Private Hire operator fined after advertising uninsured airport taxi transfers on Facebook

AN UNLICENSED PRIVATE HIRE operator has been ordered to pay more than £1,400 after he was found to be running an illegal airport transfer service in Reading. 

In September 2024, Reading Council Licensing officers were made aware of a post on Facebook for ‘easy airport transfers from Reading’, by an account in the name of Samuel Szymczyk, offering chauffeur-driven rides to all major London airports, which he had posted on the site across multiple local Facebook groups. 

Suspicions were raised as, upon further investigation, there was no record of Mr Szymczyk being licensed by the Council to run a Private Hire business. 

An officer, acting in the capacity of a member of the public, booked a journey with Mr Szymczyk from The Penta Hotel, Reading, to Gatwick Airport on 14 January 2025, for a pre-agreed price of £75. 

On the day of the booking, the driver that Mr Szymczyk had arranged to carry out the contracted journey arrived at the pick-up point. They did not hold a Private Hire Driver's Licence. The vehicle was not licensed for private hire work and had no insurance for private hire work. 

At Reading Magistrates' court on 8 August 2025, Mr Szymczyk admitted offences of operating a private hire vehicle without an operator’s licence and causing the use of an uninsured motor vehicle. 

For operating a private hire vehicle without a private hire operator’s licence, magistrates imposed a fine of £400. For causing a vehicle to be driven without insurance, he was fined £120 and was handed six penalty points on his driving licence.  

He was also required to pay a victim surcharge of £208, as well as a contribution towards the prosecution costs of £690, bringing the total he was ordered to pay to £1,418. 

Mr Szymczyk pleaded guilty and was convicted of: 

• Causing another to use a motor vehicle without insurance, contrary to Section 143(b) of the Road Traffic Act 1988. 

• Operating a private hire vehicle without a private hire operator's licence, contrary to Section 46(1)(e) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. 

Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said: 

“This result secured by our Licensing service sends a clear message: the serious risks posed by unlicensed transport services and the deliberate deception used to promote them will not be tolerated in Reading. 

"Unscrupulous traders are taking advantage of the busy summer travel season, when more people are trying to get to the airport cheaply. However, if you inadvertently choose an unlicensed driver, there is no way of knowing their driving record, whether they are insured, and, if something were to go wrong, your holiday could be ruined before it's even started.  

"Unlicensed drivers are also able to undercut legitimate businesses, which work hard and within the rules, which are there to give residents peace of mind that their driver has been vetted and they have all the correct insurance and documents. 

“The promotion of an unlicensed and therefore uninsured service online, such as this, misleads the public and puts passengers at serious risk. We’re committed to ensuring that all private hire operators in Reading meet the legal standards designed to protect customers, and we will continue to take firm action against those who choose to disregard the rules.” 

Anyone with concerns about taxi or Private Hire drivers can report them confidentially to licensing@reading.gov.uk or by calling the Council Contact Centre on 0118 937 3787. 

ENDS