Taximen suicides

Colpriz · 23-09-2009 8:17pm #1

Read an article in today's herald about 3 possibly 4 taximen suicides in the space of one week. It went on to say, long time sitting waiting for clients or business leads to brooding and thinking about stuff, the ecconomic climate not helping. My heart goes out to the families of course, but do ye think the ecconomic climate is having its toll on taximen, does this brooding lead to suicide, are they getting a rough deal or have they priced themselves out of their own game...or is the herald a pile of thrash!..discuss

sharkman · 23-09-2009 8:31pm

Taximen do not set the prices , The Government have set the charges for taxi fares in this country .

The_Conductor · 23-09-2009 8:41pm

sharkman wrote: »

Taximen do not set the prices , The Government have set the charges for taxi fares in this country .

My local cab company give a 25% discount on the clock price on prebooked fares.

I'd use cabs a lot more- if-

1. They didn't make it so obvious that they hadn't a vague clue as to where they were going.
2. I didn't feel like I'd just been robbed when they add 8-10 different add-ons on the clock.

I go out of my way to try to make sure that I use an Irish driver- on the basis that they just might have an idea of where they're going, and not rely on GPS systems with out of date maps. After that I'd try to get in a well cared for car- as they're less likely to scare the living daylights out of me with their driving.

Above all else- the biggest reason I don't get more taxicabs- is simply because I can't afford them. If they were more reasonable- I'd be more than happy to pay- but I just can't justify ridiculous cab fares.......

Stark · 23-09-2009 8:48pm

If I was guaranteed one of the nice courteous drivers with road manners, then I'd use them far more often. I see so many pigs cutting up everyone on the road though (and being in cars with the same praying that we wouldn't be in a crash) that it puts me off the profession as a whole. I feel sorry for the few remaining gents (and ladies!).

Capri · 23-09-2009 10:04pm

My local cab company give a 25% discount on the clock price on prebooked fares

- but do they charge you a pick-up fee ??

I'd use cabs a lot more- if-

1. They didn't make it so obvious that they hadn't a vague clue as to where they were going.
2. I didn't feel like I'd just been robbed when they add 8-10 different add-ons on the clock.

1 - if you think he doesn't know where you're going, don't get in !
2 - only add-on is €1 / per extra passenger with you - NOTHING ELSE !

I go out of my way to try to make sure that I use an Irish driver- on the basis that they just might have an idea of where they're going, and not rely on GPS systems with out of date maps. After that I'd try to get in a well cared for car- as they're less likely to scare the living daylights out of me with their driving.

Irish driver, clean Merc / Lexus = good trip , anything else can = PROBLEM !

Above all else- the biggest reason I don't get more taxicabs- is simply because I can't afford them. If they were more reasonable- I'd be more than happy to pay- but I just can't justify ridiculous cab fares

SOMETIMES a taxi can be good value depending on your requirments - if 4 people at a bus stop agreed a common destination, then if could be cheaper / quicker than the bus, and seemingly it costs the taxi driver €150 every time the meter has to be adjusted for new fares :eek:

triple-M · 23-09-2009 10:09pm

taxi drivers are a dying breed hopefully if we ever get a decent public transport system we wont have to use them anymore i'd happily use taxis more often if the drivers were more courteous ,treated the paying customers better,and actually could understand me without trying to explain to me that they dont speak much english,and drove safely not agressively as if they have priority over everyone else

Stark · 23-09-2009 10:17pm

Problem with the above points is you rarely get to choose. Hailing one down on the street is generally a matter of luck and at the ranks they insist you get in the car at the front of the queue.

slimjimmc · 24-09-2009 12:49am

sharkman wrote: »

Taximen do not set the prices , The Government have set the charges for taxi fares in this country .

Wrong, the Government only set the maximum fares, taximen are free to charge lower prices if they want.

Gary ITR · 24-09-2009 12:54am

Colpriz wrote: »

or is the herald a pile of thrash!

I would go for this option

Colpriz · 24-09-2009 1:29am

slimjimmc wrote: »

Wrong, the Government only set the maximum fares, taximen are free to charge lower prices if they want.

