to be annoyed that a taxi firm left my 82-year old Nan and I stranded outside the theatre?

[chonky]

I took my Nan to Sadlers Wells for her 82nd birthday yesterday, followed by afternoon tea.
As she can hardly walk (she has to have regular epidurals for her arthritis - her spine is past it), I booked a black cab to take us from SW at 4.30 to tea. I got a call from the cab firm at 4:26, just as I was ushering my Nan out of the theatre.

I was outside by 4.28...no taxi. I picked up a voicemail from them to say that they had cancelled the booking as I hadn't picked up their call to confirm (I was in the theatre FGS).

So, the fact that I was waiting ready, two minutes early, was completely beside the point apparently. Neither had they told me when I booked that they would call to confirm, and that if I didn't take the call they'd cancel.

Is this all normal practice in London these days, and am I showing up the fact that I now live in the arse end of nowehere and am out of touch with the ways of town ? Grrrr...

I didn't even know you could book black cabs but tbh I would have flagged one down, I wouldn't have thought you'd have any trouble doing so there on a Sat. So yes, yabu imo, it's trivial, forget it

Id be very annoyed. yanbu! They should have told you all you needed to know when you booked the cab!

Easier said than done with 300 other people milling out. I know it's trivial, I'm not realllly raging I'd just wanted the day to be straightforward for my Nan. Just as well I live in the sticks now - it's a good reminder of why I left London.

True, true. They should have told you that when you booked I suppose.