Taxi Driver Online

January 21, 2008 Monday

Cabbies accused of driving up night fares

Richmond And Twickenham Times

Revellers claim black cab fares home from a borough station soar above official tariffs, putting them off jaunts into town.

Whitton residents who miss the last train home from Waterloo are forced to catch a train to Richmond and then take a black cab to their front doors.

But John Rowles, of Hospital Bridge Road, said the £30 he was regularly charged by cabbies is way above figures quoted on the Transport for London (TfL) website for his journey.

Mr Rowles said: "Missing the last train is a very expensive mistake to make. I decided to check what the official tariffs should be, and was shocked to see that they should be no more than £19. Thus there is something very dodgy going on at the Richmond taxi rank."

After polling friends in Ham, Teddington and Sheen, he discovered many of them also thought they were being charged more than the official rate from Richmond station.

Mr Rowles added: "We also discussed how it put us off visiting shows and going out in London at weekends."

A Public Carriage Office (PCO) spokesperson said: "All licensed London taxis are fitted with meters which calculate fares, and tariffs vary according to the time of day.

"Taxi fares in the evenings and late at night were increased in 2001 to encourage more drivers to work at these times, improving the safe travel options available to support London's late-night economy.

"Where passengers feel they have received poor service we would urge them to note down the vehicle registration or the taxi licence number, and report the problem to the PCO on 0845 300 7000."
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Once again another clown who's reading those helpful notices with estimated fares . . at RATE 1

There's a clue in the story . . missed last train . . I guess that'll be into Rate 3 territory then . . . plus the two fare increases since the 'handy' notices were put up on totem poles at the rank.

[edited by admin] up and brewery . .

Richmond station to hospital bridge road, Whitton is 4.2 miles.

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Grandad,

But is it inside the MPD?

SO GBC, I PRESSUME YOU WILL BE VOTING FOR KEN THEN, AS HE IS THE MAN WHO HAS GIVEN YOU LICENCE TO FLEECE CUSTOMERS NO MATTER WHAT POLITICAL LEANINGS THEY HAVE

Who gives a toss. £19 for 4.2 miles is bad enough £30 is a total rip off.

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Grandad,

Hay grandad if thats a rip off what about your limo at £150 a hour

bollox hes given us nothing only a pain in the arse

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FORUMS ARE A GOOD PLACE TO LET OFF STEAM ! DONT TAKE LIFE TO SERIOUSLY ..

And a 50% pay rise late at night.

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IDFIMH

AS HE ? I DONT THINK ITS FIFTY IF YOU WORK IT OUT PROPERLY? MY CUKOO MUST RUN DIFFRENT TO WHAT YOU ARE TOLD, PLUS THE ADDED BONUS OF A EXHAUST THAT DOESNT WORK AND TWO INPECTIONS A YEAR WELL THAT EQUATES TO NAFF ALL MUSH EVERYONE OUTSIDE LONDON THINKS WE ALL EARN 2000 A WEEK....ALL MUPPETS

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FORUMS ARE A GOOD PLACE TO LET OFF STEAM ! DONT TAKE LIFE TO SERIOUSLY ..

I remember a coup[le of years ago being told by our LO about an investigation he had to carry out in grantham after someone took a cab from the rank there down to the other side of London the fare came to £240 and a complaint had been received and on the face of it it seemed a bit high until it was discovered that the journey was in the early hours of the morning a fact which the customer had failed to point out in his written complaint or when asked by the LO over the phone !

Oh look, another dual identity.

How unusual.

50% !! How do you work that out?

It appears I got it wrong, it was 60%.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/arti ... article.do

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IDFIMH

Well, that goes to show how little you know.