So this is my point about taxi greed, if they opted for lower prices we would all consider them as option to a destination

slimjimmc · 24-09-2009 9:08am

Stark wrote: »

Problem with the above points is you rarely get to choose. Hailing one down on the street is generally a matter of luck and at the ranks they insist you get in the car at the front of the queue.

If you're hailing one down then presumably you can take time to get a glimpse at it before you stick your hand out, not ideal I know but it does give you some choice. Even when it stops you still have the right to reject it if you want. It'll pi55 off the driver big-time but hey.

When at the rank just open the door and get into the taxi of your choice, that's your entitlement as a consumer. Once you're in, the driver cannot refuse to take you if your destination is within 30Km and you're not disorderly.
http://www.taxiregulator.ie/consumer/consumer-FAQs/consumer-FAQs.html

smk89 · 24-09-2009 9:11am

il put it simply.

id feel sorry for them if they wern't such w@nkers

The_Conductor · 24-09-2009 9:14am

slimjimmc wrote: »

If you're hailing one down then presumably you can take time to get a glimpse at it before you stick your hand out, not ideal I know but it does give you some choice. Even when it stops you still have the right to reject it if you want. It'll pi55 off the driver big-time but hey.

When at the rank just open the door and get into the taxi of your choice, that's your entitlement as a consumer. Once you're in, the driver cannot refuse to take you if your destination is within 30Km and you're not disorderly.
http://www.taxiregulator.ie/consumer/consumer-FAQs/consumer-FAQs.html

They can and do refuse to take you- if you don't take the taxi at the top of the queue. I even witnessed a taximan on Dawson Street being assaulted by another taximan for taking 'his fare' (I stayed at the scene and made a statement to a Garda on behalf of the poor guy).

Its all well and good the Taxi Regulator having wonderful rules and codes of conduct- unfortunately they bear very little reality with whats happening on the ground.

mike kelly · 24-09-2009 9:17am

Colpriz wrote: »

Read an article in today's herald about 3 possibly 4 taximen suicides in the space of one week. It went on to say, long time sitting waiting for clients or business leads to brooding and thinking about stuff, the ecconomic climate not helping. My heart goes out to the families of course, but do ye think the ecconomic climate is having its toll on taximen, does this brooding lead to suicide, are they getting a rough deal or have they priced themselves out of their own game...or is the herald a pile of thrash!..discuss

I notice a lot of the new taxi drivers pass the time by studying the Koran, it certainly beats brooding on depressing issues

polyfusion · 24-09-2009 9:19am

Survival of the fittest and all that, I couldn't care less, as long as they don't decide to take some innocent out in the process.

corktina · 24-09-2009 11:22am

Onkle wrote: »

I would go for this option

me too (although Im intrigued to know how a potential passenger can tell if a driver is Irish or not...

lost marbles · 24-09-2009 12:00pm

smk89 wrote: »

il put it simply.

id feel sorry for them if they wern't such w@nkers

another classy poster :mad::mad::mad:
saddens me to see that people like this are the future of this country

gaz wac · 24-09-2009 12:04pm

Colpriz wrote: »

So this is my point about taxi greed, if they opted for lower prices we would all consider them as option to a destination

Now if only they could see that :rolleyes:. give me a taxi over a bus anyday, but €4.50 ( somthing like that) before we even move......nope !!

mike kelly · 24-09-2009 12:09pm

corktina wrote: »

me too (although Im intrigued to know how a potential passenger can tell if a driver is Irish or not...

politically correct nonsense

lost marbles · 24-09-2009 12:33pm

i posted a thread here some time ago telling passengers the things to look out for when getting into a taxi [couldnt be assed rooting for it atm]

on the taxis being too expensive
did you know that a taxi from the city center to dublin airport costs between €20 to €24
aircoach charge €8 a head .so three or four passengers would save by getting a taxi .plus getting there direct .
a taxi from the city center to lets say dundrum sc costs between €15 to €17 .the nite link bus charges €5 a head and drops away from alot of estates .
there is a misconseption that taxis are expensive [well they are if travelling alone ] but a group of friends would save and be safer [door to door ] .
how to avoid getting a taxi that you might think the driver dos,nt know where he,s going .
use your mouths .
hail the taxi , sit in and then say "good evening john ,mike , mohammid ,driver."
[you can find his name on the id ] if one is,nt on full display .then tell him this and get out .then and there .
"excuse me i would like to go to dundrum please via milltown .do you know the route ? " .
the driver if you are [happy enough with the answer] should then and only then engage the meter . a starting rate of €3.80 daytime or €4.10 night time . the only extras are €1 per passenger AFTER THE FIRST .
SO THE METER SHOULD READ €4.10 if alone . and €1 extra per passenger .

