How do I check whether a private hire taxi firm is genuine?

[factor-fiction]

This weekend 3 of us went down to Surrey. Last night was a nice evening and we walked 1.3 miles from our hotel to the town centre and had a meal in a restaurant which is part of a well known chain.
As it started spitting with rain we decided after the meal to get a taxi back. We asked the restaurant manager for the number of a taxi firm and he said he'd get one for us.
A few minutes later a car pulled up, the driver confirmed our name and table number and asked us where we were going. However he seemed unsure of the location of our hotel (a big one) even though it was on the same road and only 1.3 miles away. I asked for a price but he indicated he didn't know as he didn't know where it was and would we direct him. His English was so poor I made the mistake of not pressing again on the price
When we got there he asked for £12. I said I thought £5 was more than enough. He then said £10. I offered £6 and he accepted.
I then asked him several times for the name of his firm. He didn't seem to understand but eventualy mentioned a name which sounded something like KittyCars. I asked him if he had a meter as I couldn't see one. He didn't seem to understand. I looked around the inside and outside of his car and couldn't see any badges.
I made a note of his car reg number.
Does anyone know whether there is a way I could check whether this is a licenced firm as I find it very hard to believe this was a legl enterprise?

[Postdog]

try the people who issue the licences - the council

[Mamyalynne]

He should have plates front and rear and his licence number on both back windows plus a tariff of charges displayed. I am not sure if that is standard but it is where I am.

[cookian94]

Perfectly simple. Ask the restauraNT FOR THE NUMBER AND THEN CHECK WITH THE LOCAL COUNCIL TOMORROW MORNING. Sorry caps came on by mistake

[factor-fiction]

Thanks Postdog. I hadn't realised that the local council issues them but that makes perfect sense. I'll do some digging to find out which council would issue private hire licences in that area.

[DrFilth]

factor type in the town you were in and licensing

ie,,, http://www.manchester.gov.uk/licensing

[factor-fiction]

Thanks cookian 94. I may try that but I have a feeling that when I ask the manager he will not want to give information or will not understand me or will have forgotten.

[cookian94]

Depending on which part of Surrey it is you might find it is a London Borough. If is was a London based minicab you might find that the only requirement was a small notice in the rear window, not necessarily plates. There is a difference between a licensed taxi who can ply for hire outside a station, for instance, and a Private Hire vehicle who has to be pre booked.

[factor-fiction]

Yes,I think the local council will be Kingston but their licensing section of their website mentions all sorts of licences except private hire so maybe there is an overarching licensing scheme covering all London boroughs.

[Postdog]

If it was dodgy the manager of the restaurant might be in on it.

[cookian94]

Well, whoever your driver was, if he came from a legitimate firm he would be in trouble from his controller for trying to overcharge you. Drivers like your one are usually hated by the other honest drivers in the fleet as they give the whole firm a bad reputation. You have probably guessed I used to be a driver in the 80s.

[wolf63]

It is one of these things that does not appear to be much of an issue until you really think about it.

Assuming that this guy was not a legit private hire taxi driver he would therefore be uninsured and he hasn't been checked out to see if he is a danger to vulnerable people.

[boxtops]

We got in a private hire car one night, years ago in Birmingham, it was a very hairy journey - and I really do think that the car wasn't insured for taxi use. We were young and silly and hadn't booked a proper cab, it seemed like a good idea at the time - never again.

[scotman]

Here in Edinburgh we used to have lots of trouble with unlicensed cars touting for business. It is now a requirement that all official non-hackney cabs have a sign displayed on the vehicle saying 'pre-booked hires only' in large letters.

[VHG]

>>>>Assuming that this guy was not a legit private hire taxi driver he would therefore be uninsured

Nor would the passengers in his car if he had an accident.

So if he had an accident, and one or more of your was seriously injured, you could not claim off his insurance.

[hc4361]

Private hire drivers ARE checked and licensed. They have CRB checks and medical checks. They should wear their badges at all times.
The vehicles have to be licensed and have proper business insurance. They should display their license plates on the exterior of the vehicle.

Anyone working without these two things are working illegally and taking money for fares invalidates their own insurance.

http://www.direct.gov...eVehicles/DG_10036418

[thegreenone]

It sounds like a relative of someone working in the restaurant. Guildford is full of students from the uni and colleges and this could be very dangerous for young women looking for a cab after a night out. I would strongly recommend you report it to Surrey Police. - they will investigate. http://www.surrey.pol...t/contact_options.asp

Safest option, even in the rain, is to walk down to the bottom of the high street/north street to the train station and get a black cab from there.

[thegreenone]

sorry forget to add

http://www.guildford....-hire-drivers-licence

[factor-fiction]

Thanks for all your answers. I will report it as I'm concerned about several things-particularly the insurance aspects and because I think it's unfair on genuine minicab drivers.