02890842111 - Airport Road West

02886764809 - Ballygawley

02892663151 - Lisburn

We know that we have many visitors to this site from across the UK and beyond who aren't fonaCAB Drivers - at last count we had over 35,300 regular visitors and 160,000 visits to the site

If you're wondering why you haven't seen as many updates on here recently its because we've moved all of the fonaCAB specific information onto our internal Drivers Portal and as such you'll see fewer updates here

We continue to follow and implement best practice across our business, so if you have any specific questions about our initiatives through the coronavirus crisis and if these may affect you, please email them to newsletter@fonacab.com and we'll answer all that we can

Social media, specifically Facebook, is one of the preferred ways that our passengers contact us these days.

We use Facebook quite a bit for promotional messages, but we also use it as a platform for any guidance we put out to our customers - for example, information on the wearing of masks or use of a child car seat

If you're a Facebook user, "like" the Facebook page and you'll stay up to speed with what we're telling our customers

• 30th March

POP UP CYCLE LANES SURVEY – PLEASE COMPLETE

The Department of Infrastructure has released a survey asking the public what they think of the “Pop-up” cycle lanes on Dublin Road and Grosvenor Road in Belfast City Centre. You can find the link to complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PopupCycle

Whether these lanes stay or go will make little difference to fonaCAB as a company, but if made permanent will have a huge impact on you as a driver and your ability to complete your journeys as efficiently and more importantly cost effectively as possible – for this reason we believe that it is important that you have the chance to have your say and respond to the survey

When responding, please think of how the cycle lanes being permanently in place would affect you during “normal” non lockdown times – for example, a busy Saturday night on the Dublin Road, or rush hour on a weekday morning on the Grosvenor Road. It is important to remember this as the full impact from these lanes being in place is not currently being felt and we won’t see their full impact until after lockdown

The survey is self-explanatory, but there are a couple of questions we would like to draw your attention to. These are

• Which of the following do you use on this route? (select all that apply)

  • For the purposes of this survey, you should definitely select “road” but you can also select “Business / Commercial Access”

• What is your MAIN method of travel on THIS ROUTE? (method used most often)

  • You should select “Taxi”

• How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "The addition of the cycle lane makes my journey better.”?

  • Be careful here as the right hand option is “Don’t know” where you would expect the “Strongly disagree” option to be. If you strongly disagree you need to select the second from right tick box.

• Overall, how satisfied are you with the cycle lane?

  • This has the same issue and you should be careful to tick the second from right box if you are “very unsatisfied” as the right hand box is “don’t know”

The survey is open for responses until 5:00pm on 19 April 2021 and should take less than 5 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous, and data is held in accordance with GDPR. fonaCAB do not see your answers. If you have any questions about the survey or how to complete it, please use the “Ask the Team” Function. Thank you

• 24th February

GRANTS / CARD READERS / CREDIT PAYMENTS / PASSENGER ASSISTANCE

Taxi Driver Financial Assistance Scheme (TDFAS) Applications for the second round of grant funding through the TDFAS must be submitted by no later than this Friday, 26th February. You can find the application process at https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/dfi-1/taxi-drivers-financial-assistance-scheme-2021/ If you didn’t apply the first time around, or if you applied and were refused because of a break in your taxi insurance you should still apply now as the criteria has changed to allow for insurance breaks You will need the fonaCAB Taxi Operator License details which are Tol 004417, Start Date 19/06/2018. Expiry Date 18/06/2023

Grants for local councils for on street EV Chargers

There are now grants available that local councils can apply for to install on street / residential EV chargers. We have been liaising with the Northern Ireland EV Owners Club to lobby the councils to apply for these grants and to improve the EV charging infrastructure in Northern Ireland. You can read more about these grants at https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/grants-and-loans/street-residential-chargepoint-scheme/

EV Vehicle Scrappage Scheme / HVO Diesel

The Department of Transport in the Republic of Ireland has introduced a generous scrappage scheme to encourage taxi drivers to go electric. There are also initiatives in the UK to encourage drivers to use HVO diesel which can cut carbon emissions by up to 95%. You can read about the ROI scrappage scheme at https://www.gov.ie/en/pressrelease/dbd5d-15m-scrappage-scheme-now-available-to-taxi-drivers-who-go-electric/ While neither of these initiatives will provide short term support, we are looking to get ahead of the issues that will affect drivers and operators post pandemic. fonaCAB would like to lobby local councils and central Government (specifically the Department for Infrastructure and the Department for the Economy) to introduce similar financial support schemes to these for taxis in Northern Ireland. As a fonaCAB driver, we would like to lobby on behalf of the company and fonaCAB drivers and include your name and email as part of these efforts. There is no cost to you and nothing else is required on the part of the driver, just your support. If you do not wish to support this lobbying, please let us know by sending your name and driver number to newsletter@fonacab.com

Driver Credit Payments

For this Friday only (26th), for any driver requesting credits payments into their bank account, the request cut off time will be 4pm on Thursday 25th .

Card Readers

Thank you to all those who responded to our recent survey about card readers – to date we have had just over 500 responses. The overarching response so far is that virtually all Drivers are using the fonaCAB SMS payment system and are happy with it but before we publish the results, we’d like to be sure we have as many responses as possible. If you have yet to respond and would still like to do so, you can do at https://forms.gle/mS7CDNMf5giw2TjL7

Driver guidance where social distancing is not practical

There was a recent question on the Drivers Portal around helping passengers who need physical assistance and if there are any social distancing considerations. The answer is copied below for your reference Where social distancing is not possible, official guidance is to take steps to reduce transmission of the virus in other ways. You have already mentioned using gloves and a mask which are great and these should be used in conjunction with practical steps such as keeping physical contact time to a minimum, avoid too much face to face time, and cleaning down touch points after contact – for example door handles. You are OK to help the passenger if you choose We have asked the Executive Office for their input as we cannot find any legislation around refusing to help a passenger because of Covid. There is disability discrimination legislation but we do not believe that this applies here. If we get a response from the Executive, we will post it here In summary, it appears that it is the driver’s discretion as to how much physical assistance they are prepared to offer the passenger and if they’d help, they should be conscious of taking additional steps to mitigate virus transmission As for your question re passenger numbers. The law has not changed during the lockdown. If you have four seat belted seats in your taxi, you are legally OK to take a maximum of four passengers (including one in the front) We still get regular enquiries from customers about this and our answer remains the same – for the benefit of both driver and passengers we recommend no more than three passengers and all sitting in the back of the taxi. We are aware that some drivers may take more and, in the front, and while they are legally OK to do so, it is not something we recommend. If you do not want to have someone in the front of your taxi that is your prerogative to allow or refuse and there are no legal downsides in doing so

• 11th February

Taxi Driver Grants

The Department for Infrastructure has said that the second Taxi Driver Financial Assistance Scheme (TDFAS) is due to open for applications on Friday 12^th February. The link for applications (when open) will be

https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/dfi-1/taxi-drivers-financial-assistance-scheme-2021.

If the scheme does not open exactly on time, please keep the link and check back regularly. Our understanding of the scheme, based on what has been published so far by the DFI, is as follows

• As before, the scheme is not for income support, there are other grants such as the SEISS for this purpose

• The TDFAS is a grant to compensate for expenses incurred during the pandemic – for example, PPE and insurance

• There is a maximum grant of £3000 in total per driver for the period 22^nd March 2020 to 21^st March 2021. An explanation of how much you might get is shown below

I have not had a break in my insurance and have been available for work during these dates

• If you applied for the first grant and received £1500, you can apply for the second grant for a further £1500 (£1500+£1500 = £3000 total)

• If you didn’t apply the first time around but meet all of the eligibility criteria, you can apply for the second grant for a total of £3000.

I have had a break in my insurance so was not eligible for the first grant

• Whether you applied for the first grant and were rejected, or whether you didn’t apply because you didn’t meet the criteria then, you can apply now

• Grants (subject to all eligibility criteria) will be paid to drivers on a pro rata basis. There will be a reduction of £8.25 for each day where you did not have full taxi insurance. For example

Available for taxiing from March 20 – March 21 Total £3000

Downgraded insurance 30 days (30 x £8.25) Less £247.50

Total Grant now payable £2752.20

Full details of the eligibility criteria for the grant, the link to apply and a breakdown of how much you might be eligible for are in the attached file from the DFI

• 10th February

Please see below the response we received from the Garda for clarification on Cross Border Journeys during lockdown

The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No.10) Regulations 2020, as amended, are currently in force. These regulations include at Regulation 4(1)(b) “any other person who is not ordinarily resident in the State shall not travel within a relevant geographical location without reasonable excuse.” People undertaking such journeys ‘without reasonable excuse’ may be liable for a fine of €100.

In respect of regulations, which are declared to be Penal Regulations under the Health Act 1947 as amended, An Garda Síochána will adopt the approach of the Four Es which will see Gardaí engage, explain, encourage, and as a last resort, enforce.

Each interaction will be determined on the merits of each case. The provision of taxi services are deemed an essential service, therefore a taxi driver, when bona fide working, is travelling with a ‘reasonable excuse’. The passenger may be committing an offence should the purpose of their journey be found to be non-essential.

• 25th January

MANDATORY WEARING OF FACE COVERINGS

This update is to remind you that unless you have a partition screen fitted, or you have a “reasonable excuse” for not doing so, you MUST wear a face mask while you have passengers in your vehicle. This is not guidance; this is mandatory as part of the Governments Covid regulations. The following explanation is taken from https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronaviruscovid-19-face-coverings which is worth visiting for further information.

Reasonable excuses include:

• If you need to seek medical assistance or to provide care to someone who needs assistance, such as a vulnerable person or in an emergency.

• if you have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means you cannot put on, wear, or remove a face covering.

• if putting on, wearing, or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress.

• if you are travelling with, or providing assistance to, someone who relies on lip reading to communicate.

• if you need to remove it to avoid harm or injury or the risk of harm or injury to yourself or others

• if you need to eat, drink, or take medication.

• if you are asked to remove your face covering by a police officer or someone who may need to check your identity, for example, when buying alcohol, when you are at the bank, or in an airport or when boarding an aircraft.

