Hackney carriage driver granted renewal with warning after overcharging and fare refusal complaints
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
A hackney carriage driver has been granted a renewal of his licence despite a series of complaints relating to conduct, fare refusals and overcharging, following a review by Manchester City Council Licensing and Appeals Sub-Committee.
The case was heard on 16 February 2026. The Sub-Committee considered a report from the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing outlining several complaints made against the driver, identified as FA, during a relatively short period of time.
According to the Licensing Unit officer, FA was appearing before the panel for renewal of his hackney carriage driver licence and had been the subject of multiple complaints centred on alleged overcharging, refusal of fares and concerns about conduct. The details of the complaints were set out in the committee report and formed the basis of the review.
Supported by an interpreter, FA told the panel he had been licensed since 2023. He described an earlier incident in which he had been assaulted by passengers who refused to pay, resulting in police attendance. FA said he had been advised by officers to secure payment in advance for journeys, particularly during late-night work, and that he had applied this approach when operating in the evenings.
Driver ordered to complete Drive Safe course and reminded pre-payment cannot be insisted upon
Addressing allegations of overcharging, FA stated that the complaints largely related to early morning journeys after midnight. He maintained that any disputes arose from misunderstandings, intoxicated passengers, or confusion over hackney carriage tariffs compared with private hire fares. In relation to an alleged rank refusal, FA said he had already accepted a job and was waiting for passengers who had temporarily left the vehicle.
The Licensing Unit officer told the panel that while the role could be challenging, the number and pattern of complaints within a short timeframe raised concerns. The officer suggested that, at best, the issues pointed to poor customer service skills and reminded the panel that licensed drivers may carry vulnerable passengers.
In reaching its decision, the Sub-Committee referred to the council’s Statement of Policy and Guidelines and the statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards. Members concluded that, on the balance of probabilities, FA had demonstrated shortcomings in customer service that required significant improvement.
The panel resolved to grant the renewal but issued a formal warning as to future conduct. FA was reminded in strong terms that the taximeter must always be running during a journey and that while pre-payment can be requested, it cannot be insisted upon as a condition of accepting a fare. In addition, the driver was required to complete the ‘Drive Safe’ course offered by Transport for Greater Manchester within three months of the decision.
