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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Rude, invasive taxi driver. AIBU to report?

214 replies

breadinthemicrowaveornothing · 22/01/2024 21:46

I booked a taxi and to cut a long story short, didn't need it anymore

It turned up at my house. I had cancelled - they send out a taxi which goes a bit like this

'Thank you for booking A&B taxis. Your driver is on the way. Send CANCEL to cancel your booking'

And I sent cancel. To which an automated response of 'you have cancelled your taxi, etc etc' came through

The driver seemed to be sat there for a few minutes and I wasn't prepared. So I hoped he'd get the message (both literal and physical) that I didn't need the taxi. He was waiting some more and then stormed over the the front door! Could see from my doorbell recording app

He banged on the door and I didn't answer. He then shouted 'I know you're in there! I can see you peaking Angry'

I didn't respond and remained silent. He opened my door! And stepped into the house. He then shouted 'TAXI!'

I was terrified and thought about calling the police. I locked the living room door. I heard some foot steps and then the street door slam. I went out and bolted it straight away, having seen him leave via my Ring camera

Do I report this? To the police or just the taxi firm?

OP posts:
Ladyj84 · 22/01/2024 22:11

And sorry lol you will go to the effort of reporting him but wouldn't say you had cancelled and saved the grief

Flamango · 22/01/2024 22:11

Could he have been a bit concerned about your safety? Your behaviour really wasn’t normal. Maybe he thought you were trying to leave the house and being prevented?

janeintheframe · 22/01/2024 22:11

Bex5490 · 22/01/2024 22:08

Maybe OP was scared to go out in case he got angry and clearly she had a point.

I would have gone out and told him by I know people that wouldn’t - like my grandma who’s old and gets freaked out by speaking to strangers in an unplanned situation.

He sounds like a knob. I’d tell the taxi firm ❤️

He wasn’t remotely angry before she did what she did. And she was comfortable enough to order a cab which I assume she intended to use when she booked it. And if she had cancelled, which I assume she hadn’t, she could easily have simply shown him.

Lacyy · 22/01/2024 22:13

It's worth reporting to your local council licensing department. Even if he hadn't got the cancellation notification it's no excuse for his first interaction with you to be so aggressive.

Mitsky · 22/01/2024 22:14

It is utterly bizarre that when you saw him pull up you didn’t pop outside after a couple of minutes and just say ‘really sorry, I’ve actually cancelled you but I guess it hasn’t come through to you yet - wanted to let you know’

and then it’s also utterly bizarre you leave your door open for anyone to come in.

Haydenn · 22/01/2024 22:15

breadinthemicrowaveornothing · 22/01/2024 22:03

If he could see me then why would he think a respectable looking woman would be pranking him? He didn't see a teenage boy

Show quote history

You didn’t look respectable. You were peaking through the curtains at a taxi you knew that you’d cancelled?

Maverickess · 22/01/2024 22:16

Well no, he shouldn't have come into your house but if you really were that 'respectable' you'd have a) cancelled before the text telling you it was on the way and b) at least answered the door when he knocked or gone out when you saw him arriving and said you'd cancelled.

He didn't know you'd cancelled, clearly, so he was trying to let you know that the taxi you booked was there for you. His method was unacceptable I agree, by coming into the house but you could have prevented that by even opening a window and responding to him.

Whining about him knocking at the front door to let you know the service you ordered is there is ridiculous. The only issue is that he opened the door and stepped into the house.

Original poster
breadinthemicrowaveornothing · 22/01/2024 22:19

I think what I did prior to him coming into my house isn't relevant

I wasn't rude. I didn't harm anyone or hurt him. But he came into my actual house! Madness

I know I should've just said but none of that is an excuse surely

I'm baffled but probably won't complain now

OP posts:
janeintheframe · 22/01/2024 22:20

breadinthemicrowaveornothing · 22/01/2024 22:19

I think what I did prior to him coming into my house isn't relevant

I wasn't rude. I didn't harm anyone or hurt him. But he came into my actual house! Madness

I know I should've just said but none of that is an excuse surely

I'm baffled but probably won't complain now

Of course it was rude not to tell him. Unbelievably so. And then peaking from behind the curtains and from where he could see you. Unutterably rude, he was there doing his job, a service you requested. Common courtesy to tell him you’d cancelled.

except you didn’t cancel did you. That’s why you were hiding.

SallyWD · 22/01/2024 22:23

He was clearly very irritated and understandably so. He shouldn't have stepped in to the house.
However, like others I find your behaviour bizarre. The second I saw him outside I would have realised he didn't get the cancellation message and I would have told him I'd tried to cancel. It's strange and rather rude to leave him sitting there in the hope he'd disappear. This is his livelihood and time is money. It's also strange to not answer the door and explain what happened when he knocked. Your behaviour was rude. I'm an anxious person too but I would always be polite to someone in this situation.

