Taxi Driver Online

South London man boycotts taxi company after they 'added £6 to his fare' on trip to Gatwick Airport

A South London man has lashed out at a taxi firm after they added £6 to his pre-booked fare on a trip to Gatwick Airport. The Crystal Palace man shared his experience on Facebook where he said he was charged £65, rather than the agreed price of £59, because one of the company's taxis had broken down.

He wrote: "Clockhouse Cars - very disappointed. Booked a taxi at an agreed price of £59 and charged £65. Queried and was told the additional charge was due to one of their cars breaking down, so the additional fee was because they had subcontracted job out.

"Never left a review on anything before but wanted to warn others as seems very strange that as a customer you are charged for something out of your control. I did call the office but was told sorry that's what happens if one of their cars has broken down. Bad customer service, no prewarning of price increase. Will be giving my hard earned pennies to another taxi company in future."

Crystal Palace residents piled in to give their advice, with one resident writing: "Always use Clockhouse but that's a bit off surely they should have honoured the quoted price or at least have told you. Hope you didn't give him a tip."

Another said: "Really bad and doesn't sound right. Am sure minicabs have an Ombudsman so maybe take it up with them if you don't get anywhere with firm's manager. (My dad used to work for a minicab firm and this would never have occurred at their company)." Others just suggested he should have refused to pay as he only brought the cash they had agreed to.

A spokesman for Clockhouse cars explained the man had used the service during national train strikes when the firm was under pressure, not looking to make extra money, and get as many customers home as possible. He described the trading environment as "incredibly difficult", but insisted the company was trying its best.

He said: "We work to the max. When something like a breakdown happens our choice is to leave the customer - which we don't do where we can help it - or use another subcontractor and that's very difficult on a strike day. We did our best for that person, he was charged less than 10 per cent. I understand if that passenger feels aggrieved if he paid 10 per cent extra, but we are a company trying to do our best."

As a gesture of goodwill, Clockhouse Cars told MyLondon they would offer to refund the man the disputed £6.

_________________
IDFIMH

I often wonder if all firms are managed by buffoons (yes I know that's not actually the case).

Why would you pi** off a punter for £6? Which you offered to give it back in the end anyway.

_________________
IDFIMH

Maybe just a case of crossed wires between Clockhouse Cars and the sub-contractor.

In fact, it was stuff like this that made me decide twenty years ago that I'd never work for another office. I mean, you'd get work passed on from other offices, and wouldn't be told that a price had been agreed, and it just led to confusion and conflict.

And even proprietors and controllers would agree an off-meter price with punters, but wouldn't think fit to tell you

Obviously a slow news day in London, though.