framed by crystal clear turquoise water and is largely unspoilt by tourism. Here you can really unwind, savour freshly caught seafood and just enjoy the simple beauty of this little paradise. However, this kind of serenity usually comes with… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Andy Boland Talks Growth And Globalisation With The Times

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2v6WuNc

Nobody said running a modern taxi business was going to be an easy gig… nevertheless, the boss of Addison Lee is confident about its prospects down the road

From the regulators and environmentalists who think the tools of its trade are toxic; via the lawyers and trade unions who think its workers are being treated illegally and the disruptive competitors with deep pockets who want to steal its customers; to the neverending need to invest in the latest technology. Is there any facet of the minicab trade that makes it a remotely attractive investment?There must be, because the chief executive of Addison Lee, London’s biggest taxi service that is not either a black cab or an Uber, promises that it will double in size within the next three years. He also has persuaded his private equity backer, America’s Carlyle Group, to double down on its bet that it will do so.Addison Lee, to quote Andy Boland, its chief executive for two and half years, is “a minicab firm on steroids”. In the capital it operates 5,000 cars, most of them diesel: 1,000 executive Mercedes-Benzes, 3,750 Ford Galaxy people carriers and 250 Toyota Prius hybrids. It does 25,000 jobs a day and claims to be ten times larger than the next biggest minicab operator and two and half times larger than its nearest rival in the higher-end market, ferrying bankers, brokers, accountants, lawyers and marketing folk. This business-to-business market accounts for two thirds of Addison Lee’s income. The other third is from the person in the street, half of whom pre-book, half of whom order on demand.It has about 10 per cent of the £3 billion London taxi market and is the largest player in a fragmented sector behind traditional back cabs, which account for about a third, and Uber, which has about 20 per cent.How Addison Lee got here belongs to Book One of the company’s story. It was born in the back streets of south London in the 1970s, but then four things happened around the turn of the millennium that changed everything: minicabs became legitimate under a new licensing regime; the motor industry came up with the MPV, the people carrier; GPS satellite telecommunications meant that drivers could use satnav and controllers could keep track of the drivers; and John Griffin, Addison Lee’s then proprietor, decided to take out the opposition and expand his empire by acquisition.In 2013, a year after Uber was launched in London, Carlyle paid £300 million for a majority stake in Addison Lee. The founding family pocketed £150 million, the founder retired and left his part-time motor racing son Liam in charge. Within two years, Liam Griffin had stepped back to a non-executive role and the finance director who had been hired that year, Andy Boland, took over.At that stage Addison Lee was turning over £300 million a year and making profits of more than £30 million. The full onslaught of Uber and all the other app-enabled ride-hailing operations hit hard and Addison Lee’s revenues and profits plunged. Recently filed 2016-17 accounts tell an evolving story. Revenues are back, up nearly a third to £345 million, but the company was £20 million in the red as it tooled up — technologically and by acquisition — to take on Uber.The order-by-app revolution meant that Addison Lee had to raise its game, or “replatform” in the argot of Mr Boland: “The ride-hailing era [hit us], especially on the consumer side of the business. It has been the impetus for market change as a whole and especially at Addison Lee. The whole consumer front-end technology hadn’t been there in the [traditional] industry and was underdeveloped at Addison Lee. The [customer] engagement model has moved on dramatically. We have had to modernise and digitise to drive growth in arguably the most competitive market in the world.”Carlyle has put in another £100 million to support that technology investment, set up an Addison Lee operation in New York and buy Tristar, an international chauffeuring business, to enable Addison Lee’s globetrotting customers to pre-book for whenever and wherever they get off a plane. All this plus plans to take the Addison Lee model to other big US cities will, it is said, take the company to annual revenues of more than £700 million by 2020.Carlyle, as private equity does, will think about exiting at some stage. In that context, the appointment of Mr Boland seems no coincidence. He had been six years as finance director at the private equity-owned AA roadside assistance and insurance company and went through its 2014 accelerated initial public offering on the stock market. He left soon after the arrival of new management at AA, which persuaded Mr Boland to conclude that his ambition to become a chief executive lay elsewhere.The AA float made him financially secure, which he admits is important to someone who grew up in north Manchester knowing what it is like for a family to live from payday to payday. His escape to university and accountancy training was not the norm on his streets.Yet if Carlyle is to sell Addison Lee successfully, hurdles need to be overcome. Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, like his counterparts in other world cities, has signalled that diesel engine operators such as Addison Lee are not welcome. The problem for Addison Lee is that the alternative is not yet viable. There is no carmaker producing hybrid or electrified versions of its workhorse, the Ford Galaxy, including Ford. And even if Addison Lee can convert to a fully hybrid plug-in fleet, as Mr Boland says it can within five years, where are the thousands of fast-charging points needed? And who will fund such a network?Fighting three employment tribunals makes Addison Lee a case study in the gig economy. It says that its drivers are self-employed. The firm owns, insures and services the vehicle. The driver on average makes £850 a week from fares, out of which he has to pay the company £200 and buy fuel (it is generally “he”, as Addison Lee’s female drivers number only “in the tens” out of 5,000). Law firms such as Leigh Day and the GMB trade union do not agree, arguing that these are workers who qualify for holiday and sick pay benefits.Mr Boland concedes that employment law has not kept up with 21st-century working arrangements: “For us there is a close relationship between happy drivers and chauffeurs with earnings on a fair and flexible deal, and the quality of the customer service they supply to our passengers. If that gets out of kilter . . .“Listen, for a driver who logs on and off [for work] from a device, how do you start measuring that? One hour they might earn nothing. The next it might be £50. There is a debate to be had. Discuss.”Q&AWho is your mentor?Mike Kirkham at Taylor Nelson Sofres gave me my big chance as chief financial officer of a £1 billion FTSE 250 business in my early thirties.What was the most important moment in your working life?The best experience is forged in adversity. It was extremely formative narrowly avoiding administration with Cordiant Communications.Does money motivate you?Those that say money isn’t important have probably never been truly broke. Money was a motivator earlier in my career.What’s your favourite television programme?I don’t get to see my football team, Manchester United, that often these days so I impart my tactical advice to a television.Who do you most admire?Talent without dedicated application is a terrible waste, so I admire the most consistent professional sportspeople.What does leadership mean to you?Setting stretching and exciting goals that inspire your team and then doing everything you can to see them achieve those goals and personal potential.How do you relax?With four children, my family keeps me fully occupied outside work. I enjoy film, theatre and football. I’m a latecomer to skiing, too.CVAge: 48Education:Cardinal Langley RC High School, Middleton, Manchester; Keele University, BSc physics and economics.Career1992: Chartered accountant, Saffery Champness; 1995: treasury and corporate finance, WPP Group; 1998: finance director, Cordiant Comms; 2004: finance director, Taylor Nelson Sofres; 2008: chief financial officer, AA; 2015: finance director then chief executive officer, Addison Lee

April 12, 2018 at 11:16AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Double amputee crush victim suing Uber for negligence

via taxi-point https://ift.tt/2qqy10F

An Uber passenger who had to have both his legs amputated following an incident which caused severe "crushing" is suing the ride-hailing firm for negligence. Brendan Brock,23, of California, was on a trip in an Uber vehicle when it ran out of gas in the middle of a freeway. Brock then exited the vehicle to help his Uber driver, a Mr Gregory Raymond Lopez, push the vehicle out of the way of approaching traffic. Brock was then struck by another vehicle causing such severe damage, he had to have both his legs amputated. The lawsuit that has been filed names Uber, Lopez and the driver of the other vehicle as the defendants, the New York Postreported. The court filing accuses Lopez of being unfit to operate his Uber vehicle and putting Brock "in a position to be hit by a car". Brock is seeking unspecified damages, but it's been suggested that he is hoping to get between £20 million and £45 million. Brock now has to receive daily care from his parents. Uber have yet to comment on the lawsuit but has said in the past that it's drivers are considered independent contractors and said it's insurance policy is not responsible for any damages beyond the sum of $1 million.

April 12, 2018 at 11:12AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT