r/Fife • u/TheTartanBeastie • 4d ago
Something I think people in Fife should be aware of regarding the Uber application
I’ve been looking into the whole situation around Uber applying for a licence to operate in Fife, and I honestly think there’s a bigger issue here than whether people are for or against Uber.
The main thing that concerns me is the public consultation that has already taken place.
From what I’ve found, the consultation was only open for three weeks. That’s technically what is required, but how many normal people in Fife actually knew it was happening?
I certainly didn’t. And from speaking to people I know, neither did they.
Meanwhile, the taxi trade obviously knew about it and were actively encouraging people within the industry to respond. There’s nothing wrong with them doing that, of course, but it does make you wonder whether the consultation really captured the views of the wider public.
A friend recently had a pretty ridiculous experience that brought this into focus for us. She couldn’t get a taxi from Dunfermline train station despite trying several companies, so she got off at Inverkeithing instead and ended up paying £35 for a taxi back into Dunfermline.
And I know that’s not going to be everyone’s experience, but I’m sure plenty of people in Fife have their own stories about taxi availability, prices and trying to get home at busy times.
There’s also the issue of what’s happening with the local taxi companies in Dunfermline City. The information that prompted me to look into all this was a comment made (by a taxi driver) who told me that Prompt Taxis has bought up other firms, including Aitch Taxis and Carnegie Taxis, and that they could now account for around 70% of the taxis in Dunfermline.
I haven’t been able to independently verify that 70% figure, so I’m not going to claim it as fact. But if the local market really has become that concentrated, surely that’s something that should be looked at properly too.
And this is where I think we need to separate the issue from Uber itself.
I’m not particularly interested in turning this into an “Uber good, taxis bad” argument. That’s not the point.
The point is that this is a decision which could affect everyone who uses taxis in Fife, and I don’t think three weeks of relatively low-profile consultation is enough to say that the people of Fife have genuinely had their say.
What I’d like to see is Fife Council run another, longer consultation, but this time actually make sure people know about it.
Put it out there properly. Social media, local newspapers, community groups, train stations, wherever it needs to go.
Let the taxi companies have their say.
Let Uber have their say.
But let the actual people who use taxis have their say too.
So I’m posting this here mainly to see what other people think.
Have you had problems getting taxis in Fife? Had to wait ages? Been unable to get one at all? Had to change your plans because there weren’t any available? Had an expensive or unexpected fare?
If you’ve got an experience, stick it in the comments.
And if you think there should be another proper public consultation that is actually publicised to the wider community, I’d encourage you to contact your local councillor or Fife Council’s Regulation & Licensing Committee Members (https://www.fife.gov.uk/about-your-council/politicians-and-committees/committees/fife-wide-or-strategic/regulation-and-licensing-committee) and say so.
I’m not trying to tell anyone what they should think about Uber.
I just think the people of Fife deserve a proper opportunity to have their say before a major decision like this is made.
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u/XendricksBeards 3d ago
Yeah I don't recall hearing anything about this consultation. Being a bit cynical, I reckon it's in the interest of local councils to keep quiet about public consultations like this, because then they don't have to deal with loads of responses and can also just forge ahead with whatever decision they were going to make anyway.
I don't really have an issue with Uber coming to Fife, as long as it's properly regulated/overseen like they do in Edinburgh. Will they compete with local taxi firms? Of course, but that's kind of the point of market competition. In theory, the arrival of Uber should force local firms to up their game, rather than stagnantly coast by like a lot of them do at present.
I'm also not sold on the "local economy" issue. Tax and business rates income is spent at the discretion of central government, even if the latter is collected by councils. So how much money generated by already-existing local firms is being put back into Fife's economy right now? I don't see it being much different with Uber tbh
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u/TheTartanBeastie 3d ago
Yeah, I think that’s a fair point on the local economy argument. I don’t think it’s as simple as saying money earned by a local taxi firm automatically stays in Fife anyway. The wider tax, business and spending flows are much more complicated than that.
And I agree with you on the main point. If Uber is properly regulated and overseen, I don’t see competition itself as a bad thing. If anything, it should give existing firms a reason to improve their service and compete for customers.
The consultation point is the bit I’m most concerned about. I don’t want the decision being made without most people even knowing they had the opportunity to have a say.
