Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers in Bangor deny they're refusing shorter fares

THERE are claims Bangor taxi drivers are refusing fares to other parts of the city at the weekend to maximise revenue. A number of city residents have complained about the alleged practice, which has seen drivers only accepting fares to Anglesey and Caernarfon, with some people claiming it’s been going on for years. But the major taxi companies have dismissed the claims, saying it’s the independent drivers who are causing any problems.

Nigel Pickavance, chairman of the People of Bangor Community Group, said: “It seems that some taxi drivers are cherry-picking their fares and only taking people back to either Caernarfon or over to Anglesey. “Apparently, it’s been going on for years, but recently one of my friends was affected so it made me sit up and take notice.

“They’re quite happy to take people around Bangor during the week, but Friday and Saturday nights, they just want the fares that will bring in the most money. “The taxis that I’ve heard about have been picking up outside the new Embassy nightclub. “They should have a system like during the day at bus stops, front taxi takes you where you want to go, not depending on how much they make. “People should name and shame the companies that do this in future.”

A number of people have made their displeasure clear about the situation on social networking website Facebook. Bangor University student Gareth Williams said: “The problem with Bangor is it’s too small to have any real competition for taxis, only of an evening does it come anywhere close to needing more but it’s not profitable for a company to only work weekend evenings.

“Question is though, why do we not have a night bus network like most other cities do? “At least for the main routes, eg Maesgeirchen, Caernarfon, Anglesey, Bethesda. “But it’s got to be reasonably priced, like it is elsewhere.” Another taxi user, Gareth Hughes, added: “A lot of Bangor day cabbies accept it (smaller fares), but those in the (railway) station and work evenings/nights can't accept it and are trying to be greedy!”

Dafydd Chubb, of Chubbs Cabs in Bangor, said taking relatively long-distance fares was “not his policy”. “If you want to go somewhere, I'll take you, no matter where it is, any time of the week,” he said. “I’ve got a list of around 500 jobs Chubbs have done on a Saturday night, and they will be all over Bangor, and other areas. “It’s possibly the one-man band taxis who will only do certain fares.”

A driver at Tryfan Cabs, who didn’t give his name, said the company would “take anyone anywhere”, and if there was a practice by other taxi companies or drivers, it was perhaps to earn extra money if they were working independently.

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IDFIMH

It goes on all over the country on a weekend night not just in Bangor, only last weekend an Asian lad on our rank refused a £4 job up the road, they came to me and asked me if I'd do it? I said yeah get in it will be the easiest £4 I've earned tonight. When they got in the car they said the Asian driver wouldn't take them because it was only a short job. When I got back to the rank he was still sat in trap one.

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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

Report him for refusing without a reasonable excuse, and as he was still there when you returned he could not say he was waiting on a fare

Skip we've tried everything with these Asian drivers but the Council won't listen, only last week one of them charged someone £38 for a £10 fare. The Council were informed and all they said was, "the customer needs to contact us". They've been contacted several times by people who've been ripped off but they don't do anything to them.

_________________
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