Direct Cabs

[Phil D. Rolls]

Notice these scabs are advertising on the telly. My guess is that they will not be able to cover all the extra work they get from this campaign.

Anybody had experience of them failing to show (as Mrs Rolls did on Sunday) or are they as good as people are convinced they are?

[LustForLeith]

Notice these scabs are advertising on the telly. My guess is that they will not be able to cover all the extra work they get from this campaign.

Anybody had experience of them failing to show (as Mrs Rolls did on Sunday) or are they as good as people are convinced they are?

Are they Black Cabs or private cabs?

[Cod Boy]

private

[Phil D. Rolls]

Are they Black Cabs or private cabs?

Surely the word "scabs" was all that was needed?

[McSwanky]

Surely the word "scabs" was all that was needed?

We're not all in on the cabbie in-jokes you know.

[Cod Boy]

my in laws were going to a wedding the phoned direct cabs for a taxi for 4pm.
This was on a saturday 4pm came and no show so one of there neighbours gave them a lift.The following day there door goes at 4pm guy at door says thats your taxi mother in law said thats good but your 24hours late.:brickwall

[Peevemor]

my in laws were going to a wedding the phoned direct cabs for a taxi for 4pm.
This was on a saturday 4pm came and no show so one of there neighbours gave them a lift.The following day there door goes at 4pm guy at door says thats your taxi mother in law said thats good but your 24hours late.:brickwall

It was probably because of the trams! :agree:

[Cod Boy]

was well before work on the trams started

[H18sry]

I've had no problems with them:wink: Saves me almost a fiver on the fare home to Balerno on a Saturday night compared to the black cabs :agree:

And they are as reliable as the Blacks :agree:

[Phil D. Rolls]

I've had no problems with them:wink: Saves me almost a fiver on the fare home to Balerno on a Saturday night compared to the black cabs :agree:

And they are as reliable as the Blacks :agree:

Be interested to hear if you encounter any problems since the TV campaign began.

[H18sry]

Be interested to hear if you encounter any problems since the TV campaign began.

Not used them since but will keep u updated :wink:

[Barman Stanton]

Is this the firm that gives you a price when you call in? If so I have used them a lot in the past and never encountered any problems. Not used since the advert however.

[Jack]

Well I'd use them and indeed anyone before I'd use Leith Cabs again! Turffed out half way after the driver refused to honour an agreed fixed rate - stuff them!

http://www.hibs.net/message/showthread.php?t=111855

[manewhut]

use to be owned by a couple of Hibbys hence their green logo, now changed to blue since the sale to a west coast mob, but still cheaper than then black cabs and more 6&7 seater's available, use them now and again with no probs

[Phil D. Rolls]

use to be owned by a couple of Hibbys hence their green logo, now changed to blue since the sale to a west coast mob, but still cheaper than then black cabs and more 6&7 seater's available, use them now and again with no probs

But they aren't laundering drug money - that only happens in the West, er...

[jakki]

Can I ask a wee question?

How is it if I telephone a taxi in Livi and want to go to Edinburgh, it costs me a fixed fare of £20-£28 , but when I hail a taxi in Edinburgh from the same place, the fixed fare is £30-£38 and I'm not talking about after 18.00 but daytime fares? The journey is the same. The taxi has to do the return journey without a fare? Now when I get a taxi into Edinburgh, I agree with the driver on a pick up time which saves me a tenner.:confused:

[fergal7]

Can I ask a wee question?

How is it if I telephone a taxi in Livi and want to go to Edinburgh, it costs me a fixed fare of £20-£28 , but when I hail a taxi in Edinburgh from the same place, the fixed fare is £30-£38 and I'm not talking about after 18.00 but daytime fares? The journey is the same. The taxi has to do the return journey without a fare? Now when I get a taxi into Edinburgh, I agree with the driver on a pick up time which saves me a tenner.:confused:

Because Edinburgh Taxi's are legalised highway robbery.

Oh dear... what have I said? :duck:

[creebo1875]

Had a bad experience with a black cab a wee while ago so i try avoid them. Used direct cabs loads of times and never had any problems, especially when calling on a saturday night trying to get home.

[Jack]

Because Edinburgh Taxi's are legalised highway robbery.

Oh dear... what have I said? :duck:

You'll get a row from all the taxi drivers on here! :devil:

BTW does anyone know of any taxis anywhere in the world that are more expensive than Edinburgh? I dont know of any but then again I've not been everywhere!

[Phil D. Rolls]

Can I ask a wee question?

How is it if I telephone a taxi in Livi and want to go to Edinburgh, it costs me a fixed fare of £20-£28 , but when I hail a taxi in Edinburgh from the same place, the fixed fare is £30-£38 and I'm not talking about after 18.00 but daytime fares? The journey is the same. The taxi has to do the return journey without a fare? Now when I get a taxi into Edinburgh, I agree with the driver on a pick up time which saves me a tenner.:confused:

All fixed fares beyond the city boundary are negotiable. Can only assume that Livi taxi drivers are more willing to do the journey for a lower price. It's all about supply and demand.

I've heard all the sh*t about Edinburgh fares being excessive. Have to say, using Fife taxis, I've not noticed much difference. In fact their standing charge is higher than Edinburgh's, so I'd have thought they would be more expensive for shorter jounrneys.

Also, Edinburgh only has two tariffs - one for day shift and one for night. Most areas have at least three - they charge extortionate amounts for fares after midnight.

At the end of the day, if people think cabs are dear, they shouldn't use them. If they are unhappy with the service they recieve when they do, a complaint can be made to the Council Cab Office, which will be heard fairly and impartially.

One last thing - I took five people from the parliament to the station - the fare was £3.50, if they'd got the bus it would have been £5.50. Sometimes a cab can be cheaper.

[Just Jimmy]

All fixed fares beyond the city boundary are negotiable. Can only assume that Livi taxi drivers are more willing to do the journey for a lower price. It's all about supply and demand.

I've heard all the sh*t about Edinburgh fares being excessive. Have to say, using Fife taxis, I've not noticed much difference. In fact their standing charge is higher than Edinburgh's, so I'd have thought they would be more expensive for shorter jounrneys.

Also, Edinburgh only has two tariffs - one for day shift and one for night. Most areas have at least three - they charge extortionate amounts for fares after midnight.

At the end of the day, if people think cabs are dear, they shouldn't use them. If they are unhappy with the service they recieve when they do, a complaint can be made to the Council Cab Office, which will be heard fairly and impartially.

One last thing - I took five people from the parliament to the station - the fare was £3.50, if they'd got the bus it would have been £5.50. Sometimes a cab can be cheaper.

Taxi's back home are hellish. Costs me 20 quid to get home from Kirkcaldy around 7 miles.

Dundee is ok, 20p standing charge which goes up 20p per person after the 2nd person.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Taxi's back home are hellish. Costs me 20 quid to get home from Kirkcaldy around 7 miles.

Dundee is ok, 20p standing charge which goes up 20p per person after the 2nd person.

Heard that one - guy in Kinglassie told me it was £20 for a cab from Kirkcaldy - I'm sure that must be more expensive than the equivalent journey in Edinburgh.

[Jack]

One last thing - I took five people from the parliament to the station - the fare was £3.50, if they'd got the bus it would have been £5.50. Sometimes a cab can be cheaper.

I bet they all claimed it :duck:

[Phil D. Rolls]

I bet they all claimed it :duck:

Had an experience like that before the England rugby match. Three journos, all asked for a receipt for the £10 fare.

Did I get £30 - did I ****

[babydollxxx]

Use Direct all the time and never had a problem

[New Corrie]

I use Direct Cabs mainly because there is a free phone from my local and you get a discount, however I can see what riles the Black cab companies about private hire. The majority of the private hire cars that I use are total heaps of sh**te and the drivers are reliant on these tom tom things, add to that a lot of them can't speak English (although i'm sure a lot of black cab drivers fall into that catagory) then you can see where the animosity comes from.

The Black cab guys sit a test and spend a lot of money on a vehicle, therefore should get preferred treatment. The only thing I find bizarre about the Black cabs is how they are allowed to profiteer from the selling of licenses which legally belong to the local authority:confused:

[Phil D. Rolls]

I use Direct Cabs mainly because there is a free phone from my local and you get a discount, however I can see what riles the Black cab companies about private hire. The majority of the private hire cars that I use are total heaps of sh**te and the drivers are reliant on these tom tom things, add to that a lot of them can't speak English (although i'm sure a lot of black cab drivers fall into that catagory) then you can see where the animosity comes from.

The Black cab guys sit a test and spend a lot of money on a vehicle, therefore should get preferred treatment. The only thing I find bizarre about the Black cabs is how they are allowed to profiteer from the selling of licenses which legally belong to the local authority:confused:

Brown paper envelopes my friend.

There is a school of thought that the taxi committee or whoever the fuds who decide these things have a vested interest in restricting the number of licences issued.

With no restriction on the number of people who can get a licence to drive a cab, they create a sellers market on the subject of rentals.

Their totally illogical argument is that too many licences would lead to too many cabs on the street. What they fail to recognise is that it is the number of people licensed to drive cabs which influences how many are on the street.

The claim is that there is no "unmet demand" for cabs, so there is no need for further licences. At the same time they allow unrestricted PHCs on the street. So, of course there is no unmet demand.

That means that the public have to suffer inferior drivers, who have not done the knowledge, and who - as you rightly say - are not subject to the customer service modules that Black Cab drivers do (whereby a lack of basic English should cause a fail).

In London, once you've done the knowledge, you get a plate. In Edinburgh this isn't the case for the time being. However, one day a judge will be sober enough to see through this cabal and the way they control the availability of cabs.

My post about Direct Cabs wasn't a dig at Private Hire, as such, I'm just interested in how they will cover the extra work they bring in through TV advertising. I'd have thought most people would ring them up, if they claim they give a 20% discount.

[Pete]

Brown paper envelopes my friend.

There is a school of thought that the taxi committee or whoever the fuds who decide these things have a vested interest in restricting the number of licences issued.

With no restriction on the number of people who can get a licence to drive a cab, they create a sellers market on the subject of rentals.

Their totally illogical argument is that too many licences would lead to too many cabs on the street. What they fail to recognise is that it is the number of people licensed to drive cabs which influences how many are on the street.

The claim is that there is no "unmet demand" for cabs, so there is no need for further licences. At the same time they allow unrestricted PHCs on the street. So, of course there is no unmet demand.

That means that the public have to suffer inferior drivers, who have not done the knowledge, and who - as you rightly say - are not subject to the customer service modules that Black Cab drivers do (whereby a lack of basic English should cause a fail).

In London, once you've done the knowledge, you get a plate. In Edinburgh this isn't the case for the time being. However, one day a judge will be sober enough to see through this cabal and the way they control the availability of cabs.

My post about Direct Cabs wasn't a dig at Private Hire, as such, I'm just interested in how they will cover the extra work they bring in through TV advertising. I'd have thought most people would ring them up, if they claim they give a 20% discount.

I'll bet you a fiver that doesn't happen.

:greengrin

[KdyHby]

BTW does anyone know of any taxis anywhere in the world that are more expensive than Edinburgh? I dont know of any but then again I've not been everywhere!

Just back from Zurich, the cab fares there makes Edinburgh's look cheap

[The cooler king]

Notice these scabs are advertising on the telly. My guess is that they will not be able to cover all the extra work they get from this campaign.

Anybody had experience of them failing to show (as Mrs Rolls did on Sunday) or are they as good as people are convinced they are?

Their Depot and Bankhead is a joke.
Motors strewn evwerywhere, parked on Double yellows and their drivers all looked like 'jakeys'.

[Sick Boy]

BTW does anyone know of any taxis anywhere in the world that are more expensive than Edinburgh? I dont know of any but then again I've not been everywhere!

I'm sure I read somewhere that Edinburgh was third in the list of the highest taxi fares in Europe. Oslo and London were above.

[jakki]

Here in Livi, taxis are relatively cheap compared with Edinburgh, but in Warrington the fare from the station to my daughters house is less than £2 where here in Livingston it would be at least £5.

When down there I always pay what I would expect to pay up here.It has the great effect of - phone for a taxi on a busy Saturday night and there's one on the doorstep before you can blink.My English son-in-law cannot phathom out how that happens as he usually has to wait 30 minutes or so for one. I've not told him about the jungle telephone between cabbies that says "Big tipper Marydoll is in town and her address is...........":greengrin

[jabis]

as an ADI driving about town all the time,if i see a private taxi numberplate,i'll tell the pupil "carefull....there's an a**hole behind the wheel"
purely through experience !

[Phil D. Rolls]

I'll bet you a fiver that doesn't happen.

:greengrin

Taylor says it will, and that's good enough for me.

[Phil D. Rolls]

as an ADI driving about town all the time,if i see a private taxi numberplate,i'll tell the pupil "carefull....there's an a**hole behind the wheel"
purely through experience !

Can't be good for business though - being abusive to your pupils. Still....

[Phil D. Rolls]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Edinburgh was third in the list of the highest taxi fares in Europe. Oslo and London were above.

Your unbiased, impartial Evening News ran a feature last year suggesting they were the most expensive on planet earth.

By simply comparing a fare from the West End to Blackhall at 8pm on a Friday, they found that the fare was cheaper than it would be in Tokyo!

How can you trust journalism like that? By failing to factor in the cost of air travel from Japan to Blackhall, they have made themselves a laughing stock.

[Scouse Hibee]

as an ADI driving about town all the time,if i see a private taxi numberplate,i'll tell the pupil "carefull....there's an a**hole behind the wheel"
purely through experience !


What a coincidence, that's what I say to the wife when I see an ADI with pupil on board :greengrin

[fordie2]

I drove for Direct for 6 months, it was a ****ing nightmare. It was so quiet at some points you would maybe wait at least an hour between pickups and then they were generally all £3 pickups from the supermarkets:grr:.

Black cabs ain't great for their directional skills either, many a time I have had to give a black cab driver directions to where I want to go.

[scott7_0(Prague)]

Two weeks ago I called them at 5.45am to order a taxi for 6.15am, a simple pick up in Sighthill taken me and the wife to the airport, all confirmed so sat down for a slice of toast and cip of tea.

6.15 came and passed, said I would give them the benefit of doubt until 6.20, that came and passed, called the dispatcher and asked where the hell the taxi was, oh sir we have your pick up noted as 7.15am,

After telling them i needed a pick up straight away as i had a flight to catch she said oh we don't have anything in the area for the next 30mins,

So asked to speak to her manager/director and after that conversation a taxi was there in front of my folks house within 5mins, nice big gold merc.

The thing is they used to be a good small local business, but now they hire anyone, apart from the above ride I cannot remember the last time i got picked up by a local driver.

[Woody70x2]

Here in Livi, taxis are relatively cheap compared with Edinburgh, but in Warrington the fare from the station to my daughters house is less than £2 where here in Livingston it would be at least £5.

When down there I always pay what I would expect to pay up here.It has the great effect of - phone for a taxi on a busy Saturday night and there's one on the doorstep before you can blink.My English son-in-law cannot phathom out how that happens as he usually has to wait 30 minutes or so for one. I've not told him about the jungle telephone between cabbies that says "Big tipper Marydoll is in town and her address is...........":greengrin

LOL... so they are all waiting on a £3 tip!