TAXI LEAKS EXCLUSIVE: Helen Chapman's Photo Shopped Bill Accepted On MyTaxi App.

TAXI LEAKS EXCLUSIVE :

Taxi Leaks has acquired evidence that a drivers bill,  bearing the name of TfLs Helen Chapman has been accepted onto the MyTaxi platform, even though it gives the address of 230 Blackfriars road (home of TFL's Taxi and Private Hire administration centre.) 

In addition to naming one of TFL's directors, on the bottom right hand corner, it carries a text passage saying that the regional manager of MyTaxi should be sacked for allowing this breach of security.....and yet it was still accepted on to the platform. 

This is the welcom email sent out to the fake Helen Chapman driver.

In addition, we have also been sent evidence that a serial rapist jailed for life, has been uploaded on to MyTaxi and actual jobs have been recorded, accredited to his account. 

Prolific rapist Delroy Grant was accepted staight on to the platform without question (even though his address was given as 21, Du Cane Road...the address of Wormwood Scrubs prison) and has been authorised to pick up passengers through the app.

We have been given proof below  that a journey was booked for Delroy Grant to pick up.

This evidence has massive security implications and could be used by enemies of the Taxi trade in London to tarnish our good name.

Taxi Leaks believes that the MyTaxi app should cease trading until it can fully guarantee the identity of all its drivers.

We received this information on Sunday night but were asked not to post as the people involved were trying to arrange a meeting with the MyTaxi CEO. We have now been informed that a meeting has been refused and that so far, MyTaxi has failed to issue a statement.. 

Once again the lid has been blown off instant hail apps, but this time, unfortunately,....it's one of our own. 

The MyTaxi app has a gapping security hole, that has allowed dodgy, photoshopped, un-vetted Taxi licenses to be uploaded onto the platform, to work alongside genuine Licensed Taxi drivers.

Just how many fake licenses have MyTaxi taken onto their app?

Is this the norm with other instant hail ride share apps?

MyTaxi - A Potentially Unsafe App by Tim Fenton on Zelo Street blog...

Moreover, MyTaxi might look as if it is there to help the cab trade, but they are on record claiming “Our competition is the street hail”. That’s a challenging proposition for the average cabbie: join MyTaxi and find yourself working for the unofficial opposition. Worse, as TfL have pointed out, it “does not licence MyTaxi or any other company offering similar taxi services via an app or radio circuit”. Obviously, private Hire is different.

Click this link below to continue reading Tim's post:

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Veezu's V Cars sack taxi drivers in Swindon for going on strike

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Allegedly twenty five taxi drivers who chose to go on strike due to an ongoing problematic app that overcharged passengers have been controversially sacked. The cabbies working for Veezu’s V Cars were shown the door for partaking in a larger vocal demonstration attended by approximately 60 people on the doorstep of the firm’s headquarters.

The strike action taken was due to drivers refusing to take work claiming that customers were continuing to be overcharged and that no fix had yet to be found. In a statement via Swindon Advertiser, Veezu said: “Unfortunately, a small minority of drivers have become disruptive. These actions are detrimental to the vast majority of drivers and affect not just the company’s reputation, but also all drivers’ work levels.”

A spokesperson from the firm went on to say: “These actions are not reasonable and as such we cannot condone or allow them to continue. “We have a duty of care to our staff for their safety and wellbeing and to the majority of drivers to safeguard work levels. “The drivers identified carrying out these actions are no longer associated with V Cars.

V Cars Drivers’ Association said that they will be contacting Citizen’s Advice Bureau after “disgraceful” treatment and that “Veezu has no proof to back up what they have said”. Veezu has faced a tricky week as it’s other Private Hire firm, A2B based in Birmingham, have recently been in the spotlight this week. The the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) brings employment status, holiday pay, minimum wage and unlawful deduction of wages claims against against the firm.

