Wedriveu ripoff Beverly Hills California

I might not be in the State of TX or NJ, ...but I can say that people are looking for ways to support their families everywhere! I live in an area where there is little if no rail service. For many of the people here, getting to the airports is an expensive trip! .... many of the limo companies in the area charge more for the trip to the airport then the airline tickets a customer is paying to fly out of town! .....more then $150 in some cases to go to Newark airport or even more then $240 to JFK! ... hourly services is horribly high, ....and come prom time parents are floored over the $600 min price quotes they get from limo companies here just for a few hours of door-door service. In our area privet chauffeurs are a popular idea and we are called for everything from airport transfers to hourly chauffeur services and day trips. most of us drive the customers car, and most of those clients are well-to-do travelers that can easily afford a limo service to show up with any car they like. The catch is that they prefer to be in their own vehicles for any one of a hundred different reasons. The ones I come up with the most is the cost effectiveness of this option. Rich or not, .those clients see money differently than we do. Many of the limo companies don't do enough to ensure the proper care and personal detail to attention that my clients are looking for. Their cars are smelly, their drivers are rushed, over worked, tired, and unprofessional, and their customer service agents sound like they can care less over the phone! Most of the privet chauffeurs that work in this area are skilled motorist and has had experience in the industry for years, but have chosen to work for themselves because they cant possibly make enough money to live on working for a limo services! Lets face it, ...limo company treat their employee drivers like crap! ... $8.00 an hour if youre lucky, .... not much in the way of tips, and for big $$$ trips, the politics kick in, requiring you to pay a kick-back to the dispatchers in order to get assigned any good trips. Drivers who are hardly able to get by will their bills with that kind of salary dont want to be faced with office politics and special little relationships that they have to entertain in order to be favored the better trips or the better clients, or the best hours! It's not easy earning a living as a driver, and when you have a family to feed, working for yourself looks allot more attractive no matter what the laws are! ...their is clearly a demand for it, clients save money paying about half of what they would pay to a limo service, and drivers work for anywhere in the range of $15-35 dollars and hour rather than $8. What would YOU choose. I say share the wealth! ..... stop bitchin and crying over who else has a part of your market share. At $70 an hour and a fleet of five cars of more you have no right to complain! However customers do have the right to choose the best service for them, and individual drivers can only be successful at this sort of work if they uphold the expected service that those clients are looking for. Insurance is not everything to some people! ... if the client and the driver agree between them in weighting that each is willing to assume the risk then why is that such a concern to the limo operators! Share you greedy hogs on wheels! ..... SHARE!!!! if you didn't charge so much for a trip then you could compete! ... and if it's really that expensive for you to operate your fleets and uphold your insurance then you should write your state rep and legislators and ask them to explain why it is so expensive to operate, why so many frickin laws, why so many regulations, why so much money to register, to license, to provide a need service! Thats the reason your charging over $70 an hour in a car! .... get off the pity party and let others earn. As long as they are NOT providing a car for a client, you have NOTHIN to do with it.

Today was a major victory for the limousine industry not just in NJ but nationally. The NJ Assembly Transportation Committee passed A3634 unanimously. A3634, which amends the existing NJ law will allow for increasing the number of passengers up to 14, not including the driver, in modified vehicles that have been certified by the manufacturer, allow for probable cause for the State Police and other law enforcement officers to go on-site to illegal operators, driver endorsement and most importantly Avis and anyone else using their We Drive U template will now have to operate under the exact same rules and regulations as the limousine industry in NJ.



Additionally, in a compromise with Assemblyman Prieto, a co-sponsor and TLC Director for Secaucus, we extended the $50 fee for a company clarifying language to include $10/vehicle for registration in a municipality. For most of our members this actually helps since many of the municipalities have tried to interpret the old law to mean $50/vehicle. This will save our members significant dollars.



LANJ is most proud of being the first association in the nation to be able to get its State Legislature to respond to industry concerns about We Drive U operating under the regulatory radar screen. The full Assembly will take up the bill next week.



It was a good day for our industry and thanks to Jim Moseley, Pete Corelli and Jeff Shanker for appearing with me today and doing a great job. We even had the Cathy Lewis, Legislative liaison for the MVC, appear on our behalf.



Have a great week,



Barry

TRIPLE CROWN VICTORY!

The Port Authority of New York/New Jersey HAS DECLARED THE AVIS WEDRIVEU PROGRAM ILLEGAL!

Our congratulations go to Barry Lefkowitz and the Limousine Associations of New Jersey for all their hard work in this matter. This means that the following airports will be off-limits to the Avis WeDriveU program:

1) JFK
2) LA GUARDIA
3) NEWARK

New York and Newark are now in good company with Atlanta, Miami-Dade County, Houston and Phoenix
as having done the right thing in shutting down a system that is inherently illegal and a clear and present
danger to Public Health and Safety.

We would encourage all other Limousine Associations across America to re-double their efforts to get their local and state regulators and airport authorities to consult with their counterparts in other cities who have already made the correct and proper decision.