There is no need to get a letter from a doctor or the government to show that you do not need to wear a face covering. If you have a condition (for example, a disease such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis) which means you cannot wear a face covering you only need to say, if asked, that you cannot wear a face covering because you are exempt. If you do not wear a face covering and you are not exempt or do not have a reasonable excuse for not wearing one, you are committing an offence and could be fined. Face visors or face shields Face visors or shields do not offer the same protection as a cloth face covering which sits directly over the nose and the mouth. If you wear a face shield or a visor you should also wear a cloth face covering. The use of cloth face coverings is recommended, as they provide much better protection from the risk of infection from the COVID-19 virus.

Glasses. It can be frustrating wearing glasses in weather like this and more so now that you must wear a mask. Here are some tips and ideas for keeping your glasses steam free while wearing a mask.

A Bar of Soap (Dove or the cheap Green Antibacterial soap works best) Take the DRY bar of soap and rub it liberally onto the lens of your specs. Rub it from edge to edge but be careful not to let it build up between the lens and frame. Leave for a minute. Rub into the lens with a clean, soft towel or cloth until lens are clear. (Don't use toilet roll as it will leave white specs on your specs). You can now wear a mask and your glasses for about 3 hrs before they start steaming up. Simply repeat the process if needed.

A Plaster or some Micropore tape If you're using paper masks, you can attach a small plaster along the edge of the mask and the bridge of your nose. Make sure to have the plaster blocking the top of your nose and beneath your eyes. This will prevent your breath from exiting the mask at the spaces beneath your eyes and causing your glasses to sweat.

Shaving Foam or Conditioner Same method as bar soap if you don't have them. Most Bathroom based toiletries contain lesser levels of Laurel Sulphate which is the main ingredient in bar soap that stops glasses misting.

Anti-Fog Anti-fog sprays (such as Rain-X) and anti-fog wipes will also help, although if you have anti-glare coating on your glasses these should be avoided as they can affect it.

Inner Masks also known as “lipstick savers” these are plastic mask inners which have proved useful stopping glasses steam up. These are costs effective, reusable, and available from most chemists and online stores

• 20th January

DFI Taxi Driver Financial Assistance Scheme

The current scheme which was set up to assist taxi drivers with their costs has been extended. The key points are detailed below.

• The current scheme will be extended and a second payment will be available to drivers for the period September 2020 – March 2021

• The extension will be for a further payment of £1500 per driver (see point below on insurance breaks).

• Taxi drivers must apply for the second payment, it will not be paid automatically.

• The DFI has said that is it working hard to resolve claims from the first part of the scheme and that if you haven’t yet heard anything you should shortly.

• If you were excluded from the scheme or did not apply the first time around because of a break in insurance you can apply again for the full 12 month period for the total £3000 (£1500 + £1500) but you will lose £250 for each month, or part of, that you had downgraded your insurance. fonaCAB have stated that we think that any driver who held taxi insurance at the beginning of the first lockdown should be entitled to the full amount without penalty.

• Taxi drivers cannot apply for the Department for Economy CRBSS Part B scheme but may be able to apply for the NSESS (Newly Self Employed Support Scheme). The closing date for this has been extended to 5th February 2021 and you can find further information on it at https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/newly-self-employed-support-scheme

• To summarise the current position.

  • If you applied for the first scheme and got £1500 you can apply for the extension when it opens for a further £1500

  • If you applied for the first scheme but were turned down because of a break in your insurance you can apply again when the extension opens for the full £3000 less £250 for each month or period thereof that you had downgraded your insurance – e.g., a two month break in your insurance would mean a deduction of £500 (2 x £250 for each month) giving you a net payment of £2500.

  • If you haven’t yet heard about your first application, the DFI say you should do shortly as they are working to resolve every claim asap.

If you did not apply the first time around but are considering doing so now, the Fleet and Admin departments are available to help provide information where we can.

Car Washes

If you use a car wash which has remained open you are legally permitted to do so. We have been informed by the Executive Office that “Commercial vehicles can be cleaned such as licensed taxis in line with cleaning and disinfection of vehicles for the purpose of infection control. “ To keep your vehicle as safe as possible for both yourself and your passengers it is important to keep it clean inside and out – you can read a recent refresher on good Covid practise at https://portal.fonacab.com/driver-update-7th-january-2021-greencards-and-covid-cleanliness-refresher/ We will continue to send out automated messages including those for keeping your car clean and encourage you to do so where practical and safe.

• 7th January

COVID CARE

We would like to remind you of some of the steps you should be taking to keep yourself and your passengers as safe as possible on every journey

• Face Coverings - Face coverings are mandatory for both driver and passenger when in a taxi. The only time that face coverings are not required are either when there is a partition screen in place or where the driver or passenger is exempt from wearing one. If a driver or passenger says they are exempt we have to take that at face value and cannot ask for evidence, however this evidence will be required if questioned by relevant authorities and the inability to provide it will result in a fine.

• Maximum occupancy

  • Legally the maximum occupancy for your vehicle is what you are insured and PSV’d for – in most cases this will be for a driver and four passengers. HOWEVER, we continue to recommend to both drivers and passengers that there should be a maximum of three passengers in a standard vehicle and all seated in the rear of the car

• Cleanliness

  • After each customer, the driver should clean their vehicle thoroughly using wipes or disinfectant spray. Ensure surfaces that customers are likely to touch, such as door handles and seat belt clips are cleaned as well as screens.

  • If accepting cash for payment you should store it safely and use hand sanitiser after handling it

  • We advise customers that they should handle their own luggage and shopping however if you do assist you should sanitise your hands afterwards

• Good practice o You should open windows to encourage better ventilation in your vehicle

  • You should dispose of any tissues or litter at the earliest opportunity in an appropriate bin

  • Before taking a customer on a journey, the driver should check if anyone in their house has had symptoms in the last 14 days. If the answer is yes, the driver can decide whether they wish to continue with the journey

Green Cards

Now that BREXIT is complete, by law, drivers wishing to travel to the Republic of Ireland must have a GREEN CARD which must be always carried in their car. This provides evidence that the car is insured to operate across the border

When you renew your insurance, you should be provided with this automatically by your insurer. If renewal is not in the very near future you should contact your insurer and ask them to supply you with a Green Card now. We understand that there is no cost for this, but you should check with your insurer to confirm.

fonaCAB require ALL DRIVERS to have a Green Card whether you intend to travel across the border or not. This will ensure that we do not exclude any driver on the off chance that they have to travel cross border at any stage and will eliminate any customer service implications such as being refused entry to ROI or having a car impounded while on a booking.

When you have your Green Card, you must upload it to the Driver Portal. The Portal has already been updated to allow you to select this as a document type. When received and approved by fonaCAB we will update your driver record to show that you are correctly insured and documented to complete cross border journeys. Without this evidence we cannot allocate cross border jobs to you.

If you are insured through the fonaCAB block policy we will automatically update your driver record and post you a physical copy of the Green Card which you must keep in your car at all times. If you fall into this category please inform us if your address has changed so we can ensure we send the documents to the correct address

If you have any questions about these issues, please contact us using the “ASK THE TEAM” function on the Portal and we will respond to you directly or publish the answer as a future Driver Update

• 4th January

Newly Self-Employed Support Scheme (NSESS)

The Newly Self-Employed Support Scheme (NSESS) will offer an initial one-off taxable grant of £3,500 to newly self-employed individuals (sole traders and those in partnerships).

If you have been unable to access support from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) you may be able to make avail of support from the Newly Self-Employed Support Scheme.

This scheme will close to applications at 6pm on Thursday 7 January 2021.

NSESS is open to sole traders or individual members of a partnership business operating in Northern Ireland.

You must be able to demonstrate that you (as the individual) meet the following criteria:

• You have commenced trading as self-employed between 6 April 2019 and 5 April 2020.

• You have been trading at 1 March 2020 (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic).

• You have either been temporarily unable to trade or are currently trading but impacted by reduced demand, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 50% of your income in 2019/20 was from self-employment.

• Your 2019/20 trading profits were less than £50,000. In the case of a partnership business, this refers to your share of the trading profits as outlined on your individual tax return.

• You have experienced at least a 40% decline in trading profits between 1 March and 30 November 2020, i.e. your trading profits over this period are at least 40% lower than they would have been in the absence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• You are able to provide the following:

  • 10-digit HMRC Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) linked to Schedule D earnings from any trade or profession.

  • HMRC VAT Registration Number, if you are VAT registered.

• You intend to continue to trade as a sole trader or individual member of the partnership.

Who cannot apply?

A sole trader or individual member of a partnership business is not eligible for NSESS if:

• You commenced trading outside the timeframe of 6 April 2019 and 5 April 2020.

• You submitted a tax return which included income from self-employment for 2018/19.

• You have received support from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

• Your business has failed to comply with a COVID-19 prohibition notice, served by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), under regulation 7 of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020(b).

• The grant to be paid to the business will mean it will exceed the maximum level of State Aid permitted under the EC’s de Minimis Regulation (PDF, 835K). The State Aid de minimis ceiling is €200,000 over the three previous consecutive fiscal years.

Please click on the below link or see the attached document for further information regarding this scheme.

https://www.investni.com/newly-self-employed-support-scheme

• 28th December

“CURFEW” There is some discussion as to whether taxis should be operating after 8.00pm this week. We believe that we are legally entitled to, and the legislation which clarifies this is detailed below

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 24) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 defines taxi services as essential retail – Section 25, Part 2, sub section 11 Essential retail businesses Regulations 4B and 4C 2(1) Food retailers. (2) Supermarkets, convenience stores and corner shops. (3) Newsagents. (4) Off licences and licensed shops selling alcohol (including breweries). (5) Pharmacies (including non-dispensing pharmacies) and chemists. (6) Building supplies businesses and hardware stores. (7) Petrol stations (8) Pet shops, agricultural supplies shops, livestock markets and veterinary surgeons. (9) Motor vehicle repair and MOT services. Certified copy from legislation.gov.uk Publishing 11 (10) Bicycle shops. (11) Taxi or vehicle hire businesses. (12) Banks, building societies, credit unions, short-term loan providers and cash points, savings clubs and undertakings which by way of business operate currency exchange offices, transmit money (or any representation of money) by any means, or cash cheques which are made payable to customers. (13) Post Offices. (14) Funeral directors. (15) Laundrettes and dry cleaners. (16) Dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths, and other medical or health services, including services relating to mental health. (17) Car parks. (18) Public toilets. (19) Storage and distribution facilities for delivery and drop off. (20) Professional services including solicitors. (21) Dog groomers. (22) Fuel suppliers. (23) Ports, airports, train stations, bus stations and other transport services.”