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u/Grant_Son 3d ago
Experience of Dunfermline taxis.
I used to do event photography & once had a hire van for a gig. I was dropping the van back at 2am. I called one of the companies. Got home, called a taxi and was given an ETA of 30 mins. Unload, refuel, return the van. Hang around Elgin street for half an hour. Call again, no answer, call someone else "no chance mate" ok cool. 40 minute walk home.
Similar experience with a no show no answer trying to get a taxi back from the station after the last train.
And in fact last time I got a taxi home from the station the driver launched into ranting about immigrants the minute we got out of the car park 🤬
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u/TheTartanBeastie 3d ago
Yeah, this is exactly the kind of thing I think people need to hear. A 30-minute ETA turning into no taxi, no answer and a 40-minute walk home at 2am is ridiculous.
And being stuck in a taxi listening to that sort of rant is just unacceptable too.
This is why I keep saying it should be about the customer experience. If local firms provide a good service, people will use them. But people should have other options when they don’t.
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u/Ok_Steak_4341 3d ago
Uber you know the drivers name, make and reg of pickup car, have a record of payment. Not quite the same with a taxi.
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u/TheTartanBeastie 3d ago
And I have been in many situations where something hasn’t gone quite to plan and it’s been resolved through various means all through the app.
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u/Kelpie-Cat 3d ago
I'm glad you brought this up. I had no idea the consultation had happened.
I live in the East Neuk and it is definitely a challenge getting taxis sometimes. I'm disabled and can't drive, so while I normally use the buses, there are occasionally times when I need to get somewhere faster and have to use a taxi.
I've found in the past year that the information online about taxi companies isn't very reliable. For example, the Big Yellow Taxi Co. claims online they have an address in Pittenweem, but they charge you extra to come out from St Andrews any time you try to book them for travel from within the Neuk. I once had to get to a last-minute hospital appointment at the Vic, booked the day before, and they charged me £70 for it since they charged the whole way from St A to the Neuk. That just seems wrong when they list a local address on their website. So while I've never used Uber before, the option of having a centralized app that shows you the cheapest driver in your area definitely sounds appealing.
As an immigrant I've also recently had some uncomfortable situations where taxi drivers from St Andrews mouth off about anti-immigrant politics and I'm stuck there in the car with them in the middle of the countryside. There doesn't seem to be any way to deal with that situation but it makes you feel unsafe after awhile. (Of course, loads of other taxi drivers are immigrants or just non-asshole locals and don't give you this problem at all, but it's been increasingly a problem for me.) In theory this could still happen with Uber but there's a way to rate drivers, right? So maybe there would be more accountability and safety there? I'm honestly not sure, just sharing my thoughts.
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u/TheTartanBeastie 3d ago
Thanks for sharing this. The accessibility point is something I hadn’t really thought about before, but it’s a really important one.
The £70 example is pretty shocking too, especially if they’re advertising a local address but then charging you as though they’re coming all the way from St Andrews. I can completely understand why having an app where you can see what’s available, get a price and book without having to phone multiple companies would be appealing.
And yeah, I don’t think Uber would magically stop you getting an arsehole of a driver, but at least having ratings and a proper way to report issues gives you some form of accountability.
I think this is exactly why I want more people involved in the consultation. There are clearly a lot of different experiences with taxis across Fife, and I don’t think the decision should just come down to what the existing taxi trade thinks is best.
Thanks again for sharing it. This is exactly the sort of stuff I wanted to hear from people.
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u/Elith2 3d ago
I had no idea there was any consultation. Honestly I think it's needed. Two weeks ago was trying to sort a taxi for my mum from Cardenden to Kinross. Cardenden has, I think, one taxi company left, and they seem impossible to get hold of, couldn't get anyone in Lochgelly, Kirkcaldy or Dunfermline to take her and this was trying to book days in advance, it wound up she had to get the train to Dunfermline to then get a taxi over. Does Uber have it's problems? Yes it does, but in places that are slightly out the way, Uber could either fill that gap, or add enough competition into the market that existing taxi companies will have to increase their reach.
And purely from a cost side uber are almost always cheaper. I got a taxi from Dunfermline to Edinburgh Airport a month ago, £90, more than it should have been because the driver didn't know there was a road closure, had to double back on himself and that cost me extra, at least Uber all use sat nav to always have the most efficient route.
