Taxis refusing to pick me up!

It’s a long shot but could it be because you are (a) women and the driver is male.
Maybe they are worried they’ll be accused of something.
Just a thought

Seconding the people who find Uber unusuable in London these days.

The only times it's worked for me recently was a long ride from Stoke Newington to Bow. Every other time I've tried I've ended up giving up. Either no drivers accept, or when they accept the wait time goes from 6 mins to 15+ minutes.

It's not my account/feedback as I have no issues outside London, and friends visiting find the same problem. I think it must be because I'm typically needing a short fast journey and London Uber drivers don't think it's worth it any more.

1. Get your phone camera ready as you approach the hailed cab. 2) If they refuse to take your fare, ask them for their licence number. 3) Assuming they won't, then be ready to take photo of the numberplate, and then report them to https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/contact-us-about-taxi-and-private-hire

So, if they refuse, ask for their licence number. No doubt they'll refuse to give it, so take a photo of the cab numberplate.

Black cabs are legally obliged to take on any job for journeys up to 12 miles or up to one-hour duration.

https://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/getting-around-london/london-taxis#:~:text=Black%20cabs%20are%20legally%20obliged,up%20to%20one%2Dhour%20duration.

It's been a while, but last year I was using Uber for all my journeys through Central London very early hours of the morning. Never once had a problem either.

I’ve had huge problems getting Ubers from central London when I’ve worked late (Mon to Fri) so I agree with OP that it’s a thing. I’ve switched to Bolt. Conversely, when I used to live in south London many moons ago, I didn’t have problems with Black Cabs but my sister did sometimes (and we lived in the same general area) so it seems very random.

But @Evo20 - I think that’s really shocking that they’re not taking you. Someone has posted about the 12-mile radius thing - perhaps worth mentioning that?

I'm in London and use Uber/Bolt/FREENOW. I don’t know anyone who hails taxis. I thought that was now strictly the reserve of tourists.

I’m sorry if this happening to you. Fortunately, it’s easily avoided. Get cab apps and it don’t happen anymore.

Wouldn’t they be able to see that you were an all female group when you stuck your arm out to hail them? At the very least, they’d be able to see that you were a woman, even if they didn’t notice your friends.

So it sounds like they either don’t want to go to your destination, the driver thinks at least one of you is drunk enough to either mess him about or throw up in his cab, or you’ve been mistaken for someone who hasn’t paid and has done a runner.

I use Ubers in central London most weekends and never had a problem. I have only ever had an Uber cancel on me once and that was a Christmas night out a few years ago so ended up getting the bus home

Neither have I.

how far were you going maybe they ha a short window to take someone but your destination was too far

I used to have this loads in London - live south of the river and used to have black cabs refuse to take me home all the time because of this but found it had pretty much stopped after Uber started taking over. Clearly it’s coming back.

It may be that your trying to pick up a yellow badge cab and they can only drive in certain areas, but if they’re a green badge holder unless they deem that it may be unsafe to take you, which it doesn’t sound like it would be, they legally should take you.

Doesn't everyone do this? It would be silly not to really.

It's a long running joke. Can work in your favour though, we flagged one down with a view to being dropped at a station, and it turned out he was coming off shift , he asked us where we were heading to and he lived close to us, so we did a deal re price and had a lovely chariot ride home for less than half price and a good chat as he was going that way anyway.

There has got to be more to this.

There must be something about you or your group that concerns the drivers enough for them to refuse to take you.

I doubt they would willingly give up paying jobs just because you are a women.

Can someone explain why black cabs don't want to go south of the river. That's the only time I use black cabs really, but I book them through gett.
Feel a-bit sorry for the drivers now!
I have family living in North London who joke about south of the river and of course I know it's more affordable, but still crazy expensive!
Surely there's taxi trade from S London (I'm talking SW2) back into town if I've caught the cab from town to SW2?

Did you all look drunk? Its the only reason i can think they might not take you if they thought you'd be difficult/be sick. I've not had any issues with either black cabs or ubers in London recently.

I must admit I've been using Uber for years and never had a problem in central London either.

Take a note of their licence and speak to the council

I've also never had a problem getting an Uber any time of day or night in central London!

I don't use them loads - maybe every couple of months or so, but never have a problem or wait more than a few minutes with Uber (central London).

Found this on the official Visit London website:

If the yellow taxi sign on the front is illuminated, the cab is available for hire. Black cabs are legally obliged to take on any job for journeys up to 12 miles (20 miles for cabs at the Heathrow Airport taxi ranks) or up to one-hour duration.

https://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/getting-around-london/london-taxis

Sounds like they acted illegally if their yellow taxi signs were switched on. Were they?

was about to add the same myself😂