The IWGB claim Veezu’s A2B denied its drivers, all members of IWGB’s United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD) branch, basic employment rights by classifying them as independent contractors rather than workers. Workers have a right to the minimum wage, holiday pay, rest breaks and the right not to work more than 48hrs a week, among other rights.IWGB General Secretary Dr Jason Moyer-Lee said: “The wide scale depravation of employment rights is not unique to Uber, it is rampant across the private hire sector in the UK. With these actions the IWGB is stepping up its campaign to have private hire drivers recognised as the workers they are and enjoying the rights to which they are legally entitled.”

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Super advance Cyprus saver: 7nts from £144pp incl. apartment & flights

Pirates, enjoy island life with 7 nights in snazzy Cyprus from £144pp including the 4* Club Coral View Resort & flights. By booking in advance you can snap up the best rates - and for a deposit of only £49pp too. Holiday details: Travel duration: 7 nights (longer or shorter stays possible) Example date: 16th… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All inclusive Maldives 7nt escape from £1179pp incl. flights, 4* beach villa & sea transfers

The Maldives, it's a destination that is on 99% of all traveller's bucket lists as well their Instagram feeds. Our friends at Southall Travel are offering all you Pirates out there the opportunity to enjoy the best this stunning destination has to give with this all inclusive week at the 4* Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, a… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

June getaway: Marbella holiday from £177pp - 3nts hotel & flights

Pirates, we love grabbing ourselves a bargain and this holiday in Marbella really hits the bill. You will stay in a really cute hotel that is well rated and award winning at TripAdvisor so you are in good hands, The price includes your 3 nights accommodation in June, return flights and you can choose to… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

The White Isle in September: Ibiza half board holiday 7nts from £384pp - incl. 4* hotel & flights

Arrr pirates! We've just spotted this great value for money holiday jetting you off to Ibiza end of September. Perfect for relaxation as it's end of season, but also just in time to catch some of the last closing parties if you fancy! You'll be staying at the 4* Ole Galeon Ibiza Hotel situated just… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Late summer: All inclusive in Agadir, Morocco from £204pp - 7nts 4* hotel & flights

Pirates, we have found a great price for this holiday in Morocco and even better you will stay on an all inclusive board basis meaning all meals, snacks and drinks are already included in the price. The holiday departs in October and you can book with a deposit of just £49 each, you can choose… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

May bank holiday: 4* All inclusive Majorca break from £189pp - incl. 4, 7 & 10nts hotel & flights

Pirates, book yourselves a bank holiday bargain with this all inclusive Majorca offer from Holiday Desire. With this package you'll be staying on an all inclusive basis at the 4* Mediterreanean Bay Hotel. Breaks of 4, 7 or 10 nights are available. Flights are included from London, Manchester and Birmingham. Departures are available between May… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber No Longer Trust Their Drivers With Your Pick Up Or Drop Off Details.

Apparently, Uber no longer trust their drivers with your pick up and drop off destination. They announced today that they are to hide pick up and drop off details on the journey notes. 

The changes come after customers going train stations (or to the airport) have complained of burglaries on their return.

Passengers have also complained of sexual harassment from drivers who "know where you live".

In a small change which could improve the peace of mind of its passengers, Uber will now obscure the exact pick-up and drop-off locations in its drivers’ records.

What it is: 

After this feature goes live, drivers will no longer have a record of precisely where they picked you up and dropped you off. Instead the app will show them the general vicinity of each location.

This procedure is becoming increasing like a street hail, which is illegal.

According to Gizmodo, this feature will roll out around the same time as Uber’s new driver app is out for everyone, which should be within the next few weeks.

The details: 

Uber’s making the change in order to comply with the EU’s new General Data Protection Regulation. While the drivers will still need something for their records — something to show they did, indeed pick up a passenger in Area X and drop them off in Area Y at specific times — they’ll no longer retain your exact records.

Why it matters: 

While participating in a rideshare does mean you have to place enough implicit trust in a person to get into a car with them and let them drive you places, it doesn’t necessarily mean you want them to have a record of your location. This is particularly true if the one of the places in question is your home or work.

In the article by Gizmodo, the commentator states:

On the one occasion I Ubered alone, I had the driver drop me off at a location down the street and pretended to linger on the sidewalk with a phone call while he drove off. It wasn’t that I had anything against that person in particular — I just preferred that someone with whom I exchanged two sentences and made fleeting eye contact with in a rearview mirror not know my Airbnb’s location.

