Page 2 | Terrifying taxi ride this morning

Zenana · 2023-09-15T11:12:47+00:00

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.

MissMillion · 15/09/2023 12:49

It's sounds like could have been easily confused, but it doesn't excuse his behaviour.

Shaffas · 15/09/2023 12:52

I'm a bit confused.

Not many taxi companies will let you just just jump in off the streets anymore, most have signs stating you have to call and book for insurance purposes.

If you rang for the taxi they would have details of which driver it was.

Ditto if it was a lyft/uber?

misssunshine4040 · 15/09/2023 12:55

How awful for you!! I'm so wary of taxis when I'm travelling alone. You really are vulnerable.

Are Ubers safer than taxis?

SagittariusDwarf · 15/09/2023 12:55

Shaffas · 15/09/2023 12:52

I'm a bit confused.

Not many taxi companies will let you just just jump in off the streets anymore, most have signs stating you have to call and book for insurance purposes.

If you rang for the taxi they would have details of which driver it was.

Ditto if it was a lyft/uber?

She got in at the train station. Which is totally normal procedure for train stations.

Shaffas · 15/09/2023 12:57

SagittariusDwarf · 15/09/2023 12:55

She got in at the train station. Which is totally normal procedure for train stations.

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Ah, apologies. Like a black cab? Not seen one of them in years round here!

readbooksdrinktea · 15/09/2023 12:57

How scary. Where I am, the drivers don't seem to know the city either, and some get argumentative. It's upsetting. I would have felt similar to you. Try to find out who he is and complain.

SagittariusDwarf · 15/09/2023 12:58

Shaffas · 15/09/2023 12:57

Ah, apologies. Like a black cab? Not seen one of them in years round here!

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Yeah that sort of thing! Loads of train stations have a taxi rank and you just get into the next one that's available.

sounds awful, OP :(

readbooksdrinktea · 15/09/2023 13:02

Topseyt123 · 15/09/2023 12:40

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.

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I second this.

DappledThings · 15/09/2023 13:05

Shaffas · 15/09/2023 12:57

Ah, apologies. Like a black cab? Not seen one of them in years round here!

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Doesn't have to be a black cab though. Normal car taxis generally can't and won't let you hail them from the street but but you can book them or pick one up at a taxi rank. Most stations other than small or remote ones have taxi ranks.

FLOWER1982 · 15/09/2023 13:07

Report him to your local council. He will probably get his taxi license removed . That is disgusting behaviour from him.

GinAndJuice99 · 15/09/2023 13:08

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.

'You were both at fault'. What an insane reaction.

Please do try to report this guy OP, he needs to be stopped from picking up passengers asap

CalistoNoSolo · 15/09/2023 13:08

misssunshine4040 · 15/09/2023 12:55

How awful for you!! I'm so wary of taxis when I'm travelling alone. You really are vulnerable.

Are Ubers safer than taxis?

Purely because there is so much info on the app. You can't just jump in an uber, you call one via the app. Once the driver accepts the journey is locked in and can't easily be cancelled. It's all timed and tracked on the app so you know immediately if the driver is going off piste. You then leave a review of the driver.

FLOWER1982 · 15/09/2023 13:09

My dh works in licensing and deals with this sort of thing regularly.

fuckmyuteruslining · 15/09/2023 13:10

There's only a few firms who can pick up at the station. If you had a 45 minute walk he must have been close to the university so I think that's why he was upset, he thought you were scamming him. Sounds unpleasant all round but I suspect it was an honest mistake though his reaction is unacceptable.
What confuses me though is why you hadn't looked at a map before deciding to get a taxi. I would always do that before going to an unfamiliar place especially for work. Unless you had mobility needs there's no need at all to take a taxi from the station to kings manor so I think that probably added to his confusion. U of St John is a bit further so I think he thought you meant that, then you said university of York. Whilst students and academics know KM is the city campus I don't think that's widely understood, so what he heard is this woman wants the university - which is a taxi ride away

ComputerBearToad · 15/09/2023 13:13

avoid jumping into cabs now as much as possible after similar incidents

refusing to turn meter on, not knowing how to get to a destination then getting aggressive
demanding I "give him a tip" if I couldn't pay cash
just being rude/aggressive/racist - and I'm very aware I'm stuck in his car, solo and he's in "control".

