Station Rank T&C's

1. PURPOSE

1.1 These Terms & Conditions are intended as information for permit-holding drivers servicing the Bournemouth Station rank on the side known as “downside”.

1.2 All drivers and their vehicles attending Bournemouth Station rank must comply with these Terms & Conditions, and additionally, the BCP Council regulations and relevant national legislation.

2. DEFINITIONS

“Drivers” means drivers in possession of a valid paid-up permit for the station rank issued by United Taxis Ltd, a valid B Zone Hackney Carriage driver’s licence issued by BCP Council, and a valid UK driving licence.

“The Company” refers to United Taxis Limited, 164 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8AS.

“The station” and “The site” refers to Bournemouth Train Station, Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8HX.

“The rank” refers to the rank at Bournemouth Station situated on the side known as “downside” under contract to United Taxis Ltd.

“Vehicle(s)” refers to vehicles visiting the station rank with a valid B Zone Hackney Carriage vehicle licence issued by BCP Council and displaying a valid station permit.

“Directors” or “Board of Directors” refers to the directors of United Taxis Limited.

“Passengers” refers to customers using the rank whether on a walk up or via a booking.

“The Council” refers to BCP Council.

3. DRIVER STANDARDS

3.1 All drivers in attendance at the rank must hold a valid B Zone Hackney Carriage driver’s licence, a valid UK driving licence, and comply with legislation governing health & safety, and must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

3.2 All drivers must be able to show their B Zone Hackney Carriage driver’s licence/ badge accreditation if requested at all times.

3.3 All drivers are required to be well groomed and tidy, and shall observe the Dress Code as follows:-
a) No jeans or shorts – smart trousers please.
b) No T-shirts – white or plain coloured shirts, blouses, or polo shirts, long or short sleeved without stripes are allowed.
c) No trainers, sandals, or flip-flops – shoes may be black or brown in colour. Smart black trainers with no logo visible allowed.
d) Plain jackets please – no denim.

3.4 Drivers visiting the rank must be correctly logged on to the United Taxis dispatch system by using their own allocated driver number. In addition, drivers must be showing as stacked in the station zone on the I-Cabbi app. To help facilitate this, each car is to be fitted with a Bluetooth device to link the hard meter to the soft (I-Cabbi) meter. The cost & fitting of the devices will be met by United Taxis.

3.5 All drivers shall agree to card any passengers they pick up from the rank when appropriate (using United Taxis supplied merchandise only), and to promote the Company positively. Drivers must not bring the Company into disrepute or post defamatory or derogatory statements about us or our employees. Drivers are permitted to cover any school contracts they may have and work for app based global companies in pursuance of their work e.g. Uber, Gett etc. but will not be permitted to drive for other locally established or registered companies within a 30 mile radius of Bournemouth.

3.6 Drivers must be courteous and professional at all times, and offer all reasonable assistance when required with passengers’ bags/luggage or with elderly or disabled passengers when alighting or disembarking their vehicles.

3.7 To ensure public health & safety is maintained, no driver may work more than 12 hours in any 24 hours, and must take an 8 hour break before their next shift.

3.8 In keeping with BCP Council regulations, drivers must not vape or smoke within their taxis.

3.9 Drivers should adopt a responsible driving style avoiding harsh braking/accelerating, especially when carrying passengers.

3.10 As required by BCP Council regulations, passengers with assistance dogs & emotional support dogs must be transported, unless the driver is in possession of a valid medical exemption certificate issued by the Council.

3.11 Drivers may not refuse a job from the rank unless there is a reasonable risk of soiling or damage to their vehicle, or a risk of personal danger to themselves.

3.12 Drivers receiving a station permit for the first time from United Taxis must undertake I-Cabbi driver services training on correct use of the dispatch system.

4. VEHICLE STANDARDS

4.1 All vehicles are required to have clearly displayed their B Zone Hackney Carriage vehicle licence accreditation to the front windscreen inside the vehicle and their plate displayed to the rear of the vehicle.

