Would you complain to the taxi company about this driver?

[onthepier]

As a non-driver, I use our local taxi company quite regularly for transporting supermarket shopping, taking the kids to after school clubs and sometimes to travel back from work, (sharing with a colleague), if I'm on a late shift.

Most of the drivers are lovely, some like to chat, some just drive you from A to B and take payment with a polite goodbye. Both are fine with me.

There is one driver though who I find very difficult. We only have him every couple of months as the company employs many drivers. Every time he takes us though he seems to want to discuss my non-driving status and challenges me about it, talking over me and laughing when I say I've had lessons years ago, found it v difficult and decided not to continue. I'm happy not driving btw, public transport suits us fine! It's "Why, why, why?" the whole journey and doesn't seem to take my responses for an answer. His conversation opener is always, "Booked any driving lessons yet? No? Tut tut!" I have three children who are normally with me at these times and I don't particularly want them (or my colleague) to hear how I struggled with driving lessons! I realise it seems unusual not to drive when you have three dc's, especially as money isn't the issue as they're quite expensive taxi fares!

Even when one of the dc's says something to me and I answer, this driver is either talking over them or asking what I said, "Pardon? I didn't hear what you said, oh you're talking to your CHILDREN!" The other day he seemed to want to get into a political discussion, I was only giving him one word answers as my two year old was trying to wriggle through the car seat straps which obviously I was trying to stop! He then ranted about that, commenting on how young people today have no political views and started tutting!

Do you think it's over the top to phone this company and point out I don't feel comfortable with this driver, I don't want to use him again but am happy with all the others? Obviously this driver knows where we live and he's such a forceful personality I wouldn't be surprised if he called round if he knew I'd put in a complaint. What would you do?

He sounds like a complete pain in the arse but unless he's actually done or said something awful I wouldn't complain....but then I'm a bit of a chicken...

Could you have a quiet word with him out of DCs' earshot? He'll probably be shocked - IME these sort of people are so out of tune with others that they think other people are enjoying the 'banter'

I get driven to work for very early starts and have had some cringeworthy political/personal/mental 'chats' early in the morning when all I want to do is sit in silence.

Not sure he's overstepped any mark that would be worth complaining about. What would that achieve? Only acrimonious silence if he ever picks you up again.

I think you just need to deal with this yourself. A cab firm (not sure who it is) is unlikely to arrange it so they never send you that driver -- unless he's done something out of order.

I'm actually very glad the elections are over. During the run-up to Election Day, every taxi driver had strident views and thought that I was so very interested in them! Very annoying.

There was one particular incident when I was in a taxi with my Nigerian neighbour, and the driver went off on a spiel about how immigrants should not be allowed and they should all go back to where they came from. I squirmed the whole way. At the destination, he took the fare from my friend without even blinking an eyelid. It's like he didn't actually connect his rantings with the man sitting in the back of his car! Weird fellow

In your case, sadly you can't actually complain unless he's said something offensive. Being unnecessarily chatty is not an offence (even though it should be!)

I can fully sympathise as generally only get taxis when I'm too exhausted to bother with public transport, and very rarely want to chat. This guy seems EXTREMELY annoying though. I have asked drivers (as nicely as I can) if they mind if we don't chat as I'm exhausted. They can get a bit huffy but most understand. Maybe that's the solution - point out that he's asked you about the driving lessons before and it's getting old, or ask if he minds not chatting.
Alternatively, when you call up and book your cab, you can always specify that you'd rather not have xx please. They'll soon get to know that you don't want him after you've called up a few times (I would assume that you're quite a valued and recognised customer by now!).
If you're having this experience with him, there's a very good chance that someone else is also (or, more likely, many other people!). The cab company may even take the initiative and have a word in his shell-like once they've clocked on...
Good luck.

I'd tell the driver you don't want to chat first, before complaining to the company.

Get some big ear phones and put them on?

I feel your pain. I had to listen to a taxi drivers former life memories once. Even when he'd pulled up at my house he kept going on about it. I'd had a long day, was just going to make it in time for childrens goodnights, and he wanted to tell me about when he was a bomber pilot. I must work on my SHUT THE F UP expression, its obviously to close to my HOW JOLLY INTERESTING expression....

You can't complain! He's annoying but not being rude or provocative or scary or anything.

You need to stop being polite and answer him in monosyallables and ignore him. He is probably on autowitter and won't notice whether anyone is actually joining in with him or not.

Cab drivers are famous for this, aren't they?

Or what rewardgirl says simply ask the cab firm for a different driver when you book the cab.

Thanks for your suggestions, I won't speak to the taxi company at the moment, but if I get this driver again and he starts on about driving I'll just tell him we've been through it before, it's his conversation opener every time I see him and I'm finding it irritating.

I think he's the type you need to be very assertive with and I suppose I do find him intimidating. I need to get the message over that I'm paying for a service, not a grilling about my lifestyle,

Funnily enough the one time my dh was with me in his taxi as we were coming home from a night out, this driver didn't say anything, and I mean NOTHING at all! The next time he drove me I was on my own and he started, "Your husband doesn't look anything like I expected, where does he work etc etc, doesn't he get on to you about driving lessons?" Arghh!!

Learn to drive then no more taxi driver

Offer him £2 less than the fare.
When he pulls you up, say in a jokey way
'It's a tip, to me. I had to listen to you the whole journey. hah hah'

then give him the £2, look him in the eye and say

'you think im joking. dont you'

Ask him if he mithers all his fares the way he mithers you.

'hey mate. does your gob ever get tired'

'hah ha , no'

'well my fucking ears do'

Say, you're right, I should start driving lessons again, anything so I don't have to waste money LISTENING TO YOU!!!!!

Sorry but I really think you should call the cab company and tell them in no uncertain terms that you dont want him driving you any more. You are paying them for a service and life is too short to put up with this. If he was being just chatty and friendly then that is one thing but this is clearly making you feel fed up and a put upon. If you dont feel up to it then perhaps there is another cab co in your area a friend could recommend?

I think if you complain to the company you would make yourself look silly.

Better to deal with it by letting him know how much he annoys you. E.g. next time he asks about driving lessons say you are seriously considering it now because it would be better than having to listen to him being a pain in the arse.

Just say "don't want to put yet another car on the already congested roads, I'm now going to take my halo out of my handbag and give it a good polish whilst I enjoy a nice peaceful ride"

I used to dread being picked up by "pervy Ken" from my local cab firm in Crystal Palace. I had an arm in a sling for 6 months and had cabs paid by work. He would deliberately take me the speedbumps route and drive fast over them to see my 38H knockers bounce around in my bra. When I sat in the back he would move the mirror the filthy git.

I mentioned to another lovely cab driver (big Dave) and he had a word with the office about my account. Pervy Ken never clapped eyes on my bad boys again.