if enroute you feel that the driver is playing the radio too loud ,or talking on his phone . ask him to lower the radio ,or "could he please not be talking on his phone while your in his car "
if the above is met with abuse .ask to stop at your local garda station [you should know where that is ] and go in and report the driver .
so basically folks use your mouths .
on the other side when you engage a taxi
NO its not a takeaway .where you can eat that burger on the way home .
NO you cant smoke even if you open the window .
NO you cant finish off your pint that you smuggled out of the club and into the taxi .
NO you cant start happy slapping your mate in the front seat .
NO you cant have that row with your GF and expect the driver to take sides .
NO the back seat is not for foreplay .
NO taxis do not carry sick bags .
if everyone from both sides just observed a few simple rules then we would all get on

the_syco · 24-09-2009 12:40pm

gaz wac wrote: »

but €4.50 ( somthing like that) before we even move......nope !!

Complained to the taxi regulator about this once. I got picked up from the taxi's headquaters, and thus they're allowed to charge me the pickup charge... it seems only if you flag down a taxi on the street, do you start off with a zero charge.

Me, I usually pick the Irish scumbags driving bangers when in Dublin. They tend to know where they're going, or at least the rough location, so they'll take a shortcut there, and not follow the GPS along the "extra €5 way".

gaz wac · 24-09-2009 12:44pm

the_syco wrote: »

... it seems only if you flag down a taxi on the street, do you start off with a zero charge.
".

you sure

never happens to me !!!

Idbatterim · 24-09-2009 12:48pm

I need a taxi for later, anyone know the company that advertise on the radio that are offering 20% off?

lost marbles · 24-09-2009 12:50pm

the_syco wrote: »

Complained to the taxi regulator about this once. I got picked up from the taxi's headquaters, and thus they're allowed to charge me the pickup charge... it seems only if you flag down a taxi on the street, do you start off with a zero charge.

Me, I usually pick the Irish scumbags driving bangers when in Dublin. They tend to know where they're going, or at least the rough location, so they'll take a shortcut there, and not follow the GPS along the "extra €5 way".

another classy poster :mad:
no1 the meter NEVER STARTS AT ZERO .
no2 im an irish taxi driver so am i a scumbag ?
no3 i dont drive a banger although the standards are dropping due to the inept regulator .
no 4 please put your brain in gear[ if its still functioning ] before trying to respond to a post

gaz wac · 24-09-2009 12:50pm

how could you forget that ad !! 8 20 20 20

mockler007 · 24-09-2009 12:51pm

corktina wrote: »

me too (although Im intrigued to know how a potential passenger can tell if a driver is Irish or not...

ones pastey, and ones dark, sorted on how you tell the difference

gdael · 24-09-2009 12:53pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

I need a taxi for later, anyone know the company that advertise on the radio that are offering 20% off?

http://www.8202020.ie/

Phone : 01 8202020

Have it on speed dial. Though i rarely get taxis anymore. Too expensive.

lost marbles · 24-09-2009 1:00pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

I need a taxi for later, anyone know the company that advertise on the radio that are offering 20% off?

its 8202020 . but if you do use them they will charge you a call out charge of €2 on top of the fare so why only get what would be a most a 10% discount when all you have to do is walk outside and wait a minute .

heres a little experiment to do .
ring in a soo called discount taxi .then when taking a taxi home get one from a rank nearby where you got dropped off .ask to take the exact same route you took in . then compare the fares . i bet theres not 20% difference in the two

gaz wac · 24-09-2009 1:06pm

A taxi man telling you not to use a cheaper competitor

what ever next

gdael · 24-09-2009 1:14pm

lost marbles wrote: »

its 8202020 . but if you do use them they will charge you a call out charge of €2 on top of the fare so why only get what would be a most a 10% discount when all you have to do is walk outside and wait a minute .

