To think if a taxi is 20 minutes late it does have an impact on what time we arrive at destination?

[stormforce10]

As I've been unwell and DS 4 months never sleeps and DP is away 4 days a week I've been using taxis rather than bus for DDs school runs for last couple of weeks. Expensive but since I've collapsed a couple of timesrecently probably sensible

DD has to be in school for 8.40 and I order taxis for 8am which leaves plenty of time even if taxi is 10 minutes or so late. The school is some way and there is heavy traffic. This morning taxi finally turned up at 8.20.

The driver was completely unapologetic and told me

1. I should order a taxi for 7.45 if I want to get to school for 8.40
2. Because the traffic is heavy it makes no difference if I'm picked up at 8am or 8.20 I'll still arrive within same few minutes

AIBU to think he was both rude and wrong.

DD (year 3) was late to school for first time ever :(

No yanbu- I build in time to my journey as you do to allow for traffic but expect a taxi to be there within a few minutes of booking . I know that traffic heavy for them but it is their job/controllers to plan for that.

He's an arse. Complain.

Well if he is such an expert he should have left earlier to be with you by 8 then ... YANBU at all...

yanbu, I'd complain & use a different taxi firm

It is of course possible, depending on traffic dynamics, that leaving later might result in a faster journey. However, totally unreasonable for the driver to be giving you that kind of advice if he can't even work his own time management. I'd switch companies if I were you.... and ring the current one to tell them why too!

Well, it is possible that a later time is faster, so arrives at the same time, if there's less traffic. Seems unlikely at 8.20.

Did you know that with almost all taxi companies, however far ahead you book, the instruction is issued to the nearest taxi six minutes beforehand? Sometimes it will take them longer to get to you and you will be late.

But he was definitely rude! If you need to book for 7.45 you should have been told that when you booked.

Right I have just booked a taxi for 7.50am. I asked to speak to the office manager and explained that I'd been using the same firm on a regular basis for 13 years but if they were going to continue sending me late taxis I would be changing company as of Thursday.

I will await events - still angry the last couple of weeks have been all stress in the morning with only one taxi managing to arrive on time the rest have all used all,part or more of my 10 minute margin and today was very nearly the last straw

ugh I hate taxis. I'm NEVER satisfied with the service (well hardly ever). It should be a more convenient mode of transportation than public transport, but often it's just as unreliable, but three times the price.

Hope you manage to find a more reliable company OP. That taxi driver was completely out of line and rude. He was late. You did not miscalculate your travel times as far as i can see. Arrrrgh my blood is boiling and I didn't even take the bloody taxi.

YANBU I would be hopping mad, would complain and take my business else where.

YABU. Taxis don't sit around waiting for a booking, they take whatever fare they can get. They're not going to refuse a fare because you may need them in 20 minutes time, they'll take the fare and then get to you. Book for earlier.

So where does it end then Midnite? How early am I supposed to book my taxi just in case someone else turns up after me and they take priority? The op said that it was already booked following time to spare - and that's for traffic not just random fares turning up after she'd booked!

Op YANBU.

If you absolutely have to have the vehicle at the front door at a set time, then use a car service. Taxis have to schedule bookings, work around who is in the area at the time and try and accommodate everyone. You just need to allow heaps of time if you're going to use one.

Funny how taxi companies never say that in their advertising, or when people book, Midnight. 'We are inherently unreliable and value your business no more than the man on the street's who has never used us before'.

I know it's true, most people have no idea and believe that if they've booked the day before or earlier their booking is somehow more secure than one phoned in ten minutes before the car is needed. In fact, if it to an out of the way or inconvenient location it is less secure.

One of my 'favourite' excuses when a taxi didn't turn up was 'he doesn't like that neighbourhood, he won't pick up there'. Right, so you gave my booking to someone you knew / who told you wouldn't take it, though you have lots of other cars around and are based on the edge of said neighbourhood, being both the closest and largest local firm. They did send another car for free but I'd missed my train and was then an hour late for an important meeting in another city.