4* hotel w/ pool from £29pppn *location great for Legoland or Heathrow*

Pirates, if you're looking for a hotel stay in the Windsor area, check out the 4* Copthorne Hotel Slough - Windsor from only £29pppn. Well situated for Legoland or Heathrow airport, the hotel is also a nice stay in itself, with a pool & sauna on-site. Offer Details: Many travel durations possible - 1 night… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Last minute Menorca group getaway from £196pp - 7nts hotel & flights (couples from £226pp)

Ahoy there, the Balearic Islands are up next and we have found a holiday in Menorca staying at a great rated and award winning hotel for you and your favourite mateys. The holiday is departing in May but if you would prefer to go later, there are great prices when the busy Summer months are… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

The ongoing case for debit and credit cards

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It has been a while since the credit and debit card mandate was approved by Transport for London. Although this mandate still has serious issues that need addressing, in the main it has been a positive for the licensed London taxi industry.

In today's world cash is no longer king, and although both credit and debit card are not "coin of the realm," there may at some point in the future be a change in legislation to facilitate cards becoming legal tender, carrying cash is becoming a thing of the past.

The cab order surrounding credit card systems is somewhat confusing, it requires all taxis to carry a working credit card system in the rear of the vehicle, with any system failure rendering the vehicle "unfit" and therefore technically required to be removed from service. This however is not only unreasonable but also unworkable for several reasons.

At what point does a credit card system be deemed as failing, is it at the point that a driver is unable to log on? Or is it at the point that there is a failure when use is attempted? Is the driver liable for a system failure? Is the system deemed inoperable if there is network failure? Does the vehicle have to be removed from service if the credit card provider suffers system failure at their end? What happens if a driver rents a vehicle and changes vehicle frequently, or suffers a breakdown and is using a replacement vehicle, does the driver have to sign up to every system available on the market? None of these questions are answerable as the cab order is highly ambiguous and therefore flawed. What is widely known is that no driver can be prevented from using their own hand-held system as a back-up in the front of the vehicle. Transport for London are fully aware that no driver can be sanctioned for this, it is believed that any sanction would be deemed illegal were it to end up in court.

Many drivers carry a hand-held back-up system, however, depending on which data provider you use, again system failure can occur because of network outages. Four major hotspots on o2 are Fenchurch Street, Cheapside by New Change, Tooley Street around London Bridge and Waterloo Station.

All credit card providers require piggy-backing on a data network, therefore unlike a shop where you are static and pretty much guaranteed a signal, in a vehicle its an odds-on certainty that you will suffer a signal dropout at some point.

Let's be clear about this, Transport for London were 100% right in bringing in a mandatory credit card system, however it should have been part of the condition of the taxi driver licence rather than condition of fitness for the vehicle. This could have easily been demonstrated upon licence renewal by simply forwarding either the paper or electronic contact which had been signed by any given driver showing that they had a system available for use, or a bank statement showing any given credit card companies deposits into an account as proof. This in turn would have allowed drivers a greater choice of system allowing them to obtain the best deal and negated the requirement for a system to be placed in the back of the vehicle, tjus improving both driver and passenger safety, after all no driver wants to put themselves at risk after leaving the cab cockpit to go into the back of the vehicle.

Since the cab order regarding credit and debit cards came into place, in the main the vast majority of drivers have responded positively, taking any and every card no matter how big or small the fare is. This in turn has been received positively by the public, in fact some members of the public have returned to using taxis because of this move. There are however a small minority of taxi drivers who are either refusing to take cards, or making life as difficult as possible for people to use cards. The feedback attacjed to tgis course of actuon, no matter how minimal starts a ripple in the pond of social media, which ultimately becomes a tidal wave of vitriol against the taxi industry.

A story was recently recounted on social media by a lady who when attempting to pay for her cab after being picked up at Liverpool Street was told upon arrival near her destination that the cars machine wasn't working. The fare had already gone more than usual because of the road closures in the City surrounding the visit from the Commonwealth heads of state. This resulted in an argument, eventually the driver accepted the cars payment when his machine "miraculously" started working again. As a result of his actions the driver now faces the prospect of having to answer to Transport for London, and rightly so. This sort of behaviour is unacceptable at every level.

