IN reply to the letter "Return Fair" by Mr Harrison in the Citizen on July 8, he seems to have omitted several salient matters from his letter, which if stated would considerably weaken his argument.

He fails to mention the differences between private hire vehicles and Hackneys, viz the fact that every time you enter a private hire vehicle, other than as a pre-booked customer, you are not insured, also you have entered into a contract for an illegal purpose and it is therefore unenforceable. Or, in simple language, if you jump into a private hire car at the side of the road you are under no obligation to pay for the journey.

Secondly, the private hire driver is not required to charge set rates laid down by the council. This leads to a constant stream of complaints to taxi drivers about being overcharged by previous taxis. Further investigation invariably leads to the conclusion that the vehicle involved is a private hire vehicle. Again the contractual result of this is that there is a fundamental misunderstanding as to the basis of the contract, which goes to the heart of it and the contract can thus be repudiated. Simply, this means that the private hire driver MUST tell the hirer the basis on which they are to be charged before the hiring commences so that the person has a chance to refuse and find a cheaper alternative.

Mr Harrison also makes the point that if private hire drivers are seen acting illegally then all that is necessary is to inform the council. I would like to inform Mr Harrison that the Hackney drivers have made hundreds of complaints to the council who just bleat about not being able to do anything as it is too difficult to prove, yet other councils can bring prosecutions every week.

Finally, we are already receiving many enquiries about the Millennium and what it will cost. Briefly, if you hire a taxi with a sign on the roof, then at present we have not applied to the council, who set the fares for any increase and the prices will be the same as last year with double time after midnight and time and a half on New Year's Eve evening. Private Hire Vehicles will invariably be charging whatever they feel like and it is vital that, if making a booking for Christmas and the New Year, you should ascertain what type of vehicle you will be in, get a firm quote in writing of the cost of the journey or at least the basis on which you are to be charged.

David Hodgson,

Sefton Road,

Morecambe.

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