It’s not a catch-all solution:

It doesn’t prevent a driver from remembering your locations. Still, it’s a step towards giving wary passengers some sense of safety. Especially after it was revealed that 13,000 Uber drivers haven't had the proper criminal record checks with their TfL licenses. The fact that the rape of Uber passengers by drivers rose last year by 50% makes the service one of the most unsafe forms of travel in London.

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5* Koh Phangan half board holiday 7nts from £921pp - incl. flights, resort, transfers & much more

Ahoy mateys! The pristine beaches of Koh Phangan is up next with this luxurious deal we've spotted placing you at the award-winning 5* Kupu Kupu Phangan Beach Villas & Spa by L’Occitane right on Naiwok Beach on the west coast of the island. You will have half board included in your stay here, along with… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

BREAKING NEWS: Statement from Brighton & Hove City Council Regarding Uber Relicense.

Following yesterday's licensing panel meeting, on the renewal of Uber Britannia Ltd's private hire operator's license has been delayed.

Given the scope and number of representations made to the panel, counsellors have decided to take further time to give careful and detailed consideration to the matter, to ensure the right decision is made.

The panel will reconvene later this week and will announce the decision on the renewal of the license as soon as possible following that meeting. 

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Chic beachfront Cornish spa hotel stay from £54.50pppn

Head out to the English coast this spring/ summer and breathe in the fresh sea air. Grab a romantic night or two at the4* Fistral Beach Hotel & Spa, an adults only accommodation right next to the beach in Newquay. So whether you're a surfer or a sun bather, this is the ideal place for… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Tomorrow’s TFL licence fees ruling “is make or break” for private hire industry in London say Zoom

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The meeting of the LPCHA last month made one thing perfectly clear: that the action taken by the group against Transport for London’s regressive operator license fees is action taken on behalf of everyone involved in the industry in London, from drivers and companies to suppliers and consumers. It is a basic economic principle that more competition in a market means more efficiency, more opportunity and, for customers, lower prices. Many people who support Uber, including most vocally those who make their money from the company, have long said that their presence in the market has increased competition, but this is a fallacy. Since the company does not pay tax in the UK and its drivers are often not VAT registered because they are classed as ‘self employed’ and entitled to in-work benefits if they meet the criteria, then essentially, what Uber have developed is a business model whereby the tax payer subsidises its drivers whilst putting other companies out of business. If this were a case study in an economics course the students would be right to say that the competition commission should be brought in. Instead, Transport for London appear to be making life easier for them. It was therefore no surprise that many in the private hire industry were pleased when TfL took the decision not to renew the company’s license, citing safety concerns as its predominant reason. But a few months down the line and the proposal for operator costs has led many to ask whether that fight was all a bit of a set up. A glance at the breakdown of figures as featured in the last edition of this magazine shows why many are questioning whether TfL would rather just deal with a few large companies than the inconvenience of smaller firms. Why else would it propose such a draconian and economically illiterate fee structure which stifles growth for midsize firms and prices new entrants and driver-owners out of the market? The proposals, which would see minimum costs per vehicle soar for many companies, directly benefit large companies like Uber with over 10000 vehicles. As it stands, the company will see its minimum cost per vehicle drop to £72.50 compared to £380 for a company with 21 to 50 cars. Its maximum price per vehicle would also be only £290 compared to an astonishing £2000 for a sole trader or £1,485.15 for the 21-50 bracket. If the LPCHA loses its legal challenge, I believe the industry is heading towards a model where only a few big players operate, leading to a decline in competition. The company which has 20 drivers will not hire 21st driver, so small operators will not try to grow, even at peak times such as Christmas and New Year. This is bad news for everyone but the owners of those big companies who can then use the price surge – and we witnessed the effect that had during the snow of last month when it raised its prices by up to 500% whilst local cab firms kept their prices the same. But it isn’t just the drivers and the company owners who should be concerned about this. TfL have proposed a new series of costs which will cause devastation to the private hire industry in London and have a knock on effect to its many suppliers, from software providers like zoom to insurance companies and garages. There are people who will need to use minicabs regardless of the price increases, such as elderly people needing hospital appointments or special needs passengers. By removing competition TfL are allowing a monopoly to take place in London which will push up prices. Should these changes get the go-ahead then consumers can expect to see their local companies go out of business and owner-drivers be priced out of the market altogether, and for suppliers that also means a smaller market to sell to meaning a knock on contraction of the market from mechanics to insurance to technology. Consequently this makes it a matter for everyone who has ever or will ever use a minicab in the future and anyone connecting with the industry who doesn’t want to see it become a closed shop. Fareed Baloch is the chief operating officer of zoom.taxi which designs and creates bespoke apps for passengers, drivers and dispatchers.

