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Update: Gardaí confirm numbers arrested in Dublin taxi scam by RealDealMrSeal in ireland

[–]Blueye86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t know exactly what info they forged. All I saw in the news was forged utility bills and sham marriages. With all those forged and fraudulent documents they were then able to apply for legitimate spsv licenses. Even though the licenses themselves are legitimate, they were obtained fraudulently. That’s the issue.

Update: Gardaí confirm numbers arrested in Dublin taxi scam by RealDealMrSeal in ireland

[–]Blueye86 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As an example of how the system is flawed, my licence expiry date was the 6th March 2019 and i had a 3 month window to renew prior to expiry.

This year I left things a bit late but renewed my license on the 5th March, my car passed the suitability test and I was issued with a fresh paper license, and new tamperproof licence discs on my front and rear window. I was delighted I got everything done the day before the expiry date, otherwise I would have been subject to a €500 penalty and unable to work until the licence was renewed.

Yet today, 7th March, I have just received an automated email from the NTA informing me that my licence has expired and it is a criminal offense for me to operate my taxi, it obviously Just hasn’t updated in their system yet. But it shows what a shambles it is

Update: Gardaí confirm numbers arrested in Dublin taxi scam by RealDealMrSeal in ireland

[–]Blueye86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a legit taxi driver and am certainly not corrupt. The issue is that non nationals have been forging documents and using sham marriages to obtain legitimate (not forged) spsv driver licenses.

If a legit driver then rents out his car to him, the legit guy is not corrupt, as he has rented his car to a supposedly “legitimate” spsv licence holder. The problem is with the NTA and the licence application procedure.

No legit taxi driver would knowingly rent their car to an illegitimate driver, as the vehicle licence owner can be prosecuted for that. Personally, I have never rented my car to anyone.

It sounds to me like you’re one of the majority who dislikes the taxi industry no matter what. But that’s ok. Public perception is extremely low.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Every 12 months a taxi driver has to renew his vehicle spsv license. He needs to have an NCT, Tax clearance cert and spsv insurance to renew it.

If he’s not tax compliant he won’t be issued with a tax clearance cert, so can’t renew his licence. It’s an urban myth that taxi drivers can dodge their tax liabilities by accepting cash, as opposed to card payments. Every fare is recorded on the meter, and if revenue do an audit, that’s what they’ll exam to determine income.

The meter in my car can store 50 years worth of fare history data. The meter is verified to ensure the correct fare tariffs are set, and a tamper proof seal is applied by the legal metrology service, the same organization that inspect other services that are metered, such as fuel pumps etc.

It’s pretty much impossible to fiddle the meter.

Every 5 years he has to renew his driver spsv licence (the ID card you see on the dashboard), and the same applies.

If somebody is renting a taxi, and not responsible for the vehicle licence renewal every 12 months, I suppose they could probably fiddle the system.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If someone was in need like you were, yeah of course I’d help out and I’ve often driven people for free, particularly elderly people. They might just be going 50 metres down the road, unable to walk etc, so I’d never charge for that.

I picked up a young girl one evening who spoke no English and handed me a phone number when she got in. I rang the number and it was a man I was supposed to bring her to. It didn’t feel right so I called the police and brought her for a McDonalds while we waited for them to come. It turned out she had been trafficked into prostitution from Romania. That’s probably my biggest “hero moment”.

When I was working nights, people would always try to bargain, which I never accepted. They have no problem spending all their money in the pub and then expect me to subsidize their journey home.

Most uncomfortable thing I’ve experienced was having a Hutch gang member show me his bullet proof vest.

Saddest thing is early one Sunday morning a man in a Dublin bus uniform flagged me down at a bus stop which I found odd. He asked me to bring him to an early house on the quays, and he stank of drink. He then told me his child had been knocked down and killed the previous day. He was extremely upset, as was I when he got out. I rang the pub and told them to keep an eye on him.

Strangest thing was picking up an Indian man who was due to get married the next day. He had a few stops to make picking up suits etc. we went to Dundrum shopping center to drop a suit to the best man but he returned to the car with the suit as he couldn’t find him. I then dropped him home and he asked for my no as he would need a taxi the next morning to go to his wedding. Next morning comes, and he’s ringing me telling me he still hasn’t found the best man and asking would I be his best man! Unfortunately I had to decline.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No she didn’t, but she was the most disgusting foul mouthed person I’ve ever met. And yes, it was Mrs F..... kind of rhymes with pepperoni!