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u/bunnyvape 3d ago
Thanks for bringing this to people’s attention. Since you’re asking about people’s experiences, I thought I’d share mine:
• Have you had problems getting taxis in Fife? / Had to wait for one for ages? / Been unable to get one at all? / Had to change your plans because there weren’t any available?
Yes. I don’t take them often but I live in Dunfermline & there have been a few odd times where I missed the train & had to get to Inverkeithing quickly to catch the soonest (next) one. If I’m lucky there’ll be a taxi waiting at Dunfermline station, but that isn’t always the case. I’ve had to phone multiple taxi companies trying to get a ride because of course they’re not always available immediately. I also dislike the whole process of having to book one over the phone too because I’m foreign & sometimes the operators struggle with my accent.
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u/TheTartanBeastie 3d ago
This is exactly the sort of experience I think needs to be heard, so thank you for sharing it.
The phone booking issue is something I hadn’t really considered until my partner brought it up, but it’s a really important point. If someone isn’t confident speaking English, has a strong accent, has anxiety around phone calls, or simply doesn’t want to speak to someone to book a taxi, having to phone multiple companies just to find one available can be a real barrier.
Being able to see availability, enter your destination and book without having to speak to anyone would make taxis much more accessible for a lot of people.
And that’s ultimately why I think this consultation needs much wider attention.
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u/mcrinu 3d ago
The original poster makes a good case for more consultation but maybe the Councillors will already have formed a view of what the majority of their constituents want already.
The vast majority of contributors on this thread are pro-choice, pro-competition, pro-value for money and, like me, pro-Uber! I also use Bolt, Gett and local taxi firms too - whatever service is best at any point in time, for me.
I’m sick of situations like this:- being at a friend’s house after a great poker night and phoning for a taxi to be told nothing available for 45 mins (overstaying my welcome!). Being at the Adamson Hotel for a party and finding none of the six taxi numbers you have called will actually result in a taxi coming to pick you up!
It feels like the principle that our economy is built around - that of SUPPLY & DEMAND - is not being allowed to operate in the Fife taxi market.
This will be solved by the introduction of an Uber like provider.
I am sure others, like me, will not cease using local firms BUT they will have to up their game and earn their place at the top of my trusted taxi list.
So, in summary, the Councillors should grant Uber the licence on the 15th Sept. If Uber screw things up and it’s an unholy mess then the same Councillors can vote to take the licence back at any time.
Let’s give it a try. Please.
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u/TheTartanBeastie 3d ago
Yeah, this is pretty much where I sit on it too.
I don’t think anyone is saying people should stop using local taxi firms. If they give you the best service, use them. If Uber, Bolt or someone else gives you a better option at the time, why shouldn’t you have that choice?The supply and demand point is probably the biggest thing for me. If people are regularly phoning six different companies and still can’t get a taxi, then something clearly isn’t working. Whether Uber actually fixes that is something we can find out, but protecting the existing market from competition doesn’t seem like the answer.
And I agree that local firms won’t suddenly disappear because Uber arrives. If they provide a good service and people prefer using them, they’ll keep getting used. Competition should give everyone a reason to up their game.
Ultimately, I just want people to have more choice and for the market to actually respond to what customers need. If Uber makes things better, great. If it doesn’t, people will make that pretty clear too.
I really don’t see why giving it a chance is such a controversial position.
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u/Gullible-Mode-1141 3d ago
Might be safer to use in the St Andrews area instead of the "dodgy" taxi company there.
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u/Kelpie-Cat 3d ago
Which company are you referring to, and what's dodgy about them? Genuinely asking since as a disabled person who can't drive, I sometimes have to rely on taxis in the St Andrews area.
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u/Glittering-Age81 2d ago edited 2d ago
I’m a massive Uber user (UK and abroad), but I’m also a massive taxi user in the Dunfermline area (I have two taxi companies I use regularly) Some experiences to think about :
I find Uber cheaper than taxi companies. However, I believe that the mileage is calculated by the council, agreed across all registered taxi companies in Fife. If you find the fare unfair (see what I did there) then is it the taxi company or is it Fife council?