If there is a genuine system failure the process is simple, let them know before you undertake your journey so as to give them the option of taking another taxi. If there is an unknown failure then the customer will find this out when the card is being processed, a failure may be down to the passengers card failing or a card system failure, neither the driver nor passenger may necessarily know why it has failed. What a driver has to be mindful of is that it is the customers responsibility to ensure payment if there is a card failure of any kind. Payment can be made in many ways if there is a failure, a simple bank transfer or paypal payment should suffice if no ATMs are available for use. Ultimately a genuine failure should not obstruct payment, as said earlier, many drivers carry a second system to facilitate card payments, the industry must try and make life as easy as possible for the customer.

Those who arbitarily refuse card payments by falsely claiming that their card system isn't working, albeit a small minority, have become an utter blight on the industry, it is a counter-productive and unnecessary act that should be squashed like an irritating fly. The industry is fighting for survival on many levels and to perpetuate that particular act of stupidity just drives another nail into the industry's coffin.

The taxi industry is a service industry, therefore bad service gets remembered, it can stain an entire industry very easily. If a driver doesn't wish to take card then that is absolutely fine, simply find another profession which doesn't require you to take card... shape up or ship out.

The taxi trade must accept that it has a responsibility to its customers, without them it is dead in the water.

April 19, 2018 at 08:17PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Last-minute bargain: 7nts in Crete from £126pp incl. top rated studio & flights

Pirates, live your beach dream in Crete from £126pp for 7 nights, including the 3* Mediterranean Studios & flights. For the best rates, book the last-minute dates, but there are some decent prices available for peak-season summer months, too. Holiday details: Travel duration: 4 nights (longer or shorter stays possible) Example date: April 25th … jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Ex-Gaelic Athletic Association Footballer on trial for attack on cabbie

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An ex GAA player is one of two men on trial for kidnapping and robbing a Dundalk cabbie.

Former Armagh GAA footballer, Robert Tasker, 26, and co-defendant Eugene McCooey, 25, both from St Patricks Park in Cullhanna have both denied kidnap, robbery, assault and threatening to kill the unnamed cabbie.

It is alleged that on November 29th 2016, the pair got into a taxi after leaving a Chinese restaurant in Dundalk and asked to be taken to an address in Cullyhanna.

It is then claimed that somewhere en-route, Mr Tasker produced a knife and held it against the cabbies throat from the back seat. It is alleged that Mr McCooey produced a screwdriver and demanded money.

The driver was then allegedly forced to hand over €120, it is also claimed that the pair continued to threaten the cabbie, which included the threat of raping and murdering him.

The taxi driver escaped after the men fled when another vehicle drove past the parked taxi.

The case is continuing at Newry crown court today.

April 19, 2018 at 08:03PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Tempting Tenerife: 7nt holiday in July from £219pp - incl. resort & flights

Time to get summer sorted pirates! Spend 7 nights in Tenerife with the help of our Holiday Finder. You'll be staying at DC Xibana Park in Puerto de la Cruz, with flights included from several UK airports. Dates in July start from £219 per person, based on 2 sharing, when temperatures out there reach the… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

7nt Mexican Riviera full board cruise from £929pp + 2nts California hotel, return flights & bags

Set sail and escape the drizzle this winter pirates! Over at Value Added Travel we spotted a superb full board cruise offer that will see guests visiting the highlights of the gorgeous Mexican Riviera. This package includes everything you need - return flights to Los Angeles, 2 nights in a hotel close to the port… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Chase the rainbow: 2nt Northern Lights Iceland break from £142pp - incl. flights & breakfast

Tick Iceland off your buckets this year pirates, with prices currently at the lowest we've seen them all year for the start of Northern Lights season (November & December). You can get return flights, plus 2 nights at a central hotel with breakfast daily starting from £142 per person, based on 2 sharing. Best availability… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Some U.S Uber passengers can now purchase tablets along with a number of other items from their drivers

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Passengers who choose to ride with ride-hailing firms Uber or Lyft can now purchase a selection of different products from their vehicle in a number of U.S cities. Tech company Cargo, have teamed up with both apps allowing passengers to buy items such as protein bars, kids sweets and even hangover cure tablets. The products will be held in a secured box which will open once the passenger pays through the app. According to a report in CNBC, drinks giant Coca-Cola have partnered, offering it's Smartwater free to riders. Drivers will earn a small percentage and commission from each sale which Cargo claims can increase their monthly earnings by up to $500 (£352).Cargo aims to reach more than 25 million passengers in in 20,000 vehicles by the end of 2018.

