All I did was reply to a Job Advertisement on Seek in 2019.....13 months later; I was contemplating suicide and needing to speak to a professional!

How can my own business just get smashed in front of my eyes like this, in such a cruel manner? 

I'm speaking of 13Cabs, the national Taxi Giant owned by A2B Australia (Formally CabCharge), and their local branch formally: Newcastle Taxies. 

I cannot identify in full for legal reasons; what is happening in this company or its operations - All I can advise is: it's highly toxic by culture; and it's placing people at risk overall; including drivers and elderly clients and I'm living proof along with others. 

As stated above, I applied for a job advertised to be a Taxi Driver; I progressed and completed the day training 13Cabs provide to all new drivers.

I completed + passed all on-boarding requirements and I was certified. I had to provide my driving history + criminal record check, it all Passed, and I had no indication from 13Cabs at anytime that their was any issue.

From Sept 2019 to Sept 2020 I was a successful taxi driver in Newcastle, building up my business and working some pretty tough conditions, customers seemed to enjoy me as their driver, they would often ask for my direct number. 

During the 12 months, I experienced a number of incidents relating to the job, such as our safety, security for our wage, consumers or myself being abused, or complaints unheard by management - than covid. 

Within three to four months in the role I commenced communicating some items to management via email - however by the third Incident, I commenced requesting to speak to the local manager, which was always deferred or excused - 'Manager always not available'.

I had an incident where it involved loss of my wage again, at the time I also had lost some family members, I had to leave and support family for a few weeks - I advised 13cabs of the situation due to loss of wage incident, and immediately I get a notification " the manager can now see you regarding your concerns". 

I returned a few weeks later, I was back at work for 4 days when I get a direct message sent to me demanding i meet the manager of 13Cabs.  

I'm off to see this manager believing it's a simple meeting to touch base on my concerns, although that couldn't have been more further from the truth.

I sat down, they closed the door and advised they had some very displeasing news...

"You Can No Longer Be A Taxi Driver From Today"??? 

Furthermore, they went on to say the reasoning was due to a 'Mid range drink driving charge', which is on my record from EIGHT years prior, when I was on my red P's, thou due to a regulation (Unknown to Myself, until this point),  it is now (after 12 months) against the law if I continued to drive a cab... This manager was basing it on regulations that were always there before I even joined, thou is misusing its purpose to remove me from my job for no valid reason other than I had valid safety issues to raise.

I was in severe shock immediately, I had to walk out as I had just lost two close family members, I retriggered into a mental health spiral and it hasn't stopped.

I was going to this meeting because I requested to speak on issues and serious safety concerns, it only confirms and indentifies the dangerous ethics and operations 13Cabs throw at you.

Within regards to the driving record I provided 12 months prior when I joined 13Cabs, nothing had been brought up until I had concerns to raise & it's been sitting there for a year whilst I busted everything I had to keep the network running whilst most walked away, and at the risk to my own health, life,  this is the thanks you receive? 

To be exploited for a year, used until I had some concerns they didn't want to hear or admit - it's negligent cohesion, and its nearly ended my life - it's definately having a huge affect on my mental health. 

I've attempted to get resolution on this through 13Cabs a few months after this occured, it's now sept 2021 and I'm still being sent around the funny farm at 13Cabs HQ, no care from any adult there, no call back or mature business morals being witnessed - I've had 13cabs locally involve NSW police to contact me about my welfare, in an attempt to intimidate me so I just go away and forget what theyve done to me - that was another blow in February this year.

Im not the only person they've done this to recently, this is what makes me continue fighting for my rights and speaking up and pushing on this, it's NOT RIGHT! I paid my dues for those mistakes when I was on my P'S, why am I being felt another blow eight years on over it again?

I have been to Fairwork, they threw my mental health back in my face due to the fact I didn't get to them within 21 days of being axed, a simple cop out. 

my local MP did the same, advising me I'm to emotional - so they didn't care to act and made me feel numb, unable to act because I'm a mess? I don't know how many times I had to write to them and advise what occured, including phone calls, the still expected me to draft a letter in my state? 

Anywhere I was going to seek support or any type of assistance with this, all I get is blame, or my emotional state is frightening, are you on meds? or talking to a therapist?  Not caring about why I'm in this state or why I'm at this level of despair, it's like anything I was telling them they weren't listening. 

I need to be heard now, I need to get back to my job, I wake up and cry everyday now, that's now my life! 

This is unacceptable, it's UNAUSTRALIAN and 13Cabs Needs to fix this, but first NSW state government and local authorities need to stand with me! 

I'd just like my job back, Id like my business restored, I'd like to be compensated financially on the income lost over 12 months now, the tax office paid that I owe, that loss was immediate by 13Cabs and it's still affecting me, its left me in such a hard and difficult financial position.

Can anyone help me please, I beg - I'm so tired of trying to be strong, waking up every day just feeling crap, and no one cares - no one should be treated or exploited like this in Australia! It's a killer!