Essential retail businesses are meant to close this week at 8.00pm but there are exceptions under section 4C of the legislation (see bold) Restrictions on essential retail businesses 4C.—(1) A person responsible for carrying on a retail business, which is wholly or mainly a retail business listed in paragraph (2) of schedule 1, of offering goods for sale or for hire or providing a service must, in the period ending at 12.01am on 2 January 2021, cease to carry on that business or provide that service between the hours of 8.00p.m and 6.00a.m except by making deliveries of groceries only, or providing of groceries only for collection, by appointment in response to requests received by on-line communication, by telephone, by text message or by post. (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to— (a) (i) the sale or supply of fuel or compressed air by a petrol station, or (ii) the sale of goods by a petrol station, provided that no customer enters the premises and any service or payment is made by way of a night hatch, (b) pharmacies on the community pharmacy rota, (c) ports, airports, train stations, bus stations and other transport services.

fonaCAB and other taxi services should be exempt from this “curfew” as we are “other transport services” and we respond to requests received by on-line communication, by telephone, by text message or by post We will seek further clarification on this with the relevant government department at the earliest opportunity but until then, if you are questioned as to why we are working you can refer the questioner to this email or in summary

• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 24) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 defines taxi services as essential retail – Section 25, Part 2, sub section 11

• While essential retail is meant to close at 8.00pm this week, Taxi services can continue as Section 4c, part (c) of the legislation says that this shall not apply to ports, airports, train stations, bus stations and other transport services

• 22nd December

POST CHRISTMAS LOCKDOWN EFFECTS

If you have been following the news recently you will have seen that the rules around the upcoming lockdown appear to change daily. These may change further during the next six weeks and if they do, we will update you as they do. The following are answers to some questions relating to taxiing during the lockdown that you may have now

How long is the lockdown going to last?

The lockdown is for a period of six weeks starting from 26th December. The Executive has said they will review the position after four weeks. This review is unlikely to end the lockdown early, more likely it will decide whether it ends after six weeks or what needs to change

Can I continue to work?

The Executive rules say that taxi services can continue during the lockdown. Drivers are not subject to any additional regulations. Drivers are also not responsible for a passenger’s actions if they have “broken the rules”

What about other sectors?

This will be like the lockdown at the end of November. Hospitality will be closed (except for takeaway services) during the lockdown. Nonessential retail will also close during this period.

What are fonaCAB doing during this period?

You will have read about changes to depot rent and car payments in your Driver Update. As non-essential retail is not allowed to operate, we will again be closing the sales showroom at Knock Road to the public. The workshop can remain open and we will continue to offer parts, servicing, tyres etc to Drivers and the public by appointment only. Fleet services will continue at Knock Road but as before we encourage you to use the Drivers Portal for queries, document uploads and payments.

Knock Road will be open Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm by appointment only and as there will be no onsite sales, Knock Road will not be open on Saturdays during the lockdown. Please use the Drivers Portal for rent payments, but if you need to do it in person, the rent room at Knock Road only will be open on Tuesdays from 12.00pm to 3.00pm. The room will operate on a “one in / one out basis and you should check to make sure it is vacant before entering. Haslems Lane and Carn Contact Centre will be closed during the lockdown period. Unfortunately the Hollywood Arches Depot and its Driver toilets will also have to close again during this period

Are there any changes to the rules regarding masks / face coverings?

No. It is still mandatory for both Driver and passengers to wear a mask while in a taxi. The only exceptions to this rule are when you have a partition screen in place or where either you or the passenger are exempt from wearing a mask. If you are asked by the authorities to provide evidence on why you are exempt and cannot do so, you may be liable for a fine. You are not responsible for your passenger’s actions.

What if the situation changes?

You should refer to the company news section on the Drivers Portal – we will be publishing fortnightly business updates but will also publish additional information if it affects you as and when is required

• 19th December

NEW LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS

On Thursday night the Northern Ireland Executive announced increased coronavirus restrictions starting after Christmas.

At present, the Executive has not published all the information concerning these restrictions and while we are aware of some of the changes, there is still much to be confirmed.

Until we have full the full detail of what is happening, we cannot make a judgement as to how this is going to affect our business. Today, like yesterday, we are experiencing high numbers of bookings. This is likely because of the traditional Christmas rush and looks like it may continue through most of next week and up to the shops closing on Christmas Eve.

While non-essential retail is closed from Boxing Day, there is a window up until the 28^th for the public to travel from their “bubbles” and for hotels to remain open to cater for Christmas bookings. These factors may help to sustain booking numbers over the holiday weekend.

We will publish a further update regarding working post-Christmas as soon as we are able to do so.

• 30th October

DEPARTMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS ANNOUNCED

By now you will probably be aware that the Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has confirmed the financial support package for taxi Drivers that we have been updating you on in recent weeks. A summary of the scheme is bulleted below

• This will be a one off payment of a fixed amount of £1500 per Driver

• Open to all Drivers to apply, whether Private or Public Hire

• Eligibility criteria will apply – you do not automatically qualify for a payment. The Department has stated that Drivers must “have been available for work since the pandemic started” We do not yet know how this will be evidenced

• Drivers will not be expected to provide items such as receipts.

• The scheme is planned to open for applications week commencing 9th November

• If successful, funds will be sent directly to Drivers bank accounts

The Minister also referred to another grant scheme from the Department of the Economy. We assume at this stage that this is The Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme (Part B) which is designed to help those who have been able to continue to work through the current lockdown but their business / turnover has been impacted by the closures.

This scheme (Part B) is yet to be launched and at present there are no further details available on eligibility however Part (A) of the scheme opened for applications on 28th October and may offer some insight into how (B) will be administered. If applicable, and if eligible, this grant could provide further additional funding of £300 per week for each week of lockdown per Driver. While we welcome all further funding for Drivers, we would prefer to see more detail on this scheme (specifically on meeting eligibility criteria) before commenting further.

We thank the Minister and her Department for the work they have done in bringing a package forward in the limited time they have had available to them. We also commend the considerable efforts of all the representatives involved from across the taxi industry to get us to this point

We await further detail of Minister Mallon’s scheme before commenting as to how much benefit it will bring to Drivers and the industry. What has been announced to date however is unlikely to provide sufficient support for the costs incurred by Drivers and the taxi sector and comes with no certainty of future support. Regardless of progress to date, we will continue to lobby on behalf of all Drivers and the NI taxi industry

• 27th October

DRIVER FINANCIAL SUPPORT

This morning fonaCAB took part in an online meeting with Minister Mallon, officials from the Department of Infrastructure, and representatives from the public and private hire taxi sectors. For background to this meeting you should refer to previous Driver updates concerning grant funding The outtakes from today’s meeting are -

• The Minister considered tailored packages for Drivers but rejected these as they would be too difficult to administer and would require Drivers to provide auditable information to be eligible

• The Minister has decided to instead bring forward a proposal to the Executive based on a one off payment

  • This payment would be calculated as a percentage of driver overheads and expenditure on PPE – no further detail was provided as to what was meant by overheads

  • There was no indication of how much funding would be available either overall or per Driver

  • All licenced Drivers would be entitled to apply.

• We asked that the Department ensure that only affiliated Drivers would qualify to ensure that the maximum amount of funding went to those still in the industry and not for example someone who still has a dormant badge and is out of the industry and in another career

• The proposal will be brought before the Executive on Thursday and if successful is expected to open for applications week commencing 9th November

• There were no proposals for supporting depots, only Drivers We expect to hear from the Department of Infrastructure after the Executive meeting on Thursday and will publish a further update soon after

• 25th October

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE TAXI INDUSTRY

Financial Support for the Taxi Industry As you know, we have been trying for some time to secure financial support for the taxi industry. We have published much of what we have been doing to date, and the meetings in which we have participated are public record

We put an update on this portal as to progress on 15th October – if you haven’t already read it you can do so by clicking https://portal.fonacab.com/update-on-discussions-with-theDepartment-for-infrastructure-on-financial-support/ and opening the attached file. You can also read the latest update from the Department of Infrastructure at https://portal.fonacab.com/Driver-update-progress-update-on-grants/

On the 15th, the hurdle was in demonstrating that the taxi industry had exceptional circumstances. We are pleased to say that this has been achieved and you will have read stories in the press over the weekend about this happening.

We are participating in another online “Zoom” meeting with the Department of Infrastructure this week and which point we expect to hear more detail of any prospective scheme(s) It has already been announced that the Minister will be bringing a proposal to the Executive this Thursday so it is doubtful that any finalised scheme will be shared with us before then.

Legislation will be required to confirm that the Department has the legal right to administer a scheme. While we would expect that this will take around two weeks to complete, we would hope that work can take place on the legislation while proposals are being finalised – in other words if these are done concurrently it should speed the process.

There is much speculation around any prospective schemes and unfortunately most of it is incorrect. The following Q&A is our understanding of the process to date

What support has fonaCAB asked for from the Government?

fonaCAB has been working with several Government Departments since the beginning of the first lockdown – we had our first meeting with the Minister for Infrastructure at the end of March. We have worked for support and clarity on.

• Maximum permitted occupancy of a taxi during the pandemic

• The use of face masks

• In car partition screens

• Extensions of PSV / licences

• CPC relaxation / extensions

• Use of bus lanes • Supply of PPE

• Meter sealing / fare increases

• Financial support

We are pleased that we have been able to advance many of these issues over the last number of months however the matter of financial support for many remains outstanding

What is happening with the financial support discussions?