April 19, 2018 at 06:05PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Scenic Madeira summer escape 4nts from £361pp - incl. 4* hotel, flights & breakfast

Ahoy mateys! We've spotted this awesome getaway to the 'Pearl of the Atlantic', namely the island of Madeira where you can swim in the totally Instagrammable lava rock pools in Porto Moniz. You'll be staying at 4* Aqua Natura in Porto Moniz, overlooking the gorgeous natural phenomenon only a few steps away! We found good… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Flights to South of France this Spring from £19 return

Ahoy there pirates, if any of you are looking to head to the South of France this Spring check out these flights we have come across from £19 return. We have found super cheap fares to Perpignan and Béziers and there are also some great fares to Nîmes, Marseille and Nice. Flight details Direct flights… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

News From Unite Union Cab Section... Uber Illegally Granted A Booking Office Licence In Glasgow.

Yesterday at the Burgh Court, Uber Scot Ltd was illegally granted a Booking Office Licence, in breach of the The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Booking Offices) Order 2009. 

In an assault on the democratic process, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, advised by Licensing Solicitor, Mairi Millar, refused to hear three objections from Unite the Union Cab Section, Glasgow Taxis Ltd, and Greater Glasgow Private Hire Association. Objections were late as the statutory notice was only viewable on the door of 69 Buchanan St for 21 days. The notice was not in the print media, not on the GCC website, in fact it had no online presence anywhere. It was preposterous to expect anyone to notice an A4 sheet on the door of an inconspicuous office building on a pedestrianised shopping thoroughfare.

Despite objections being late, Glasgow City Council Licensing & Regulatory Committee has at its discretion the power to hear late submissions. All three objectors were only allowed to give the reasons why the objections were late, but forbidden from mentioning reasons for objecting. Glasgow Taxis Ltd Solicitor, Tom McIntaggart, put up an extremely convincing argument for hearing the objections, citing examples where GCC Licensing had accepted late objections in the past. 

Councillors who voted against hearing our objections and denied us the right to be heard were as follows:

Baillie John Kane, Scottish Labour Party, Govan (5)

Baillie Hanif Raja, Scottish Labour Party, Pollokshields (6)

Cllr Aileen McKenzie, Scottish Labour Party, Springburn/Robroyston (17)

Cllr Robert Connelly, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Calton.

Those councillors that believed in the democratic process and wanted to hear our objections were as follows:

Cllr Rhiannon Spear, Scottish National Party, Greater Pollok (3).

Cllr Graham Campbell, Scottish National Party, Springburn/Robroyston (17).

Gary Gray, Scottish Labour Party, Canal (16).

Special mention to Cllr Rhiannon Spear who made clear her concerns over aspects of Uber’s operation and was clearly unhappy with what transpired.

Just to recap, all traditional taxi and private hire companies in Glasgow are registered at their respective licensed premises in Glasgow for the booking, dispatch and payment of fares. This means that they are within the jurisdiction of Scottish law enforcement and the Scottish legal system. It also means that they are subject to UK tax and VAT.

Uber is the exception. Glasgow work is dispatched from Uber BV in the Netherlands, trip data is recorded by Uber BV in the Netherlands, payment is taken by Uber BV in the Netherlands, and a receipt is issued by Uber BV in the Netherlands. Glasgow City Council yesterday licensed a sham booking office that attempts to legitimise dispatch of work from an unlicensed foreign company, Uber BV. 

Yesterday Uber’s Solicitor pointed to 4 million trips taken in Glasgow since it started. Some crude arithmetic based on an average of £5 per trip:

4M x £5 = £20M

Uber’s cut (25%) after drs are paid =£5M

UK Corporation tax @21% on £5M ~£1M+

UK VAT @20% on £20M = £4M

So, with what we admit are very crude workings, Uber has avoided UK tax and VAT in the region of £5M in Glasgow alone, in the 30 months it has been operating. That is starving the public purse of much needed revenue for schools, hospitals, housing etc. Glasgow City Council Licensing not only had solid legal grounds to reject Uber’s application, it also had a strong moral case to reject it. 

