Taxi driver who faced losing PSV licence over 'cash only' stance agrees to use card app
Mr Wyse has for some time been employing a strict "no card" policy in his taxi. He doesn’t have a bank account and his vehicle is emblazoned with "cash only" signs
A taxi driver who faced the loss of his PSV licence as he would only accept cash from customers has agreed to use the Sum Up App to facilitate card payments.
Willie Wyse of Onslow Gardens, who has driven a taxi for over 40 years, appeared before Cork District Court last September to appeal against the revocation of his licence.
Mr Wyse has for some time been employing a strict "no card" policy in his taxi. He doesn’t have a bank account and his vehicle is emblazoned with "cash only" signs.
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Mr Wyse previously told Judge Mary Dorgan that he closed his bank account following the economic crash of 2010, having lost his faith in the institutions. As a result of not having a bank account he has been unable to take payment by card.
At the September hearing Judge Mary Dorgan asked Mr Wyse what would happen if he won the lottery and he replied that he would have a "very happy wife" as the funds would go into her bank account.
Judge Dorgan adjourned the case to give Mr Wyse time to consider his position. She urged him to get a bank account.
Mr Wyse appeared back before Cork District Court again today where he told Judge Dorgan that having gone through all of the sections of the relevant Taxi Legislation Act, he understood he would have to set up a card payment system.
He said that in 42 years of driving, he had never had a summons imposed against him. Mr Wyse still doesn’t trust banks or have a bank account. However, he has found a novel way of staying compliant with the taxi regulations.
He has reached a solution by allowing passengers to pay by card in his taxi through the Sum-Up card reader system, which is used by many taxi drivers.
Mr Wyse indicated that he had acquired a "bundle" of fines arising out of his decision not to accept card payments. However, he stated that Judge Joanne Carroll had previously imposed a fine of just €150 on him. Judge Carroll also convicted him on just one summons.
Mr Wyse said that he knew he needed to set up the Sum Up system in his taxi as "the law is the law and I can’t go against it."
In a light-hearted exchange, Judge Dorgan again mentioned that Mr Wyse wouldn’t have a bank account if he won the Lotto and that the monies would end up in the account of his wife.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Wyse smiled wryly as he acknowledged that he wouldn’t be able to use a Sum Up account to collect a potential Lotto win.
"If I won the Lotto it would have to go to her (his wife Julie Anne’s) bank account. But to be honest, after 48 years (together) I prefer to have her than any Lotto win."
Mr Wyse thanked Judge Joanne Carroll for her "wisdom, courtesy and compassion" when dealing with the bundles of fines he had received. He also thanked Judge Dorgan, whom he noted had been very fair.
Mr Wyse said that he was delighted to be able to use the Sum Up Card reader which means that he still won't have to have a bank account.
His says his appeal wasn’t about "beating the law."
"What I was saying that the Taxi Regulation Act of 2013 should have been more specific.
"19 per cent of the taxi fleet in Ireland are pensioners. Not every one has a bank account.
"They brought in legislation on (mandatory card payments in taxis) on September 1, 2022. What provision did they supply for the people who are not up to date with technology? Overnight they were expected to do this (use card readers). They had a duty of care to their service providers."
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