Around the beginning of lockdown, the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) was launched. This benefitted many Drivers, but equally as many either were not able to apply or received small amounts. In the absence of other financial aid at the time we welcomed schemes brought forward by the Department designed to reduce Driver outlay (for example, automatic PSV extension)

Over the lockdown we have met on several occasions (online) with representatives from various Government Departments and have presented our case for additional support for the industry to the main political parties. The issue on each occasion did not appear to be a lack of willingness to support the sector, rather the complexities of which Government Department was responsible for administering financial support - As noted above, this has now been resolved (exceptional circumstances) and the Department of Infrastructure has now been given formal responsibility to bring forward a proposal.

Is this just for the Taxi Industry?

This part of the process is just for the Taxi Industry, but there are three schemes being brought forward simultaneously by the Department for Infrastructure – the other two being for the Private Bus Sector and for the Haulage Industry. Monies that the Department has will be used for all three industries

Is this a different grant process from the legal action taken by a group of individual Drivers against the Department of Infrastructure?

No. That group started their discussions separately and partly as a result from being excluded from these initial Government schemes. The Department has bought all of us together in one process. This “bringing together” includes Drivers from the public and private hire sectors, fonaCAB and other depot owners from areas around Northern Ireland. While there may be variations in implementation of any scheme to cater for the differences between the private and public hire sectors it is our understanding that we will all be part of the same overall scheme

What sort of / how much support can we expect?

At this stage we do not know. Each participant in the process was asked to provide details of how the lockdown had affected them and why they consider the taxi industry to have exceptional circumstances. In addition to providing this we also submitted numerous ideas for financial support for Drivers. We have provided information on the losses incurred by fonaCAB but we have not specifically bid for any monies for the company – every suggestion put forward by us was for support for Drivers. Other participants have also submitted ideas for Driver support and we have seen and agree with many of these Our suggestions, if taken on board, are Driver centric and for all the taxi industry. We bid on the basis that without Drivers there is no industry and if the Driver benefits, then so will the Depots.

If I got support before, will I be eligible now?

We do not yet know. To demonstrate exceptional circumstances, we had to show why Drivers were different from other self employed people. Our approach (and that of other participants) may allow those who have already received financial aid to qualify now (for example, first time around it may have been compensation for loss of earnings whereas now it could be support for your vehicle) The Department have stated there will be no “double funding” so we await their proposal to see how this is being handled

What about accounts and auditing? Will I need to provide proof of my costs for example?

Again, at the moment we do not know. As part of our submission we suggested that to make auditing easier any scheme could be administered through the Department, the DVA or through the Depots. We expect that auditing will be an important part of any initiative and we await the details

What happens next?

At a meeting with the Deputy First Minister and the Finance Minister on Wednesday 21st the Chief Executive of fonaCAB William McCausland impressed upon the Ministers the need for urgent action and asked for a commitment for financial support for the industry. The response from both Ministers was positive and it appeared that any scheme brought forward by The Department of Infrastructure this week would be seen favourably and dealt with as promptly as possible.

We do not expect monies to be distributed in the next week but we would be disappointed if a financial support initiative were not announced for the taxi industry in the next seven to ten days. We will update you again if there is further progress after the next Department of Infrastructure meeting

• 15th October

DRIVER GRANTS

fonaCAB has been trying to secure funding for our Drivers and our business since the start of lockdown. We have published previously the attempts we have made with all the major political parties and several government departments

As a business, we applied for all the general grant and loan schemes that were on offer but were successful in just one which resulted in a one off payment of £10k for the company. To put this into context, even with most fonaCAB staff on furlough and after enduring some staff redundancies this amount was not sufficient to cover our staff operating costs for one week.

We have been engaging regularly with the Department for Infrastructure on matters ranging from partition screens and masks through to fare increases and grant support. Our relationship with the Department has been good, and while they were very helpful on most matters, they were unable to provide any grant support for the sector as legally the responsibility to do so did not rest with them

In September, the Executive stated that they would be willing to pass responsibility to Infrastructure for a grant scheme for the taxi, haulage, and bus industries. On 30th September, the Department hosted a Zoom meeting for the taxi industry at which fonaCAB, other private hire operators and several Drivers representing the public hire sector were present. The Minister explained that for her department to be able to develop a grant scheme, they first had to demonstrate to the Executive why responsibility for doing so should be passed to them. We understand this requires three main conditions to be met

1. The taxi industry must demonstrate that it has “exceptional circumstances.” For example, this could be showing why the industry is different from other sectors where the workforce is self employed or it could be in explaining why some Drivers were not able to access the initial general financial support that was available

2. There should be no duplication of grant support – in other words, any new scheme would only be open to those who have not already received financial support

3. Any support must be auditable. There will be no “blank cheques” written. Any scheme will need to be based on definable need and the spend will need to be able to be verified.

The Department issued a questionnaire to each of the meeting attendees asking for evidence regarding these conditions, and fonaCAB submitted a comprehensive response before the deadline of 6 th October. We also included ideas for financial support initiatives for Drivers such that if conditions were met, these might help in developing a scheme which could be implemented more quickly.

We impressed upon the Department the need for urgency and considering the new restrictions coming into play this week have pushed for immediate / short term support until a more comprehensive scheme is in place.

There is a follow up meeting with the Department and other industry representatives due shortly at which we hope to hear of any progress and will update all Drivers again when this has taken place

• 14th October

FACE MASKS (UPDATED)

The guidance that we issued on 9^th October has now been confirmed as correct by the Department of Infrastructure and the regulations have been published. In summary

• You and your passengers must now wear a face covering for every journey

• If you have a screen in place then face masks are optional

• If you or your passenger are exempt from wearing a mask you do not have to do so. You can not ask your passenger (or your passenger ask you) to prove why they are exempt. If you are challenged however by the authorities you may have to provide proof of your exemption to avoid prosecution

• You are responsible for your own mask (you will be the one prosecuted if you do not comply with the regulations) You are not responsible for the passenger

• You can refuse to transport a passenger for not wearing a mask, but not if they are exempt.

• 9th October

FACE MASKS (UPDATED)

You will be aware by now that taxis have now been included in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) Regulations (NI) 2020 We are awaiting details from the NI Executive and have asked both the Department for Infrastructure and the Department of Health for clarification. Until we receive this, this is our understanding

Do I have to wear a mask, or just my passengers? The Regulations apply to everyone in the taxi, Driver included

Does it have to be a mask or can it be a face covering? Either is fine

What if I am exempt from wearing a mask or if the passenger is exempt from wearing a mask? If you or your passenger are exempt for medical or other reasons from wearing a mask, this is the guidance from the NI Direct website There is no need to get a letter from a doctor or the government to show that you do not need to wear a face covering. If you have a condition (for example, a disease such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis) which means you cannot wear a face covering you only need to say, if asked, that you cannot wear a face covering because you are exempt. It is important that we all respect one another and remember that the reasons for not wearing a face covering may not always be visible. If you do not wear a face covering and you are not under 13 or have a reasonable excuse for not wearing one, you are committing an offence and could be fined.

When do these new rules come into force? There was no date given so we suggest you should be following them now

Are there exemptions if I have installed a screen in my car? We have asked for clarity on this. The current legislation states (abbreviated) (2) Paragraph (1) does not require the wearing of a face covering— (e) by a person providing a passenger transport service, or an employee of that person, where there is a partition between the person or employee and members of the public This would imply that you do not need to wear a face mask if there is a screen in place

If a passenger doesn’t wear a mask, who is responsible for their actions? In other environments, everyone is responsible for their own actions, so in this case we would expect that the passenger would be subject to enforcement if they don’t adhere to the regulations. You should use your discretion as always if choosing not to accept a fare because the passenger is not wearing a mask and remember that they may have exemptions.

Do I have to wear a mask if there is no one else in the car? No, you do not

A few other questions you might have – My glasses steam up when I wear a mask – any tips? Specsavers have some good tips on this – you can see them and a short video at https://www.specsavers.co.uk/covid19-care/stop-glasses-fogging-with-face-mask

What are fonaCAB doing to tell customers about the new regulations?

• We have updated our social media with a new “wear a mask message”

• The automated message a caller gets on phoning fonaCAB has now been updated

• All staff have been advised of the new regulations so they may answer questions that customers might have

What do I do if I need masks or passengers need masks? If you haven’t already collected yours, free reusable masks are still available from fonaCAB. Passengers are responsible for providing their own masks

Does this change the maximum number of passengers per booking?

We still recommend no more than three passengers and in the rear of a standard taxi. If you wish to take any more than this, or in the front of your car, this is at your discretion

Do I still need to clean and sanitise my car? You should continue to take extra care in cleaning your car, especially between journeys. Don’t forget that screens need to be wiped down with disinfectant. We still have some free disinfectant and sprayers at Knock Road – You can collect some if it is still available next time you are on site

• 8th October

FACE MASKS NOW MANDATORY IN TAXIS

The Northern Ireland Executive has today announced new restrictions to help deal with the rise in coronavirus infections in Northern Ireland One of these new restrictions is that it is now mandatory to wear a face mask / face covering when in a taxi. This means that if you do not wear a mask in a taxi you may be subject to prosecution and a fine

• We believe this applies to both Drivers and Passengers. You should wear one now until this clarified

• You should start to adhere to these new regulations now if you want to avoid any ambiguity over enforcement or compliance

• We understand that the Driver is responsible for wearing their own mask. If you do not, you may be subject to enforcement and a possible fine

• And we believe the Passenger is responsible for wearing their mask and they will be subject to enforcement / punishment if they do not

• fonaCAB will update the following o The automated greeting that callers receive when booking will have a face mask message included o Booking notifications will be updated to tell customers to wear a mask o Social media will be updated with posts advising customers that they must wear a mask

• We would expect that face mask exemptions applicable in other environments will also apply in taxis If you have not yet collected your free reusable fonaCAB facemasks, these are still available for collection at Knock Road, Haslems Lane and Carn Contact Centre – full details are on the Driver Portal

• Monday 7th September

RETURNING TO WORK

If you haven't yet returned to work but are considering doing so, you can see some guidance on this further down this page at https://sites.google.com/view/coronavirusguidance/home#h.p_zxeyGhL0mmlL

To make sure your meter is set at the correct rate, you should contact Knock Road to have it updated to the new correct tariff

When you start back, you will also notice that we have enabled the auto callback feature which will ring your customer and inform them you have arrived when you press the arrive button.

