[Closed] Uber might lose licence in London?

Not fit and proper - spot on and Chapeau to Sadiq Kahn for overseeing this decision.

I signed the petition to stop the renewal so pretty happy about it all. Fingers crossed its not a temporary thing, Uber needs a radical change in its business approach and its tax paying behaviour if it is to be allowed back.

[url= http://www.fastersaferfairer.com ]Faster Safer Fairer[/url]

I quite like the ability to book a cab by an app though.
hopefully something else will come along

Nice to see the powers that be grow a pair and actually stand up to the corporate arrogance of the likes of Uber who think they should be allowed to re-write all the rules in their own favour, and just ignore any laws they don't like

Somewhat predictably, they've just said they're appealing the decision

I quite like the ability to book a cab by an app though.

I live in the hills in East Lancs, and I can do that. Our local cab firm now does that. It's not something exclusive to Uber

Nice to see the powers that be grow a pair

+1

And disappointing to see selfish London ****s whinge about it already on my FB feed.

I quite like the ability to book a cab by an app though.

https://www.kabbee.com/

Nice to see the powers that be grow a pair

In this case I think it is just protecting the establishment ie London cabbies.

Not fit and proper - spot on and Chapeau to Sadiq Kahn for overseeing this decision.

+1

I feel quite odd, I'm actually agreeing with Jambalaya...

Will go and have a lie down now.

In this case I think it is just protecting the establishment ie London cabbies.

Maybe that's because the London cabbies are a bit less... you know... 'rapey'

I've had a couple of awful experiences with Uber drivers (who probably shouldn't have been driving, let alone professionally), so, yeah, pretty happy about this. Black cabs need to up their game though, as [i]The Knowledge[/i] is redundant these days.

indeed black cabbies be celebrating tonight!

Interesting to see what happens next, be great if Uber saw it as a sign that they had to improve

sucks for some of the 25000 registered Uber drivers in London though (imagine most of them part time)

some of my best cab rides have been late night dodgy (pre-uber) drivers in barely legal cars, that wouldve been quite scary if I wasnt smashed in one way or another

They are allowed to continue operating until the appeals process is concluded.
That should give their London drivers enough time to find other jobs.
Strong decision by TfL.
Will other cities with an Uber presence follow this lead when the licence comes up for renewal? Let's hope so.

Black cabbies will be celebrating I'm sure, but those that use uber regularly will not. Their prices are so much better than black cabbies

For zone 1 trips black cabbies win
For zone 1 outwards trips uber is excellent

[I live in London but very rarely take a cab, last time was maybe last xmas?]

I quite like the ability to book a cab by an app though.
hopefully something else will come along

How about going by bike instead:

http://pedalme.co.uk

What is the argument that they are not fit and proper? I know the previous CEO was an asshole but they've ditched him and gone for Expedia guy, or is it something they were actually doing bad in London?

some of my best cab rides have been late night dodgy (pre-uber) drivers in barely legal cars, that wouldve been quite scary if I wasnt smashed in one way or another

You should try hailing a lift in Moscow. It's... exhilarating...

Black cabs can be right rip of merchants sometimes, and I only use them for short (single zone) journeys

They can carry on operating while they appeal, which they'll drag out for years, and years etc.
But hopefully, as mentioned above, this might make them buck there ideas up.

midlifecrashes, it's a corporate fit and proper test in this case. TFL list their reservations

TfL considers that Uber's approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications. These include:

Its approach to reporting serious criminal offences.
Its approach to how medical certificates are obtained.
Its approach to how Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are obtained.
Its approach to explaining the use of Greyball in London - software that could be used to block regulatory bodies from gaining full access to the app and prevent officials from undertaking regulatory or law enforcement duties.

Story must've been updated since the OP posted - now says they've lost their license.

last black cab ride i had was a liability, not looking where he was going, nearly hit a cyclist, had to get map out to check where he was going...

Disappointing

Cheers Stoner - a lot of room for opinion in that list, pretty obvious who's going to win the appeal then.

The lawyers.

Dez - decision is that licence will not be renewed but they can continue to operate until appeals process concluded.

You should try hailing a lift in Moscow. It's... exhilarating...

got a dodgy taxi ride in Lima once as the one hotel booked didnt turn up- scariest ride of my life, banged my head on the car roof several times we hit speed bumps so fast and were abandoned on the hard shoulder of a motorway, had to climb a big security barrier to get to the airport, but made our flight & didnt end up on an episode of Banged Up Abroad!

Disappointing

I feel the same way about Jarvis as well

That should give their London drivers enough time to find other jobs.

Uber was a revelation when visiting London earlier this year.

All the cabs we used were well maintained / nice drivers etc.

I completely get the serious reservations listed above. Were Uber given chance to remedy, or did they refuse to?

Black Cabs are an outdated business model in every way.

Number of drivers is, apparently, around 40,000.

