We, as licensed Hackney & Private Hire drivers, are signing this petition to demand that Veezu immediately stops the new Fixed Pricing (FP) system and brings back the traditional meter system.

 

This issue is very personal to many of us. This is the bread and butter of many of our family and friends who provide a vital service to the public. Many drivers on the Veezu firm used to be Hackney drivers who saw the taxi trade become decimated. Many have also came to Veezu for stability especially from smaller firms such as City, Network & Excel with high hopes of being able to earn a living. However, as Veezu now dominates the market, it feels like the management is exploiting the lack of competition to force unfair conditions on drivers who have no other place to go and adhere to absolute abuse.

 

We pay our extortionate weekly rent and commissions for a professional system, not to absorb all the risks and extra costs of the road.

 

Why the Fixed Fare System is Broken

 

1. Lower Earnings and Hidden Tariffs

 

• Less Pay: Jobs that used to be timed and measured on the meter are now paying much less under fixed fares. We are doing the same work for less money.

 

• Night Tariffs Removed: Management removed Tariff 4 (10 PM to 3 AM) without properly warning us. These late-night rates are needed to cover the extra risks of working the night shift.

 

• Misleading Surcharges: The extra percentages shown on the screen (like 18% or 25% extra) are misleading. They are applied to the lowest base rate possible, so our actual payout is much lower than it looks.

 

• Hidden Mileage: Mileage numbers have been hidden on our iCabbi screens, making it impossible to check if a job is worth our fuel before we accept it.

 

2. Fixed Fares Do Not Work in the Real World

 

• Traffic and Gridlock: The system charges the customer the same price at 11 AM as it does during heavy 5 PM traffic. Drivers are not being paid for the extra time spent stuck in traffic.

 

• Roadworks and Diversions: If a road is closed and we have to take a longer route, the driver has to pay for the extra fuel and time out of their own pocket.

 

3. Too Much Stress: Multi-Drops and Vague Destinations

 

• "As Directed" Problems: About 30% of our jobs are "As Directed." Forcing drivers to sit at the roadside manually typing in precise addresses and door numbers into the PDA wastes time and angers customers who are rushing for trains.

 

• Vague Drop-offs: Many jobs are sent to our screens showing only a broad area or a main road name instead of an exact address. Every job must have a full address before it is dispatched.

 

• Mid-Trip Changes: Passengers constantly change their minds, ask for extra stops, or try to cheat the system by leaving stops off the booking to get a cheaper fixed price.

 

4. Danger to Driver Safety and Bad Support

 

• Safety Risks: Drivers deal with drunk or aggressive passengers. Stopping a trip to call the office about a fare change causes arguments and puts the driver at risk of verbal or physical abuse.

 

• Customer Privacy: Passengers get very uncomfortable and angry when drivers have to report their every move to dispatch during a live journey.

 

• Overseas Call Centres: If hundreds of drivers call dispatch at the same time to fix fares, the lines jam. When we do get through, 70% of calls go to overseas operators who often struggle with understanding the British English dialect, causing major communication breakdowns.

 

• App Glitches: On cash jobs, the app briefly shows a realistic fare when we click finish, but then forces it back down to a cheap fixed fare in our history. Also, the automated waiting time calculator is still broken.

 

Our Demands

 

With rising fuel prices, vehicle maintenance, high rent, and high booking fees, we are working longer hours just to survive. We demand that Veezu immediately:

 

1. Bring Back the Meter: Instantly reverse the fixed fare policy and return to the metered system.

 

2. Show the Mileage: Put the trip mileage back on the iCabbi screens before we accept a job.

 

3. Provide Full Addresses: Stop sending jobs that do not have a precise drop-off address.

 

4. Rent Reductions: Give temporary rent reductions or compensation to drivers suffering from system booking glitches and time being wasted.

 

5. Protect Drivers: Create a clear system that protects drivers from customer arguments caused by fixed fares, and pay us immediately for vehicle fouling/cleaning time.

 

By signing below, we stand together to protect our jobs, our safety, and our families.

 

Many thanks,

 

Manzal Ali

Sheffield City Council Licensed Private Hire Driver

Licence No: 2439