Uber licence in London refused

Sounds like those who use Uber like it and those who don't are glad to see it banned. It has been a life- changer for us, and I have never met a driver in 120 trips who felt exploited. They like the extra income and flexibility. Love black cabs too, but Uber is a big threat to their business. With satnav, the Knowledge less impressive.

I know that there were problems in the North East because some cab drivers were registering in Berwick but driving in Newcastle, where the registration costs at least three times more. I don't know if there are Uber cabs there.

www.trustedreviews.com/news/uber-alternatives-3295930

Lots of alternatives to Uber in London and elsewhere.

Do you ask them all, avalon?
A strange thing to do.

I'm sure most Londoners are aware of the alternatives to Uber, but I'm not sure those companies listed in your link would meet with your approval dj.
Addison Lee are facing the same issues as Uber with court cases, prosecuted by the same solicitors, backed by the same union.

www.leighday.co.uk/News/News-2017/July-2017/GMB-takes-Addison-Lee-to-tribunal-over-worker-stat

That's okay, primrose. Just trying to be helpful.
Can't remember the last time I used a taxi.
Lots of others, not just Addison Lee.

Black cabs are way too expensive someone farther up said what price safety, indeed, but some people don't have the choice so would you rather them walk home in the dark Have minicabs never had any safety issues for women or even black cabs I don't live in London so never used or seen an Uber cab but just thinking are there no safety issues with any other cabs ?
I use my local minicar firm and never even considered feeling unsafe I like to chat to the drivers and have had some nice chaos and chapesses Does uber have any women drivers?

London Black Taxi Drivers had the monopoly for too long. Hoorah for Uber/Addison Lee. If what we here is true, however, Uber does need to clean up its act, big time. I hope it does go to supreme court. London Black Taxi's robbed us blind for years and didn't treat us very well! I remember the numerous times we would have to walk home because black taxis were never available...Uber/addison Lee changed all that and Black Taxis didn't like it. I feel this is a witch hunt.

I thought mini Cabs had been around for years, long before Uber and AL?

Uber doesn't seem to have a good reputation

Whether you like Uber or not the facts are
Uber subsidises their fares by 40%
Uber uses 2 algorithms - the higher fare is what the passenger pays the lower fare is what is paid to the driver
dBS certificates were issued to drivers by Onfido - a company put together by the same venture capitalists that backed Uber to facilitate DBS certs for Uber drivers - this company has been taken off the approved list Since there are grave irregularities in their processes - 13000 drivers have certs that need to be resubmitted
Fake medical certificates - proven fact
Fake driving licences - proven fact
42 serious sexual assaults 2017 alone
Countless documented proof of a total disregard for driving and legal rules and regulations
Worse - in the event of an accident passenger is completely on their own -since Uber take no responsibility - just read their T&cs
Most Uber drivers are part time - 100s working as bus drivers etc
Accident rates have soared
Predatory pricing is illegal and surge pricing is immoral
Incidentally Uber now forging email petition signatures - again proven fact
Black cab prices set by government hire and reward insurance and wheelchair capabilities mandatory which is why fares are higher although in blind tests this is not always the case
London managed pre Uber and those 40000 drivers they are so worried about are free to work at any one of hundreds of minicab firms or even do the knowledge if they are good
enough . Plenty of minicab companies utilise the same technology and keep within the law - why should Uber be any different

Eloethan thank you for your reply to my query. The day got busy and I wasn't able to get back on here so sorry for the delay in my thanks.

I was really concerned that this was a bit of general history I should have known but probably not is my conclusion.

I don't think what was being said related to this particular act but was an example of the fact that there are times when capitalism needs to be limited by proper regulation, in this instance on employment questions and safety.

The very regulations that the government wants to get rid of when we leave the EU and the ECJ.

People criticise the Labour party for being close to the Tories as far as Brexit is concerned, but the biggest difference is in labour laws, which Corbyn wants to strengthen when they are imported.

The government wants to get rid of such regulations because they are no longer the Tory Governments of old but are being pushed by their neoliberal wing. Margaret Thatcher imposed neoliberalism on this country and people need to think about just how much good that has done on housing, etc., and, of course, trickle-down.

Uber lost their licence in Sweden. A lot of drivers had no background checks at all.

I've just been reading that Uber could play the race card as 90% of their workers are from ethnic minorities.

Ahhha - so that exempts them from following regulations?

What rubbish. Where did you read that, petra?
It should make them more aware of the regulations and wanting to fit in.
Uber is a US company and tries to flout the regulations elsewhere.
Time they were shown that doesn't work here.

They are a very litigious company so I wouldn't be surprised if they went for anything they can find.

All they have to do is obey the laws that they claim to be obeying. Then they can keep their licence.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2017/09/23/why-uber-deserves-to-lose-its-london-licence/

Yes, I read that too petra. It wasn't Uber according to the Standard, it was Iqbal Wahhab, former chairman of the Department of Work and Pensions Ethnic Minority Advisory Group who brought it to light. In an article for the International Business Times (but I have not read that).

"Of course it is absolutely disgraceful that Uber as a company hasn't cracked down on its terrible record of drivers committing sexual offences. But is putting 40,000 people's livelihoods at stake – people who are largely from ethnic minority backgrounds and who we can safely assume are from relatively unprivileged backgrounds – going to stop sex crimes?"

From the article. It looks to me here as though he's saying it's okay for Uber drivers to commit sex crimes as it saves jobs for BME drivers.
And to actually complain about Khan being responsible for stopping 40,000 BME people working?
They can get jobs working for other taxi companies, ones that follow the laws properly.

labourlist.org/2017/09/uber-has-its-licence-revoked-in-london-labour-movement-reacts/

From what I have read, and I assume it is is largely accurate, these drivers are badly paid and pretty badly treated.

If it is correct that around 90% of the workforce are from an ethnic minority, it seems to me that the company could be open to allegations of exploitation. I don't think the phrase "playing the race card" is particularly acceptable in any circumstance but especially not when it is used in this situation where the company is responsible for vetting employees and setting out terms of working.

It is not, in my opinion, acceptable to employ possibly unfit, unsuitable and unsafe people or underpay and mistreat employees in order to achieve rock bottom prices
in order to seriously undercut any competitors in order to gain control of the market.

To say that if Uber is closed down these drivers will have no work is not a reason for continuing with bad and possibly unsafe practices. Using that argument, the flouting of any sort of health and safety regulations could be justified on the grounds that "at least they've got a job".