Don’t take our word for Uber’s illegal operation in Glasgow. At the November, 2017, Joint Taxi and Private Hire Trade Meeting, GCC Licensing Solicitor, Mairi Millar, stated that Uber Britannia Ltd did not satisfy the criteria to hold a Booking Office licence. Well the Licensing Solicitor can now make that two illegal booking offices ‘operational’ in Glasgow now.

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Cool in Costa Brava: 7nts from £166pp incl. 3* hotel & flights

blah Pirates, grab your passport and head for Costa Brava with 7 nights from £166pp including the 3* Neptuno Calella hotel & flights. The hotel is 4 minutes away from the beach by foot, while the hotel itself has hot tub, pools & restaurant to enjoy. Holiday details: Travel duration: 4 nights (longer or shorter… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Now that's Amore: 7nt historic Tuscan villa group stay - incl. flights from £219pp

We are pining after this early summer group trip to the Tuscan hills in Italy that we've just discovered on our holidays finder. You can stay in a historic 15th century estate that once held royalty from as little as £219 per person, based on 4 sharing. This best rates we found are in June,… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Kids fly for free on select BA routes till 5th November - including school holidays

Pirates, summer's upon us we all know that prices can go through the roof as everyone tries to get away for some summer sunshine. British Airways is running a brilliant offer where kids can fly for free on selected routes from 1st June to 5th November. There's really no catch, children can travel for absolutely… Michael POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Magical Marrakech July holiday from £281pp - 7nts 4* hotel, breakfast & flights

Pirates, looking to head off on holiday this Summer, then check out this great getaway in Marrakech in Morocco that includes breakfast each morning of your stay, you can even upgrade to half board at time of booking. The hotel has a great swimming pool as well as a sky bar with stunning views -… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber “illegally granted a Booking Office Licence” in Glasgow according to Unite union cab section

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Controversial ride-hailing app Uber have been granted a new 3-year licence for its new offices in Glasgow much to the dismay of local unions and taxi drivers.

According to Unite Cab Section Glasgow, “Uber Scot Ltd was illegally granted a Booking Office Licence, in breach of the The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Booking Offices) Order 2009.”A spokesperson for the union released a statement on Facebook saying:

In an assault on the democratic process, the Licensing and Regulatory Committee, advised by Licensing Solicitor, Mairi Millar, refused to hear three objections from Unite the Union Cab Section, Glasgow Taxis Ltd, and Greater Glasgow Private Hire Association. Objections were late as the statutory notice was only viewable on the door of 69 Buchanan St for 21 days. The notice was not in the print media, not on the GCC website, in fact it had no online presence anywhere. It was preposterous to expect anyone to notice an A4 sheet on the door of an inconspicuous office building on a pedestrianised shopping thoroughfare.Despite objections being late, Glasgow City Council Licensing & Regulatory Committee has at its discretion the power to hear late submissions. All three objectors were only allowed to give the reasons why the objections were late, but forbidden from mentioning reasons for objecting. Glasgow Taxis Ltd Solicitor, Tom McIntaggart, put up an extremely convincing argument for hearing the objections, citing examples where GCC Licensing had accepted late objections in the past. Councillors who voted against hearing our objections and denied us the right to be heard were as follows:Baillie John Kane, Scottish Labour Party, Govan (5)Baillie Hanif Raja, Scottish Labour Party, Pollokshields (6)Cllr Aileen McKenzie, Scottish Labour Party, Springburn/Robroyston (17)Cllr Robert Connelly, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Calton.Those councillors that believed in the democratic process and wanted to hear our objections were as follows:Cllr Rhiannon Spear, Scottish National Party, Greater Pollok (3).Cllr Graham Campbell, Scottish National Party, Springburn/Robroyston (17).Gary Gray, Scottish Labour Party, Canal (16).Special mention to Cllr Rhiannon Spear who made clear her concerns over aspects of Uber’s operation and was clearly unhappy with what transpired.Just to recap, all traditional taxi and private hire companies in Glasgow are registered at their respective licensed premises in Glasgow for the booking, dispatch and payment of fares. This means that they are within the jurisdiction of Scottish law enforcement and the Scottish legal system. It also means that they are subject to UK tax and VAT.“Uber is the exception. Glasgow work is dispatched from Uber BV in the Netherlands, trip data is recorded by Uber BV in the Netherlands, payment is taken by Uber BV in the Netherlands, and a receipt is issued by Uber BV in the Netherlands. Glasgow City Council yesterday licensed a sham booking office that attempts to legitimise dispatch of work from an unlicensed foreign company, Uber BV. Yesterday Uber’s Solicitor pointed to 4 million trips taken in Glasgow since it started. Some crude arithmetic based on an average of £5 per trip:4M x £5 = £20MUber’s cut (25%) after drs are paid =£5MUK Corporation tax @21% on £5M ~£1M+UK VAT @20% on £20M = £4M