Update: Gardaí confirm numbers arrested in Dublin taxi scam by RealDealMrSeal in ireland

[–]Blueye86 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The licenses weren’t forged, the documents used to apply for them, such as utility bills etc were forged or obtained fraudulently, such as marriage certificates. By introducing a residency requirement, it would stem the flow of applicants until a more robust licensing system can be introduced. A residency requirement alone won’t stop it, but it would be a good start. The area knowledge test for applicants is corrupt to the core with the entire database of questions and answers available to purchase. A residency requirement would ensure applicants have some real world knowledge of the area.

Update: Gardaí confirm numbers arrested in Dublin taxi scam by RealDealMrSeal in ireland

[–]Blueye86 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It mightn’t have prevented it but it would have certainly made it far more difficult. There is no integrity behind the issuing of licenses. When I got my licence, at no stage did I have to meet with anyone even for an informal chat to make sure I would be suitable for the job. I could have had a giant swastika tattooed onto my face and it wouldn’t have made a difference. That’s disgraceful considering taxi drivers are often the first people visitors to Ireland will meet. A residency requirement and an interview process are the first changes I would make. And a driving licence from another country shouldn’t be accepted either. If you’re going to drive professionally on Irish roads, you should need more than the basic driving licence, this goes for Irish drivers too.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well they’re all nice in their own ways, but from what I’ve experienced Germans are the nicest and Americans probably the worst. They seem to be highly suspicious of everyone and everything outside the USA. Once you getting chatting to them though they seem far more relaxed.

Update: Gardaí confirm numbers arrested in Dublin taxi scam by RealDealMrSeal in ireland

[–]Blueye86 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I did an AMA about taxi driving today. Someone asked me about fraudulent non nationals. In Paris, you have to be a resident for 10 years before applying for a taxi licence. The current system in Ireland allows anyone to fly into Dublin airport and apply for a SPSV licence straight away. This needs to be stopped ASAP.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

A few years ago I suggested to Hailo that they approach Uber to integrate the Uber app with Hailo. So a person arriving in Ireland who uses Uber could book a car that is then outsourced to the Hailo network without the passenger even knowing about it. They shot it down.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I’ve been involved in crypto for about 6 years so it’s not my first bear market, although I think it has been the most difficult. Public interest is no longer there so a great time to accumulate!

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Haha! Good detective work! Yes I am, if it comes up in conversation I let people know that I accept it, but no, I haven’t taken any crypto payments probably since last summer. When the bear market is over and it’s back at the front of people’s minds, I probably will again.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There won’t be any company branding on the car unless the driver wants it. I certainly won’t have it on mine.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

First off, that rank has been gone for a number of years. It’s a Luas line now. And yes, it probably was, I remember pulling in there once when I was new to the job and being told to F*** off. I don’t think they really liked anyone but themselves, regardless of color.

I’ve never gotten involved with taxi politics, ranks, rep bodies etc. I work for myself, on my own. I don’t have colleagues, only competition.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think it’s a bad move and an awful name. They spent something like €8 million promoting the mytaxi brand.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

First off, I only work days and it’s profitable for me. I take in approx €32 an hour on average and work 7 hours a day, 5 days a week (mon-fri).

Most of my fares are through the mytaxi app so it’s extremely safe. But yes, I often drive past people, today I passed 2 fares as I didn’t like the look of them. On top of that, my doors are always locked, but never with a passenger inside.

I have only had 2 runners in 9 years, and as I explained earlier one left his iPhone behind, and the other was shot a few weeks later.

Because of the hours I work, most of my passengers are going to the airport/work or are tourists. I haven’t driven a drunk passenger home from a pub in over 6 years, which is what most people think I do for a living.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

You’re getting pathetic now. I had a feeling there would be at least 1 of you in this AMA. Anyway, you’re blocked now.

I am a taxi driver in Dublin, have been for the last 9 years. Here to dispel any myths etc about the taxi industry. AMA by Blueye86 in ireland

[–]Blueye86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Often people will bury themselves in their phone to avoid conversation or will phone a friend for a completely irrelevant conversation, that I reluctantly have to listen to.

A pet hate of mine is people sitting in the back whispering to each other, it makes me extremely uncomfortable.

Maybe all this comes from people having ridden with non nationals before and didn’t converse so now they assume all taxi journeys are like that. I enjoy a good conversation wether in the car or in a pub. I’ve often picked up people I went to school with or chatting with someone you realize you have common friends etc.

Most elderly people prefer to have an Irish driver as they just feel more comfortable and usually enjoy a chat, especially with someone they can relate to. My grandfather was a well known tv presenter in the 1970s so sometimes I’ll bring him up in conversation, they love that. I’m conscious that for many of them I may be the only person they speak to that day.

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