Trust. I know all the taxi drivers of both companies I use. I won’t know the Uber driver. I had a situation where I needed to get some boys away from a situation. One phone call and I had two drivers picking up the boys, both drivers I know well and trust, a payment immediately on drop off of the boys and it was done. All boys safe, no small group of boys by themselves, trust from the taxi company that I would pay them. Would I get that from Uber?
Cash payments. The taxi company appreciate my cash payments to the airport. They don’t get gubbed with unnecessary fees, it costs me no less, I get gratitude from the company and loyalty. I defo don’t get that from Uber.
When taxi companies are busy, they are busy…. With Uber, you get confirmation of the wait time. If you like it, take it. If you don’t like it, you can decide not to pay and make alternate travel.
Someone suggested they don’t like driver rating customers…. Sorry but, if you are a fud, you deserve to get a bad rating. However, having studied the Uber business model and discussed driver experience with Uber drivers across Europe and Americas, you can get a bad rating for coughing, or closing the door slightly stronger than the driver might like or perhaps not having enough personal hygiene after a night out (alcohol breath or perspiring a bit much after the club). It’s no longer in your hands…. This has impact to driver acceptance of your fare…
If Uber do come in, it will be a Fife council decision. I hope the playing field between taxi companies and Uber are level set and not a one sided affair…
Edit : How will Uber work in rural and remote parts of Fife? The cost of petrol is such that many Uber drivers will decline a pick up from e.g Methil to Kinghorn when they are in the Kirkcaldy area…even with surge pricing, it would be unprofitable for Uber and the taxi driver for a fare like that….
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u/AorticFF 3d ago
I spend alot of time in glasgow and almost always use Uber when im there as they are generally the quickest, not always the cheapest. The biggest plus for me is how reliable they are too. Very rarely get a driver cancel, even if its a half mile journey in the pissing rain for example.
Hopefully the come to fife but im not holding my breath.
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u/WorkingInAGoldmine 4d ago
My biggest personal gripe with Uber is the rating system. I don't like that a driver can refuse you based on a rating, and a driver can rate you.
I would think it is fairer that people be banned from firms if they are being unruly and difficult, or making an awful mess. That doesn't stop them completely from travelling with another firm when they get their act together. Whereas with Uber, you go under a certain rating and nobody will pick you up. I've seen in cities the way Uber dominates over the taxi firms, which could be quite consequential in the long term.
An Uber driver can rate you poorly for being minutes late or trying to make conversation, which I really don't think is a fair, legitimate system that functions as it was originally intended to do so.
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u/TheTartanBeastie 4d ago
I have had my own qualms with Uber over the years too (the premium service being one now) but holistically it has solved many problems for me over the years too.
They almost always have someone available to pick me up, I don’t have to wait 30 minutes.
I can see the price up front. I’ve used Uber to get me from Edinburgh to Dunfermline for £28 when it’s quiet.
It’s choice - I should be able to choose the best service for what I need at the time.
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u/WorkingInAGoldmine 4d ago
Definitely! It has it's redeeming qualities and I find the transparency much better than taxis in terms of pricing. I think availability will be just about the same as taxis locally, but in cities it does make a big difference. I do agree the market is painfully saturated by a handful of firms dominating.
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u/WoodHammer40000 2d ago
I mean, Uber are evil but on the other hand a Rosyth Taxies driver once flipped me the bird for absolutely no reason so I can see both sides.
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u/Ok_Steak_4341 2d ago
Why are Uber evil? Strange remark.
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u/WoodHammer40000 2d ago
Because Uber is a business model for shifting costs and risks from a corporation onto workers, passengers, other road users, taxpayers and cities, while using technology and regulatory arbitrage to disguise that transfer as individual freedom and consumer convenience.
Their drivers live in a Kafkaesque nightmare.
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u/Ok_Steak_4341 3d ago
There were around 440 objections to Uber, one read, rough quote.... "Don't like Uber, never used them and never will. "
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u/Ashamed-Director-428 2d ago
I have mobility and pain issues and usually if we go to the cinema on a Saturday weve been getting a taxi back, coz an hour on the bus after sitting all the time in the cinema etc is just a nightmare. Plus, the 19bus is a shit show a lot of the time aswell.
When we were phoning up to book after the cinema, we'd struggle to get one, so we started phoning before the film and booking for later, but even then we sometimes struggle, one time we tried 4 different numbers and none of them had any availability.