Itslegitimatesalvage · 22/01/2024 22:23

breadinthemicrowaveornothing · 22/01/2024 22:19

I think what I did prior to him coming into my house isn't relevant

I wasn't rude. I didn't harm anyone or hurt him. But he came into my actual house! Madness

I know I should've just said but none of that is an excuse surely

I'm baffled but probably won't complain now

You were extremely rude. You also looked like you were taking the piss out of him. If you want other people to admit their mistakes then you need to admit your own. You were very rude.

myusernamewastakenbyme · 22/01/2024 22:24

Im flabbergasted that the op still thinks she is in the right....you wasted the drivers time and petrol and yet you are annoyed that he opened your door and shouted 'taxi'......yeah why dont you report him and get him fired aswell....fucking unbelievable !!!

MercanDede · 22/01/2024 22:28

You acted like a mentally unwell woman afraid to get in the taxi she ordered or to send it away. I wouldn’t be surprised if the driver hasn’t done an adult social services referral.

Throwawayme · 22/01/2024 22:29

I'd have answered, apologised and explained I'd tried to cancel and given him a fiver since you'd wasted his time and petrol.

EmmaEmerald · 22/01/2024 22:29

OP look at it from his perspective

Cab drivers have to deal with all sorts

Pranksters, people who got drunk and forgot they called a cab

He saw you peeking and might have thought that you hadn't twigged he was your cab

I agree he shouldn't have entered, but he probably has to prove to the firm that he tried properly before driving off. And the type who is hammered or on drugs probably leave their door unlocked...so he entered and shouted "taxi".

Btw why on earth is your door unlocked?!

Nazzywish · 22/01/2024 22:29

You were the one in the wrong here. You should've gone out and told him sorry I've cancelled and he'd have been on his merry way not wasting his time. Instead you acted like a childish idiot hiding behind a curtain. Like WTH.
Sometimes if it's a old person or vulnerable fair etc a cabbie my need to help ao he probably thought it all abit weird and took a snoop to check ur OK. Not right but def not something he should lose his taxi license over.

BrainInAJar · 22/01/2024 22:31

<waves to all the Tattle users who will find this thread absolute GOLD>

They often refer to MNetters who spend their time "sobbing and shaking". Looks like we've caught a live one here!

Agree, you should have given the poor bloke a £5 and an apology.

LuluBlakey1 · 22/01/2024 22:32

Why is your front door open for anyone to walk in? Are you mad? Ours is always closed at least with the yale lock and sometimes with the mortice lock as well. I never want to feel just anyone could open the door and walk in.

owlsinthedaylight · 22/01/2024 22:34

When you say “he opened the door and stepped into the house” … did he?

I don’t know why but I am picturing one of those Victorian porch arrangements where the outer door is left wide open and the inner door closed. If so, where we are, it’s not that unusual for someone to open the inner door to shout if you haven’t heard them. Particularly if you have ordered a service and are obviously in the house.

So did you actually see him enter the house, to the extent that you then were face to face with him in the hallway and ran to the living room, or did he just open the door to shout?

TinkerTiger · 22/01/2024 22:35

Oh, another Mumsnetter who doesn't answer the door.

Nazzywish · 22/01/2024 22:37

She's obviously mad. She didn't even bother the courtesy of telling him she cancelled and hid behind the curtain.says it all really. Poor bloke wasted his time, petrol and loss of other fare for this total nutter. No wonder he walked in probably to check on her because she was acting so strange by not even going to the door to say its cancelled. Just so unbelievably rude it defies belief that she'd think she's right!

SisterMichaelsHabit · 22/01/2024 22:37

You're anxious but leave your door unlocked? 🤔
Riiiiiight.

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 22/01/2024 22:37

You're so anxious you leave your front door unlocked? There's your problem.

Your actions before are relevant too. As you were acting oddly.

He may well have been concerned you were in trouble and came in to check. Before realising you were some oddball who couldn't just open a window and say "sorry mate, I've cancelled you. Must not have come through yet. Sorry!"

WitsHaveEnded · 22/01/2024 22:38

Are you quite alright, OP? You clearly cancelled without enough notice for him to be notified on his end. Opening your unlocked door, explaining that you're sorry but you had cancelled and wishing him a good day would have prevented ALL of this. I'm not condoning him stepping foot in your house but taxi drivers deal with some horrible shite, and you not being able to adult is not his issue. Anxiety or not, you were rude and just as weird.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 22/01/2024 22:39

Fucking hell, when did mumsnetters get so wet.

Clearly he didn't get the message, it would have been polite of you to go out and tell him you'd cancelled. He's potentially lost out on other fares because he didn't get the message and you decided to not tell him but peek out the window, making it look like you were taking the piss.

No he shouldn't have stepped into your house (although I doubt your rendition and expect he opened the door and shouted in rather than stepped into your house). But you know what, leave your front door unlocked and you risk people being able to walk in.

No I wouldn't report but I can't imagine I'd ever get in a similar position. I mean, a taxi knocked on my door a couple of weeks ago, it was a chaperone sent by the LA and they'd given him the wrong number. I still opened the door and told him that rather than just ignoring and hoping he went away.