Taxi firm driving Chip & PIN revolution

Jun 15 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

THREE taxi drivers with more than 60 years' experience between them are taking cabs into the modern cashless society.

Park Taxis, set up last month by Steve Bell, Mark Fulcher and Perveais Mirza, has fitted CabCard Chip & PIN machines into its cars to meet the growing demand from passengers.

The business, which operates from the Gosforth Marriot Hotel in Newcastle, has already experienced a big demand for the card payment system.

Mr Bell said: “A lot of people don’t carry cash now, a lot of companies prefer employees to take company credit cards because they get the receipt there and then and they don’t have to carry cash.

“I’ve had a Chip & PIN in myself for four years. It’s fabulous, our lads are now probably doing 30 Chip & PINs a day. It’s the done thing now.

“It’s excellent for the customer, who doesn’t have to stop at the cashpoint and there’s no risk of being mugged at the cashpoint, and it’s safer for the driver as they don’t have to carry as much cash or worry about the banking.”

Park Taxis was set up with 18 drivers but has expanded to 23. Mr Bell said he expected the numbers to stay around the same for the moment and any decision on increasing staff would be down to the drivers themselves if they thought it was warranted by demand.

The business is focusing on winning business clients and hopes that using the card machines will appeal to corporate customers.

Mr Bell said: “I look after all the contracts. I’ve got the Marriot Gosforth Park, where we’re working from, and one or two in the pipeline.

“I’ve been a cab driver for 34 years. We [Mr Fulcher and Mr Mirza] have about 60 years experience in the trade between us. We want to build a nice company and give the customer excellent service.”