heres a little experiment to do .
ring in a soo called discount taxi .then when taking a taxi home get one from a rank nearby where you got dropped off .ask to take the exact same route you took in . then compare the fares . i bet theres not 20% difference in the two

So you agree, its cheaper, no?
Reminds me of the Broadband salesman when i pited out to him that my current provider was cheaper.
"Sure its only a few quid" he says.
I replied, "Sure why dont i just stay with them and you can come and collect the difference from me every month".

lost marbles · 24-09-2009 1:21pm

all im saying is.... go compare ..... and judge for yourself .
and as for the smartasses [not you poster ]
im trying to be helpful here and if you dont want another prospective view on how to use a taxi from a legit professional point of view ,then please just keep your mouth shut or your grubby little fingers away from the keypad .:mad:

gaz wac · 24-09-2009 1:38pm

lost marbles wrote: »

all im saying is.... go compare ..... and judge for yourself .

Ahh relax..jees louise !!! appropriate user name !!!

I have compared prices from my job to airport, using both 8202020 and the rank at St Green and it is cheaper to use 8202020..just saying !!

corktina · 24-09-2009 2:38pm

mockler007 wrote: »

ones pastey, and ones dark, sorted on how you tell the difference

one assumes one is joking....:cool:

lost marbles · 24-09-2009 2:38pm

gaz wac wrote: »

Ahh relax..jees louise !!! appropriate user name !!!

I have compared prices from my job to airport, using both 8202020 and the rank at St Green and it is cheaper to use 8202020..just saying !!

who,s louise ???a 82020 happy customer
thank you for your input but do you not think , its so immature to start with the snide remarks .and i suppose you thought it would be even better to finish with the just saying !! real class

gaz wac · 24-09-2009 3:10pm

lost marbles wrote: »

who,s louise ???a 82020 happy customer
thank you for your input but do you not think , its so immature to start with the snide remarks .and i suppose you thought it would be even better to finish with the just saying !! real class

And your post is bringing what to this thread

real class ??

"then please just keep your mouth shut or your grubby little fingers away from the keypad .

"

Pot - kettle - black ? Jees you really dont like anyone going against your
opinion do you !! :rolleyes:

Im done !

slimjimmc · 24-09-2009 3:15pm

smccarrick wrote: »

They can and do refuse to take you- if you don't take the taxi at the top of the queue. I even witnessed a taximan on Dawson Street being assaulted by another taximan for taking 'his fare' (I stayed at the scene and made a statement to a Garda on behalf of the poor guy).

Its all well and good the Taxi Regulator having wonderful rules and codes of conduct- unfortunately they bear very little reality with whats happening on the ground.

I expect to the scraps like this between drivers becoming more frequent as fares go down and financially induced stress goes up.

While they may indeed try it on, it is in fact an offence to refuse a passenger unreasonably , so they don't actually have any right to do so. The law is on the consumer's side but most aren't aware of that or just take the quieter option (I'd probably do the same unless cranky). It probably goes against a lot of peoples' nature to insist on their rights and report the driver if he persists in refusing.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2007/en/si/0710.html

9. The driver of a taxi or a wheelchair accessible taxi who is plying for hire or standing for hire shall not unreasonably refuse to carry a passenger where that passenger’s proposed journey is not more than 30 kilometres in distance from the commencement of the journey.

and is subject to a €250 fixed penalty charge
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2007/en/si/0722.html

lost marbles · 24-09-2009 3:24pm

gaz wac wrote: »

And your post is bringing what to this thread

real class ??

"then please just keep your mouth shut or your grubby little fingers away from the keypad . "

Pot - kettle - black ? Jees you really dont like anyone going against your
opinion do you !! :rolleyes:

Im done !

where as this thread has drifted off course .i was giving the posters some advise on the questions and queries they posed .
all you had to reply was to the fact that you got a taxi from 82020 and it worked our cheaper than one off a rank .
there was no need for the snide remark about user name or trying to be funny [way off the mark there ] .on you part or the other people who like taking the cheap shots at the hard working taxi drivers out there .

thebman · 24-09-2009 4:34pm

From my experience, English drivers know where they are going better than Irish drivers TBH.