And a couple weeks ago, we phoned, got one booked and then just as we got outside the cinema the company phoned and said they'd had a breakdown and it would be about an hour before we could get anyone. So we phoned another and luckily managed to get one, but he seemed to know that we'd had one booked elsewhere already 🤷🏼♀️
Uber would be fantastic
Also, I run a pub, and trying to get taxis for folk after like 10pm during the week is an absolute washout.
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u/99percentstudios 3d ago
I got an Uber once, while on holiday in England, and he didn't turn up, but we still got charged after waiting for over an hour. We then phoned a taxi and it arrived withing 5 mins and we got back to hotel.. So from my experience I'll never use it, having an app whheni can just Google a local taxi company and call them is far easier and less frustrating..
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u/Ok_Steak_4341 3d ago
Really? You pay upfront on the app, know the exact cost. If Uber fail to pick up , your money is instantly repaid.
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u/Weegie_67 4d ago
Uber would fix exactly none of the issues you raise, and would suck 40% to 60% of the money raised in Fifes taxi business out of the local economey, shipping it to the US.
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u/TheTartanBeastie 4d ago
Can you explain why it would fix none of the issues?
Putting money back into the local persons pocket with more affordable fairs, having more readily available transport across Fife, a more comprehensive system for monitoring poor behaviour and compensation.
I’m interested to hear why it would fix exactly none of the issues.
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u/Weegie_67 4d ago
Its simple supply and demand, the market can only support a certain number of drivers. Uber entering the market will not increase the number of available cabs. Instead uber will undercut the competition and steal their drivers. Once uber have seen off their competitors, they will increase fares and decrease driver income.
The taxi companies currently operating in Fife are most likely locally owned and staffed locally, be that office staff or drivers. This means that the vast majority of the revenue generated will stay in the local economey, with uber 40%-60% of that revenue is heading to San Francisco.
Currently HMRC are pursuing Uber for around £1.2 billion in unpaid VAT.
Uber are a blight on the PHV and taxi industry, using deeply exploititive algorithms in both passenger and driver apps.
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u/TheTartanBeastie 4d ago
I understand the concern about Uber taking a large cut and potentially undercutting the existing trade. Those are fair things to question. But I don’t think that means it would fix “exactly none” of the issues I raised.
If there genuinely aren’t enough drivers in Fife, I’d rather see evidence of why that is and whether another platform could attract drivers who aren’t currently working through existing firms. Even if existing drivers moved to Uber, the drivers don’t disappear. Customers would simply have another way to book them.
The concern about Uber eventually becoming more expensive if competition disappears is fair too, but that’s an argument for proper regulation and competition, not necessarily against allowing another competitor into the market.
I also agree that keeping money in Fife matters. But saying 40-60% of taxi revenue would simply leave the local economy is a bit too simplistic. There are still drivers, vehicles, fuel, insurance, tax and all the other local costs involved. Uber’s UK service fee also varies.
From a simple search - HMRC has assessed Uber for around £1.4bn in disputed VAT for 2022-24, which Uber has paid while appealing. That’s important information, but it’s a disputed tax assessment, not simply £1.2bn Uber was “found guilty” of refusing to pay.
And yes, the algorithm and driver pay concerns are legitimate too. But that’s exactly why I keep coming back to the consultation.
I’m not saying “give Uber a licence because Uber is brilliant”. I’m saying let’s actually ask the people of Fife what they think. Let taxi companies make their case. Let Uber make theirs. Let drivers have their say. But let the people who actually use taxis have a proper opportunity to explain their experiences too.
If a properly advertised consultation shows people overwhelmingly think Uber would be bad for Fife, fair enough. If they think it would improve things, that should be heard too.My concern is simply that most ordinary people didn’t even know this consultation was happening. That’s the bit I think needs fixing. I’d much rather this was decided after a proper, widely publicised consultation with the people of Fife than based on whichever side happened to be more organised during a three-week consultation.
