Advice and Tips
How to stay safe, how to save money, and how to get the most from your taxi service. We are always trying to think of ways to give an even better service. If you have any ideas on how we could improve, please get in touch!
Safety Advice
Never use an unlicensed taxi. Apart from being potentially dangerous, you will not be insured in the event of an accident. This also applies to Private Hire (PH) vehicles: unless you pre-book these, you will not be insured. Make sure any taxi you get into is properly licensed and the driver is also licensed. Report anything suspicious to Falkirk Council Taxi Office on 01324 501575 or the Police on 101. Stay Safe!
The difference between a Taxi and a PH (Private Hire) car: A **Taxi** is licensed and insured to pick passengers up from taxi ranks or any other place (hailed from the street). A **PH** car is not allowed on a taxi rank, nor can they pick up passengers from the street. A PH car **must be booked in advance**.
Before asking a PH driver to take you somewhere without a pre-booking, think about the risks. You won't be insured if there is an accident, and the driver could be prosecuted, fined, and even lose their license if they are found to be taking non pre-booked hires.
Vehicle Capacity: Don't ask a driver to take more passengers than what the vehicle is licensed for. Having too many passengers will invalidate the insurance and is illegal. If stopped by the police, the driver will be in serious trouble.
Seatbelts: Always wear a seatbelt, whether you are in the front or the back seat of a taxi. Adults are responsible for wearing their own seatbelt. If the vehicle is stopped by the police, it is the adult passenger who will receive a fine if not wearing their seatbelt. The taxi driver is responsible for making sure any children in the taxi are wearing a seatbelt.
The vehicle carries a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. Gordon's Taxi also carries a small foot step which some people find helpful getting in and out of the vehicle.
It is not permitted to smoke in any taxi at any time. The driver of a taxi is not allowed to smoke in the vehicle, even when the vehicle is not being used as a taxi.
Any complaints about the state of a vehicle, the behaviour of a driver, or any other matter should be directed to Falkirk Council Taxi Office on 01324 501575.
Tips on Saving Money
Taxi Tariffs Explained: Taxi meters have 3 settings: Tariff 1, Tariff 2, and Tariff 3. When the meter is turned on, it will show what tariff is being used.
- Tariff 1 (Day Rate): Applies from 6:00 AM till 9:00 PM.
- Tariff 2 (Night Rate): Applies from 9:00 PM till 6:00 AM and roughly equates to 25% more than the day rate.
- Tariff 3: Only applies at Christmas and New Year and is 50% more than the day rate.
Night Rate Savings: If you book a taxi to go out in the evening, try and get into the taxi **before 9:00 PM** when the night rate (Tariff 2) starts. It can make a big difference to the cost.
Meter Integrity: Taxi meters have a seal just like an electric meter. This seal should be visible and not broken. It is put on by the council when the meter is set and ensures that nobody has tampered with it.
Hidden Extras: Some taxi companies apply extra charges (extras) to meter rates for additional passengers, call-out charges, baggage charges, etc. At Gordon's Taxis, we **do not apply extra charges**, other than an additional £5 to the meter price if there are more than 4 passengers in the taxi. This is as per the rates set by Falkirk Council and which are displayed in the vehicle.
Fixed Price vs. Meter: It is possible on any journey to agree with the driver a fixed price for the journey before you set off. In this case, the meter is not used, and you pay only what was agreed.
Wait and Return: If you are going somewhere and coming straight back again either right away or within half an hour, I only charge half fare on the way back. We call this **wait and return**.
Airport & City Savings: If you are in Edinburgh, Glasgow, or at any airport, it will work out much cheaper to use **Gordon's Taxis** than to use a city cab or airport taxi to get home. Call me, and depending on traffic, I can be with you in 30 mins for Edinburgh or 45 mins for Glasgow.
Group Trips: For nights out to Edinburgh or Glasgow, it's often cheaper by taxi than by train, especially for groups. If there are 6 or 8 people in your group, consider booking Gordon's Taxis (my 8-seater).
Payment Options
Gordon's Taxis accepts Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and also Google and Apple Pay in the vehicle, which can be handy if you need to get somewhere and don't have any cash on you.
Payment over the phone is also available. This is handy in cases where you want to pay for a taxi for someone else, such as a child, relative, or friend, who is stranded somewhere and needs a ride home.
Handwritten or digital receipts are available in the taxi if you require one for your records.