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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this man is a possible contender for worst taxi driver?

107 replies

ItsAllMehMehMeh · 12/12/2016 13:57

I booked with a local firm to take us to the airport and collect us on our return and paid in advance. I gave all the flight details in case we were delayed etc.

Our outbound journey was quite early (6am). As soon as we were loaded up etc. he began hacking his guts up every few minutes, at times opening the window to spit out if it. I also caught him checking his hand to see if he'd 'caught' anything. He tail-gated on the motorway at speeds up to 90 mph. The most upsetting thing happened when he ran over two cats in a residential area. The DC were in the car and DP began arguing with him whilst he denied that he'd hit them but we felt them go under the wheel and he swerved too late Sad. He was saying 'let's go back and check then' but we would have missed our flight. When we arrived (with minutes to spare for check in) he demanded to take the receipt the firm had provided so he could get paid by them even though it was my only proof that I'd already paid for both journeys Hmm

Our return flight was significantly delayed but he'd not bothered checking and complained that he'd been waiting. He then sped up the motorway, again at 90 mph, tailgating so close I had to shut my eyes. There is a stretch of road that is very windy and borders a reservoir with a steep drop. There have been so many accidents on this stretch yet he continued to drive too fast and close to other vehicles. DP had to tell him to get off his mobile too as we were so scared on this particular stretch.

I know I should probably complain but I don't like to make a fuss. Not the best start or finish to our holiday!

OP posts:
Original poster
ItsAllMehMehMeh · 12/12/2016 14:35

We talked about complaining on our return but we thought we wouldn't see him again and we just wanted to focus on our holiday. We'd already paid a lot of money for the return journey and I lost the receipt so it didn't feel like there was an alternative. We just wanted to get home.

Should I complain to the taxi company or on Facebook? Not sure what's the best thing to do? I realise he is probably self employed and I'm aware this could destroy his livelihood. I don't know, I just feel bad about the whole thing.

OP posts:
HermioneJeanGranger · 12/12/2016 14:37

I think people are a bit Hmm because they wouldn't have gotten in a taxi with such a dangerous driver again!

There are always taxis available at airports. Unless you were completely flat broke, you could have found another way home.

John4703 · 12/12/2016 14:37

Report him to the police for speeding and mobile phone use.
My DD came home late one night and told us the taxi driver was drunk, she had taken his number. I phoned the police and they called back about 20 minutes later to say that he had failed a breath test and would be charged.

If you do not report him and then read that he killed someone how would you feel?

ItsALLAboutMeMeMeMeME · 12/12/2016 14:37

Why does it matter if you are a long time poster and NC? What has that to with anything?

AIBU to think about NC-ing myself in case anyone confuses me with the OP?

hollie11 · 12/12/2016 14:41

How were you almost late for.your flight if he was doing 90 mph?

Original poster
ItsAllMehMehMeh · 12/12/2016 14:44

Oh, I thought the Hmm faces were because people were disbelieving. A pp even says 'funny story'.

I didn't have the money to use a different taxi, particularly one parked at the airport as they charge more. My DM had initially agreed to take us and collect us but decided she wasn't up to the journey so she gave us the money for the taxis instead.

OP posts:
Original poster
ItsAllMehMehMeh · 12/12/2016 14:46

hollie, I guess we underestimated how long it would take to load everybody up and he took a different route. He was speeding at points but having to brake a lot too because he was tailgating. So in the end got us there no faster.

OP posts:
Ahickiefromkinickie · 12/12/2016 14:47

He was saying 'let's go back and check then' but we would have missed our flight.

Did you at least call the RSPCA?

Unbelievably callous of you all just to leave the cats there.

I'm afraid you lose a lot of sympathy for that.

ItsALLAboutMeMeMeMeME · 12/12/2016 14:49

Well, I don't generally pay much attention to user names, you don't see them when you click on a thread but since you very carefully drew attention to yours with your post, I'm now inclined to agree with posters who aren't buying your story.

Must be a bit slow today, I clearly need more coffee.

Original poster
ItsAllMehMehMeh · 12/12/2016 14:50

He wanted to go back to prove he didn't run them over but we felt at least one of them go under the wheel. It was almost certainly dead. He knew full well we didn't have time to stop as we would have missed our flight. I'm very upset about the cats.

OP posts:
Original poster
ItsAllMehMehMeh · 12/12/2016 14:52

I thought of this NN whilst on holiday as me and DP had a falling out and I posted about it. Not sure how or why a quick NC has any bearing on this?

OP posts:
AVirginLitTheCandle · 12/12/2016 14:52

Are you sure this happened OP?

Ahickiefromkinickie · 12/12/2016 14:53

Not that upset or you would have called a friend to go and have a look Hmm

Original poster
ItsAllMehMehMeh · 12/12/2016 14:54

Yes, it happened. Why would I troll over something as mundane as this? Report my post if you like.

OP posts:
stitchglitched · 12/12/2016 14:55

Bit odd that you expected the taxi driver to take delays into account but you didn't do that yourself so your kids ended up with no food.

I hope the cats weren't left suffering and their poor owners aren't wondering where they are. Can't believe you didn't even make a phone call about that.

Original poster
ItsAllMehMehMeh · 12/12/2016 14:56

At 5am? Who was I going to call? We weren't even near home, we were travelling through a residential area to get to the airport. I don't even know where it was (paying more attention to the DC).

OP posts:
BaDumShh · 12/12/2016 14:57

Those poor cats Sad

funnyandwittyusername · 12/12/2016 14:57

Report him to the police for speeding and mobile phone use

No point. To charge for these offences they would need to be witnessed by police officers. You'd be wasting everyone's time

Original poster
ItsAllMehMehMeh · 12/12/2016 14:57

The taxi company asked for my flight details telling me they check them for delays. We had snacks but no proper food. First holiday abroad with my DC so obviously not thought it through enough.

OP posts:
NeighTrumpSnort · 12/12/2016 14:58

.

MerryMarigold · 12/12/2016 14:58

He was saying 'let's go back and check then' but we would have missed our flight. So you didn't want to check but he did. Hmm

When we arrived (with minutes to spare for check in) This despite his terribly dangerous driving. Sounds like a choice between his driving and you missing the flight. Just as well you didn't have someone more careful.

jAMES455 · 12/12/2016 15:00

This reply has been deleted

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ohtheholidays · 12/12/2016 15:01

Fucking mundane are you for fucking real and then you complain about no meals on your flight!

Have some bloody empathy you think he killed 2 cats and your going on about the cost to you and lack of meals on your flight?!

If either of those poor cats did survive then they could have been left in unbearable pain for hours before anyone found them!

Report him to the Police and have a bloody word with yourself!

LunaLoveg00d · 12/12/2016 15:01

Love the way that the OP says that the way the taxi driver was driving was dangerous and put her and her family at risk, but everyone's focusing on a cat.

People trump cats, in the very unlikely event that this ever happened.

NerrSnerr · 12/12/2016 15:03

I find it really hard to believe that you let your children get back in the car with him for a return journey. Are you honestly saying that you returned from holiday with £0 in your bank account? What would you have done if flights were delayed 24 hours so you had to get yourselves back?