The Poolie Bunker

I downloaded the Uber App, I was advised it was more reliable and cheaper than the local taxi companies and cheaper than 3 fares on the bus, I don’t have a bus pass. The first 5 journeys were half price, the majority of the drivers are from the Boro or Stockon, they said Hartlepool is better as there is less traffic and there are not that many taxi companies, they had decent motors but the country of origin is definitely not the U.K.
I logged on today and the waiting time and price was no different from 23, I booked 23, Uber prices are based on how busy they are, I was quoted £10 to go from Seaton to Ward Jackson Park earlier. In future I will be using 23 taxis.

I've been using 23 Taxis for the airport run (Newcastle to Hartlepool) for about 25 years now. I've never had a problem, all the drivers have been top blokes and the price has always been more than reasonable.

Driving around town I’ve noticed the number of out of town taxi’s, some even from Newcastle…wasn’t it the case once that only local registered taxi’s could operate local services in the town.
Uber, hobby taxis to me, are the vehicles subjected to the same checks as normal taxi’s…?

do not know if things have changed but there used to be two types of taxi licence. one a hackney licence where you could hail down a taxi inside the borough. the other was a private hire one where you could not do that and only book from there office. imagine the out of town ones are dropping someone off from there operating area. if you see em picking someone up report them as no one is going to ring up an out of town company to go across the town. as for uber its anyone but them for me. things have gone so bad that when people talk about getting a taxi they say we are getting an uber. like vacs are all called hoovers. once they kill off the competition the fares charged will be much higher than any company now. as for the drivers, well we have two a couple of doors from me who share a car but both work from home an are not in and out like yo yo,s either.

The Ubers I have used are spotless inside some are hybrids as well and the drivers albeit some foreigners have been polite and very courteous.
Uber cars in the UK are subject to strict inspections. Because all Uber vehicles must be licensed as Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) by local councils
I use 23 for the airport run as they are cheaper and they always send an estate car, in fact a mini bus picked us up from Teesside Airport.
I was in an Uber the other day, ex 23 driver, he said since Dave Hudson passed away it’s nowhere near like it was, his daughter runs it now. With standard bus fare being £2.30 if there more than 3 of you a taxi is cheaper. Even though it’s a standard fare no matter where you go the bus driver asks you your destination, I put my bank card on the machine, driver said abruptly that’s a bank card, i said I don’t have a bus pass.

they have been asking all pass users for years what there destination is for the data they get from the ticket machines after its logged in.

I was using my bank card not a bus pass, the ticket machine must register who gets on and off wherever.