Please check the Drivers Portal regularly for updates

FACE MASKS

At present, we are receiving significantly more customer enquiries about our policy for wearing masks / face coverings at fonaCAB. As you know, wearing masks is mandatory on public transport and recommended in private hire taxis and buses by the government. Until now we have left the decision on whether to wear a mask with the Driver and the Passenger but with the increased interest, we are now recommending that Drivers and Passengers wear masks while in a fonaCAB. We will be updating our customer guidance on our social media and other platforms to advise customers to wear masks and will be including this message in our text back messages as soon as possible. We still have free reusable masks for Drivers and these are available if you have yet to collect yours at Knock Road, Haslems Lane and Carn Business Park – Please see previous update for collection times

NUMBER OF PASSENGERS

You will also be aware that we have revised our guidance on the maximum number of Passengers per booking from two in the rear seat to three in the rear seat (standard taxi). Again, this is a recommendation rather than law and we understand that some of you may take more and in the front seat – this is at your discretion but we recommend that you travel only with Passengers in the rear. We are already advertising the three Passenger guidance and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future

• Wednesday 15th July (UPDATED)

Face Masks

fonaCAB has now received our order of reusable cloth face masks which are free for any Driver who wishes to have them. We are not making wearing them mandatory, but as we have said before if the Government guidance on this changes and wearing face masks becomes a requirement, we will let you know.

• Every Driver who wants them will receive three masks

• You can collect your masks from reception, Fleet, or the Rent Room at Knock Road at anytime

• You can collect masks from Haslems lane from Thursday 16th from 1pm - 5pm and the same times on any open day thereafter

• You can collect masks from Carn from Thursday 16th from 11am - 3pm and the same times on any open day thereafter

• You can only collect your own masks and not those for another Driver

• The masks are washable, and full instructions on their care is found in the packaging

• There are sufficient for every Driver who wants them

Holywood Arches Belfast Depot

Holywood Arches Depot has now reopened. As well as being a waiting area for customers, more importantly the Drivers toilets are now available for use again

While we do have a cleaning schedule in place for the toilets, we would ask you to take extra care in keeping these clean for the benefit of every user

Haslems Lane Lisburn Depot

Haslems Lane Depot has now reopened. The office is manned and taking customer bookings, the waiting area is open to allow customers to wait. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm

Carn Contact Centre Craigavon

Carn Contact Centre will open from Thursday 16th July for customer bookings and for Driver facilities including toilets. Opening hours are 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday

We still advise Drivers to make use of the Drivers Portal where possible

• Monday 6th July

GPS Issues?

If you've ever had any sort of issues with GPS, this guide may be of help in showing some of the problem areas around Belfast.

If the problem persists regardless of wherever you are, get in touch with Fleet at Knock Road as the problem may be with your device

• Wednesday 24th June

Driver update

If you have come here looking for todays Driver update, you will find it in the Driver Portal at https://portal.fonacab.com.

• Wednesday 24th June

Returning to Work - Frequently Asked Questions

If you are planning to return to work and you have questions, please read the FAQ’s below which may help answer any queries you may have.

How much is Depot Rent?

Depot Rent for all drivers is currently charged at a discounted rate of £80 per week. If you are not working, you will not be charged any rent. There are no other rates

How is rent charged?

Depot rent continues to be charged in the same manner as it was prior to Covid19, which is in advance of the week you work.

When is rent day?

Rent day is still on Tuesday. You can make payment through the Drivers Portal at any time but if you still want to pay in person remember that with reduced staff on site the window to make payments will be smaller and payments will only be accepted between the hours of 12pm and 3pm at our Knock Road site

How do I access the Driver Portal?

You can login to the driver portal by visiting the site at https://portal.fonacab.com.

To access your account through the portal please use the same details you use to login to your datahead. (driver number and pin)

What can I use the Driver Portal for?

Through the driver portal you can do the following:

Make Rent Payments

Request Credit Payments

Update your driver Documents (Licence/Insurance etc)

Submit Dockets

Submit Rent and Booking Queries

Ask the team any questions you may have

Keep yourself up to date with the most recent company news and deals

When possible please use the portal for the above queries as this will help us deal your queries and requests more efficiently and save you time.

If you have a specific query which isn’t covered by the options available on the driver portal please email them to accounts@fonacab.com and someone from the team will get back to you.

When is the best time to work?

Bookings continue to increase which is positive however it is very difficult to give Drivers an indication of current peak times and previous weeks trends should not be taken as a guarantee of future levels of business. Weekends are busier than weekdays

Important Driver Information

We will continue to send out information, to keep you informed, through datahead messages and we will send driver memos by email. This information will also be available on both the driver portal and this fonaCAB Coronavirus Website.

Driver Portal - https://portal.fonacab.com

Please ensure you are reading your emails or check in to these sites periodically to make sure you are up to date with the latest information and are aware of any changes.

• Wednesday 10th June

Faith House

Our partnership with Faith House Eventide Home ends this Friday, 12th June. Bookings up to midnight on Friday either from or to Faith House will be accepted on the current supported terms, but from Saturday 13th they will revert to being normal paying customers

We'd like to thank all those Drivers who supported this free fare offer for Faith House staff over the last number of weeks, it is much appreciated

• Friday 5th June

Returning to work

If you are currently not working and are considering returning to work, you need to consider the following

• Are my docs up to date (license / PSV etc)?

• Is my insurance correct (Taxi insurance, not social, domestic and pleasure)?

• Have I informed fonaCAB to have my account restarted?

• Make sure you test your device to make sure it’s operational, account active and it is charging OK

If your account is paused, you can have it restarted by going to the portal and using the “Ask the Team” function or by contacting the Fleet Department on 02890 330 333 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. They can also answer any questions you might have

If you need to update any documents, insurance etc, you can upload these through the driver portal at portal.fonacab.com and login using the same details you use to log into your datahead with. If you returned your datahead it will still be at Knock Road and you can collect it between the hours listed above.

• Monday 1st June

Driver Update

As the Government continue to ease the coronavirus restrictions, we are seeing a notable and sustained increase in the number of bookings we are receiving week on week.

Since our last Driver Update there has been an overall increase of 50% in the number of weekly bookings with the average number of completed bookings per driver almost the same as the pre coronavirus average.

Last weekend, Thursday through to Sunday, was unbelievably busy and we turned away 75% of the offered work due to the very limited numbers of drivers out. People are gathering with friends and family at their homes and this is likely to be the new normal moving forward. Monday to Wednesday are busy but not as demanding.

We need more drivers working over the weekend to meet this demand.

Depot Rents

• Our current period of discounted depot rent, (£68 for 1-99 jobs and £100 for 100+ jobs) and £25 for rent to own car charges will continue for a further 2 weeks.

We have reviewed, and will continue to review the situation daily and based on current levels of business the revised terms taking effect from the 15^th of June will be as follows:

• Drivers who are not working will not be charged depot rent

• Drivers who are working will pay a discounted rent of £80 per week. This is a flat rate and will not increase based on the amount of jobs you do.

Car Charges

All Rent to Own Vehicles, whether working or not, will be charged as follows:

• 50% payment of the capital value of your regular payment plus

• 100% payment of the regular Interest Charge

Please check your Rent to Own contract to view the charges which will be applicable to you.

If you do not have your contract to hand you will find these charges on an old driver account summary statement in your emails.

Booking Trends and Demand

Coronavirus has forced a lot of people to make changes to their daily routines, whether this be working from home instead of the office or visiting friends and family instead of restaurants and pubs. These changes have led to a disruption of the regular pattern of bookings and busy periods across all shifts. Please take this into consideration as your pre coronavirus shift pattern may now be less efficient and profitable than before.

If you have returned to work, please consider working the weekend as this is the most optimal time to work with bookings increasing significantly from Thursday and increasing further on Friday and Saturday.

Daily bookings over the weekend are 50% higher than earlier in the week, fares are higher with the weekend increases and the average amount of bookings completed per driver are much higher than that of a midweek shift. With customers spread out evenly between residential addresses there is work available across all the zones which helps to reduce dead miles.

We are working on a reduced staff in Knock Road – if you have any queries regarding the above please submit them on the driver portal through the “Ask the team” section and we will reply as soon as possible. Thank you in advance.

Regards

fonaCAB

• Thursday 21st May

May Bank Holiday

fonaCAB admin office will be closed on Monday the 25th of May for the Bank holiday and will reopen on Tuesday the 26th of May. If you have any queries please submit these through the driver portal. In the case of an emergency please contact the call centre and they will get in contact with the relevant department. Thank you

Rent to Own Vehicles

If you have a Rent to Own vehicle through fonaCAB this should only be used for private use or to carry out work for fonaCAB. Your rent to Own vehicle should not be used for food delivery, courier type work, etc. If found in violation of this, you will be asked to resume full vehicle payments or to return the vehicle.

Blood Dockets

As of today, you will no longer be required to submit the paper Blood Docket that you receive when carrying out a Blood job.

Moving forward all blood dockets will have to be uploaded through the driver’s portal.

In the coming days, our docket boxes will be removed. Any dockets you currently have please do not leave them in a docket box but rather upload them via the driver’s portal. This will ensure that the docket can be priced and paid promptly.

The only thing that should be written by you on the docket is your driver number in the section provided and the amount of waiting time, but only if this has been signed for and authorised.

You should upload the docket immediately after you have completed the booking – do not delay.

Dockets submitted with mileages/fares will be rejected and you will be asked to resubmit it.

To upload a docket please visit the driver portal, select update documents, and choose file, this will prompt you to take a photo of the docket. Please ensure that your photo is clear, and all the docket is visible.

It is recommended that you hold onto all Blood dockets you receive until further notice.

The driver’s portal can be found online at https://portal.fonacab.com

Further info and training videos on how to use the driver portal can be found on this site or your data unit in the hospital maps section.

• Monday 18th May

Protective screens in cars

There has been much discussion about the installation of protective perspex screens in cars. We have sought guidance and clarity on their installation from various sources and this is summarised below

Effectiveness

We have seen various types of screens installed in Drivers cars. Some using solid PVC, others using lightweight flexi plastic. While these vary greatly in design and quality, none will provide an airtight seal between the front and rear seats (gaps around the edges, payment hatches, under seats etc.)

