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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To pay the taxi driver half the fare?

204 replies

Dordeydoo · 07/10/2012 18:32

Booked a taxi at 7:30pm on friday night for 8:10pm. The taxi hadn't turned up by 8:20pm so rang and was told it was at the end of my road. Still hadnt arrived at 8:30pm so rang again to be told the same, which clearly wasn't the case as my road is a culdesac with 28houses so not long! Taxi finally turned up at 8:45pm then the driver drove like a prick the whole way to destination. When I got out I only paid half the fare was I being unreasonable to do so?

OP posts:
Tiredmumno1 · 07/10/2012 23:55

Really where did I say that?

bonnieslilsister · 07/10/2012 23:56

haven't hopped about at all you might be hopping now

zippey · 08/10/2012 00:01

Now you're trying to get the poor driver who drove you unwittingly for half price, sacked? What about his wife and 3 children?

Just when I thought things couldnt get worse, you are some piece of work OP.

Nasty.

Hope you had a good time at the surprise party.

AmberLeaf · 08/10/2012 00:08

That's why I used them again and I'll continue to use them

You'll be lucky! people like you get blacklisted.

Since Friday have complained to the company who are investigating the driver for being late

I doubt that TBH.

aufaniae · 08/10/2012 01:56

YANBU.

I used to use cabs a lot when I was in London. Luckily there were several to choose from. Lying about where they are and how long they'll take is not acceptable. And they don't all do it!

One did it to me, I never used them again. The other three companies I used for many years were consistently honest about where their drives were, it's certainly not unheard of!

I'm surprised the OP is getting a pasting! Turning up an hour and a half late is not acceptable, and it's not her problem if it's the driver's fault or the company's, that's between them to sort out. Why shouldn't she pay less for being lied to, and for such such shoddy service? How else is she to make her feelings know?

"It's like going to a restaurant and having a shit meal so you still pay the chef but not the waitress" If you have a really shit meal in a restaurant you are entitled to pay nothing.

OP if I were you I'd never use that company again, they simply can't be trusted.

tanfastic · 08/10/2012 02:07

I would have probably felt like doing the same op. You had shit service, he drove like a prick even after you asking him not to. However I'm not sure I'd gave had the nerve to do it though. I would have definitely complained though.

ripsishere · 08/10/2012 02:14

I think yABVVVVVU. I drove a cab for a year or so. It's a thankless job due to people like you. I agree that the controllers lied to you, but it wasn't the drivers fault.
Set up an account with a different firm.

AmberLeaf · 08/10/2012 06:57

aufaniae it was 35 mins late not and hour and a half.

Original poster
Dordeydoo · 08/10/2012 07:10

Amber leaf - think what you want as your not the one who's exchanged over 10 emails and 4 phone calls about his driving and lateness! Even the manager said he shouldn't be late as Friday was quiet for them

OP posts:
AmberLeaf · 08/10/2012 07:25

He wasn't late though! the controller sends drivers the jobs, what do you think he was doing prior to arriving at your house? parked up in a lay by?

He would have been doing other jobs, other jobs that the controller sent to him.

Thats why your comment about him saying hes got 35 mins to make up sounds like BS, it doesn't work like that.

Jobs will come in all day long, if he works 7am-7pm or 7pm-7am he will just take the jobs as they come in and then clock off when his shift is over or the job nearest to that time is finished.

The less jobs he does the less money he makes, it is not in his interest to be 'lazy', cab drivers don't get paid by the hour.

Im not sure why you cant grasp the fact that it was not his fault your cab was late

AnneTwacky · 08/10/2012 07:30

Friday night was quiet for them? Really?

I would have thought Friday night would be one of the busiest times of the week for a cab firm.

JazzAnnNonMouse · 08/10/2012 07:57

I don't think yabu, most taxi drivers are lovely and drive well. Some are not and do not.
It could've been the company's fault not the mans but if that continues to happen to him then hell find another company surely?
I do several taxi drivers and not all of them are as honest as you lot say - some do blame the company when in fact they're late through their own fault.

Tiredmumno1 · 08/10/2012 08:05

What exactly are you trying to achieve?

cheekybarsteward · 08/10/2012 08:10

Justifying theft I guess?

SoupDragon · 08/10/2012 08:12

Did you meant to post this in the "I am absolutely not being unreasonable so don't argue with me" topic?

wisden · 08/10/2012 08:14

10 emails and 4 phonecalls? You paid £2 between 3 of you for a £4 taxi journey.
Can you seriously not see how petty it is?

gettingeasier · 08/10/2012 08:15

You are kicking off over a £4 taxi fare ?

The taxi firm is normally really good but on one occasion you have had poor service so you are complaining to this extent ?

YABU and a typical OP who asks the question and then doesnt like the majority verdict

bringbacksideburns · 08/10/2012 08:19

£4!!!! Get a life!

So the whole experience wasn't enough to put you off using the firm again i see. Bet they can't wait to have you in the back of their cab, you sound most delightful.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 08/10/2012 08:21

Op you need to get a fucking grip.

Doha · 08/10/2012 08:36

YABU
Wouldn't be surprised if the taxi company blacklisted you.

Bottome line is you stole from the driver.

notsofrownieface · 08/10/2012 08:36

Friday night quiet for a cab company Hmm. If you believe this you are very naive.

The more I read the less I believe everything.

Saying that, ywbu to not pay the full £4 fair between three of you! And you used the same company coming back, if it was that bad vote with your feet and use another company.

'10 emails and 4 phone calls about his driving and lateness!' For a company that is reliable '99% of the time' you sound like the customer from hell. It probably wasn't the drivers fault, for the company to say twice that they 'are just at the end of the road' they were lying to you.

And also finally if you knew you needed a taxi, book in advance, not half hour before especially on a Friday night.

MrsKeithRichards · 08/10/2012 10:09

You should have walked.

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 08/10/2012 10:17

'it wasn't appropriate to walk! We would of looked like drowned rats by the time we got there'.

Two words.

Coats. Umbrellas.

YABU to take it out on the driver. And tight beyond belief. But I don't think it's wrong to call out a taxi firm (the FIRM, not an individual driver) on crap service. I'd be more concerned about the 'at the end of your road' lies than the driver himself.

Icelollycraving · 08/10/2012 10:18

Yabu. I understand it was annoying. I had a similar scenario recently. I booked a cab,it was late so I missed my train & was late for work. When I called them I got the whole 'it's just 1 minute away' so after a couple of times chasing I said 'stay on the phone for that minute then'. Suprise suprise,didn't come in that minute. I asked for a reduction on going the distance as I knew I'd miss the train,I do that cab ride twice a week. They said £2 off which I didn't think was fair (£28 usual fare) so told them I'd not use them again & haven't. They miss out on maybe £80 work a week. I paid the driver that day the required fare as he was not at fault.
You have arsed about emailing & complaining over £4 fare. So it was a rainy Friday night & you believe they were quiet. Bollocks.

AmberLeaf · 08/10/2012 11:36

Rainy friday night, your cab was delayed and you believe they were quiet?

No can company in the land is quiet on a friday night never mind a rainy one and whenever Ive rung for a cab at a busy time [weekend evenings and crappy weather] they will tell you you will wait.

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