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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have reported this taxi driver to licensing

42 replies

milliec · 04/03/2008 08:27

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loopylou6 · 04/03/2008 08:36

YA sort of NBU, it depends if u can have this man possibly losing his licence and job on your mind without feeling guilty, no doubt his behaviour was disgraceful, but i personally feel its all a bit radical, not that im saying your wrong to be angry because your not, its just there is a lot at stake

milliec · 04/03/2008 08:44

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slowlearner · 04/03/2008 08:44

YANBU - as long as you tell them exactly what happened, with no exaggerations. It's up to the licensing dept to decide what action to take, not you, but I doubt he'd actually lose his licence over it. I had a similar experience once - taxi rush to hospital, then driver claimed he didn't have £5 change! Wish I'd reported him.

flossish · 04/03/2008 08:47

surely at 7.30 rather than 4am it should be cheaper? YANBU. If we always went round worrying about the consequences of complaining about poor service we'd never complain.

loopylou6 · 04/03/2008 09:10

thats a good point flossish, at 4am the fare would of been time and half, maybe the first taxi driver undercharged u? why dont u ring a random taxi service and ask them for a quote on the amount it would cost for a taxi to the hospital, and see what they say, then u will know if the 2nd driver really did over charge u. let us know what u decide.

themildmanneredjanitor · 04/03/2008 09:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Onlyaphase · 04/03/2008 09:17

YANBU. Agree with Slowlearner, report accurately what happened and it is up to the authorities to take action or not. You don't know what else is on this man's file, all you can do is report what happened to you. And it may make him think twice about being an intimidating git next time around too

onebatmother · 04/03/2008 09:22

yanbu - what slowlearner said.

Council coming round probably seems more serious than it actually is - they need something on paper, i would have thought, even to reprimand him.

Freckle · 04/03/2008 09:25

I suspect that, if this is the only complaint, he will just get a warning. However, if others have complained, the result might be more serious.

You should not feel guilty for reporting him. The standard of service was way below an acceptable level and, if he does lose his licence as a result of this complaint, it will not only be because of your complaint. Rather than yours is the latest in a series of complaints.

bellabelly · 04/03/2008 09:28

You have simply made a complaint, you have not asked for a particular outcome. If the guy loses his job, that is not down to you. In fact, I'm guessing here but I would have thought it would take a LOT more than one complaint to get anywhere near that stage. Don't worry about what the outcome might be, that's NOT your responsibility!

lucyellensmum · 04/03/2008 09:30

YANBU - ~Don't bother your concience a bit about this fuckwit! If he loses his licence it is HIS fault not yours. You have done the right thing, you had been through enough stress and it sounds like he preyed on that in the worse case scenario - best case, he's incompetent!!! Never rely on Satnav, we once had an articulated lorry from a eastern european country struggle down our narrow residential road, looking for a paper mill It was nearly midnight, DP went out to rant at the guy, but ended up feeling sorry for him and got in his van to "take" him to his desination 10 miles away!!!

Vinegar · 04/03/2008 09:37

milliec - something similar happened to me. DD was ill and I called a mini-cab firm(which we had used a few times before) to pick us from home and take us to hospital, dh was out of the country so it was just me and dd. While booking the taxi I told the guy "Could you please tell me how much it is because I'm tired of always having to pay different amounts to the same destination". He said it would definately be £6. When we got to the hospital, I gave the driver £6. He insisted it was £8 and actually got out of the car and stood over me in a really threatening manner. I was carrying dd who was 6 months at the time. I gave him the money, but it is one incident that still fills me with rage 5 years down the line. I was so upset at the time and called the cab company. They were very apologetic, but I never used that firm again.
You are doing the right thing, wish I had reported him to taxi driving licensing, didn't know I could. I was really shaken by the incident for ages after and still think about it now from time to time. Think it was the fact that I was taking a sick baby to hospital and then was intimidated by this vile man, I felt really helpless.
Hope you are okay now.

littlepinkpixie · 04/03/2008 09:59

YANBU. The outcome is not up to you, you are just making a complaint.

helenhismadwife · 04/03/2008 12:43

you are absolutely right to report this bully, its bad enough that he did this to you but he could well have done it in the past to elderly people or others its not acceptable. Dont feel bad its not you making him loose his job its his behaviour

theBOD · 04/03/2008 12:45

do you not have taxi metres in england?
if so pay what is on the meter.
if not agree a price before the journey otherwise it is akin to ordering in a restaurant without checking the prices and you have little to no comeback

littleducks · 04/03/2008 13:10

When my fil died i was on the way to the hosp in a cab, the guy also mucked me about with sat nav ringing up friends for directions etc. when i was sitting in the back pleading him to just aim for the town then find a and e signs.

I got a call on the journey saying he had died, which really upset me as i knew it was important to dh that dd who was about 7 months was there as fil had wanted to see her. At this point i told the driver what had happened, he already knew i was in a rush as someone was ill.

I cried a little bit in the back, the bloke charged me over £25 which i later found out was nearly double the charge. I paid at the time without question as i was upset, later i did wonder if he actually was a taxi driver, or if he had 'borrowed' it from a friend and family member to make cash or something. I wish i had thought of reporting him to council, i did ring minicab firm, talk to the controller explained the story and he was very upset about it and offered to send someone round with the cash (presumerably out of his pocket to begin with) but there was too much going on then with funeral etc. so i just asked for the controller to deal with it as i counldnt cope with any more stress.

So i think you have done the right thing, your council should investigate and see what had happened and if this is a continueing problem.

milliec · 04/03/2008 16:06

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ravenAK · 04/03/2008 16:09

good on yer! This guy wants sorting

Carmenere · 04/03/2008 16:11

Good for you Milliec

belgo · 04/03/2008 16:11

well done Milliec

bumpybecky · 04/03/2008 16:13

good for you

theUrbanDryad · 04/03/2008 16:16

Good on you MillieC! hopefully he'll get what he deserves this time, some taxi drivers are absolutely lovely, but some are complete arseholes, and targeting vulnerable mum and baby coming from the hospital is sick IMO.

KnickersOnMaHead · 04/03/2008 16:20

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onebatmother · 04/03/2008 17:52

Oh bloody well done. And well done for talking to the committee. Good luck.

DualCycloneCod · 04/03/2008 17:53

ooh er WELL DONE!

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