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Original poster

Scammed By Taxi Driver Please Read!!!

146 replies

LilyLily1999 · 04/10/2025 19:16

Hi all, I had a rather stressful experience today with a taxi company and it’s left me quite shaken up…even thinking about it now I feel like I’m gonna cry. Please read as I’m in need of some support right now.

I booked a taxi today to a family members house, I normally get uber but thought a taxi would be cheaper, I phoned a taxi company and explained I don’t have cash and I’ve currently lost my card and the guy said that’s fine I can pay by bank transfer. I got into the taxi and straight away the guy called his manager up and they spoke in their language…he then turned the metre off and I stupidly thought nothing of it (I suffer from mental health and am considered vulnerable).

The journey was only a 4 minute drive, halfway through the guy said his manager has messaged me the bank account details so I can transfer the money…I looked at my messages and saw the manager had told me it would cost £15 and I need to send a screenshot to prove I’ve sent the money. I may be vulnerable but I instantly knew £15 for a 4minute journey wasn’t right as even on uber it’s cheaper then that…I realised that must’ve been why the guy turned the metre off as if they charged me by the metre it would’ve been too cheap for them and they wanted to try and get more money out of me. To make things worse the taxi driver drove past my family members house and pulled up further down the road to wait for me to send the money…I felt extremely uncomfortable and due to the bad signal my bank app was frozen so I was unable to send the money, I continued to message the manager and told him £15 is a lot and how the metre should’ve been on and he said he can lower it to £12 and I agreed feeling like I had no other choice. I called my family member and they said they have cash and if I get the driver to pull up outside their house then I can collect the cash from them and pay him…I told the driver and he took me to the house and then followed me to the front door to collect the money, which again was rather uncomfortable, I assume he thought I’d run off.

I bursted into tears when I got inside my family members house as I felt so uncomfortable in the car with the driver and feel like they were tryna scam me into paying more then I should’ve. I’m now back home and have messaged the company letting them know how I feel and that they should’ve had the metre on…the company is saying I chose to not have the metre on and I agreed to a set price of £12 which is bullshit (excuse my language) but who in their right mind would “agree” to pay more then they need to…I didn’t get a choice regarding the metre as the guy turned it off the minute I got in and I had to agree to £12 as I was in this random man’s car down the road from my family members house and he was sitting their huffing and puffing and constantly asking me if I’ve paid…they told me the “fixed price” once I got to my location yet they’re acting like I got in the car, told the man to turn the metre off and agreed to pay £12.

I feel like they’re taking the mick and it’s just their way of tryna scam people and make more money. Not sure what action I can take, it’s only £12 but I’m really really not happy with their service and want to do something. As mentioned I suffer from mental health and am vulnerable and this has messed with my anxiety quite a lot. I feel so stupid I barely get out the house due to anxiety etc this is the first time I’ve been out in weeks and it’s made me feel even more scared to go outside. Would really like to do something about this.

OP posts:
Shutuptrevor · 05/10/2025 08:05

Hello OP,

I don’t think they were hugely expensive tbh, and from their POV first you had said you had no bank card, then no phone signal for transfer (but could message), then wanted to get out and walk into your destination to get cash, which could easily have been a way to dodge paying. Customers probably try and default without paying all the time and ultimately they’re a small local business who need payment to stay afloat.

I hope that makes you feel less scammed. Next time just make sure price is quoted and agreed when you ring. Or is walking an option, for such a short journey? I hope you feel a little less overwhelmed today and can move on.

Soontobe60 · 05/10/2025 08:03

Roundup9 · 05/10/2025 06:25

@SassyCow and @Poppyseeds79 … surely you have better things to do?

Show quote history

Yes, like grow up! Play times over, time to get back in for maths…

Fundays12 · 05/10/2025 08:02

I think you are massively over reacting. You didn't have any of the conventional means to pay so they may have charged extra but at £12 for a 4 minute journey it wasn't much extra. Why book a taxi when you have no proper method of paying it? A 4 minute drive is a close distance so walk. Maybe you should thank the taxi company for taking the risk of not getting paid.

user1476613140 · 05/10/2025 07:58

Where I live you could easily pay around £15 taxi fare for 4 minutes. That's why I hardly use a taxi.

Horses7 · 05/10/2025 07:55

Doesn’t sound like a scam.
Sounds like driver was worried he wouldn’t get paid by his fare.
Use Uber in future.
Get help/more help for your mental health.

Alittlefrustrated · 05/10/2025 07:54

I understand that you are feeling vulnerable and anxious OP, but you need to find a way to move on from this.
I imagine they (understandably) saw you as a scam /flight risk.
Taxi fares have rocketed, like everything else.
I was shocked to hear the bus fare into town, which is 10 minutes away.

Boomer55 · 05/10/2025 07:54

That fare wouldn’t have been excessive around here. Perhaps a family member should have booked it for you if you had no cash or card?

Justgorgeous · 05/10/2025 07:52

Is this post real ? What a load of drama over £15 reduced to £12.

JMSA · 05/10/2025 07:51

I don’t think we’re going to hear back from the OP.

Horserider5678 · 05/10/2025 07:50

dontmalbeconme · 04/10/2025 20:31

Round our way, the taxis at the rank charge in minutes, the minicab charge in miles.
Something like £4/5 per mile for the first 3 miles, £2/3 per mile thereafter.
So 3 or 4 miles (which would be minutes on a fast road) could easily be £15+. Not a scam, just the price.

Absolutely! I thought she was going to say she had been charged over £100! The word scammed in this situation is ridiculous and to end up crying is madness!

