Taxi Driver Online

POLICE are investigating claims a taxi advert salesman took thousands of pounds in cash but never delivered the goods. Dozens of small firms across the city say they have paid for adverts on the side of taxis but they have never appeared.

Police are investigating allegations Mark McFadden took commissions for taxi adverts, produced drafts but failed to complete the job. Officers are also looking into claims from his former employer, Adcabs taxi advertising, which allege he was cashing cheques for taxi advert deposits. Mr McFadden, from Thornliebank, is believed to have operated under the names Cab-boom, Cab Solutions and his former employer Adcabs.

Norman Markson, 59, of Normans Hair Artists in Shawlands, says he paid more than £1275 for a taxi ad last February and is still waiting for it to appear or to get a full refund. He said: "He came in last February and was very plausible. He had all the chat. He said he had left a business to set up on his own called Cab-Boom.

"He came back with drawings and to be honest it looked super. I paid around £1275 in three installments. "As the months went on, nothing was happening. He'd not answer his mobile or kept hanging up on us.
"When I did get him he kept telling me the advert would be out the next week. "I threatened him with legal action and the police have been trying to get our money back. I got one cheque for £100 and that's it."

The owner of Stalks & Stems florist in Shawlands, who does not want to be named, says she was also duped by Mr McFadden. She said: "I paid him £500 last February for an advert. By June I hadn't heard anything. I was one of the lucky ones, I know where he drinks so I cornered him and kept hassling him. I eventually got about £400 back."

Today, Mr McFadden admitted he had taken money from a number of firms, including a Glasgow tyre company, without completing the work, but insisted he was trying to repay the cash. He said: "It's not exactly the great train robbery. There are about four or five people who have not yet got the jobs they've paid for. "At the most it's about £3000. In the past I've stuck my head in the sand but as of last night I've contacted three or four of these people."

Gary Watson of AdCab taxi advertising used to employ Mr McFadden. He said: "He worked for us about 24 months ago but we got shot of him. He was cashing cheques for advert deposits. We reported it to the police." A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: "A former salesman is the subject of allegations of fraudulently obtaining business relevant to his former employers."

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