Family taxi company Alphabet Cars has got your winter travel needs covered

Alphabet Cars in Barking Road, East Ham. Picture: Ken Mears (Image: Archant)

So when travelling home on those late nights, you don’t want to be caught out by expensive cab fares.

Family company Alphabet Cars – which operates in east London and parts of Essex – demonstrates its appreciation to the community at this time of year by keeping fares at their usual prices, meaning a safe return from a festive night out doesn’t have to cost a packet.

“We like to keep our customers happy and give back to the community,” said director Max Latif. “Every year for the festive season Alphabet Cars charges normal fares, when most offices charge double fares.

“We know it’s a tough time for people and this is a thank you to our customers.”

Susanna Gregory with another driver at Alphabet Cars in Barking Road, East Ham. Picture: Ken Mears (Image: Archant)

The company is well aware of the extra demand Christmas (and New Year) brings: “a lot of extra drivers” are being recruited to ensure no partygoer is left behind.

“We get in the Christmas spirit, the festive season is good fun, and quite busy,” added Max. “We offer a good, reliable service.

“We get a mix of people: young people going to parties, people going to their families, people going to church in the morning. We supply cars to all sorts of people.”

Max has been director of Alphabet Cars since its founding in 1991. Licensed by Transport for London (TfL), the company has been awarded the kite mark of the Trading Standards Buy with Confidence scheme, and achieved the ISO 9001 certification assessed by The British Assessment Bureau.

“We are particularly pleased to have achieved ISO 9001 certification as it underlines our commitment to our customers and our focus on quality. Not many customers get to see their suppliers’ ‘back-office’ activities,” said Max.

“Certified organisations are committed to continuous improvement and are assessed annually to ensure progress is being maintained.”

Alphabet Cars – a five-star ‘platinum’ company, as graded by the Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA) – is open 24 hours a day, all year round, and utilises a range of technology to ensure customers feel safe and comfortable.

The public book through calling or visiting the app or website, and if the booking is made by a mobile phone the passengers are then sent a text message noting the make of car and its registration. A photograph of the driver follows for extra reassurance, particularly to those travelling back late from clubs and bars.

Once the journey is completed, the customer can rate their driver from one to five, and any feedback is passed on to the company.

The drivers, who have all passed an NVQ Level 2 certificate in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving, use saloon cars, seven-seaters and 17-seater minibuses.

The vehicles are quality-checked regularly, and they all carry Alphabet Cars’ signage.

Competition in the capital’s taxi industry has been highlighted in recent years by the rise of Uber, but Max is confident that his company can retain the support of its customers.

“We have a good record and I think we are safer as a local cab company. We have been around for 25 years plus and have a very good relationship with the local community. We do local charity events and donate over the festive season, we have donated money for homeless people and breast cancer charities. We enjoy giving something back to the community.”

He added: “Alphabet would like to thank all the customers who support us every year, and we wish our customers and members of staff a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

To find out more, visit the company’s website at alphabetcars.com. Mini cabs can be booked via the website, the app – available on the Apple store and Google Play – or by calling 020 8503 5555.