They are also more inclined to carry satnav if they don't know where they are going and it has gottent a lot better in Ireland now a days.

Irish drivers seem to assume they know the area and end up in problems later on. I don't take taxi's often though so I'm not going to act like this is anything but my experience.

the_syco · 24-09-2009 6:15pm

lost marbles wrote: »

no2 im an irish taxi driver so am i a scumbag ?
no3 i dont drive a banger although the standards are dropping due to the inept regulator .

Never said you were. If you have a nice looking new car, with a nice GPS, I'll assume you'll go the entire route at 50km/h (on the duel carraigeway), as opposed to actually knowing where to go, and fast. If I wanted to take my time, I'd get the f**king bus. If I get into a not-so-white taxi, with someone with a heavy dublin accent, they, 9 out of 10 times, they know where the place I'm going to is, and that you can go 80km/h on the duel carraigeway. If they don't, I just have to mention what was there a while back, and they'll know where I mean.

If I get a "dub" with a country accent, I'm given the scenic route, along the busy f**king road, whilst the meter goes up (as opposed the road parallel to the busy road). If I get a black taxi man, he'll go the longest way around. Sure, I'll get there, but the fafe going from Drumcondra train station to Swords has differed by €20.

thebman · 24-09-2009 6:37pm

the_syco wrote: »

Never said you were. If you have a nice looking new car, with a nice GPS, I'll assume you'll go the entire route at 50km/h (on the duel carraigeway), as opposed to actually knowing where to go, and fast. If I wanted to take my time, I'd get the f**king bus. If I get into a not-so-white taxi, with someone with a heavy dublin accent, they, 9 out of 10 times, they know where the place I'm going to is, and that you can go 80km/h on the duel carraigeway. If they don't, I just have to mention what was there a while back, and they'll know where I mean.

The sat nav bit doesn't make any sense

For one thing modern sat navs can be programmed to take fastest route or to bias for main roads when selecting route so its up to the driver.

Anyone that reads road signs won't be going 50 in an 80 zone. I don't understand what your getting at.

blahblah06 · 25-09-2009 5:34am

gaz wac wrote: »

Now if only they could see that :rolleyes:. give me a taxi over a bus anyday, but €4.50 ( somthing like that) before we even move......nope !!

Actually 4.10 day time or 4.45 for 1st km or first 170 seconds

sdanseo · 25-09-2009 5:54am

The ONLY time I ever have a problem with a taxi driver is when he refuses to shut up - i.e. taking trying to be friendly to me too far. Or, from a different point of view, when I have the misfortune to be driving and have cause to curse wildly and uncontrollably at them , which is about half the cabs I see given their driving is generally crap - but then so is mine, probably. As a CUSTOMER though, I've never had reason to find fault and in all fairness, they are having s **** time of it at the mo' so I'd probably forgive a bit of moaning but there's never any.

And for those that don't know me, I'm a fussy prick.

blahblah06 · 25-09-2009 6:09am

lost marbles wrote: »

its 8202020 . but if you do use them they will charge you a call out charge of €2 on top of the fare so why only get what would be a most a 10% discount when all you have to do is walk outside and wait a minute .

heres a little experiment to do .
ring in a soo called discount taxi .then when taking a taxi home get one from a rank nearby where you got dropped off .ask to take the exact same route you took in . then compare the fares . i bet theres not 20% difference in the two

ur talking bulll first off you got your starting fare prices wrong.
I work for 820 and it's taxi drivers like u that are pissed at us actually doing something to keep customers by offering a discount. I bet u that u wouldn't offer any discount.

You can only Blane yourself for not paying a radio fee as your to tight and ur kind are the ppl saying ya can't make a living anymore

blahblah06 · 25-09-2009 6:13am

How can you say 20 percent discount on an airport call doesn't save you money.
I got a job on the radio 2 hours ago that the total was just under 75 after the discount it was just under 60 I was handed 65 people are loosing there jobs and appreciate people offering discounts to save some money.
Why don't you offer any discount may I ask

blahblah06 · 25-09-2009 6:15am

sdonn wrote: »