Together working hard, we can eliminate this scourge of nationwide illegal gypsy operators and restore public confidence in truly professional corporate and luxury transportation, on-time every time, with
properly permitted and inspected vehicles and highly-trained, FBI-cleared chauffeurs.

Our congratulations again to the Garden State!

Transportation Carrier Information

The information below reflects the content of the TMIS
information system as of the close of the previous business day.
Carrier ID PSG0014288
Carrier Name WEDRIVEU INC

Authorities Transportation Charter Party Class P Permit - Revoked - 08/24/06

INSURANCE POLICIES
Policy Type Policy Number Insurance Company Address
PL and PD Policy SB300983 EMPIRE FIRE AND MARINE INSR CO
450 SANSOME STREET SUITE 400

Ahem?
What Avis and Wedriveu are mot telling you is, that this scheme in its attempt to circumvent laws in numerous states that regulate the livery industry view this as illegal and in the example of the San francisco Airport Wedriveu has been prohibited from doing this at all under applicable PUC regs and special orders (ref* Limo Digest Aug-07). Further review and action is certain across the US by other local and state agencies that are tasked with governing the livery industry that werdiveu-Avis seek to exempt themselves from

stewart says:

May 10th, 2008 at 11:37 am |
Jeff?
I dont know Bill nor do I know you, Bill refers to new Jersey law, I refer you to California PUC regs and special orders, have you read them? Perhaps you should make yourself conversant in them before you issue your ill advised personal remarks not based on the true facts and settled law governing the industry?
When one hires a car and driver regardless of this schemes attempt to circumvent the law, that activity falls under the purview of the state and local government for good reason, and wedriveu-avis are no more exempt from complying with those laws as any other livery service.
Take for instance insurance? Whose insurance applies here? The consumers who often claim personal insurance coverage at the rental counter? or Avis when insurance is declined/accepted by the consumer, or is it the wedriveu insurance that applies here, is it the $8.00 per hr, driver's' personal insurance that affords coverage here? I think you might be surprised to find that out for yourself by calling your insurance agent and telling them you want to drive an Avis car for a third party and seek to extend coverage and see how fast your personal policy morphs into a commercial one and at what cost?
Try calling your agent and telling them some one you dont know, refered by Avis, is going to drive you about and you want that added to your present insurance?
I have this post set to notify me with your response soplease, research the issue more fully and get back asap will you?

Bill says:

October 3rd, 2007 at 1:24 pm |
Avis is operating illegally. In New Jersey every vehicle used for hire (to transport passnegers), must be registered as such. Without the specific vehicle being resgistered as a limousine, taxi, bus or omnibus is in violation of NJ Statute 39:3.19.1 The driver will be fined if stopeed.
More importantly, if that car is not registered with one of the above plates, both the driver and passenger(s) will not have any insurance coverage as it becomes a for hire use and all traditional, commercial and other insurances becone null and void
Avis is putting the Public at a huge Risk here.

November/December 2008
Avis Rankles South Florida Limo Operators
By Martin Romjue



Regulatory divide between chauffeured and rental car industries spurs calls for fairer playing field by limo operators.


Last year Avis Budget Group partnered with WeDriveU to create Avis Chauffeur Drive, which connects rental cars with drivers for customers who want chauffeured service. Now South Florida limo operators are contesting the rules that govern this business model.

Because Avis Budget is not classified as a limousine operator, it is not required to license its chauffeurs or meet the stricter safety requirements of the limousine and chauffeured transportation industry. One consequence is that Avis has to pay less for licensing and labor.


Such disparities prompted a meeting of South Florida limo operators and local regulators from Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties in late September. The meeting, hosted and organized by the Florida Limousine Association, drew about 20 operators/association members along with various code compliance officers, airport law enforcement officers and consumer affairs officials.


Our only concern is that as a new competitor Avis should be regulated as we are, said NLA President Richard Kane, who attended the meeting. Now, Avis goes around that public safety net of three or four decades. It uses a technical loophole by nature of its core business, rental car, to get into chauffeured transportation without registering as a chauffeured transportation operator.


What happened in the meeting has implications for the entire industry, Kane said. In the event local regulators allow them to do this, you'll see chauffeured transportation companies no longer renewing their licenses, and they will create two separate companies. They will create and market a rental car company and they also will employ a chauffeur service. Therefore, they can be competitive.


Under such an arrangement, a client would rent a limousine from a vehicle company, and then a chauffeur would be assigned from a chauffeur service company. Kane said some operators already have told him they would prefer the Avis business model since it's simpler and more efficient.


That means limousine companies would no longer employ full-time chauffeurs and would deal with subcontracted chauffeurs only.


Avis (who declined an interview for this story) provides its own vehicles and hires chauffeurs from WeDriveU. This results in the need for two contracts to hire the car with chauffeur, said Ray Garcia, president of the Florida Limousine Association. Avis classifies its cars as private and not vehicles for hire. The WeDriveU chauffeurs are not required to complete the numerous and costly background checks, attend the classes or get the driver identification cards that are required of all chauffeurs in all counties, Garcia said.


Regulators told the operators they realize there is a problem and that they need time to research applicable ordinances and provisions.