Catsknowbest · 05/10/2025 07:47

You haven't been scammed, and you are over reacting. Taxi drivers get constantly scammed by non payers and your not having usual means to pay etc put him on guard that he was not going to get paid. There is also an immediate charge for getting in the taxi in the first place and even a short journey where I am includes this and even a trip a few mins will never be less than £10.

tuvamoodyson · 05/10/2025 07:45

Please read, you haven’t been scammed.

Shoes232 · 05/10/2025 07:44

So you didn’t have a way to pay them and then argued about the price? You weren’t scammed and I think you were lucky they took you.

Bowies · 05/10/2025 07:42

I don’t think it’s an excessive charge or their behaviour was out of the realm of normal, given the unusual circumstances.

As PP said Uber often cheaper unless they have a price surge.

I always ask for the price in advance when booking.

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 05/10/2025 07:42

You haven't been scammed.

CameForAVacationStayedForTheRevolution · 05/10/2025 07:41

Taxis are always more expensive. I live 6 miles out of town and I can pay £40 to get home after a night out as they charge more at night…..was your journey in the evening? My journey takes 10 mins. So £12 for a 4 min journey could be quite normal.

but they’re meant to keep the meter on.

Aphroditesangel · 05/10/2025 07:41

I’ve had 2 attempted scams on me by black cabs in London. On both separate occasions they said payment had not gone through and to try again. On checking my banking app in the cab I could see it had gone through.

Owly11 · 05/10/2025 07:40

Sorry but how is this a scam? I expect there’s a minimum charge and as yours was such a short journey they didn’t need the meter. I would expect a taxi to cost more than an uber. I think they were generous in allowing you to do a bank transfer. They parked down the road to stop you doing a runner.

Superhansrantowindsor · 05/10/2025 07:40

I would not dream of asking a taxi company if I could pay by bank transfer. I bet they get loads of customers trying to get away without paying so walking to the door to get the money is reasonable. Asking for a screenshot is reasonable and 12 quid sounds about right. When your bank app froze they probably thought this was an excuse.
Stick with Uber next time.

landlordhell · 05/10/2025 07:37

it doesn’t sound like a scam. They named the price, you stayed in the cab so that’s an agreement. I’m guessing g they’re charging for the bank transfer. Why didn’t you say you could pay by cash from your family before you left?

sorrynotathome · 05/10/2025 07:37

”tryna” is not a word (spellcheck was having none of it). Also if you are mentally ill just say so - there’s no such thing as “suffering from mental health”. You sound very young and very naive. Perhaps learn from this experience rather than moan about being “scammed” (you weren’t).

Leilaandtheloggerheads · 05/10/2025 07:36

All the people saying “it’s your fault for not having cash” or “you’ve had to pay a premium for paying by bank transfer” … really??? Do you lot not know it’s illegal for a taxi driver to turn the meter off in the uk?? Christ alive!

OP, is this local to you? Do you not have a trusted local taxi company? How did you end up using this one? Turning off the meter is a massive red flag and, as mentioned, not legal in the UK, which is where I assume you are by quoting in GBP.

You could try reporting them to the local council, but I’d also definitely warn locals on social media or local news/paper. At least your loss is sub £10, in time the shock will fade for you.

AhWeNoss · 05/10/2025 07:35

Taxis and minicabs are more expensive than uber. So your fare would never have been as cheap as uber.

As far as they were aware, you were trying to avoid payment by saying you have no cash and no card, and then as soon as you arrive at the destination, you suddenly can’t do a bank transfer as you had planned. Taxi drivers do follow passengers who don’t pay, and you were no different.

The meter issue does sound dodgy, but it wasn’t like you were overcharged by much, if at all, for you to say you’ve been ripped off.

Whoevenarethey · 05/10/2025 07:35

Sorry but I agree this sounds like a normal taxi fee. We paid around £8 for a 5 min journey from the train station to our house 2 years ago so I can see that they would charge more now. They often have a fixed price to begin e.g £5 and then the meter keeps going up.
To the taxi driver you are suspicious as you were unable to pay - you had no cash, no card and now you were saying your bank app didn't work either. I'm not surprised they followed you as I am sure it's a common trick for some people to run off or try to avoid payment (and he honestly has no idea whether you are suffering mental health problems which actually depending on the issue could actually mean you do think you have paid/are entitled to the ride if suffering from delusions).

Maybe next time ask for a quote over the phone and ask if you can pay upfront if you don't have any other means of paying.
This to me sounds like the more worrying part - why do you find yourself in a situation with no cash and no card? How are you doing for food?

Hiphopboppertybop99 · 05/10/2025 07:27

I think the price you paid £12 for your journey doesn't sound unreasonable, especially at weekend. Taxis charge more at weekend fior the same journey than Mon - Fri. £15, maybe might have been a little excessive, but then we'll never know without the actual meter cost. Why didn't you ask the driver to put the meter back on?
I do a short journey in a taxi regularly, this can be anywhere between £8-£10. The same journey in an uber is usually between £6-£8...so I'm not 'scammed' in the taxi at the higher price, its just they cost more. You're thinking you've been scammed £12...you haven't, your uber would have cost £x.. your chosen method to travel just cost more. Uber prices can vary depending on current demand and driver availability.
As PPs have said cash payment is a risk, the driver should have stopped outside the address you were going to, and perhaps waited at the gate / drive and not followed you to the door but its not unreasonable for them to be concerned about payment.
However, I think due to your anxiety, the whole situation has made you feel vulnerable and at risk and I hope you are ok, and hopefully with the majority of PPs implying the same that it doesn't sound like you have been scammed perhaps you will feel better.