The ONLY time I ever have a problem with a taxi driver is when he refuses to shut up - i.e. taking trying to be friendly to me too far. Or, from a different point of view, when I have the misfortune to be driving and have cause to curse wildly and uncontrollably at them , which is about half the cabs I see given their driving is generally crap - but then so is mine, probably. As a CUSTOMER though, I've never had reason to find fault and in all fairness, they are having s **** time of it at the mo' so I'd probably forgive a bit of moaning but there's never any

And for those that don't know me, I'm a fussy prick.

ah were lonely sitting in the car on our own for so long. Our customers are the o my human contact we have so talk a lot of crap lol.
Mind u customers are just as bad with chatting the things they tell u can be bizarre

MaceFace · 25-09-2009 6:36am

Rarely get a taxi and in laws told me they got a taxi at 4am (call out) to take them 3km and were charged €13.

No sympathy for taxi drivers as their solution is to limit the taxis and go back to the way it was.

2 big problems with the industry: too expensive to take a ride and too many taxis in Dublin on a Saturday night (anyone see Camden Street - its like a car park).

Anyways, thats off topic - suicides - probably because they have to work 14+ hours a day 6-7 days a week. Its no life for anyone.

Bandit12 · 25-09-2009 7:18am

The having to work 14 hour day's for 6 day's a week thing is a myth. Yes some drivers work those hours to make 1200 euro+ a week but you can easily pull in 600-700 euro just doing a basic 45 hour week. Two of my mates drive taxi's so that's whre my info is coming from.

sdanseo · 25-09-2009 7:50am

The problem with taxi business is that as a deregulated enterprise it's designed to be self-limiting - i.e. when the market reaches saturation point people stop bothering. But not in Ireland - people like sheep continue to pump their lumps of cash into cars and plates and the situation isn't helped by people being allowed come in from any country in the world and achieve a much lower standard in the already basic test.

People need to get real and lose the plate if you're not doing well. Get the dole, rent allowance and it'll be money well spent to get the bus lanes freed back up for fúcking buses. The whole business of taxi driving being exclusive to those who could afford 80k for a plate may not have been perfect but surely there's a compromise between it and this shíte.

The first thing to do to pushstart the self-regulating idea starts with the Gardaí - cabs parking on double yellows, queueing down the city streets at night, being general arses, driving in the bus lane without a fare - €80 fine. Simple.

MaceFace · 25-09-2009 8:23am

Bandit12 wrote: »

The having to work 14 hour day's for 6 day's a week thing is a myth. Yes some drivers work those hours to make 1200 euro+ a week but you can easily pull in 600-700 euro just doing a basic 45 hour week. Two of my mates drive taxi's so that's whre my info is coming from.

Is this before or after expenses?

lost marbles · 25-09-2009 11:35am

blahblah06 wrote: »

ur talking bulll first off you got your starting fare prices wrong.
I work for 820 and it's taxi drivers like u that are pissed at us actually doing something to keep customers by offering a discount. I bet u that u wouldn't offer any discount.

You can only Blane yourself for not paying a radio fee as your to tight and ur kind are the ppl saying ya can't make a living anymore

i have just got a warning from victor for asking people to stop taking cheap shots at taxi drivers by calling them "scumbags " ect .

i am not talking bull in what i am saying about these discount taxi companies . wether i offer a discount to any customer or not is up to ME not some radio company that YOUR paying over €100 a week to .whos only interest is to get as many cars a possible on its books it can .
i have better things to do with €100 than keep those guys making money off drivers backs .

i know all the little tricks thats used by these discount drivers to ramp up the fare . thats why i said go compare .
dont tell your granny how to suck eggs

im glad to see that theres atleast one taxi driver out there happy with the situtation we,re in atm .
im finished here anyways . i had enough of this moderator bullsh1t .
[dont bother handing out the ban here victor this account is being asked to be deleted . ]

blahblah06 · 25-09-2009 12:06pm

Id rather pay the 100 euro to my cab company who will keep me going with plenty of work cash and account and it puts the food on the table and I dont come back with a gripe about the business. Im happy I have a job and im happy to offer 20% off to customers.

I choose to stay with said cab company because I like the work and no stress of blocking traffic around city roads. Gets jobs of th radio and get the hell out of the **** hole that is town with all the cabs around.

I wonder did the guys that commited suicide work with a company or not.. the mind ponders

Taximen suicides

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