to be cross at the taxi firm

[dmo]

i am a childminder and mind 7 children in a day, we go out every day somewhere and the other week i decided to take the children to the dinosaur museum by train (about 1 hrs journey) so i ordered a taxi for 8 people

on the day two cars turned up as they had no mini buses but as i had not asked for a mini bus i couldnt really say anything so i had to put the four eldest children in the taxi on their own and pay for two taxis once i got to the station.

last week i arranged to go to manchester to the Dr who thing so this time i phoned the taxi firm 4 days ahead to book a mini bus i waited 20mins while she cheaked the mini bus would be available.

then on the morning a car turned up and the driver said the mini bus was needed else where and another car was on its way for me so put the 4 oldest in the taxi on their own once again and waited for the other car.
5mins later the other car came (5mins feels like a life time)and took us to the station but when i got there i could not see the other cab or the boys so i had to run to the other side of the station with 4 little ones, pram, bags etc and the taxi was there with the boys.

so not only did i have to pay for two cars again i had panic put in too and stress

I don't think that YABU to be cross, but if they can't provide the mini-bus then I wouldn't use them.

How old are the 4 eldest?
Not sure I would be ok with letting them go without an adult, I know there is the driver, but he could be anyone couldnt he?

Iwork for a taxi company, and if for some reason we cant provide the mini bus when we said we would, this only being if it has broken down or something else beyond our control, then we would only charge the mini bus rate, not 2 taxi rates, call them, kick up a fuss and get your money back.

I'd find another firm if you can - if you asked for the mini-bus and they didn't supply it, then that's their problem so they can only charge for one car or the equivalent mini-bus charge.

If I was the mother if the oldest 4 I would be fuming you sent them in a cab on their own.

I wouldn't use them again.

I may be very unforgiving, but if a taxi company lets me down ONCE I dump them and go with somebody else.

The last time we used a taxi company where it was really important they provide the service we asked for - we were on our way to Heathrow, I had asked for a car with a baby seat and a toddler seat. Of course when the car turned up they had neither (despite the fact I had phoned them the day before to confirm).

Luckily we did have two of our own, and were able to get the driver to leave them with friends, but that's not really the point.

If you put up with bad service, then the companies have no incentive to improve.

Not trying to be offensive & you made the best out of the circumstances, but if my childminder did that & my ds was one of the children in the taxi on their own, never mind about the taxi, I wouldn't be using the childminder again.

I would expect her to postpone the trip & do another activity for the day.

Message withdrawn

2 of the children are mine (aged 10 and 11) the other 2 are the same age

think i will phone