There is no official government guidance either recommending their use or otherwise. At best they act as a protective “cough shield” which reduces but does not eliminate the chance of transmission. They do appear to add a level of comfort to Drivers and Passengers in cars where they have been fitted but they are not a substitute for cleaning your car and following hygiene rules

Screens made from a solid Perspex appear to be more durable and long lasting and those with a flat, non-crease surface are much easier to keep clean. Screens should be sprayed with disinfectant / sanitiser on a regular basis rather than simply wiped down

Department of Infrastructure / DVLA Approval

DVLA have advised that any amendment to a vehicle requires testing and approval. This should be done at an authorised testing centre. As testing centres are currently closed, DVLA have said that no enforcement action will be taken against any driver for installing a screen and using their common sense to address a problem providing that there are no sharp edges or any obvious dangerous elements to the screen.

Should you install a screen and wish to have it checked by the DVLA, they have advised that if you contact them, they can arrange to view it at their Corporation Street Belfast facilities.

This guidance may change when testing centres reopen and there is a clearer position around the legislation and testing of screens

Car Manufacturers

Car Manufacturers are unlikely to recommend installation of screens as each installation may be different because of the screen type, and because testing of screens to determine if there is any effect on the cars systems cannot currently take place

Insurers

We have had several Drivers reporting that their insurance company has approved the installation of a screen in their car. This may vary from insurer to insurer and we would advise you to speak to your own broker or insurance company for clarity on this issue

Depot / Rent to own vehicles

Providing that the installation of your screen does not make any significant structural or cosmetic changes to your car, you do not need to seek prior approval for installation from fonaCAB. You can of course contact the Fleet Department at any time though for guidance

• Monday 4th May

Drivers Portal

We have put together some useful short video clips detailing how to get the most out of using the fonaCAB Drivers Portal.

You can see all of these by clicking on

Logging In

Uploading Documents

Making a Payment

You can also find these videos on your Driver Datahead

• Saturday 25th April

PSV Exemption / Extentions

We have received PSV exemption letters from the DVA. These will be emailed out to all affected fonaCAB Drivers early next week. If you receive one you should save or print it and keep it in a place where you can present it if requested

• Monday 20th April

Depot Rent / Car Payments W/C 20^th April

For Driver and Staff well being, and to simplify the process, we have put the following temporary procedures in place for depot rent collection and car payments from this week

· Where possible, all Drivers should use the Drivers Portal for making payments, queries to Fleet and for uploading documents

· If you cannot use the Portal, payments should be made at the locations and by following the procedures below

Knock Road

· Belfast and Lisburn Drivers can pay in person at Knock Road

· The Rent Room will be open on Tuesdays from 12pm – 3pm

· The Rent Room will operate on a “one in / one out” basis

· Please expect some waiting time while the new process is being implemented and to allow the rent room to be sanitised at regular intervals

Lisburn

· Where possible, all Drivers should use the Drivers Portal for making payments

· There will be no rent collection facility in Lisburn - Drivers paying in person should do so at Knock Road on Tuesdays from 12pm – 3pm

Craigavon

· Where possible, all Drivers should use the Drivers Portal for making payments

· The Rent Desk will be open on Wednesdays from 12pm – 3pm

· The Rent Desk will operate on a “one in / one out” basis

· Please expect some waiting time while the new process is being implemented and to allow the Rent Desk to be sanitised at regular intervals

Working / Not working

· In order to reduce Fleet and Admin management time, if you did not work during the last seven days, you have been temporarily switched off.

· If you wish to work this week, no problem. Please contact Fleet on 02890 330 333 between 10am and 4pm or Dispatch 24 hours a day on 02890 333 333 to be switched back on ASAP

Depot Rent / Car Payments

· You may have received an invoice for depot rent (and car payment if applicable). An invoice has been automatically sent to all Drivers who worked at any time during the last seven days. This invoice is for working during the upcoming week commencing 20/4/20. If you are not intending to work this week, do not worry, this will be credited back to you.

· If you are working this week, whether you have received an invoice or not, your rent payment will be as advised - £68 flat depot rent for every Driver. The amount of jobs you have this week will then determine whether your depot rent next week will be £68 or £100

• Wednesday 15th April

Important Driver Update

Dear Driver

I would like to start by thanking you for your patience and understanding during this difficult period for all of us.

We have stated from the start of this crisis that the health and wellbeing of our Drivers, our Staff and our Passengers is our highest priority and this remains the case. You will know that we implemented new steps and procedures very early on to support you, and we hope that these, along with discounted depot rents and car charges have been of some help

I’d like to take this opportunity to update you on what’s been happening with fonaCAB over the last few weeks and what our upcoming plans for the next period are.

We have continued to keep you and our Passengers updated via our Drivers Information Website, new Drivers Portal and on our social media. We have worked with government departments, other depots here and across the UK and with you our Drivers to amend our working processes, seek clarification on industry issues and to identify new business opportunities for you

You will already be aware of the changes we have made to reduce costs across our support functions including our call centres, fleet, IT, Admin and Accounts departments, and we have made every effort to reduce outgoings for utilities, rent and rates and many other substantial but “hidden” costs. These have been pared back to the minimum level required to keep you on the road but the expenditure is still substantial. There are some positives however - while business is substantially lower than before the crisis, it has stabilised at a higher than anticipated level and many working Drivers are benefitting from this.

With this informed understanding of the current level of business available to you, and the revised expenditure needed to continue to run Driver support services, we now have a clear picture of our plans and how they affect you for the next period

We have uploaded a more detailed overview to the company news section of the Driver Portal at https://portal.fonacab.com/ and you should read it to understand how these changes will affect you, whether you choose to work or not

Thank you again for your loyalty and support

Kindest regards

William McCausland

fonaCAB Managing Director

• Tuesday 14th April

Driver Insurance Survey

fonaCAB Drivers - If you haven't already done so when you received a text message from us, please complete the Drivers Insurance Survey - you'll find this by clicking on the tab at the top right hand side of this page, or in the menu (Three horizontal lines one above the other) if you are reading this on a mobile device

You should only complete it once and we would be grateful if you could answer all of the questions

• Saturday 11th April

Guide Dogs

As you can imagine, the current circumstances have led to many unusual questions being asked by Drivers and Passengers and we receive a regular stream of enquiries through our email and social media

One of the questions raised this week was about Guide Dogs - specifically if there are two people with Guide Dogs, should one sit in the front and one in the back?

The answer to this is that both passengers should sit in the back of the car with their dogs at their feet. If the Drivers seat cannot go forward far enough to allow this, then it is OK for one of the Passengers to sit in the front passenger seat with their dog at their feet. Passenger and dog should not be separated

This is the law, and you should not refuse to carry a Guide Dog under any circumstances unless you have an exemption certificate

• Friday 10th April

Important information on the renewal of licenses

Mallon confirms automatic renewal of licences for Taxi Industry in Covid 19 Response

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has confirmed that from today, taxi vehicle licences which have expired or will expire during the current health emergency will be automatically renewed.

The move ensures that vehicles that have previously been tested and deemed suitable to operate as taxis can continue to operate at this time. The Minister had previously announced all vehicles with MOTs due will be given temporary exemption certificates, however new legislation was required to temporarily exempt taxis from taxi vehicle tests.

Speaking as the legislation comes into effect today, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said:

“The taxi industry plays an important role in our transport network and during this very challenging period I want to support all of those who are working every day to ensure the public can make essential journeys.

“Taxi licences are normally issued for a one year period and are renewed following successful completion of a taxi test. However, to ensure customers and the public are protected from any further spread of COVID-19, testing of taxis and all vehicles is not currently possible.

“I know that this has been a difficult time for the industry and the legislation I have now brought forward will ensure that a vital service remains in place for those who need it, as well as giving some reassurance to those working in the industry and whose livelihood depends upon it.

“Automatic renewals will be for a six month period and will be issued free of charge. There is no application process and those with licences that have expired recently or are due to expire shortly, will be prioritised.

“Alongside Executive colleagues I pushed for the British Government self-employment package – but while this may go some way to help those affected more must be done. I can assure the industry that I will do all that I can with my responsibility on regulation and will continue to work with Executive colleagues to press for additional support for those struggling during this challenging time.”

New licences will be issued by the Driver and Vehicle Agency to all affected vehicles over the coming weeks and they should be carried in the taxi at all times.

Owners or drivers will be required to ensure that their vehicle complies with statutory requirements, is appropriately insured and is maintained in a roadworthy condition. In addition, vehicles should not have been significantly altered or modified since their last inspection, and for the duration of the licence. They should also continue to display their existing plates and signs. A breach of these conditions may lead to revocation of the licence.

Notes to editors:

1. The automatic renewal will apply to all existing licences that expire between 10 March and 9 October 2020, unless normal testing can resume before this date.

2. This arrangement will be kept under review and further legislation will be made if necessary.

3. The Regulations only extend to vehicles that have previously been tested and deemed suitable to operate as taxis.

4. Health advice and information on government services is available at: www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/covid-19-coronavirus(external link opens in a new window / tab) and www.nidirect.gov.uk/coronavirus(external link opens in a new window / tab)

5. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office at: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk. Out of hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.

