Letters Hampshire Chronicle 4:39pm Thursday 8th October 2009
SIR — My daughter and four friends rang for a taxi in the early hours of a Friday morning from Winchester Station to bring them home to Ropley, with a drop-off in Alresford.
A fare of £35 was agreed, and cash asked for up front.
This was complied with, but after two males were dropped in Alresford, the taxi driver demanded a further £12 to continue the journey. The meter was reading £25.
The three girls did not have any more cash, and asked to be dropped as far as the £35 would take them.
This was on the roundabout at Ropley, the main A31, at 3am.
They felt vulnerable, unsafe, and cold walking the mile or so home.
Making enquiries to the taxi firm who accepted the fare, they were asked for the licence plate, taxi driver’s licence number, and description of the taxi, and driver. Unfortunately, the passengers had not taken down any of the above, and I have to say, I never have either.
It isn’t a police or British Transport Police matter, as it was outside the station from where they made the call.
CCTV footage was requested, but at that time of night, it is trained on the registry offices.
Winchester City Council, who issue the taxi companies with their licences, have been very helpful, but unable to confirm who the driver was, without my daughter going out late at night with them to try and identifying the driver. This is not viable.
The taxi company deny they ever accepted the fare.
So, my advice to avoid this happening to others, take down the licence numbers, and ask for a receipt for the fare.
What happened that night was totally unacceptable.
Mrs J Harris.
GBC wrote
Quote:
If it's a Welwyn / Hatfield Taxi, you'll need an interpreter.
Driver here must be his brother, uncle, cousin.....
But then again he did comply with their request.....
But then again.....
SIR — In reply to the the dispute over a taxi fare (Chronicle letters, October 8th), it seems to me that the driver did not cover the diversion to Alresford and found that he undercharged which would have partly been his fault.
This can sometimes happen as I know only too well that customers don’t always tell the driver that they want to do a divert, and then expect the driver to do it for the agreed fare.
If that was the case and the journey did not go straight to where they said they wanted to go — Ropley — then the fare would have been around the £35 mark.
If the driver had already agreed on the fare knowing a diversion to Alresford before leaving, then he should not have asked for more, nor did he have to run his meter.
If the potential customer is young, I personally tend to ask if they have enough money to cover their fare.
If not, they visit a cash machine before going or on the way, or contact their parents before leaving to agree a payment on arrival.
Whilst not accusing the passengers in this particular dispute because I am not aware of the full circumstances, in my experience some young people can be thoughtless when out late at night, so should always have a game plan to get home.
Being a full time cabbie and Hackney licensed in Winchester, I and other drivers have to put up with a lot of abuse at night from people not having enough to pay the metered fare, or not paying their fares, being aggressive, shouting and screaming abuse at the driver, and threatening all sorts, including physical attack when a fare disagreement arises.
When the present economic climate is such, and the city council has licensed too many taxis, it’s hardly surprising that this kind of thing happens.
Have found out since the driver was not English.......
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