Taxi Driver Online

Only this time it was me.

Lutons a [edited by admin] hole, I avoid it like the plague, but thats also my nearest airport and where EasyJet fly to Edinburgh from, sad but true.

Tonights flight return, in true Easy Jet style was delayed by three and a half hours. Terrific.

So my arranged lift was out the window, so a Luton Taxi was the order of the day.

As I walk up the rank, I greeted by an Ali G lookalike Asian driver complete with hat who asks if I want 'a taxi innit?'

So off we go, in TX2 license no75, with the driver using a sat nav of course. He drove like a [edited by admin] all the way there, I wasn't aware Tx2's could go 80 on the A505 up a hill, but there you go.

I was pleasantly surprised at the meter drop only being a couple of quid, then the £2.10 extra went on as we left the airport.

Ok, probably for the barrier, but I'll check the fare chart at the end.

As we enter my village, he misses the entrance to my street, so he stops. and then whilst reversing he manages to put the extras up to £3.

So I introduce myself, and ask him to explain why driving onto my street merits another 90p?

The usual lack of english kicks in, the fare chart shows no extras other than radio booking, sickness cleans etc, now't about barrier fees, and the fare chart is dated from 2009.

'Its a new charge, innit' he claims.

No problem, get a new f'ing fare chart and I'll pay it.

So he gets the legal amount on the meter, which was only £29. I would have given him £35 if he hadn't tried the fast one.

I'll be phoning my mate who drives a Hitchin Taxi next time.

I'll also be submitting a complaint to Luton Licensing dept, that is of course if I can find anyone there that speaks English, innit.

FFS.

I have a feeling that there are two tariffs in Luton; one for Luton Town and another for Luton Airport.

And I ain't joking.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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There is, and its on the Luton Borough Councils website.

But it still doesn't say 'owt about any extras for barrier charges, innit.

I note that you didn't query the extras that were put on at the airport until you arrived home. Was this because you thought he may have offloaded you there and then?

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Grandad,

You must.

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IDFIMH

He could have done, then I would have had the choice of the other 89 taxis sitting there twiddling their thumbs. Who knows, I may have found an honest one amongst them?

Always strike at the optimum moment.

Done.

Because:

People get off the plane at Luton and see a line of Black Cabs.

Then they get ripped off, probably by Ali G who tried with me.

Then they get off in London at a later date and see a line of Black Cabs and tar us with the same brush.

GBC why did you not go along the rank and get quotes,
You don't have to take the 1st cab from any rank

why didnt you ask for a price (probably knowing £30 was about right?)

mind you, if you will use hackneys......

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I wasn't worried about the cost whether it was £30 or £50.

It was the fact he added the extras.

I've more to do with my life than walk up and down taxi ranks asking for quotes.

like blogging about the extras on TDO?....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Went out for a meal a few weeks ago and decided to get a cab back home from Mansfield to our house which clocks £9-£10 depending on traffic and traffic lights, I always shove them £16, most of them know me during my time living and workng in Mansfield.

I get into the 1st cab (Asian) as I did some of the other lads were shouting me asking how I was? I told the driver where I was going, he put the meter on etc etc, he turned the wrong way off the rank which meant he had to go round the ring road, I aksed him why he was going this way??

When we get to our house there's £14 on the clock due to him going the longest way round.

I inform him that it's only £10 in the daytime in all the traffic and I will not pay the £14 you have on the clock. I asked him for his badge number, took the licence number of the motor which was on the windscreen and informed him that I will be speaking the Chris Rowlson head of licensing first thing in the morning.

He asked in very bad English, "how do you know Chris Rowlson"? I said, "after driving Taxis in Manfield for the best part of 15 years you get to know people", do you still want to charge me £14 for going the long way round?

I gave him what it clocks which is £9 on a straight run through with no traffic.

When the missus got out of the car I had a word in his cannister, they were, "if you want to make enemies in this trade go the long way round, you won't last 5 minutes" but don't do it to an ex Mansfield Taxi Driver, comprende?

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Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Believe me, don't get Mercury X2

You never know who you might have in the back of your taxi.

A few years ago I took a chap up to the Castle during the Christmas Market. Some drivers were well known for running off the meter. I always put the meter on. The meter at the time was a taxitronic, and for some reason was programmed to show the speed where the extras are displayed, when used. So for this fare, there were no extras.

When he paid, he asked me what the numbers running up and down from 0 to 30 were all about. I told him it was the speed of the cab.

He said "thats interesting, never seen that before, and I'm a vehicle examiner with the public carriage office."

That would have been really interesting had he got into an off the meter cab.

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Former taxi driver

One thing I have noticed, if you know the driver (especially if they are asian) they don't tend to charge you at all. Or if it's a long journey, they ask for very little. In leeds there is a yearly concert called Party in the Park. I went last year and transport was a little eventful !

I booked Amber out from Leeds.English fella turned up within 5 mins. Cost me £8. Fab Service. Nice chatty driver.

Coming back I booked Amber, told 10 minutes, I received my ringback, rang amber too see where he was and they told me "Oh he'll be five minutes away". About 15 minutes later I got tired of waiting, rang amber to see what was going on, apparently I'd been no fared. Decided against them sending me another one so I rang Roadrunners, Was told 10 minutes, 20 minutes later and a few phone calls later there was no sign of him so I approached one that was sat there. He said £15 to Leeds. So I questioned whether it was on the meter or not. Thats where his english broke down and he seemed to have no idea what I was on about??

Eventually got fed up and called my base who are at the other side of Leeds. He came down (asian driver) and took me into Leeds, Didn't charge me and we had a right good old Chat... If you know them.. you seem to benefit.

I have this feeling Mr Skippy41 that Mr GBC can suck eggs!!

It's just a gut feeling though.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.