Nice to see the powers that be grow a pair and actually stand up to the corporate arrogance of the likes of Uber who think they should be allowed to re-write all the rules in their own favour, and just ignore any laws they don't like

Well said, Boris’s worst move whilst Mayor.

Of course Uber’s prices are lower, they don’t pay VAT, they pay virtually no tax and their drivers work below minimum wage (when accounting for vehicle cost, insurance etc). Of course its F-ing cheaper. I have no issue with an app based taxi service but they should play by the same rules the Black Cabs do. Black cabs don’t set tye fairs, TFL do. Black cabs have to buy and maintain a soecific vehcile (inspected at random inc surprise vists to their homes) etc

Number of drivers is, apparently, around 40,000.

I think that’s right. Certainly when I was living in central London based on the number of Prius driving around at 20mph waiting for a fare it seemed like they where more than that ! I would love to know how many (London based) tax returns have Uber as a source of income ?

Uber needs a radical change in its business approach and its tax paying behaviour

Because, you know, taxi drivers as a breed are well known for their squeeky clean tax affairs. (There are some noteable exceptions but in the main they are as dodgy as Uber over taxes and paying their correct share.

At least this is a step in the right direction, although a few years too late.

[url= https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/11/black-cab-turns-green-new-electric-london-taxi-levc-tx ]Black Cab Turns Green[/url]

Good, can now make the likes of Airbnb up their standards and pay proper amounts of tax.

Uber needs a radical change in its business approach and its taxpaying behaviour

You're right It's not just tax. It's the lot. It seems like Uber's entire business model is based on exploiting legal loopholes. According to them, they're a software company, not a transportation one, so they don't have to comply with transportation laws. The way they contract their staff means they escape minimum wage and employment law.

And then, of course, there's the issue that they pay no tax

Their whole ethos is a massive two fingers to the societies in which they make so much money. Its about time somebody stopped them just thinking they can do whatever the hell they like

Of course Uber’s prices are lower, they don’t pay VAT

Neither do most Black Cabs

Whats stopping TFL creating their own app to book black cabs?

Serious question.

Of course Uber’s prices are lower, they don’t pay VAT

Neither do most Black Cabs

Yet the self-employed drivers still get a better deal, funny that.

Whats stopping TFL creating their own app to book black cabs?

There has been at least one for years, Hailo, people use Uber because it is cheaper. Black Cabs are subject to a whole raft of regulation that is pointless nowadays, regulations leads to increased consumer costs. It is very tough when the knowledge acquired for your qualifications becomes of little value, but it is wrong to ignore reality when it has and force the consumer to pay too much.

Good, can now make the likes of Airbnb up their standards and pay proper amounts of tax.

You are aware that the hosts keep most of the money for AirBnB, right? So tax payments for that part are on them not AirBnB. Are AirBnB as a company not paying tax?

I’m in agreement with TfL.

I’m based in Town and use Black Cabs all the time, went through a year of intermittent use of Uber because mates would order them but they never felt right with me. Stories of hassle and very bad driving, poorly maintained vehicles and the attitude of many of the drivers was shocking.. Add to that thier fondness for single women and late nights and drunkenness and I’ve heard all sorts of stories, most reported to TfL as it happens.
Reverted back the Black Cabs ever since and yes they’re a bit more money, but at least it’s a flat fee basis across all Black Cabs so you Pay the same per mile..

BLoJo was such a farcical berk to let them continue, but then he’s proving just what a jerk he undeniably is.. Gald Khans in, he’s been more forethright and considered than all his predecessors.... about time too.

Reverted back the Black Cabs ever since and yes they’re a bit more money, but at least it’s a flat fee basis across all Black Cabs so you Pay the same per mile..

Black cabs need reforming too though. For short journeys they're not too bad but for long journeys I've always ended up using minicabs. I've had black cabs attempt to rip me off on plenty of occasions by taking a clearly roundabout route and then getting shirty when called on it. Then availability late night/early morning in order to get to some locations is pretty spotty.

All in all, the black cab gang should look at Uber and try to work out what they could do better not just try to drive out competition.

Maybe that's because the London cabbies are a bit less... you know... 'rapey'

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Worboys

I have no issue with an app based taxi service but they should play by the same rules the Black Cabs do.

I've only briefly used Uber in London, with OK experiences, but have used them extensively elsewhere. They offer better quality than local cab companies in my experience. I've only once had a bad experience which Uber refunded when I gave negative feedback. I live outside Uber coverage but my local private hire firm has an app. The standards there are not as good a I have experienced at Uber - but the app is still way better than phoning, hoping they turn up and paying cash.

I have no issue with an app based taxi service but they should play by the same rules the Black Cabs do.

I've only briefly used Uber in London, with OK experiences, but have used them extensively elsewhere. They offer better quality than local cab companies in my experience. I've only once had a bad experience which Uber refunded when I gave negative feedback. I live outside Uber coverage but my local private hire firm has an app. The standards there are not as good a I have experienced at Uber - but the app is still way better than phoning, hoping they turn up and paying cash.