Telford’s largest private hire operator, Veezu, has introduced new fare increases and driver terms, sparking frustration among both passengers and drivers.
£1 Surcharge on School Runs
From 1 September 2025, a £1 surcharge has been added to fares during peak school travel hours — 7:30am to 9am and 2:30pm to 4pm.
The additional cost is already raising concerns for families and commuters. A family relying on daily school run taxis could see monthly travel bills rise by around £40.
New Fees for Passengers
Alongside the surcharge, all fares now include a booking fee of between 30p and 50p per trip, up from the previous 20p. This is applied separately to the new commission structure.
New Commission Model for Drivers
Veezu has also rolled out new terms for its partner drivers. Previously, drivers paid a fixed 18% commission, but the new structure introduces a sliding scale:
- 30% “Weekly Access Fee” if a driver completes 10 or fewer bookings a week
- Cap of £142 per week if a driver completes over 30 bookings
- Minimum 20% commission even for those exceeding 30 bookings
The changes have hit long-distance and airport transfer drivers hardest, as they complete fewer trips per week compared to local drivers. One driver explained:
“For those of us who mainly do airport runs and long-distance work, it’s impossible to hit 10 or 30 trips a week. This means we’ll be handing over a much higher share of our income to Veezu compared to drivers focusing on shorter local jobs.”
Growing Tensions Between Drivers and Veezu
Drivers say they have tried to raise concerns with the company but claim Veezu is only willing to communicate via email, refusing face-to-face meetings. A letter sent to the firm on 28 August has so far failed to secure concessions.
A drivers’ spokesperson warned that unless Veezu opens negotiations, there could be strike action:
“We’ve not ruled out strike action. Up to 200 drivers could walk away from Veezu and explore other platforms like Uber if the company refuses to budge.”
Impact on Passengers and the Local Market
The combination of higher fares for passengers and steeper costs for drivers could reshape Telford’s private hire market. With Veezu dominating the area, many families and commuters may have little choice but to absorb the increased costs — unless drivers begin to switch to rival platforms.
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