6. Follow the Department on Twitter @deptinfra(external link opens in a new window / tab) and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure

• Tuesday 7th April

Driver Credits

Driver accounts have been updated and you can now see your credits by logging onto the Driver Portal at https://portal.fonacab.com/team-login/ Please let us know if you have any difficulty logging in

• Monday 6th April

Protective Screens

Unfortunately due to high demand our supplier is unable to procure the materials required to make the screens we advised you about last week. As a result, we will not be offering an option

There are various other options being promoted on the internet and you may find a suitable alternative there

• Thursday 2nd April

Letter From the office of the Minister for Infrastructure Nichola Mallon MLA

Following on from our discussions with the Minister for Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon has penned an open letter to the taxi industry. You can read the full contents of the letter on this page, or it is available to download from our Driver Portal at https://portal.fonacab.com/portal-home/

Protective Screens

UPDATE – THE ATTACHED IMAGES AND VIDEO CLIPS ARE VERSION 2 – THE SCREWS YOU SEE AT THE EDGE OF THE SCREENS WOULD BE REMOVED WHEN THE SCREEN IS NO LONGER NEEDED AND THE HOLES HIDDEN BEHIND THE RUBBER SEALS

We have been working with a number of suppliers to develop in car screens. While these are still in the development phase, they do look promising. You will have received a text asking for your input on these, but we would also welcome feedback in the Drivers forum inside the Driver Portal or you can email your thoughts to newsletter@fonacab.com

• Tuesday 31st March

Key Employee Letter

We have received a letter from the Belfast Health Trust which confirms fonaCAB Drivers status as Key Employees. This means that you are allowed to continue working within the published guidelines should you choose. If you are stopped at any stage by the police and asked whether you are a key employee and allowed to go about your business you should show them this. We have uploaded the letter to your Datahead - you can see where to find it by watching a short video HERE

Driver Portal

fonaCAB have developed a brand new Driver Portal which will contain all of your account details, your credits, online payments, ratings, and Driver deals. We will gradually move across from this web page and publish useful information in the Portal instead. There is also a Drivers Forum where you can discuss any issue between Drivers.

You can access the portal at https://portal.fonacab.com/ You will need to login, and your log in details are the same as for your Datahead.

There's not much information in the Portal at the minute and this will grow over time, but you can go in now and view your account and familiarise yourself with its layout

You will notice a new tab at the top right of this page (or in the menu if you're on a small screen) titled Driver Portal. This page gives a basic overview of what the portal does and how to access it and you should have a read through it before doing anything else. We have temporarily added this information to this site to avoid confusion by adding an additional site

Department of Infrastructure

fonaCAB requested a meeting with the Department of Infrastructure to address a number of issues affecting our industry, our Drivers, our Staff and Company

Today, along with representatives from Value Cabs, our Chief Executive William McCausland had a positive discussion with the Minister, Nichola Mallon where he raised issues ranging from Driver regulation, Diver and Passenger safety and potential business opportunities for Drivers during the current coronavirus situation.

The Minister was happy to clarify that Drivers can continue to work should they choose and in the issue of social distancing in car, the Minister has raised the issue for advice from the Minister of the Economy

We asked for clarification on the "two person" rule and have been assured that our approach of having no more than two passengers in the car at any one time is acceptable.

We also sought and were given assurances that should the passengers journey turn out to not be essential, it is the passenger and not the Driver that would face scrutiny.

In the matters of regulation, the Minister was aware of our concerns and took our suggestions on board. We would hope to see proposals in the very near future.

Finally, there were some matters such as Drivers supporting public services or doing deliveries which sat outside her remit, but she has referred our ideas to colleagues in the Assembly

We would like to thank the Minister for taking the time to discuss these matters today and are gratified that we are all seeking the same positive resolutions

As we receive any further information, whether as a result of this meeting or otherwise, we will publish the details

Customer communication

We have adapted our customer communication recently putting more information on social media and changing the text message booking confirmation message to advise on the maximum number of passengers and sending them towards this page for safe journey instructions

We're encouraged by the number of our customers who are continuing to use fonaCAB and the number of journeys (while significantly lower than normal) are higher than might be expected in the current environment. With this in mind we are going to email around 50,000 of our most recent customers to remind them of the current guidelines around using a fonaCAB to keep both you and the Passenger as safe as possible. You need not do anything, but you might notice customers being more conscious of sitting in the back, reducing passenger numbers to no more than two, and taking precautions over touching surfaces

• Thursday 26th March 2020

Driver Direct Debits

Drivers who pay their depot charges by direct debit will know that fonaCAB request these from their bank on a Monday. We did this on Monday at the reduced rate

On Monday night we made the decision to reduce Driver charges to zero. By that time, the request for direct debits had already been made. We tried to call every Driver affected by this to advise how to stop the debits but were unable to contact some, as such some Drivers saw the debit taken.

Most of these payments have already been returned to Drivers and we hope that the small remainder will be repaid by close of business on Friday 27th March.

Faith House Eventide Home

In these unprecedented times, fonaCAB have made every effort to protect the wellbeing and livelihoods of our Drivers, our Staff and our Customers

We have taken steps to protect the long term future of our company by putting our staff onto furlough or short term working and have temporarily closed depots and call centres to reduce costs.

For our Drivers we have reduced your depot rent to zero and paused car payments for those with Rent to Own cars and we continue to pay for the systems and services you need to be able to work.

These steps have helped our Drivers and Staff but we need to do more to help our Customers and our communities. We have looked at various ways that we can help and we welcome ideas from you for where we can do more together.

From today, we will be offering free journeys to and from work for the staff at Faith House Eventide Home in Finaghy. They have seventy elderly and vulnerable residents and those staff who have had to take public transport are very wary of the potential of bringing illness into the home with them – we can help by offering a taxi instead

fonaCAB will pay 50% of the fare and we are asking Drivers to pay the other 50% - in other words, if the fare for the journey is £10, the customer will pay £0 and you will have £5 credited to your account

Bookings will be under the “Faith House Staff Account”. You can of course choose to decline the job if you do not want to contribute to this good cause, but we would hope that you would see its value and remember that we are all in this together.

Journey Safety

If you look to the top right of this page you'll see a new link to a second page about what passengers should do when they're in your car. A link to this page will go out by text with every booking so that passengers know whats expected of them.

Vehicle cleanliness

Skoda have published some great guidance on keeping your car clean. We've summarised some of this guidance for you and you can see it further down this page at https://sites.google.com/view/coronavirusguidance/home#h.p_agDKoQW0KBk6

• Tuesday 24th March 2020

I’m sure like most of us you watched the Prime Ministers briefing on television last night. The Coronavirus pandemic has already had a substantial negative effect on our business and the new steps he announced will only impact this further.

We had already taken pre-emptive steps to reduce our costs by discounting Drivers depot rent by almost 40% and moving Staff to short time working but after the introduction of these new restrictions we need to do more to ensure the future survival of the company and all of our livelihoods.

We have cut Drivers depot rent to zero and offered payment holidays for their vehicles. While these steps will help support them, it reduces to almost zero the income that the company receives.

To this end we have now had to adjust our Staffing levels to be more reflective of the number of journeys being taken and the vital functions we need to retain. This will allow us to bring our costs to a minimum while still allowing us to continue as a business and keep the Drivers on the road.

The main changes are

· Most Knock Road fonaCAB and all Crawford Clarke Cars Staff have been furloughed per the published Government scheme

· Those that remain will either work from home or provide onsite services at Knock Road. These include Fleet, Workshop and Admin

· Knock Road is now temporarily closed to the public

o Drivers who need to attend should call 02890 330 333 and arrange an appointment should they have an issue. On arrival you should go to the Drivers Rent Room, the bell and wait for support.

o The Workshop will remain to offer repairs for Drivers and support in case of emergencies from customers. These services are subject to parts availability. Again, Drivers should call 02890 330 333 to arrange an appointment

o Lost property services will continue at Knock Road. Drivers should remind passengers to ensure they have all their property before exiting the car to minimise lost property issues. Drivers should call 02890 333 333 for guidance if they find an item

This is a difficult time for all of us. In every decision, fonaCAB have put the wellbeing, both physical and financial, of every Driver and Member of Staff first. We may have to endure further changes in the weeks to come but we will get through this. We would like to thank all our Drivers and Staff for their loyalty and understanding in the current circumstances and look forward to better times together in the future.

Willian McCausland

Chief Executive

• Monday 23rd March 2020

Following the Prime Minister’s statement tonight we have taken the decision to suspend all depot and car rental charges, with immediate effect, for the next 4 weeks.

You will have received your rental summary sheet today please ignore this. A newly updated version will be sent to you in the coming days with all depot and car rental charges removed. We will need time to produce these new sets of sheets and we ask and thank you in advance for your patience.

All credits earned will be paid to you by bank transfer only.

To ensure your vehicle is road legal you will have to continue to pay your insurance which for a Rent to Own vehicle must be fully comprehensive. If you do not pay your insurance you should return your car to fonaCAB Knock Road immediately

If you are on our fleet insurance policy, you must continue to pay fonaCAB for this or return your vehicle.

We are exploring every option available to us and conversing with local bodies to seek further information and clarity to help drivers through these very difficult and unprecedented times.

fonaCAB provide taxi services to a variety of vital clients and destinations such as the Northern Ireland Blood transfusion Service, hospitals and for dialysis treatments. This allows us to continue to operate as an essential service and we will do so unless directed otherwise

We have been lobbying government to clarify financial support for Drivers and have been negotiating with several leading local businesses to secure additional work

The decision to continue working is yours. We value your loyalty and your hard work, but ultimately it must be your call to do what you feel is best for your circumstances. Whatever your decision we will support it

The situation is a fluid one and we will continue to review and update you throughout.

• Saturday 21st March

To further minimise the risk of virus transmission, we have had to make some additional operational changes to all fonaCAB sites. We have already taken the decision to close our Botanic, Lisburn and Carn Call Centres and now we are making changes to our operations on our Knock Road to ensure the health and safety of our Staff and Drivers.

• The Knock Road Showroom is now temporarily closed to Drivers, only those with a prearranged appointment (i.e. Car Service) will be permitted on site. This will be from 9am – 1.30pm and 2.30pm – 6pm Monday to Friday

• To help further minimise the risk of virus transmission, drivers are encouraged to pay by card and update their documentation digitally. fonaCAB will soon launch a new driver portal where drivers can pay online and upload their documents. A link on how to access and use this Portal will be sent to all drivers by text and email on Monday.

• Drivers who cannot pay online, your Rent Payments will now work as follows:

Belfast based Drivers

• • Tuesdays - ONLY drivers numbered 1-600 will be accepted to pay rent.

  • Wednesdays - ONLY drivers numbered 601 and above will be accepted to pay rent.

  • Rent will only be taken between 10am – 1.30pm and 2.30pm – 5.30pm, this is to ensure the rent room can be cleaned and sanitized at regular intervals.

