Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Surge pricing for minicabs

I do a fairly regular minicab journey from just off Green Lanes, normally with the same firm; I’ve used them reliably for years and always paid the same price for the same journey at any time. However, with cabs scarce because of drivers’ holidays in the last couple of weeks, I’ve twice used Stroud Green Cars (aka Hillside/Harringay Station Cars), in Quernmore Road, instead. The first journey cost £15, the same price as I pay the regular company, but the second time the SG driver wanted £20. When I complained, he put me on to his controller, who said they operate surge pricing, just as Uber do, so my journey was more expensive as it was later in the day than the previous one.

Obviously I should have checked the price when I rang for the cab, but, given my experience with the regular company, it never crossed my mind that a local minicab firm would price in the same way as Uber, especially as I’d paid exactly what I’d expected for the first journey with them.

So is surge pricing now the rule rather than the exception even for non-Uber cabs? And is a 33% mark-up for late-afternoon travel (not even rush-hour) justifiable - or just what “the market” will bear?

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Permalink Reply by Harringay 4eva on August 27, 2018 at 20:33

Maybe ask TFL, they regulate the black cabs, mini cabs & Uber so presumably know the answer.

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Permalink Reply by Raymond Coggin on August 31, 2018 at 10:08

TfL only set prices for the Taxi trade. Minicabs or Private Hire companies are free to charge whatever they like. Uber make up their own rules and tariffs abd largely ignore regulators wherever they operate.

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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on August 31, 2018 at 10:17

Capitalism. Innit.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Lindsay-Smith on August 31, 2018 at 22:58

I was looking for a guide to minicab prices recently, seeing as I hardly ever use them. I found one firm listing their rates:- basically £6 for the first 2 miles, £2 per mile after that, flat at all times except for an extra £1.50 Monday to Friday 7am – 9am (excluding School Holidays), or Friday/Saturday 10pm – 4am.

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Permalink Reply by Don on September 1, 2018 at 13:04

I realised TfL only sets black cab prices, so I didn't think SG cars were breaking a law, I was just rather staggered at the price hike; John McM's comment probably sums it up. A £1.50 loading for peak hours (assuming it's just added to the final total and not each of the distance rates) in Bob's example seems more reasonable. Either way, I shan't be using the Quernmore Road lot again if I can help it, unless in desperation (and not without checking the price first).