Transport for LondonCapital Call
What is Capital Call? - Who is elegible to apply?
- How does Capital Call work?
- How do I apply?
What is Capital Call?
Capital Call is a complementary service to Taxicard, providing subsidised door-to-door transport for people with mobility issues, using private hire vehicles (minicabs).
Capital Call has been introduced as an additional transport option for Taxicard members living in London boroughs where there is a shortage of London taxis. Capital Call is currently operating in the London boroughs of Bexley, Ealing, Enfield, Haringey, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton and Southwark.
Please note that Capital Call is not a replacement service for Taxicard; you may use both services if you wish.
Capital Call is operated by the Transport Co-ordination Centre (TCC), using a grant from the Mayor of London.
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Who is eligible to apply?
Capital Call is available to registered Taxicard users and the criteria are the same for both schemes. So, you may be eligible for Capital Call if you:
- Receive the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance or the higher rate Attendance Allowance
- are registered blind
- receive the War Pension Mobility component
If none of the above applies to you, you may still be eligible if your GP endorses your application (however, a mobility assessment may be required in some boroughs).
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How does Capital Call work?
Subsidised travel arranged for you
When you are planning a journey, rather than having to phone each minicab operator yourself to see if they have a minicab available, you simply make one telephone call to Capital Call and the operator will contact and book a minicab on your behalf.
It is important to be aware that Capital Call is operated by licensed minicabs, but that not all licensed minicabs are contracted to Capital Call. So, to benefit from subsidised journey fares you must book through Capital Call.
Your personal travel budget
As a member of Capital Call, you will be allocated an annual travel budget. This budget is yours to spend how you wish on Capital Call trips. All you are required to pay out of your own pocket is the first £1.50 of each journey. For example, if your annual budget is £200, you can use it to make a lot of short journeys, (say, forty £5 local trips), or a fewer number of long trips (say, five £20 trips). Or, you could make a combination of short, medium and long-distance trips.
Once your budget is used up, you will have to wait until it is topped up again the following April before making any more trips. Your Capital Call operator will be able to tell you how much you have left to spend out of your budget at any time.
Booking a minicab
To book a minicab, call Capital Call on 020 7275 2446. When booking a minicab, you will need to provide the following information:
- Your name and Taxicard membership card number
- The address from which you want the minicab to pick you up
- If there are any special pick-up arrangements, such as particular exit from a supermarket or station (be as precise as you can)
- The address you want the minicab to take you to
- Whether you are a wheelchair user or if you need assistance getting in and out of the minicab
- A contact telephone number if you are not at home
If you are not at home a mobile phone number is fine. It is helpful to give a number if you can, so that the operator is able to contact you if there is a problem, or delay, in getting your minicab to you. When booking the minicab, the operator will check the details of your booking to ensure it has been recorded accurately. He or she will also advise you how much you have left from your personal Capital Call travel budget.
The operator will then call you back later to confirm your request for transport can be met. Until you have received this call, your booking has not been confirmed.
The Capital Call staff will then book your journey with a local approved and licensed minicab operator, who will send a vehicle to collect you. Your booked minicab will carry a Capital Call logo sticker in their car window so that you can easily identify them as an approved minicab.
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How do I apply?
To benefit from the Capital Call service you need to be a member of Taxicard. If you are not a member of Taxicard, you will need to apply for Taxicard membership in order to register for Capital Call.
Please find below guidance to the registration process.
Existing Taxicard members
- Complete the Capital Call registration form
- Photocopy your Taxicard membership card
- Post both the registration from and card photocopy to:
Transport Co-ordination Centre
C/o HCT
Ash Grove Bus Depot
Mare Street
London
E8 4RH
Non-Taxicard members
You must be a Taxicard member to register for Capital Call, If you do not have a Taxicard application form, please call 020 7484 2929 or visit the Taxicard website.
- Complete the Taxicard application and return to the address on the form. Your application will be assessed and if eligible, you will be sent your Taxicard membership card. When you have received your Taxicard you can apply for Capital Call.
- Phone Capital Call on 020 7275 2446 to request a registration form or write to :
Transport Co-ordination Centre
C/o HCT
Ash Grove Bus Depot
Mare Street
London
E8 4RH
To find out more
Telephone Capital Call on 020 7275 2446
Email : capitalcall@hackneyct.orgFunded by Transport for London
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