Taxi didn't turn up

Dinah50 · 2022-08-30T15:31:48+00:00

Taxi booked for 0445 didn't turn up. to take me to airport Office closed till 0600. Tried other firms no taxi available. No option but to drive. Parking in longstay cost £453 for 16 days. Taxi firm offering £100. What shall I do?

NewBootsAndRanty · 30/08/2022 16:32

Accept it

SunlightThroughTrees · 30/08/2022 16:34

Although incredibly frustrating for you that you’re so out of pocket through no fault of your own, I think a lot of companies wouldn’t offer you anything except an apology so I would accept it.

mrsfoof · 30/08/2022 17:13

Claim on your holiday insurance? Is there such a clause?

GetOffTheRoof · 30/08/2022 17:30

Suck it up, and claim on your holiday insurance if you can. Taxis are, sadly, never a guaranteed service IMO.

Helpmethinkofasolution · 30/08/2022 17:35

It might have been cheaper to leave it parked somewhere illegally and just face getting clamped.

Rickrollme · 30/08/2022 18:59

Uber?

prh47bridge · 30/08/2022 20:01

The money you spent parking is a consequential loss in legal terms. To successfully make a claim, you would have to show that your loss was linked to the taxi firm's failure, that you took all reasonable steps to minimise your loss and that the losses were reasonably foreseeable by the taxi firm. I think you would struggle to show your loss was reasonably foreseeable even if you could succeed on the other points, so I would accept the compensation on offer.

Mustrryharder · 30/08/2022 20:05

I'm pretty sure when you book a taxi to an airport with a a certain amount of notice, legally they are responsible for getting you there. Definitely worth some in depth googling

prh47bridge · 30/08/2022 20:38

Mustrryharder · 30/08/2022 20:05

I'm pretty sure when you book a taxi to an airport with a a certain amount of notice, legally they are responsible for getting you there. Definitely worth some in depth googling

When you pre-book a taxi, you enter into a contract with them whereby they will get you to your destination at the booked time, in return for which you will pay an agreed amount. That applies regardless of the destination and regardless of how much notice you have given. If they fail to turn up, they are in breach of contract and must return any money you have paid. In most cases, including taking you to the airport, that is the limit of their liability.

Original poster

Dinah50 · 30/08/2022 20:52

Thanks for all your replies. I did not have travel insurance it looks as if I'd better accept the £100 - this seems to be the view of most people here and elsewhere!

OP posts:

LimboLass · 30/08/2022 21:13

The money you spent parking is a consequential loss in legal terms. To successfully make a claim, you would have to show that your loss was linked to the taxi firm's failure, that you took all reasonable steps to minimise your loss and that the losses were reasonably foreseeable by the taxi firm

Was a contract formed by OP and the taxi company though?

LadyWithLapdog · 30/08/2022 21:19

That’s a lot of money for 2 weeks parking :(

averageavocado · 30/08/2022 21:24

Dinah50 · 30/08/2022 20:52

Thanks for all your replies. I did not have travel insurance it looks as if I'd better accept the £100 - this seems to be the view of most people here and elsewhere!

2 weeks away and no insurance??

Fuuuuuckit · 30/08/2022 21:26

Fuck me, £453 is more than I spent on my last holiday, there's no way I'd be paying that for parking!

Also, for 2 weeks holiday you should always take out insurance, even if it's unlikely that this scenario would be covered. Repatriation in the event of an accident plus medical costs can be ££££££££££

YukoandHiro · 30/08/2022 21:33

OP, hopefully this is a lesson for you in why you shouldn't travel without insurance. If some random incident kills you overseas your family would be stuck with the £Kkk cost of repatriating your body.

Soontobe60 · 30/08/2022 21:36

I know this won’t help, but if you had gone online before you entered the car park and booked a long stay space it would have cost you much less.

Beyondshit · 30/08/2022 21:44

No insurance! Oh my gosh. Could be worse, could've broken your neck in an accident and be facing bankruptcy.

prh47bridge · 30/08/2022 23:17

LimboLass · 30/08/2022 21:13

The money you spent parking is a consequential loss in legal terms. To successfully make a claim, you would have to show that your loss was linked to the taxi firm's failure, that you took all reasonable steps to minimise your loss and that the losses were reasonably foreseeable by the taxi firm

Was a contract formed by OP and the taxi company though?

Almost certainly yes. The taxi firm offered to take OP to the airport at a set time for a set price. OP accepted that offer. It isn't clear if OP paid up front or not, but a consideration (i.e. a price) would have been agreed. There was, therefore, a contract.

Original poster

Dinah50 · 31/08/2022 07:56

Actually although no insurance from UK i was covered for emergency medical only from SA. The only way I could have avoided the parking charge was miss the flight which would have been about £200 but i needed to arrive that day as was house sitting for relative and they were leaving that day. No time to think re online booking. Not worth hassle of small claims which I could lose........

OP posts: