anonymous

https://citizen.co.za/lifestyle/your-life-technology/1688473/britain-us-transport-taxi-uber-drivers/
Some say is good, others they want more because they can do it!
Quality versus quantity!

AS expected, they didn't get along although CEO was here in person. they take the fight to court now. More strict rules for them if they wanna stay

https://citizen.co.za/lifestyle/your-life-technology/1688473/britain-us-transport-taxi-uber-drivers/
Some say is good, others they want more because they can do it!
Quality versus quantity!

How stupid can you be to accept pool jobs?
I mean driving 10 miles for £11.00 , what is this?
Why do you do this?
Some thinking , oh it was towards my home, fair enough but why accept pool when you can accept X, still doesn't make sense???
Press NO THANKS button

I use my mobile phone as a satnav system, it sits in a cradle with the destination programmed in before I set off. For most of the journey I have the screen turned off. Is it OK to then unlock your phone using finger print scanner to bring satnav back up after the screen has been locked?
If the mobile phone is held in a cradle then it must not be touched throughout that journey. The moment you touch or handle your mobile phone as part of your journey, then in effect an offence is being committed.
Can taxis use their systems while driving?
  A man using his mobile phone (Photo: PA)  
Taxi drivers are not exempt from mobile phone legislation and the rules still apply to them. If the system is on a handheld mobile phone then they should not be used.
I see plenty of police on their phones and radios while driving. Does this legislation not apply to them?
Police aren’t exempt from this legislation and will face the same consequences should they be found driving whilst using a mobile phone. Police officers are however exempt from using two-way radios as part of their operational duties.
If your car has Bluetooth, and on the steering wheel there is a button to answer the phone via Bluetooth, is this ok?
Using hands-free mobile phones whilst driving is not an offence, so this should be fine. However, research shows that you could still be distracted by using any hands-free phone system, as your attention can be diverted away from the road.
READ MORE
Can drivers use ApplePay at drive-thrus? We look at the unusual laws that could catch you out Are phone-based sat-nav apps now illegal unless phone in a cradle?
The legislation hasn’t changed, only the penalty. You can use a phone based sat nav, but cannot touch or handle the phone.
Can I change songs on my phone at traffic lights or in traffic jams at a complete stop?
  Drivers using their mobile phones to text and makes calls while driving; Jesmond Road Newcastle  
No. If you are stationary at traffic lights or in a traffic jam, then you cannot touch or hold a mobile phone. You can only do this if your journey has ended.
Why are people allowed to smoke in their car - surely this is just as distracting?
Mobile phone legislation does not apply to smoking in vehicles, however, if it can be shown that a person is not in proper control of their vehicle, due to their smoking, another offence can apply.
  I see people on their mobiles at least every day and could note their registrations. Is there any way to report this?
Unfortunately, this would not be enough evidence and we would struggle to successfully prosecute.
READ MORE
See the near misses caught on camera putting cyclists' lives at risk across the North East If I photograph another car driver using a hand held mobile phone, can the police act on this?
The picture must be clear and must show the vehicle’s registration plate. If you’re driving a vehicle then you cannot take a photograph, any picture must be taken via dash cam footage or by a passenger in the vehicle.
Anyone with photographic evidence can call 101 to make a report.
Source:http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/can-use-phone-satnav-driving-12707634
 

Toyota prius all the way even more reasons for people to buy them

Hence, the introduction, in my opinion, of having to have a rating of 4.85, over 1,000 trips on X, before you can get onto Exec/Lux.
 
Before, a few years back (me included), you were able to go straight onto Exec/Lux, by passing a simple multiple choice test.
 
Thankfully, a lot of those drivers with low ratings/standards would have left by now, leaving the better (ex X drivers, who are upgraded) drivers on Exec/Lux. 

It's with insurance, wear and tear.
At £185 you're either getting Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra - similar 
At £200 Insignia or Avensis - similar 
Are you new partner ?
 

All my mates who are driving for Lux have huge pressure because of Uber, they are making around £12/hour with some of them £70k cars, can you imagine. Well done for those who spent 4k for car and now are making close £1000 weekly, I am not sure what is the future and why uber lost so many clients from LUX, something happened and hopefully same thing will not be happening for EXEC although is very cost effective for majority of the customers

Many former Lux passengers, especially those who used Uber from when it was launched in London, now use Exec, with the exception of the mega-wealthy, but these are rare users, as they would have their own driver, or use a preferred chauffeur company, anyway. 
 
I would imagine most Lux drivers use Uber on the side, and have their own clients, and sub-contract from other chauffeur firms as well. 
 
If planning to work just for Uber, then, I agree you would earn more by doing basic X, putting the hours in (and previous experience/knowledge helps, too), and with some luck, you would earn more than an Exec/Lux driver, who may receive higher fares, but requests will probably not occur as often as X, and work would mainly be concentrated in town. As well as the typically higher maintenance and running costs of running an  Exec/Lux car, over an X car. 

London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan recently announced a £10 toxicity charge for the oldest and most-polluting cars in the city, which will become effective in October 2017. If your car is older than a 55 plate, you’ll have to pay the T-charge.
As no PCO car can be more than 10 years old, the T-charge does not affect any current PCO car.
If your diesel car registration is one of the following, you’re ok!
65 16 66 17 Are you driving a diesel PCO car older than a 65 plate? Then maybe it’s time to change it if you have long term plans
ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone): 
London’s air quality has reduced significantly in recent years and the ULEZ is a way to further reduce the most harmful emissions generated by road transport in central London and across the Capital.
From 2020, all PHVs travelling in the ULEZ zone must meet certain emissions standards to drive in the zone or will have to pay £12.50 per day charge:
To avoid paying a charge from 2020:
Diesel cars must be Euro 6.  65/15/66/17 plate PCO cars will not be affected.   Make sure you finish your finance until 2020 if you dont want to do this job any-more

According to TFL there are 120k drivers in London, half of that working for uber or even more.
But good news , we have 29 drivers less than last week  --------- Private hire driver licences - 117,834: a decrease of 29 on previous week, 141 licences are new.
Since Uber came in London in 2013 from 60k drivers there are 120k now after 4 years, In London only, how do they help congestion???
60k more drivers and you are shocked that you cant make money, don't be!
120k x £250 per licence = £30,000,0000 for TFL from badges only
 
It has to be a cap, has to!

 
 
https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing/licensing-information
 

same thing happened in London, only 40% will remain on the long run, still , money will continue to drop for sure

£5 base for exec in Liverpool.
Have noticed in the rider app that x fares have increased by 40p

Somehow these are great news! More time for drivers to study and improve their english. Thanks for the news!

DO NOT let Uber know you are requesting jobs for you driver account using your rider account, according to them is a breach in privacy policy and will get you deactivated!!!!
Do not test if you can receive jobs with your rider account, use your wife's account for example.....

Guys now i understand why i don't catch big jobs any more:
I was on Queens gate for 1h in the morning and i could see loads of cars disappearing around me, at one moment i was the only one in Chelsea, then i opened the client app to see if i can receive jobs, i put the pin exactly where i was and guess what:
AS a destination I put Terminal 2 Heathrow and all the jobs went to drivers far away from me, they were receiving the job request and then when i typed a different destination (£10 job) like Sloane square i got the job, what a joke !!!
Check the print-screens:
 
ps: I know people will say, oh wait those guys they had the destination set to Heathrow but i was having the same and it never worked for me anyway ....  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Guys now i understand why i don't catch big jobs any more:
I was on Queens gate for 1h in the morning and i could see loads of cars disappearing around me, at one moment i was the only one in Chelsea, then i opened the client app to see if i can receive jobs, i put the pin exactly where i was and guess what:
AS a destination I put Terminal 2 Heathrow and all the jobs went to drivers far away from me, they were receiving the job request and then when i typed a different destination (£10 job) like Sloane square i got the job, what a joke !!!
Check the print-screens:
 
ps: I know people will say, oh wait those guys they had the destination set to Heathrow but i was having the same and it never worked for me anyway ....  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Uber drivers have won the right to be classed as workers rather than self-employed.
Wow this is a major win.
Maybe this will be just the start
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37802386
"The ruling by a London employment tribunal means drivers for the ride-hailing app will be entitled to holiday pay, paid rest breaks and the National Minimum Wage.
The GMB union described the decision as a "monumental victory" for some 30,000 drivers in England and Wales.
Uber said it would appeal against the ruling that it had acted unlawfully.
The San Francisco-based company had argued that its drivers were not employees but self-employed contractors.
The landmark ruling could affect tens of thousands of people who work for companies with similar business models such as Deliveroo.
Maria Ludkin, legal director at the GMB, which brought the case, said: "This is a monumental victory that will have a hugely positive impact on drivers... and for thousands more in other industries where bogus self-employment is rife."

I agree, but then again being employed you have a certainty you are going to get the same amount of money every month and you can make plans

In the same time Uber is afraid already.....

Good post, you often forget that working in any office/retail, PAYE job, there are commuting costs and times to consier as well, compared to PH/Uber. How does a say, Zone 1-3 travelcard cost these days?
When I look at my end of year accounts, the profit I make - the amount I pay tax on, doesn't seem at all bad, considering that every motoring expense is covered, including the monthly lease cost of my car. 

No NO NO, as long i am there in the estimated time zone and the customer is not arriving in 5 minutes my job is done. NO SHOW and move on, no customer worth waiting more than 5 minutes....ah ok, if the customer is calling me and say i am sorry will be down in 5 minutes, then is a different situation! ( very rarely happening )

A few of us are planning to meet at Chelsea Bridge tea hut for a drink and a chat if anyone else is interested in coming along.

Will be there from around 7:30 PM.