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Should I report this? Taxi driver incident

32 replies

DustSalad · 25/05/2024 02:10

I phoned and booked a taxi by phone this evening from home to 162 XYZ Street.

The driver turned up and asked where I was going. I told him 162 XYZ Street.

He huffed and puffed complaining about how it would be hard to get there due to the traffic calming measures.

I said never mind, just let me out (it was walkable, it's just that it was raining and I was running late). But he had locked the doors and he just drove off. I didn't know what to do. I was so flustered I didn't even realise he was going in the wrong direction. A couple of mins later he then stopped outside 142 XYZ Street and said "is this it". I said no. He was then about to turn the taxi round to back in the right direction of where 162 was but I INSISTED he let me out. I told him I would pay, just let me go. He said don't bother (to pay) and then let me out.

I phoned the company immediately to complain. They said someone would phone me back to get details. They did not. I phoned again about 4 hours later. They were clearly disinterested. They said the details would be passed onto their Head Office but that I would not hear anything further. They refused to give the driver's name or badge number (it was a licensed black cab - not London though) talking about GDPR. They reluctantly gave me the reg plate of the taxi when I insisted I needed something.

What do you think? Particularly about the not letting me out the taxi bit.

Thanks

OP posts:
sprigatito · 25/05/2024 02:14

That's appalling. I would have been terrified from the moment he locked the doors, and I'm not easily frightened. Definitely pursue it, and I would put my complaint in writing as well - tell them you will contact the police and the councillor in charge of licensing if they fob you off again.

avocadotoaster · 25/05/2024 02:20

I’d pass on details to non emergency police as I wouldn’t trust taxi firm to sort. Sounds terrifying I hope you are okay.

itsmylife7 · 25/05/2024 06:11

As far as I know the doors lock automatically in a black cab, once it's been driven.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

bananaramaterry · 25/05/2024 06:25

Don't some cars auto lock the doors? Especially taxis to avoid runners?

NewLifter · 25/05/2024 07:27

I agree that the doors automatically lock. Did you actually try to open them? They're normally only locked from the outside, unless child locks are on.

The whole experience sounds very unpleasant though I'm not sure you were in the right either to be honest.

LakeTiticaca · 25/05/2024 07:32

Report it to the police

CheeseWisely · 25/05/2024 07:33

I'm struggling to see what was so wrong aside from a grumpy driver? Taxi drivers grumble at times, I've had it before and just ignored them.

He got the destination slightly wrong and was going to correct himself. The doors lock automatically in a black cab. He didn't charge you.

I don't really see what's worthy of pursuing a complaint?

rainbowunicorn · 25/05/2024 07:37

My car doors automatically lock and anytime I've been in a black cab the do also. He was having a grumble about the traffic calming measures not at you. He got the address slightly wrong and then tried to correct. You are being a bit over sensitive

Heelworkhero · 25/05/2024 07:38

He didn’t charge you and he was just grumpy. Not ideal, but I don’t know what you’re looking for in terms of the complaint.
If you’re terrified of the doors locking, perhaps cabs aren’t the best solution for you. Or insist on a female driver next time.

BranchGold · 25/05/2024 07:38

Yes, if it was a black cab then the doors lock automatically, it wouldn’t have been done manually by the driver.

you didn’t pay any fare for the journey?

He was grumpy/rude. I understand you didn’t feel safe, but other than the doors locking which people have covered, and his attitude of tutting, what actually happened?

I think I’d walk away from this. Particularly as not paying a taxi fare is an offence, and it’s now a your version/his version of events.

Savoretti · 25/05/2024 07:38

CheeseWisely · 25/05/2024 07:33

I'm struggling to see what was so wrong aside from a grumpy driver? Taxi drivers grumble at times, I've had it before and just ignored them.

He got the destination slightly wrong and was going to correct himself. The doors lock automatically in a black cab. He didn't charge you.

I don't really see what's worthy of pursuing a complaint?

Same here. I’ve had plenty of grumpy drivers - its not complaint worthy…

Hedgerow2 · 25/05/2024 07:38

CheeseWisely · 25/05/2024 07:33

I'm struggling to see what was so wrong aside from a grumpy driver? Taxi drivers grumble at times, I've had it before and just ignored them.

