Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Terrifying taxi ride this morning

191 replies

Zenana · 15/09/2023 12:12

Just got a taxi from York train station to Kings Manor in Exhibition Square (or so I thought). I could easily have walked but was running late. The driver asked me if it was York St John and I said no, the University of York. I asked if he wanted the postcode he said no.

I realised he was going way out of the town centre and the meter said £8. I questioned this and he told me to shut up and "stop confusing me". Said I'd told him it was the university of York and when I started to try to explain talked and shouted over me and said I wouldn't listen.

He thankfully had pulled over at this point and I told him I'd get out and walk and pay him for this journey. "You robbing me. You robbing me. You robbing me" he just wouldn't stop. He called me a fucking bitch and drove away.

I didn't take his details or anything I was too shaken up. I'm amazed how upset it's made me.

I had a 45 minute walk to the meeting and I'm glad as it's allowed me to calm down a little but I'm so upset at this vile misogynist.

OP posts:
hanahsaunt · 15/09/2023 12:15

You told him University of York and that's where he headed - it's out of town. Did you say King's Manor, Exhibition Square? If not, then you were both at fault: you for giving him the wrong information and him for being rude.

NigellaAwesome · 15/09/2023 12:16

What a horrible experience. One of the only times I was genuinely fearful for my safety was in a taxi somewhere near Staffordshire.

There isn't enough vetting for taxi drivers. My DSis was abducted by a taxi driver and sexually assaulted 30 years ago. It has affected her for years.

Did you pay cash or card? If by card you might be able to make a complaint to the provider.

Original poster
Zenana · 15/09/2023 12:18

hanahsaunt · 15/09/2023 12:15

You told him University of York and that's where he headed - it's out of town. Did you say King's Manor, Exhibition Square? If not, then you were both at fault: you for giving him the wrong information and him for being rude.

I told him Kings Manor. I asked him if he wanted the postcode and he said no he knew where it was. Don't dare excuse his behaviour.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zenana · 15/09/2023 12:19

@NigellaAwesome he drove away before I could pay.

OP posts:
hanahsaunt · 15/09/2023 12:20

@Zenana I asked the question for clarification - your post wasn't clear.

watcherintherye · 15/09/2023 12:23

He was in the wrong and behaved horribly. It’s obvious he wasn’t listening to you and doesn’t know the city he’s taxiing around well enough. The University of York has a city centre site as well as the main campus. He ought to know that.

Foggyfoggyfoggy · 15/09/2023 12:23

As a young drunk 19yo a taxi driver once drive my to an area of waste ground and asked me if I was scared...
Wish to God I had reported him.

Hope you are OK op.

Topseyt123 · 15/09/2023 12:24

How worrying for you. Anyone would have been shaken by that.

Are you sure he was a licensed taxi driver? Not that that is an absolute guarantee of course, but he doesn't sound very professional to me.

If you paid by card the name of the payee will probably show up on your bank or credit card statement in the next couple of days and that might help you to complain. I would certainly complain.

The majority of taxi drivers are good, but as in any profession, there are arses and twats too.

Original poster
Zenana · 15/09/2023 12:24

watcherintherye · 15/09/2023 12:23

He was in the wrong and behaved horribly. It’s obvious he wasn’t listening to you and doesn’t know the city he’s taxiing around well enough. The University of York has a city centre site as well as the main campus. He ought to know that.

Exactly. I told him that. I didn't make it clear in my OP as @hanahsaunt pointed out but I told him twice where I was going.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zenana · 15/09/2023 12:25

@Topseyt123 he drove off before I could pay. Thank goodness it was daylight.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 15/09/2023 12:27

Did you get the taxi from outside the station? It will probably be on CCTV and you can track down the taxi and report him to whoever he is employed by. He should be licensed by the council so report to them too.

Fullspectrum · 15/09/2023 12:27

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

CalistoNoSolo · 15/09/2023 12:28

This is why I always use uber if I need a taxi. I don't trust taxi drivers at all, Christopher Halliwell was a taxi driver. I hope you're OK @Zenana , things like this are just horrible to deal with, and guaranteed he wouldn't have behaved like this if you'd been male.

FarEast · 15/09/2023 12:29

The main campus is out of the city centre. You needed to say “Kings Manor”

Original poster
Zenana · 15/09/2023 12:30

Needmorelego · 15/09/2023 12:27

Did you get the taxi from outside the station? It will probably be on CCTV and you can track down the taxi and report him to whoever he is employed by. He should be licensed by the council so report to them too.

Thanks for that. How do I start to find out how to do this, contact the station?

OP posts:
Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 15/09/2023 12:31

Bet he drove off before you could get his number (driver badge, taxi licence plate or vehicle's registration number) - did you manage to get any of these?
If so, please report him to the Taxi Licensing Team
https://www.york.gov.uk/TaxiComplaints

Make a complaint about a taxi – City of York Council

Contact our Licensing Team to make a complaint about a York taxi or private hire vehicle or driver.

https://www.york.gov.uk/TaxiComplaints

Original poster
Zenana · 15/09/2023 12:31

FarEast · 15/09/2023 12:29

The main campus is out of the city centre. You needed to say “Kings Manor”

I did. Twice. Even if I never said that at all his behaviour is inexcusable.

OP posts:
Topseyt123 · 15/09/2023 12:32

Zenana · 15/09/2023 12:19

@NigellaAwesome he drove away before I could pay.

Well, that's good that you didn't actually pay him, though doesn't help much with the process of reporting a twat.

It makes me wonder how dodgy he is, and think that you might have just about dodged a bullet here (because he didn't want to do anything that would give you any details to go on).

Call the police on their 101 number and describe the incident to them using any details you can remember (where and when you were picked up, type and colour of the car if you can recall it). They might be aware of any similar incidents in the area and be trying to build up as wide a picture as possible in order to act.

DramaAlpaca · 15/09/2023 12:33

How awful, I'm sorry you had to experience that. Hope you're OK.

Topseyt123 · 15/09/2023 12:36

Zenana · 15/09/2023 12:30

Thanks for that. How do I start to find out how to do this, contact the station?

Show quote history

If there is a ticket office or any sort of information office there then I would start with them when you get back there. Otherwise, perhaps any station staff?

Original poster
Zenana · 15/09/2023 12:36

Thanks Nigella I'll call the police. I've also identified the taxi company.

OP posts:
Topseyt123 · 15/09/2023 12:40

Zenana · 15/09/2023 12:36

Thanks Nigella I'll call the police. I've also identified the taxi company.

Call both.

If the taxi company is a generally decent one then they need to know about a rogue driver. They might even have some suspicions but not yet any evidence.

ohbuggar · 15/09/2023 12:41

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

YorkshireTeaCup · 15/09/2023 12:44

CalistoNoSolo · 15/09/2023 12:28

This is why I always use uber if I need a taxi. I don't trust taxi drivers at all, Christopher Halliwell was a taxi driver. I hope you're OK @Zenana , things like this are just horrible to deal with, and guaranteed he wouldn't have behaved like this if you'd been male.

York City Council had banned Uber at one point. I havent taken a taxi in York for a while as we usually prebook with our village taxi driver, so not sure if they got their licence back, but it might not necessarily have been an alternative option in this case.

CalistoNoSolo · 15/09/2023 12:47

I didn't know that, to protect the 'legitimate' taxi firms presumably? Uber is so much safer because each ride is tracked start to finish. If taxi firms were obliged to do so I might have more faith in the drivers.