Generally a LOT worse as a woman solo. Unfortunately in an emergency "no other option".

We're a long way away from a perfectly safe society sadly.

Given the opportunity to abuse/bully a woman in a "vulnerable" position with no witnesses, a lot of men take it.

Hope you're OK OP x

fuckmyuteruslining · 15/09/2023 13:14

@GinAndJuice99 no I don't agree. I think there is some fault on both sides though that's no excuse for his abuse of the op. Her insisting she wanted the uni of York when that's where he was driving would have been very frustrating. Do you think English was his first language OP?

ThinWomansBrain · 15/09/2023 13:17

"Ah, apologies. Like a black cab? Not seen one of them in years round here!"

In London stations have queues of black cabs - larger stations outside of London generally have a couple of non-black cabs at a taxi stand

Guiltridden12345 · 15/09/2023 13:22

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.

Why are Uber drivers more trustworthy?

GrinAndVomit · 15/09/2023 13:23

fuckmyuteruslining · 15/09/2023 13:14

@GinAndJuice99 no I don't agree. I think there is some fault on both sides though that's no excuse for his abuse of the op. Her insisting she wanted the uni of York when that's where he was driving would have been very frustrating. Do you think English was his first language OP?

He knew enough English to abuse her and call her a bitch. Why are you defending this vile misogynist?

readbooksdrinktea · 15/09/2023 13:24

GrinAndVomit · 15/09/2023 13:23

He knew enough English to abuse her and call her a bitch. Why are you defending this vile misogynist?

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This!

GrinAndVomit · 15/09/2023 13:25

Guiltridden12345 · 15/09/2023 13:22

Why are Uber drivers more trustworthy?

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They’re not more trustworthy. Their movements are tracked though and you rate their service publicly.

HollaWithDaRisinSound · 15/09/2023 13:27

I had an incident with a taxi driver last week

I booked him to pick me up from A&E. And he parks around the other side of the hospital, a good 20 min walk (as it is bloody huge) ..........and then calls me to tell me to walk round to him

I explained I cannot - and even if I could, I do not see why I should because I booked you to pick me up from A&E, and he persisted and I said I can't, im immobile, I have just had my ankle put in plaster

Then he starts shouting and accuse me of being rude to him - so I gave him both fucking barrels and called him a knob

beatrix1234 · 15/09/2023 13:31

What a frightening experience OP, had I been in your shoes I would have discreetly pulled my phone and recorded the whole thing, took a picture of taxi license, car plates etc... Then ask for advice to the police,call the taxi company and make a formal complaint with all evidence. This man is clearly a threat to the public, he's not well in the head and should not be driving around people. Do not let him get away with it.

MaryEarpsTongue · 15/09/2023 13:31

fuckmyuteruslining · 15/09/2023 13:10

There's only a few firms who can pick up at the station. If you had a 45 minute walk he must have been close to the university so I think that's why he was upset, he thought you were scamming him. Sounds unpleasant all round but I suspect it was an honest mistake though his reaction is unacceptable.
What confuses me though is why you hadn't looked at a map before deciding to get a taxi. I would always do that before going to an unfamiliar place especially for work. Unless you had mobility needs there's no need at all to take a taxi from the station to kings manor so I think that probably added to his confusion. U of St John is a bit further so I think he thought you meant that, then you said university of York. Whilst students and academics know KM is the city campus I don't think that's widely understood, so what he heard is this woman wants the university - which is a taxi ride away

The OP says quite clearly that she knew she could walk it, but was running late, and that is why she decided to get a taxi. It confuses me that you read the OP and yet somehow took from it that the OP was unaware that it was walkable?

Georgeandzippyzoo · 15/09/2023 13:35

I'd definitely try and take it further. Although the station might be able to provide cctv rtc I'd still phone the council to find.out who gives the licensing etc and let them know youre trying to get more details . Explain how scary this was. The next passenger might not have the skills / confidence you did.