Florida Ground Transportation Association President Carla Boroday has called for immediate action to make sure Avis complies. For South Florida operators, a quick resolution is critical since the Avis market intrusion already has hurt business. In one week alone, Avis provided 78 cars and 78 drivers for a convention at Miami's Intercontinental Hotel, for an entire week, 24 hours a day, Garcia said.


Kane said the NLA opposes any measure or situation that compromises the safety of passengers. The NLA would prefer to maintain the current regulatory and safety structure, and make sure Avis complies. The regulatory disparities can only be addressed at the local level since there are no federal authorities, administrative rules or legislation that govern this issue. Unfortunately, every one of these regulatory agencies has a different way of doing things, he said.


The NLA plans to send letters to as many local officials as possible about the need for consistent regulations for chauffeured and rental vehicle services. The Avis issue in South Florida also has emerged in many major cities, including San Francisco, Houston and New York, in particular.


While Kane said he personally does not agree with the Avis business model and approach, there are chauffeured transportation owner-operators who believe Avis is leading the path to deregulation at a local level. I've heard from 20 companies, Kane said. If Avis is allowed to do this, they will follow. It changes the whole game.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Martin Romjue is the editor of LCT, Limousine & Chauffered Transportation Magazine

Avis/WeDriveU Hurting Limo Ops
Here is a message that was forwarded to me by a colleague:

Hello Everyone:

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH:

It's time for all of us to get together and stop Avis once and for all otherwise we can all say goodbye. Art Basel is currently in full swing in Miami Beach and every year 85% of our fleet is booked. This year our numbers are way down. Miami Beach has multiple unlicensed vehicles doing chauffeur transportation. The vehicles are not permitted to do for hire work. The drivers do not need any drivers certifications. They go in and out of the airport without any AVIs (transponders). There are other noncompliance issues but I only mentioned 3. Two weeks ago I forwarded an ad from Avis WeDriveU to Allan Shanedling and Jonna Sabroff, the President and VP of the California Limousine Association. Avis was asking for drivers in LA because they had an event in LA and needed additional drivers. My good friend Joe Jordon, President of the Houston Limousine Association also keeps me posted on current Avis issues. The Florida Limousine Association has met with county regulators but somehow Avis is still operating. My company and my colleagues are loosing our drivers to Avis. The county will not license certain drivers and as a result they now driver for Avis. What does that tell you. As President of the Florida Ground Transportation Association, I can assure you that we in the State of Florida will take action. Please keep me posted on what you all want to do and I will certainly keep you posted on what we will do. Remember the old saying "strength in unity".

Carla Boroday
Associated Limousine Services
Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Palm Beach Florida
Telephone: 954-771-5466
Fax: 954-492-5556
cboroday@associatedlimo.com

Subject: Avis WeDriveU Targets 28 cities for takeover from Limo companies

WHY AVIS WeDriveU MUST BE STOPPED
NOW

A scourge of illegal limousine activity is sweeping the nation. AVIS rent a Car system has what they think
is a loophole in the laws and is renting luxury sedans and then "Renting" on the same contract a driver through a shill company whose only client is Avis. Avis is doing this with criminal intent to knowingly and willfully evade and violate Federal, State and Local laws and ordinances that govern for-hire vehicle activity. In most jurisdictions, transporting the public for hire requires a taxicab or limousine permit for the company, the vehicle and the driver. Avis has met none of those requirements. Avis is a large and wealthy multinational corporation. They could easily form licensed limousine services anywhere they wanted to and get the necessary permits, CDL drivers and commercial livery insurance. Avis, however, is not interested in playing by the rules. In fact they own 45% of Carey International Limos and had an option to increase that stake to 85%, but they declined it when they saw how it easy it was to operate limo services illegally. They are more interested in coming in like a thief in the night, seeing what all they can get away with before they get caught. They are reprobates and lawbreakers in the same category as drug dealers, identity thieves and child pornographers. They are the largest gypsy limo operation in America today. I wonder if someone has bothered to enlighten Avis stockholders as to the extent of Avis' willful violation of laws and ordinances across the nation? Contrary to what they claim, the vast majority of Avis WeDriveU drivers do not have CDL's, are not fingerprinted, FBI checked or drug tested. When WeDriveU needs extra drivers on short notice, they simply post it on Craigslist and hire whoever walks in. If you go to Avis' own website and enter WeDriveU, you will see that they have targeted 28 cities for takeover from legitimate limousine and black car services. They are so brazen as to even put pictures of black towncars and chauffeurs with caps on their website. As has happened many times in the past, one industry attempts to take over another, comes in with low predatory pricing and then once they have put all the other players out of business, they jack up their rates. Avis is in the same boat with Worldcom, Enron and Lehman Brothers, breaking all the rules and thumbing their nose at the law. It is incumbent on all legitimate transportation providers to stringently oppose the Avis WeDriveU system whenever they appear in your area and make local regulators aware of all the rules and laws they are breaking. Schoolyard bullies will continue to run amok until someone stands up to them. That person needs to be you and the time is now.

Joe L. Jordan, President
LIMOUSINE ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON
P.O. Box 640
Kemah TX 77565-0640