So, with what we admit are very crude workings, Uber has avoided UK tax and VAT in the region of £5M in Glasgow alone, in the 30 months it has been operating. That is starving the public purse of much needed revenue for schools, hospitals, housing etc. Glasgow City Council Licensing not only had solid legal grounds to reject Uber’s application, it also had a strong moral case to reject it.

Don’t take our word for Uber’s illegal operation in Glasgow. At the November, 2017, Joint Taxi and Private Hire Trade Meeting, GCC Licensing Solicitor, Mairi Millar, stated that Uber Britannia Ltd did not satisfy the criteria to hold a Booking Office licence. Well the Licensing Solicitor can now make that two illegal booking offices ‘operational’ in Glasgow now.“

April 19, 2018 at 01:50PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

June in Malta: 7nt holiday from £192pp - incl. apartment & flights

Summer is coming pirates, so get yourselves out to one of the most beautiful islands in The Med! Our Holiday Finder is offering 7 nights at the Mavina Apartment Complex, just 10 minutes' walk from the beach in Bugibba. Flights are included from a selection of UK airports. The cheapest time to travel is late-June,… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

From £669pp: 14nts Dominican Republic all inclusive w/ flights, beach resort, transfers & bags

Pirates, some all inclusive Caribbean sunshine is on the cards next with this brilliant Dominican Republic holiday from our Package Finder. Using a TUI discount code, you'll get 14 nights all inclusive from just £669 per person, based on 2 sharing, including flights from Manchester, airport transfers and checked in luggage. You can also use… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

THE HIDDEN COSTS OF OWNING AN ELECTRIC CAR - SO IS IT REALLY CHEAPER THAN A PETROL OR DIESEL?

As electric vehicles rise in popularity, so does the price to run one - and motorists are being hit with extra charges

DRIVING an electric car might seem like a cheaper option, but drivers are being hit with hidden costs as the motors become more popular.

The number of electric vehicles on British roads has risen by 33 per cent in the last year, but that’s been matched by a hike in charging costs

The majority of public charging points no longer offer free electricity, with plug-in drivers now forced to fork out for monthly subscriptions to power up their motors.

In some cases, drivers can expect to pay as much as £17 per month subscription in addition to charging fees.

According to a study by What Car?, the cost to charge a Renault Zoe ZE40 to 80 per cent varied largely depending on location.

They found motorists could pay as much as £17.46 to use a Source London Flexi – fast (7.4 kW) charging station, or as little as £7.70 for a Polar Instant – fast (7.2 kW) charger

The price to charge an electric car also varied depending on whether or not there was a registration fee, and whether the cost was charged by monthly subscription, by the hour or by kWh unit cost.

Research found that public charging could cost drivers twice as much as if they were to power up their vehicle at home

But a lack of public parking means many motorists are forced to pay public charging rates.

Steve Huntingford, Editor at What Car? said: “Plug-in electrics are still relatively new to consumers and so they might not be as clued up as they would be with a petrol or diesel equivalent.

“Plug-ins should remain an extremely worthwhile and affordable investment for many, but it’s essential that prospective owners are doing their research and making sure they’ve got the right car for their needs and lifestyle.”

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