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Booking | Infomation for booking | Traveling companions | Booking types | Availability | Taxi unavailable | Wheelchair users | Taxi ranks | Street hailing | Dial a Cab
Booking
a taxi
To make a booking you telephone the contractor on the number you have
been given. Or alternatively you can book and track your bookings online
via the ComCab
website.
What information do I have to
give when booking?
When the call is answered please give the following information, if you
can:
- Your name
and Taxicard number.
- The address from where you
want the taxi to pick you up. Try to give precise details such as a
particular exit from a supermarket or theatre.
- The exact destination address.
- Whether you are a wheelchair
user.
- Whether you will need help
getting into and out of the taxi.
- Offer a contact phone number
if possible. If there is a problem in supplying your taxi on time
an
operator will contact you.
Note: The operator should confirm with you the details
of your booking to ensure it has been recorded accurately.
Travelling Companions
You can travel with up to 4 companions. If you have a wheelchair then
there may only be room for 3 companions in the taxi.
Types
of bookings
Taxicard bookings are treated in exactly the same way as any other taxi
booking. If you ask for a taxi to be provided as soon as possible they
will begin their search straight away.
For advanced bookings, even if you have booked a taxi well in advance
of your journey, they will not look for a taxi until approximately 15
minutes before your journey. Taxis are not allocated in advance. This
is the way all radio controlled taxi circuits deal with advanced bookings.
Note: If they find you a taxi immediately and
it is close by it may arrive early - please be ready for this because
if the taxi has to wait or you send it away there will be extra costs
involved. Sending the taxi away can also cause further delay, as a new
taxi will have to be found for you.
We suggest you consider the following when booking your taxi:
If you wish to book a taxi for immediate travel, you should try to book
a minimum of 30 minutes before the time you would like to travel.
Extra time should be given for bookings that are important, for example:
- Connecting with on-going transport
- e.g at train or coach stations
- Other important appointments
- Outings to shows or other
events where tickets have been bought in advance.
However, you should be aware
that taxis are not suited to journeys where it is vital that you arrive
at your destination at an exact time.
If you require a return journey you may book it when you book the outward
journey. Please inform the contractor if you cannot be contacted while
you are at the location from where you will make your return journey.
If you make repeat journeys on a daily, weekly or monthly basis these
can be booked in advance to save phoning on each occasion.
Availability
of Taxis
Every effort will be made to supply you with a taxi but at certain times
it may be difficult to find a taxi and it may arrive late. In exceptional
circumstances none may be available. This is because the number of available
taxis varies continuously throughout the day and when demand is high it
may outstrip supply.
For example this can occur:
- During
rush hours
- When
weather conditions are poor - traffic moves more slowly and there are
more street hirings
- During
special events such as major state or sporting occasions - when taxi
movements are restricted or drivers choose not to work
- Christmas
and New Year holidays - when less drivers choose to work
When
no taxi is available - what this means
The contractor
may not be able to inform you that they cannot provide a taxi until shortly
before the requested arrival time. The operator will try to contact you
and ask whether you want them to keep trying to locate a taxi or whether
you wish to cancel and make other arrangements.
This is why it is important to always try and tell the operator how you
can be contacted if you are not at home.
Wheelchair Users and Assistance
- All licensed taxis are wheelchair
accessible, and the contractors' drivers are obliged to take wheelchair
users
- It is the law that wheelchairs
are properly secured inside the taxi. Drivers should do this. Please
ask them to help you if they fail to do so.
- Some electric wheelchairs
and scooters are too large to be carried by a taxi. The contractor will
advise if this is the case with your chair.
- Some of the larger than usual
wheelchairs can only be carried by certain types of taxi and you may
have to wait longer until one becomes available - seek the contractor's
advice.
- Drivers cannot offer the type
of specialist assistance given by some forms of dedicated transport
for people with disabilities. They will give reasonable assistance into
and out of taxis, but are not permitted to lift people under any circumstances.
If specialist help is required a companion who can render it should
accompany you.
Taxi
Ranks
You can pick up Computer Cab or Data Cab taxis from ranks
providing you have your Taxicard with you and the taxi has their logo
on it. Drivers
should accept your Taxicard as long as they are for hire.
To download
a list of taxi rank locations click here.
Street Hailing
You can hail a Computer Cab, Data Cab or taxi in the street
provided that the yellow for hire light is on, you have your Taxicard
with you
and
the
taxi has their logo.
Dial a Cab
Dial a Cab has decided that they will no longer accept Taxicard from Saturday 1 December 2007. From that date you will no longer be able to use your Taxicard to book a Dial a Cab taxi or hail one on the street or from a taxi rank.
This does not affect Computer Cab telephone bookings. You can continue to book with Computer Cab on 020 7763 5001 or 020 7082 3131 or hail their taxis on the street or from a taxi rank. You can also use their web booking service www.computercab.co.uk to book online.
Computer Cab are recruiting more Private Hire Vehicle companies as sub-contractors to ensure that the loss of Dial a Cab does not affect the quality of the service to Taxicard members.
If you have any questions on this or any other Taxicard matter you can contact London Councils on 020 7484 2929 or taxicard@londoncouncils.gov.uk
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