4.2 All vehicles attending the rank shall have clearly displayed a valid permit for the station inside the vehicle on the front windscreen.

4.3 All vehicles are required to have attached to the rear side door a “United Taxis Station” oval logo on each side of the vehicle. These must be attached whenever the vehicle is sitting on the rank or carrying out a job from the rank and must be in reasonable condition. In the first year of the contract (2026), one set of self adhesive or magnetised oval logos shall be supplied free by the Company to each vehicle. Thereafter, drivers will be required to purchase the United oval logos from the Company themselves.

4.4 All vehicles are required to be kept clean inside and outside, and maintained in a roadworthy condition including regular servicing and weekly tyre pressure checks as a minimum. It is advised that drivers keep an up to date service record for their vehicles which they should make available upon request.

5. SITE RESTRICTIONS

5.1 Drivers must not drive at speeds in excess of 5mph on all parts of the site.

5.2 Drivers must obey any instructions given to them by the on-site taxi marshal who shall have authority to manage the rank.

5.3 Drivers should be attentive and ready to receive work when waiting at the rank to avoid any hold-ups or blocking occurring.

5.4 Under no circumstances should drivers allow vehicles to sit with their engines idling whilst waiting to collect passengers.

6. CARD PAYMENTS

6.1 It is Company policy to allow customers to pay for a journey by card if they so choose, and this method of payment must not be refused by the driver.

6.2 Therefore, the Company requires all drivers to have a working method of processing customers card payments e.g. “SumUp”.

7. STATION PERMIT RENEWALS

7.1 Station permits may be purchased in full for 12 months duration (start date for permit shall be the 1st January each year). Alternatively, biannual or quarterly payments may be made by direct debit mandate only (an administration fee shall apply – see 7.5 below).

7.2 Station permits must be paid for in full, or biannual/quarterly direct debit payments set up, no later than 14 days prior to the start date of the permit.

7.3 Station Permits may be obtained by first filling out a Station Permit Form available from the rank marshal or United Taxis head office at 164 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8AS. The completed form with copies of the documents requested, may be sent to United Taxis by post, or returned in person, to the above address. Alternatively, take either scanned or good quality photographs of the completed form, together with the documents requested on the form, and email to karen@556677.com – please make sure it is readable!

7.4 Once a Station Permit Form has been filled out and sent to United Taxis and you have received approval back from us by email or letter, the required payment may be paid by direct debit or card via the accounts department on 01202 638002 or by visiting our office in person by pre-arranged appointment. Those wishing to pay for permits biannually or quarterly must set up a direct debit mandate and a £10 administration fee for each payment shall be levied.

7.5 The issuing of station permits is subject to approval from the Board of Directors of United Taxis.

7.6 Once payment has been made, no refunds may be issued.

8. CONTACTING THE SHIFT OPERATOR/MARSHAL

8.1 Genuine problems or queries from drivers will at first be dealt with by the rank marshal in person or the shift operator via the messaging facility on the I-Cabbi app only.

8.2 At no time will drivers enter into arguments with the marshal or the shift operator.

8.3 Try to keep messages sent on the Company’s app to the shift operator brief and to the point.

9. COMPLAINTS AND OVERCHARGING

9.1 United Taxis investigates all complaints received.

9.2 This includes complaints related to allegations of overcharging or rudeness from drivers.

9.3 If a driver is found to be in breach of these Terms & Conditions, the Board of Directors reserve the right to suspend or remove that driver’s access to the station rank, or otherwise seek a resolution to the breach.

10. AMENDMENTS OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR BOURNEMOUTH STATION RANK

10.1 These Terms & Conditions may be amended from time to time by the Board of Directors.

10.2 The Company will ensure that at least 30 days’ notice of any changes to these Terms & Conditions is given to drivers in writing by email or letter.

10.3 Copies of these Terms & Conditions may be obtained from the rank marshal or from our office at 164 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8AS.