Harrogate HCA has quietly started a revolution
in taxi communications using a new service that puts customer calls straight
through to drivers’ mobile phones. The new service, TaxiCall, saves each driver
hundreds of pounds per month compared to other systems. Led by Harrogate HCA
Chairman, Roy Legate, and Treasurer, Peter Kaiser, the Association now has 37
drivers signed up, and they are very pleased with the result.
Peter Kaiser
taking a Taxi Call
“The service gives
us a central number for customers to call, and then distributes those calls
fairly out to driver’s mobiles,” explains Peter Kaiser. “Drivers
like it because it’s simple to use, and avoids the expense of running a central
office. Customers like it too because they are talking directly to the driver
who will be coming to pick them up.”
The idea for the TaxiCall service came from a
chance remark by a customer that it was a funny thing not to be able to phone
for a taxi when all the drivers have mobile phones. Putting that idea together
with Cambridge Tele.com Ltd resulted in a service that has been designed from
the ground up to meet the needs of taxi drivers.
The service costs each driver just £11.75 (inc
VAT) per month, compared to around £400 for a radio service. That monthly
charge includes the first £5 worth of calls, after which additional time costs
20p per minute. In practice, calls average less than 30 seconds, which means
the cost per fare is 10p.
For taxis you want a local number that customers
will remember. For Harrogate HCA, Cambridge Tele.com were able to provide
Harrogate 303030, and they have memorable local numbers available for any town
in the UK.
Harrogate is a busy conference town, and the
conference centres and hotels were keen to use the local taxis but that wasn’t
easy unless they were close to a rank. Now they know that they can just call
the single central number and they will be put through to the first available
driver. The drivers like it because it’s an additional source of fares, but
they can retain their independence and continue to take jobs off the rank as
well.
“We’ve started to build a loyal following of
regular customers who really like the service,” says Roy Legate. “It’s also had
a positive effect on the local association by showing the drivers that when we
work together we can really achieve something. There’s a feeling that Harrogate
HCA has pioneered something revolutionary, and we’re really proud of that.”
Cambridge Tele.com is now offering the service
nationwide to taxi firms or associations that would like to set up their own
Taxi Call number. Contact them on 0800 036 8750 or visit the web site
at
www.taxi-call.info to find out more.