He got the destination slightly wrong and was going to correct himself. The doors lock automatically in a black cab. He didn't charge you.

I don't really see what's worthy of pursuing a complaint?

Totally agree.

What do you expect the police to do? It's your word against his. Also bear in mind he knows where you live.

WingSluts · 25/05/2024 07:48

If he only dropped you 20 doors from where you needed to be (you said 142 instead of 162) why didn’t you do the universal British thing of saying “just here’s fine mate” regardless of whether it was or not then just walk a couple of minutes?

DoreenonTill8 · 25/05/2024 08:02

WingSluts · 25/05/2024 07:48

If he only dropped you 20 doors from where you needed to be (you said 142 instead of 162) why didn’t you do the universal British thing of saying “just here’s fine mate” regardless of whether it was or not then just walk a couple of minutes?

Would it not have only been 10 doors away in fact?!
It all sounds ridiculously dramatical and agree you should have just walked.I told him I would pay, just let me go why wouldn't you pay?!

realw · 25/05/2024 08:10

What is there to report to the police? That, instead of dropping you at No 162, he dropped you at 142 and complained about the traffic calming measures in that particular road?
To complain to the cab office about driver's impolite behaviour- yes. But to the police- no, as no crime has been committed.

bananaramaterry · 25/05/2024 08:45

LakeTiticaca · 25/05/2024 07:32

Report it to the police

What crime has been committed?

DustSalad · 25/05/2024 20:33

bananaramaterry · 25/05/2024 08:45

What crime has been committed?

I assume the poster thinks this could count as an abduction? That may sound OTT but at the time I certainly was frightened! He was an unpleasant man and I was locked in the back of his taxi being driven in the wrong direction.

OP posts:
DustSalad · 25/05/2024 20:34

I was so flustered it did take me a few mins to actually realise he was going in the wrong direction!

OP posts:
DustSalad · 25/05/2024 20:35

NewLifter · 25/05/2024 07:27

I agree that the doors automatically lock. Did you actually try to open them? They're normally only locked from the outside, unless child locks are on.

The whole experience sounds very unpleasant though I'm not sure you were in the right either to be honest.

What did I do wrong?

OP posts:
qwertyqwertyqwertyqwerty · 25/05/2024 20:41

I would speak to the licensing local authority if you really feel you were in danger, keep it hypothetical and find out what the complaints process is. Then take some time to reflect because it may be hard to complain without causing yourself undue stress. The incident sounds hard to assess, it is not like he actually took you somewhere different. Maybe it just felt wrong.

There's a taxi driver locally I will never use.

Unfortunately it is often hard to articulate a bad feeling. Brew

Upsidedownlife · 25/05/2024 20:49

So he drove in the wrong direction but you got to your destination albeit a few doors down “a couple of mins” later? So what he turned round or just went a different way? Was he also pisses off as you’d ordered a taxi for a couple of minutes drive? You’re not doing a good job of explaining what he did wrong

CheeseWisely · 25/05/2024 21:00

DustSalad · 25/05/2024 20:34

I was so flustered it did take me a few mins to actually realise he was going in the wrong direction!

But according to your OP he stopped at the wrong (but nearby) address after only a couple of minutes, so he can't have been going that far in the 'wrong' direction.

I don't really understand what there was to be flustered about?

coldcallerbaiter · 25/05/2024 21:05

My doors lock automatically, most do now. I do not see what he did wrong other than being grumpy. You are acting like he abdicated you. Save the police for more important stuff, a bad feeling is not enough.

Spirallingdownwards · 25/05/2024 21:10

Presumably he went in the "wrong" direction to avoid traffic calming measures or to take a short cut route?

bananaramaterry · 25/05/2024 21:12

I assume the poster thinks this could count as an abduction? That may sound OTT but at the time I certainly was frightened! He was an unpleasant man and I was locked in the back of his taxi being driven in the wrong direction.

A fucking abduction!

Give over!!

No wonder police can't deal with real crime!!