Taxi Driver Online

What could happen if you turn up late?

June 2000

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Newly weds sue defaulting taxi

A recently married couple appear to have made legal history by suing a taxi company whose late arrival forced them to travel to their reception by tram.

Mr and Mrs Feldman had booked a taxi to take them to the register office for their wedding four months in advance. Two days ahead of the event, they rang Trafftax, Manchester, and were assured that the vehicle would be there to pick them up. It was due at 10.45, and, despite repeated calls and assurances that the taxi was coming, it had not arrived by 11.15. By then, the couple and the bridesmaid felt obliged to accept a lift from a neighbour in a three-door hatchback, but they still had to run the last 250 yards to the register office on foot. In the meantime, the taxi had turned up, to be told by a 91-year-old neighbour that the party had left. His reaction was unprintable. At the register office, the couple had no time for photographs and, still lacking transport, made the journey to the reception on Metrolink. In its defence at Altrincham County Court, the company's director said that: "Most people are happy to spend £ 100 on a wedding car, but Mr Feldman just wanted a £ 4.50 taxi ride". The judge ruled that, as photographers, wedding car companies and vicars had been sued in the past for wedding disappointment, the taxi firm could not avoid liability. The couple were awarded £ 150 damages and £ 100 expenses. They plan to spend the money re-enacting the wedding so that photographs can be taken.
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To be honest Although i agree with the fact that this should never really of happened, this just goes to show that they should also have a back up plan just in case. This is why we have printed in our terms and conditions for people to have a back up plan in cases beyond our control thus saving us from this kind of hassle, however i dont know how you guys could implement that.

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

I know one taxi company (not mine) that was to provide a wedding car.

The car didn't turn up and the taxi company were sued for £5,500.

Simply rule, don't do weddings, leave them to the cowboys.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

And the frogs.

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IDFIMH

So people that do weddings then are cowboys hey, thats a bit harsh isn't it

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

I've done the odd wedding or two and they are a blinking night-mare.

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IDFIMH

Sometimes i would agree with you Sussex but to be fair when we do so many a year, i can honestly say that only 1 or 2 a year turn out to be a nightmare. Good money earners though

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Legal and proud

Loads a love from BERTIE !!

A few of the drivers in my manor with the better cars do them, and seem to think it's easy money.

Weddings don't really appeal to me, but each to his own.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

When people book cab's with me and ask if it will be on time, I alway's tell them that I can't gaurentee it, but will do my best.
If you say it will be on time and it isn't, you leave yourself wide open for abuse!.
When people book cab's and ask how long the journey time will be, I only give them an approx time and that it depend's on traffic/road condition's etc etc.
I get load's of people book car's to the airport's and most really cut the timing tight so they can have an extra 30 mins in bed!.
I had a woman last year book a cab to stanstead and she asked how long the journey would be, I told her approx 1 hr, she said it won't take that long and only allowed 35 mins for the journey. The car broke down on the M11(a 3 month old people carrier) and she missed her flight, she was on the phone to me going mad!. I couldn't get her another car and told her that had she of listend to me in the first place, she would'nt be in this situation. She wanted a refund for her plane ticket and I told her to swivel.

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stressed controller!!!

So if she missed the flight because of the breakdown then surely that's not her fault?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

The point I was making was if she had of listened to me and allowed an hour for her journey, I probably would have been able to get another car to pick her up, or called it out to a local company nearer the breakdown.
The seven P's apply here;

proper
planning and
preperation
prevent
p*ss
poor
performance

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stressed controller!!!

But surely if she had made it to the airport but for the car breaking down then it wasn't her fault, irrespective of the fact that her schedule was a bit tight?

You could at least blame the car

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

When I go to the airport I allow plenty of time, what if there's a crash on the motorway?. What annoy's me is when customer's ask how long they should allow, and then take no notice of what you reccomend!.
Even if the car had not of broke down I don't think she would have made it on time.

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stressed controller!!!

But how enjoyable is your ride when they ignore your recommended timing and you get stuck in traffic?

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IDFIMH