Taxi refund

[M001]

My girlfriends daughter recently booked and pre paid via cc, a taxi to collect her from a rail station in London to take her to Heathrow airport. During the rail journey to London, she discovered that the train actaully stopped at Heathrow. She called the taxi firm to cancel and they informed her that there was a cancellation fee of half the fair, £12.50. They then called back a few minutes later and said they were going to charge full fair, £25.00

I know it was short notice, around an hour, but from what i can gather, during the booking process, there was no mention of any cancellation fee. So the question is, can they charge a fee?

I would have thought there would be a charge somewhere but i think its taking the piss to charge the full amount.

[Mojooo]

Taxis are not covered by the Distance Selling Regs - so she has no statutory right to a refund.

So yes, they can keep all the money.

[M001]

Arse!

From that, i assume if you order goods, items, etc., remotely, you do not have to be informed of any t's and C's?

Too add: The onus must be on the buyer to check beforehand what the terms are?

[Mojooo]

If you buy without face to face contact then you get rights under the distance selling regs. the seller must give you certain info - which includes how you can cancel.

i tend to find with GOODS poviders you tend to get this info but with SERVICE providers you often don't. Usually because you get a receipt with goods as soon as you order or they arrive whereas services the bill often comes at the end.

Some things are excluded from the Distance selling regs - including transport services.

[M001]

Thanks Mojoo, looks like we'll have to chalk this one up to experience!