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

[ItsAllMehMehMeh]

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 . 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

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!

If, in a month from now, you read about two children being killed instantly because their maniac taxi driver was tailgating on the motorway at 90 mph, how are you going to feel? Please, please call the taxi firm and yes, report it to the police, even if it wasn't witnessed. He needs to be investigated immediately.

Poor, poor cats. Personally, that would have ruined the holiday for me, knowing that they might have been saved if we had stopped.

I think people are focusing on the cats because the OP clearly wasn't that concerned about her family's safety not to put her kids back in the death trap cab. Nor did she see fit to report him out of concern for other human road users. So yeah, poor cats.

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.

But OP wasn't hurt, was she? The poor cats were.

But it's ok, because one was 'almost certainly dead'.

Maybe this a thread about Schrodinger's cat.

So he apparently ran over two cats (which you did fuck all about...didn't check on them, ring the rspca or a local vet...y'know, made sure someone might've helped them and not left them dying in the road...good job there) he could've killed someone by driving dangerously and was on his phone and you won't complain because you don't like to?!

I call bullshit because no one is that stupid surely

I really don't think this is real

*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!*

Agree. OP, your attitude is pretty appalling.

Afternoon, everyone.

The OP has indeed been about for some time and we have no reason to believe they aren't genuine - so can we call a halt to the troll-hunting please?

Thanking you kindly.

Bolding fail!

And cat owners are people. So two owners awoke that morning to find their cats dead or seriously injured.

The driver is potentially lethal and should be taken off the roads immediately - his only saving grace is that at least he wanted to go back and check. Selfish of the OP not to, and fucking irresponsible to put her kids back in the car.

I think I would rather be late for my flight than not go back to check on the cats tbh

I wasn't complaining about lack of meals, I was explaining why we were more desperate to get home. One DC had fallen ill the evening before we were to return, then the other two were sick everywhere once we got back.

The holiday was to Lapland which is been saving for for the last three years. Then a few months ago, both DP and I lost our jobs. I've started a new one this month so not yet been paid and DP is still looking. So no, I didn't have any more money for a different taxi. The spending money was the last of my savings and everything else went on a credit card.

The taxi driver wasn't concerned about the cats, he wanted to prove he didn't hit them. I was trying to hide what had happened from the DC so couldn't discuss it properly with DP until we got to the airport. We were worried, wrongly or rightly, about pissing off the taxi driver in case he didn't get us to the airport. We just wanted to get to check in in time.

Call me callous, that's fine, I feel awful about it anyway so you're not going to make me feel worse. I doubt anybody else here would have sacrificed a once in a lifetime holiday to check on cats which were almost definitely dead.

I would have checked the cats and I would not allow my children to get back in the car with them. I would have asked a family member to transfer money in my account, used credit card, or anything else. Nothing comes before the safety of my children.

I completely understand why OP didn't stop to check the cats. She was on her way to the airport and worried about the time. I wouldn't stop either. I do love cats but I accept that if they're sitting in the road they're putting themselves at risk of that happening.

Having said that, the driver was an utter prick and I'd be going out of my way to cause a big stink about it all. Where's the taxi office? Who regulates them? I'd be finding it and throwing whatever I could at them.

Why didn't you ring the cab company and ask for a different driver on the way home? We had a similar (though less fatal for cats) experience on the way to the airport this summer when our driver was obviously SO tired, I was worried he was going to fall asleep - he was swerving across lanes on the motorway and kept slowing down, and opening the window to wake himself up. We'd booked but not paid for the return journey so I just rang from holiday, cancelled it and booked another firm. If I had paid, I'd have called the company and asked for a different driver. Seems quite straightforward to me!

Is anyone really this pathetic and wet?
There's not liking to complain but my god would someone need to actually kill you first?
Apparently, since killing two animals isn't enough to stiffen your backbone.

I think the kids would have realised you ran over the cats when your DH began arguing with the taxi driver about it.

Most people, when they hear that sickening thump, stop the car or ask for the car to be stopped immediately. It wasn't the motorway, it was a residential street.

You could have called the taxi firm and demanded a different driver for the return leg. You didn't have to hand over the receipt just because he told you to. Between you and your partner I'm sure you could have managed that.

People trump cats

Not on MN.

Assuming this is actually real for fucks sake grow a backbone and make a complaint! Who cares if the taxi driver loses his livelihood? He's a danger on the roads, not to mention an evil cunt for running over two cats!

Why would you even consider not complaining? Call the taxi company and make a complaint, he isn't safe to be driving people around!

Assuming this is real.

You are bonkers to have gotten in the car with him again.

Of course you fucking report him.

But seriously 2 cats?

Had a similar experience (sans 🐱) but playing chicken with railway crossing on holiday in England while 12 weeks pregnant following a previous second trimester miscarriage ended up asking then screaming at him to stop in the arsehole of nowhere in rural Lincolnshire. Thankfully managed to hobble into a local pub/restaurant (which I don't know how it does trade but seemed thriving) where owner took one look at me and dd1 (then 4) her crying me white faced, put us in front of fire pint for DH, lemonade for us (having offered me brandy then realised I was pregnant). Owner recognised name of firm rang up police and firm on our behalf and gave us a free meal! Needless to say we have been back every year we have been over on business and got really friendly with the owners

Argh stupid phone insists on replacing words with pictures

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.

Complain to the taxi company and whoever licences cabs in your area.

Far better to destroy his livelihood than allow him to destroy people's lives.