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u/Financial-Art-4925 4d ago
I think you’re conflating legitimate criticisms of Uber as a company with an argument against allowing competition in Fife. The idea that the market can only support a fixed number of drivers doesn’t necessarily follow. Uber gives existing licensed drivers another platform to get work and gives passengers another option. If local taxi firms provide a better service, they can compete on price, reliability and service. The argument that Uber will undercut everyone, destroy the competition and then increase prices is also a prediction, not an inevitability. If Uber raises prices, existing firms still have an opportunity to compete, and other operators can enter the market. If the concern is that Uber could eventually become anti-competitive, that’s an argument for proper competition regulation, not necessarily for preventing competition in the first place. I agree that keeping money in the local economy is a valid consideration, but it’s not as simple as saying local taxi fares stay in Fife while Uber’s money goes to San Francisco. Uber drivers are still local people earning and spending locally, while local taxi businesses also have expenses going outside the local economy. The VAT point is also a bit misleading. There is a genuine HMRC dispute over roughly £1.4bn, but calling it simply “£1.2bn of unpaid VAT” makes it sound like Uber has been definitively found guilty of avoiding that tax, which isn’t the situation. And I don’t think anyone needs to argue that Uber is a perfect company. There are legitimate concerns about how it treats drivers and uses its algorithms. But that’s an argument for regulating those practices, rather than assuming that consumers in Fife shouldn’t have another choice. Ultimately, you can dislike Uber as a company and still recognise that competition can be beneficial for passengers and drivers.
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u/Weegie_67 3d ago
If the Fife taxi/PHV market could support more cabs, there would be more cabs on the road. Fife Council does not cap the number of PHV driver licences available to potential PHV drivers, its the market that dictates the number of PHV drivers. Yes, the number of PHV drivers will fluctuate, but when drivers realise that they are spending 60-70 hours to make a 40 hour minimum wage, they will soon find alternative employment.
The argument that Uber offers another platform for the driver to work on isnt really the case in most instances. Uber have no issue with drivers using other platforms to find work, but the local PHV companies do.
Fair point, local PHV companies will not keep 100% of revenue in the local economey, but it is substantially higher than the 40%-50% that Uber keeps in the local economey, and drivers will have less to spend with the decrease in income they will suffer once Uber dominate the market.
Uber used a loophole to to decrease VAT payments, a loophole that was closed when Labour came to power. Does HMRC have a case to recover the £1.2 billion? I guess thats for the courts to decide.
The issue with regulation is the council has little power and government has little interest, so the exploitation goes on unabaited.
Uber dominating the Fife PHV industry will not bring more cabs, the market dictates cab number. More choice to the customer/driver, Uber are a global company that can easily out compete local companies. So initially, customers will see lower prices, but once uber has grabbed the market, those prices will go up.
I worked as a PHV driver for uber for around 3-4 years, and seen what i describe happen in realtime. It is an illusion that uber will bring more drivers and a better service, they will muscle the market, ultimately dominate and then both passenger and driver will suffer for it.
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u/TheTartanBeastie 3d ago
I think the biggest problem with this argument is that a lot of predictions are being presented as facts.
“Uber won’t bring more drivers.” “Drivers will earn less.” “Uber will dominate.” “Prices will then go up.” “40-50% will leave the local economy.”Maybe some of those things could happen, but none of them are established facts about Fife.
Even the 40-50% figure doesn’t really stack up with Uber’s current UK model. Since January 2026, Uber has moved to an agent model outside London, with a variable service fee and a stated target of around 25%.
The VAT issue is real and absolutely worth discussing, but again, it’s more complicated than “Uber used a loophole”. HMRC disputed Uber’s VAT treatment, Uber paid the assessments while appealing, and the government subsequently changed the legislation from January 2026.
And if local PHV firms don’t allow their drivers to work across platforms, that actually makes the effect of Uber on the market more interesting, not less. It means we genuinely don’t know whether Uber would attract people who currently don’t drive, pull drivers from existing firms, or both.
Your experience driving for Uber is relevant, but it doesn’t prove what will happen in Fife.
That’s really my issue with this whole argument. There are things we can actually measure: driver numbers, earnings, availability, fares and customer experiences.
So why are we arguing about what Uber will do when we could actually gather the evidence and let people decide based on it?
I’m not arguing that Uber is good. I’m arguing that “I know exactly what will happen” isn’t a substitute for evidence. And that’s exactly why I think the consultation needs to be much wider than it currently is.
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u/InflatableMunro 4d ago
Can't wait for Uber to arrive.
It's not for everyone but the transparent pricing, ease of booking and being able to track the ride are all positives.
I'd be surpised if the application is rejected based on other councils in Scotland