Taxis refusing to pick me up!

[Evo20]

In the last few months I have on multiple occasions been refused licensed black cabs for… vague reasons.

Today three black cabs refused to take me (sober!), pouring rain, a couple of female friends with me. All three taxis claimed to be waiting for
other people. All drove off after id been waiting for ‘too long’ ie they could no longer justify not collecting me.

I have never had this issue until this year - and it is suddenly becoming a problem! Always alone or
with female friends - often they won’t even stop.

Am I unique in this problem? It is a real challenge in an environment where you rely on cabs, and frankly makes late evenings quite dangerous if drivers ignore you.

That’s so strange, OP - fortunately I haven’t had this issue!

Agree with you that Uber has become un-usable, but FreeNow is pretty good and has an option to book a black cab. The black cabs I order on FreeNow usually arrive within 1-3 minutes unless there is a really extreme situation (e.g. a big storm or World Cup finals with England playing).

Gett is another option for black cabs, however, they sometimes stick on as much as £15 surcharge during busy times, which is more and more often - it’s not as good as it used to be. And 100% of the surcharge goes to the app, not the cabbie.

I've lived in London for decades and am really confused by your post. Flagging down a taxi used to be the norm but nowadays it's far more common to use Uber or Bolt. I haven't flagged down a taxi in years. At work we pre-book black cabs using the Gett app. My friends and family and I use pre-booking apps to get taxis in London all the time so I find it really strange that you're saying people don't do this in London.

Another thing... I've never, ever had a taxi driver refuse to take me south of the river. I'm not saying it never happens, but I haven't actually heard of it happening so it seems like an urban myth to me.

Really? I use it quite often, and have never had an issue - longest wait has been 5 minutes or so.

It seems very unusual that 3 refused! Was anyone in the group drunk?

In my area most clock off about 9-10 then come back on shift at midnight. Because they get paid more especially working on the rank. They have agreed a few times to run us up to hospital when DD has injured herself. (Difficult to control epilepsy) I stick to the same taxi firm they know their regulars.

In London and pre-booking a cab would be unusual

Huh lol? Uber, Bolt, Free Now are all reliable platforms to book a cab. Maybe just try that and get to where you need to go

No idea Op but I haven't been able to get a Bolt, Uber etc from central London for ages - it's actually left me feeling quite vulnerable many times. I thought it was a myth that black cabs couldn't refuse, but over the last year I've been refused a trip many times (going opposite direction of cabbies home etc)

Oh my word, I didn't realise Uber drivers rated us 🤣. I've just gone straight onto my app because I was thinking wtf? I'm pleased to say I'm 5*. I am in the north though, and I've only being using Uber for about two years so it could all change.

I think it's great that they can rate us too to be honest.

Is this going to be a weird drip feed about how men are worried about being accused of sexual assault when alone with women... Me Too gone too far?

Probably it won't be, but I've seen too much of that rubbish recently. The poor mens can't even do their jobs and it's now effecting us women so clearly we went too far with feminism etc

(I fully acknowledge I am likely WAY off base. Feeling cynical with MN atm)

A poster has already suggested this as the reason a cabbie in central London wouldn't pick up op and her mates poor menz

I've found Uber really unreliable the last few times I've been in London. The app says a few minutes away and then when you click book no one wants to accept the job. Also seemed to be less black cabs around.

Just use Bolt or FreeNow like a normal person. No-one hails a taxi in London anymore, it's not the 90s.

Yep - probably with a bit a racism thrown in.

Hahaha oh gosh, I knew there would be one (even if it wasn't the OP).

Men are about 230 times more likely to be raped by another man than falsely accused by a woman.

But we are the problem 😁

What do you think is going on then if you've identified this as a pattern? Do you feel its sexism/racism/disability discrimination? Do you feel you're being judged on your appearance/age/percieved respectability? Drivers clearly have preferred fares, as a 55 year old woman I know I'm preferred ahead of my 25 year old DS and his mates at 2am for example. My friend who uses a wheelchair also struggles (she can get in the car, her wheelchair just needs to go in the boot) but clearly is seen as too much trouble.

Valid point! They shouldn’t stopping in the first place.

Uber isn't as directly reliable as it used to be but either checking Bolt or paying a bit more for UberXL means I've never actually been out of options, even at 3am going from east to south-west.

I have never encountered a taxi driver who refused to go south of the river and I have never encountered one who refused to take a group of women, that's really strange.

I didn't know drivers rated users!! I just checked my profile and I am 4.76, wtf? Why? I always rate 5 stars . Pissed me right off 🙄😂

I’ve had a similar issue a few times, especially late at night or when it’s raining. One thing that helped was booking through southampton taxis https://irideuk.co.uk/ directly rather than waiting on the street or calling random numbers. Sometimes explaining your exact location clearly on the phone also helps avoid confusion or refusals.