April 24, 2018 at 05:12PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Winter escape: 7 nights in Portugal in top-rated 4* hotel from £279pp incl. flights

Pirates, pack your bags for Portugal with 7 nights in the Algarve from £279pp including the 4* Algar Seco Parque & flights. There are some great prices available if you travel in off-season: this high-rated aparthotel goes for around £800 in the peak summer season, so it's a big saving to visit in November or… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All inclusive Turkey family holiday £282pp - 7nts 5* hotel w. waterpark, flights, bags & transfers

Ahoy mateys! Treat yourself to this luxury all inclusive holiday in Turkey offered by Thomas Cook staying in a luxe 5* hotel by the beach. This huge resort boasts a private beach, several pools, an aqua park, spa and much more. There are great prices for families and couples and there is even 10% off… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Marvellous Malta mini break: 4nts from £138pp - incl. flights & apartment

Pirates, it's time to bag a late-spring getaway to Malta - one of the jewels of the Med! At this time of year the temperatures are comfortably in the mid-20s and the crowds of summer are yet to arrive - the perfect time to bag a bargain in our Holiday Finder! You'll be staying at… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Funky London hotel stay from £47pppn - incl. breakfast: Right beside Shakespeare's Globe

Grab a stay in the capital at one of the coolest budget hotel's out there; the Ibis Styles Southwark -- a 3* property with 5* attitude. From it's boho-chic lobby to it's colourful themed rooms, you can get bed AND breakfast from as little as £47 per person, per night based on 2 sharing on… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Violent gang who targeted taxi drivers in a number of armed robberies sentenced to over 26 years

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Three armed robbers from Newcastle who targeted Taxi drivers with guns and machetes have been sentenced to over 26 years in total. The three serial attackers could be seen posing for pictures holding up the weapons they would use to threaten cab drivers into handing over cash. They would enter the taxi's posing as regular customers but once they were at secluded locations they would pull out their weapons and threaten to kill the drivers if they did not obey. It some cases they would even make the driver kneel on the floor ready to be executed. When the police eventually caught up with the attackers and searched their homes, they found masks from the cult horror movie scream and Guy Fawkes masks, along with balaclavas, an imitation firearm, a machete, a hunting knife and various stolen items.

Al-Hazzar Aremu, Brandon Makumbe and Silindokule Mabaso were all handed down lengthy sentences for a number of robberies that took place in 2017. Aremu, 18, was sentenced to 10 years in a young offenders institute. Makumbe, 21, was jailed for 9 years. Manado, 19, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in a young offenders institute. The victims all said they feared for their lives and some have even been unable to return to work as taxi drivers.

April 24, 2018 at 01:16PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

What have you got Toulouse? Flights to France from £24 return (some weekends included)

Our jaws dropped pretty hard when we found these flights to the pretty French city of Toulouse starting from just £24 return to Toulouse from the UK. While the dates are pretty last-minute (travel is in May only), this is a great rate for this time of year. -- some weekend dates are even on… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Group mega bargain: 2 weeks in Crete from £163pp - 14nts hotel, flights, luggage & transfers

Pirates, any of you up for a cheap holiday in Greece this Spring, at this price you could go twice, we have come across a bargain 14 night holiday in Crete for under £170 per person. The holiday is with Tui and includes your direct flights, 15kg luggage and return airport transfers. Holiday details Travel… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT