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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this sort of thing common in London taxis?

172 replies

unhappytraveller · 02/02/2020 22:53

I've name changed for this because it is outing. We got into a cab today in Covent Garden. I asked the driver if he could take us to King's Cross, he didn't answer me. I asked him if he had heard me okay. I'm mentioning this because I thought he was miserable and rude at the start of the journey.

Up to now I've always been really lucky with the London cabs I've got into. The driver has been unfailingly polite and always got me where I needed to be in good time. I think it's quite a skill. I use them on trips to London about two or three times a year. I tried Uber and found them utter rubbish. I've never had the incident that happened today occur before.

The driver drove up Upper Woburn Place, you can't turn right onto Euston Road, you have to loop round. But he was in the left hand lane, as if to go straight ahead. Just after crossing Euston Road he swerved in front of the car behind as if he had forgotten where he needed to be (to enable him to turn right and back onto Euston Road). The driver behind toots his horn as if to say "you could have given me a bit of warning before you cut in front of me". Cab driver then refused to move forward, even though the traffic was moving forward; this was to piss off the driver behind for tooting at him. I was checking my phone for a few seconds then I looked up when the driver from behind pulls up on our cab driver's left. Cab driver winds his window down and the guy from behind said "what you doing man?" He wasn't too crazy or aggressive .. obviously just wanting to let the cab driver know he was out of order. The cab driver WAS aggressive and really sarcastic. One of the things he said to the driver was "Aw, what you gona do, take it to the African Embassy?". The cab driver looked and spoke as if he was from India, or perhaps the Middle East or North Africa (I didn't get a really good look at him). The other driver was black. The other driver did not respond, he just looked sad, really. I think, but I don't know, that the cab driver was taunting the other driver with a racist jibe. It was all pretty unpleasant. My kids were just looking into their lap, wondering how it was going to end. The whole business took about 5 or 6 minutes, and we were just sitting in the back of the cab wondering how long it would go on for, whether we should just get out there and then whilst the cab was stationary and the shouting was going on (although that would have been dangerous, obviously) or whether we should tell him to get a move on. As it happened it did cost us the train we had booked, we were cutting it fine for time.

It was all just a bit shit really .. I thought London cab drivers had to work hard to get and keep their licence, and had a fairly good reputation.

Is this sort of thing a common occurrence now and I'm being naive, or should it not have happened?

OP posts:
Original poster
unhappytraveller · 02/02/2020 23:29

Fr0g how do you mean? Borrowing the cab from someone? That's what I mean about finding it all so odd. I thought each person had to have a licence?

OP posts:
Cohle · 02/02/2020 23:32

No of course it's not common Confused

I have no idea why you're hesitating to report him.

PickwickThePlockingDodo · 02/02/2020 23:32

Bit harsh Pickle Confused

bisforbollox · 02/02/2020 23:34

Black cab drivers can be that rude. I never use them. Your driver was probably pissed the distance was so short.

Fruitbatdancer · 02/02/2020 23:35

I do that route at least once a month. I always get a cab. In my experience most black cab drivers are good. I’ve had maybe 2 bad experiences in the last year (one I reported as he was rude and aggressive). Report him as even if this time it’s just logged against him it may help in future if he escalates.

TheGreyInThisCity · 02/02/2020 23:35

This thread has taken a really weird turn. Why is asking for advice about this any different to asking for advice about the many topics people start threads about every day? Why are people fixating on how OP could have got the tube instead? Why is Ola so angry at black cab drivers?

OP in my experience it’s not usual and I am adding my voice to the many who have urged you to report it.

Original poster
unhappytraveller · 02/02/2020 23:35

Sigh. Okay Pickle I will report it. I suppose that was my gut instinct anyway but sometimes we take the path of least resistance. Even though you're being unnecessarily harsh I suppose it is getting the message across to me that I should make the effort to report.

OP posts:
Rosehip10 · 02/02/2020 23:37

Why didn't you get the tube? Laziness I guess.

viques · 02/02/2020 23:37

Well clearly not all black cab drivers are angels (remember Warboys) but most are decent hardworking people , working hard in an industry that is continually undercut by people who are untrained, often unlicensed driving cars that you have no idea of the maintenance history of. Some have bad days, and can be grumpy, but the behaviour described by the OP is unacceptable and should be reported to the licensing authorities who try their hardest to keep the service as the safest, best regulated (worboys really was an exception) and best trained in the world.

In fifty years of taking london cabs I can count on one hand the number of rude drivers I have met, and have fingers left over.

OlaEliza · 02/02/2020 23:38

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karencantobe · 02/02/2020 23:40

I had a black cab driver in London refuse to put the ramp down for a wheelchair.

Original poster
unhappytraveller · 02/02/2020 23:41

I know grey. I think it might be because of the racist comments of the driver. People think I am being goady, I suppose. I certainly don't mean to sound all disingenuous but I just doubt myself about everything all the time. And I overthink things, which means sometimes I think "do I attract this sort of shit to myself or is it really life these days?" If you think.
The stuff about the tube though ... I've no idea.

OP posts:
unhappytraveller · 02/02/2020 23:42

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Fr0g · 02/02/2020 23:42

I was joking about moonlighting from Addison Lee -they do have the most appalling drivers though, most people I know that drive regularly detest them.
I think'borrowing' cabs does go on, but I don't think it's legal, although I have heard of formal sharing arrangements.
Scariest thing was a black cab driver who appeared to be ancient, merrily telling me he'd driven cabs all his life, borrowed his sons cab whenever he was 'home' from retirement in spain, because why wouldn't he earn a few bob when he could.
I think the cyclist he narrowly missed could tell him.

He then went on to his v. strong pro-brexit views - I cut the journey short and reported him for the bad driving with a photo of the registration number, as I hadn't got the cab licence number.

SW16 · 02/02/2020 23:42

Obviously this is not the norm.

northernlittledonkey · 02/02/2020 23:42

Why didn’t you get the tube, people have asked? because she wanted to get a cab, infinitely preferable to the tube!

But yes, I’d probably report him.

OlaEliza · 02/02/2020 23:43

I also think they are defunct now that we have satnav. They need to accept that. Other than the novelty factor for tourists, they don't really offer anything anyone else can't.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 02/02/2020 23:43

Last time I got a black cab in London, the driver put the ramp down for my wheelchair and was very pleasant.

Drove like a fucking maniac though, bit scary when you’ve got no seatbelt on.

Aneley · 02/02/2020 23:44

Yep, it can happen - not normal and thankfully vast majority of taxi drivers are polite but it can happen. I had a (black) taxi driver refusing to drive me from CCross to St. James' Square. I was 7m pregnant and it was pouring rain.

Aneley · 02/02/2020 23:45

Posted too soon. He said: "Its not far, you can walk"

PickleMyPepper · 02/02/2020 23:46

I worked for TfL.

If you don't report it, no one will know. This person cannot be reprimanded unless he's reported.
Unless you want someone else to witness that behaviour, then you need to report.

That's why I've no tolerance for things like this. TfL speak to drivers, serve warnings, bring them in for meetings and, if things get bad enough, revoke the licence.
But they can't do anything unless witnesses report it.

I hear people complaining about cab drivers being rude because the journey is too short or going the wrong way. People saying they won't accommodate wheelchairs. It goes on and on.
But when I worked for TfL I can tell you the majority of the complaints coming in were regarding Uber drivers, so either people are lying or are just not reporting these offences - because believe me, they follow up on every one of them.

JojoLapin · 02/02/2020 23:47

Agree with you OlaEliza. It doesn’t matter how polite you may be, the majority of them are (and still make a fuss at the sight of a credit card being presented for payment -it’s 2020! and taxes are not optional).

SirVixofVixHall · 02/02/2020 23:48

I once had a black cab driver who had no idea where he was going (well known North London road, from King’s Cross). I am certain he was not a normal cab driver, possibly he had borrowed a friend’s cab, or bought an old one. Maybe that is what happened here OP ?

MissGuernsey · 02/02/2020 23:51

Hm.

PickleMyPepper · 02/02/2020 23:51

And to clear up;

A cab driver has one licence, with their picture and personal details on it. You can ask to see it, they should be carrying it on them at all times.
They should also always be wearing their badge and have their identifiers clearly displayed.
The licence (and enhanced CRB/DBS check) has to be renewed every few years.

Once a driver reaches a certain age they have to have a stringent medical once every few years, as they get older the medicals become more frequent.

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