  • On both these days we will operate a ONE IN, ONE OUT policy in the rent room, meaning only one driver in the rent room at any one time.

  • Please, if it is at all possible, pay online using the portal

Lisburn based Drivers

• There will be no rent collection facility in Lisburn - Drivers should pay online by going to (Link to follow) or in person at Knock Road on Wednesdays

Craigavon based Drivers

• You should if at all possible pay online at (Link to follow), however You can continue to pay on Tuesdays at Carn Contact Centre before 5pm.

• All driver queries must be made via email to accounts@fonacab.com or fleet@fonacab.com or to the 02890330333 telephone number stating your NAME, DRIVER NO. AND ISSUE. All documents which need to be updated can be photographed and sent to the above email addresses.

• If a driver has a difficulty with equipment ie Kazam, Meter/Printer, please call dispatch who will contact a member of on call staff to make arrangements to rectify the issue.

If you have any questions, please contact us at the 02890330333 telephone number or via email to accounts@fonacab.com or fleet@fonacab.com

• Thursday 19th March

This page has been read over 7,500 times by 2,505 people since it went live last week. Of those 2,505 users, most are from NI, but there's a sizeable number from across the UK and people logging in from countries around the World including the USA, Thailand and Australia to name just a few.

If you have any information you think would be useful to the other readers of this page, whether it be for example cleaning your car or how you've adapted to maximise your business, We would love to hear from you - email us at newsletter@fonacab.com and we'll share any useful suggestions on the page as we get them.

If you are reading this outside of Northern Ireland, use the same email address to say hello, tell us where you're from and let us know how you found the page.

• Wednesday 18th March - UPDATED

We've handed out all of our first batch of spray disinfectants. We have another 500 due to arrive with us at the beginning of next week. These should be available to collect from next Tuesday at Knock Road, Lisburn and Craigavon. Please check this page to confirm that they are available before making the journey to us for one

• Tuesday 17th March

Driver Payments

The health and wellbeing of our Drivers, Staff, Customers and Suppliers is always our highest priority. In these difficult times, we have made some significant changes to our Driver Terms and Conditions to support them, these are detailed below

If you are unable to work because of underlying health conditions or are uncomfortable working during the coronavirus outbreak and have chosen to self-isolate please let us know.

Drivers who do not work, whether through choice or otherwise already do not pay depot rent and this will continue. Drivers who currently operate company owned vehicles should contact the fonaCAB Fleet Department from 18th March to discuss payments

Starting week commencing Monday 23^rd March 2020 and for a period of four weeks

Full time Depot rent for Belfast based Drivers who currently pay £136 per week will be reduced to £85 per week

Part time Depot rent for Belfast based Drivers will be reduced to £65 per week

Full time Depot rent for Craigavon based Drivers will be reduced to £75 per week

Drivers who have different working arrangements should contact the fonaCAB Fleet Department from Wednesday 18th March for advice

These new terms will be reviewed and adjusted as required at the end of this period

Last week, fonaCAB completed over 102,000 jobs and while lower than the previous week was not materially so. We do however expect that this number will significantly decrease over the forthcoming weeks and unfortunately understand that our Drivers may earn less money as a result.

fonaCAB is a large and complex business with 1400 Drivers, but also over 100 support staff who provide 24 hour Call Centre services, IT support, Driver support services, customer account maintenance, payment processing, vehicle maintenance and a multitude of other services which are required to keep Drivers on the road. In addition, the company has significant telephony costs, depot costs, cleaning, credit card commissions and licences which continue to be paid

As a business we still incur significant running costs even on lower journey numbers and we will make every effort to continue to fund these to maintain the level of service to our Customers and our Drivers to support them and our Staff through this difficult period for all of us

We would like to thank our Drivers, Staff, Customers and Suppliers for their support in the current circumstances and know that if we work together we will get through these challenging times

• Monday 16th March

Spray Bottle / Disinfectant

fonaCAB have purchased spray bottles and have filled them with a scented disinfectant which can be used to help sanitise the inside of your car. These will be available for all fonaCAB Drivers from Knock Road anytime, and from Lisburn and Portadown Admin desks on Tuesday 17th.

These are free of charge for our Drivers, and you can have free refills, but both are subject to availability. Each bottle will come with guidelines as to how to use it

• Monday 16th March

fonaCAB Call Centres

In considering the evolving coronavirus situation, fonaCAB have taken the decision to temporarily close our contact centres at Botanic Avenue Belfast, Haslems Lane Lisburn and Carn Business Park Portadown.

fonaCAB have planned for this and all staff are working from home or alternative fonaCAB locations - there is no disruption to our service.

Customers should continue to book their taxi by using our App, by calling us, or via our website

We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates when required. The health and wellbeing of our Staff, Drivers, Suppliers and Customers remains paramount in our decisions.

• Monday 16th March

Driver Update

The health and wellbeing of our Drivers, Staff, Customers and Suppliers remain our highest priority. If you are unable to work because of underlying health conditions, or are uncomfortable working during the coronavirus outbreak and have chosen to self-isolate please let us know

The situation is evolving daily, and while none of us know what the immediate future will bring, we will make every effort to support our Drivers. If you cannot work and are worried about depot rent and / or car payments you should speak to us on a one to one basis - we will do everything we can to help. You already know that you do not pay any depot rent when not working.

Completed booking numbers were still more than 100,000 last week and while lower than the previous week, not materially so. We will continue to monitor the level of business available to our Drivers and will update our position in a way which best protects the interests of the company, our staff and our Drivers in equal measure

It is likely that the next few weeks will be difficult for all of us and there will be some financial pain for all of us but if we work together for all our interests, we will get through this – Remember, this will pass and when it does, we will still need to work together for your, our and our customers best interests

• Friday 13th March.

Botanic Avenue Temporary Closure

Due to current concerns around Coronavirus we have taken the decision to temporarily close the Botanic Avenue depot. Call centre staff are already working from other fonaCAB locations and our service to our customers is uninterrupted. You should return items of lost property to Knock Road at the earliest opportunity in the meantime. We have already released a statement outlining fonaCAB’s position on the virus and our key objective of protecting the wellbeing of our Staff, our Drivers our Suppliers and our Customers remains our highest priority

Full freedom and flexibility is available to our drivers when choosing which work they choose to do. Drivers are presented with the option to accept or decline bookings giving them the freedom to choose which bookings they accept, what areas they work in and when they want to work.

We currently advise drivers when they are out working to take into consideration traffic conditions, weather conditions, current location to help them make an informed decision before accepting bookings. With the ongoing threat of coronavirus all drivers will also have to take into consideration their own personal health and underlying issues when deciding whether to accept or decline a booking.

Queries have been raised about picking up customers from Airports, fonaCAB system gives you the choice to do these bookings or not, but as the coronavirus spreads, it could be passed from person to person anytime, anywhere in the country. No longer will it be just drivers on airport runs who are prone to infection. You will need to take the adequate steps to ensure you are protecting yourself whenever working. Please make yourself aware of the advice issued by the government and check your emails and driver memos for advice issued from the relevant health departments.

It is just as important to keep your vehicle clean

Take this cleaning very seriously: disinfecting the steering wheel, gearstick, handbrake, door handles, radio and infotainment controls would occur to everyone, but don’t forget the stalks on the steering column (indicators and windscreen wipers, cruise control), elbow rests, seat position controls, door frames and exterior door handles or luggage compartment handle. These principles are even more important for taxi drivers and other drivers who transport passengers.

What should you use to disinfect the car? The Consumer Reports organisation, for example, advises using some of the cleaning products you already have at home. At least seventy per cent alcohol solution is effective against coronavirus, and isopropyl alcohol won’t do the main surfaces in your car any harm. In fact, it’s what carmakers and their subcontractors use to disinfect parts. To increase your peace of mind, Consumer Reports says you can use alcohol to wipe down the seat upholstery and other soft surfaces in the car. But be careful not to soak them through.

Alcohol should not damage either leather or imitation leather upholstery, but excessively intensive cleaning with alcohol can discolour the material: so don’t scrub the seats and other leather surfaces too hard. After cleaning, though, leather surfaces in the car should be treated with leather protection products.

If you think that your car has been exposed to the virus, you should consider a deep clean by your valeter similar to what you would conduct for spillage or sickness

Try to reduce your visits to the offices

Depot rent can be paid in a variety of ways over the phone, from your credits, by direct debit and by bank transfer - these methods should be used to reduce your visits to the office. Talk to Admin at Knock Road about the different options available to you

If you are coming to the Depot, unless you have other issues you need to discuss you should go straight to the rent desk. Staff here have been issued with gloves and sanitiser for handling money as they have to be conscious about transmission of the virus in the same way that you do

If you need to provide paperwork (Licenses, PSV forms etc) rather than bring them to the Depot, you should take a clear photograph of them and send them through to accounts@fonacab.com with a follow up phone call to ensure that they have been received and are OK to use

If you need to speak to Fleet or Admin about for example a customer service issue or an account issue, these should be handled by telephone where possible

There is currently no planned Driver training

Your health and wellbeing comes first. Do not ignore any symptoms, especially if you suffer from other associated health conditions.

• You should call 111 (Press 1) to be connected to the Government helpline for advice. You may be asked to self-isolate or present for testing

• You should call fonaCAB on 02890333333 twenty four hours a day to speak with a supervisor stating clearly the reason for the call. The supervisor will log your and the passenger’s details (if applicable) along with any journey information on a dedicated coronavirus portal. You will then be advised as to whether they should self-isolate and what steps they should take for isolating / cleaning their vehicle

• If you have to self-isolate, you must ensure that your GP contacts fonaCAB

Should there be an outbreak of the virus within our organisation we will follow all Government guidelines as to escalation and will provide all applicable information to the relevant authorities (subject to GDPR and any other relevant data protection) as soon as is possible.

The infrastructure, resources and processes that we already have invested in have been designed to allow us to stay operational and continue to offer our usual services should we have to for example close any site or work remotely. These scenarios are already included within our contingency planning and our Customers can be confident that we will continue to be available for their needs

fonaCAB will continue to monitor and assess the situation based on the guidance published and received and our position may change as and when advised and / or required. If it does, you will be informed of this through this web page and via your Driver emails