gazza-uk

Why luxury car owners claim to drive taxis - Times Online

Minicab or dodger?
Luxury cars registered as minicabs in London include:
1 Aston Martin DB7
31 Bentleys (of all models)
1 BMW M5 and 18 BMW X5s
1 Cadillac Escalade
2 Maserati Quattroportes
3 Maybach 62s
8 Rolls Royce Phantoms
2 Porsche Cayennes
6 Mercedes MLs and 8 Mercedes SLs

OllyK

And number plate theft / cloning goes through the roof. Maybe Red Ken should take this as an indication that he's gone too ar if this many people are prepared to act illegally to avoid the charges.

Snazy

I wonder if they need H&R insurance etc?
Not long before Ken orders a crack down on it all.

Dracoro

That's just the luxury cars though and less than 100 in that list. I bet there are thousands of less conspicuous cars getting round the charge using this *loophole*. That and using foreign, dodgy/cloned plates etc.

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

I'd feel like a right saddo if i was driving one of those but coulsn't afford a tenner congestion charge. They can no doubt charge it back to their company anyway or are paying the equivalent of several hundred a day for the parking they need.

5t.

Tart Man

I think they do it for the principal of it rather than not being to afford it.

(sticking it to da man)

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

I'm sure you could pay more tax too. Why not write them a cheque for an extra £100 a month. They will be quite happy the thank you and spend it.

Clearly the issue is not about what you can afford, rather what you think you should pay. I'm sick of this PC government trying to tax people's eyeballs out just because they have something. Personally, I have very little, but I don't despise the people who have been lucky.

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

Not despising them but they already have it good. Why shouldn't they pay like everyone else has to? Most people don't drive into lodon, they use public transport. Not because they don't want to pay the congestion charge but because they'd can't afford to park for the day.

These guys aren't sticking it to their landlords by not paying the thousands they'll be demanding for the parking space are they?

Just a bit sad really.

5t.

Tart Man

When you get to a certain level of income, you quickly realise what money is lost via taxation. IN which you employ advisers who will work out the best way to run your company and finances in order to pay the least amount of taxation possible. These will include undeclared loopholes.

Registering your car as a minicab for use in London is one of those loops holes I wouldn't condone it, but I wouldn't condemn it either.

Dracoro

Look after the pennies etc.

Rich people don't get rich by only spending money all their lives.

fivetide

iTrader: (1)

Agreed. Doesn't make it right though and i would think you'd pay the accountant more to find the dodge than you would just paying the charge.

5t.

Dracoro

But the accountant prob won't charge much as he's doing loads of other accounting for the client etc.

e.g. mechanic labour to replace brake pads - £50, mechanic labour to replace brake discs - £50

However if he's doing both he'll charge £70, not £100. Same sort of economies if you get my meaning

Odds on

I can believe that those vehicles listed are actually used for 'taxi' purposes. Most film stars/producers, pop stars and their record company bosses are driven round in flash cars which aren't owned by the companies, there owner drivers. So legally they have to be registered as a 'taxi'.

As mentioned, I'm more concerned about the amount of vehicles that are worth a few hundred quid that are driven round with the little grreen stickers in them that aren't really cabs, or are used once a month a such.

Coming to think of it, whats to stop me registering a van as a taxi, paying the lads an extra £1 a day, but charging them £1 for the fare to work?? I'd save £2k a year per vehicle...