Have you ever been took to the wrong place by a cab driver?
Discussion
My Uber drivers often take a long journey back home. This seems to be prevalent across the Uber network as I once got an UberPOP in Warsaw and the driver took me on a 3-lap run around where I wanted to go before dropping me off. She spoke no English either.
Rather handily, Uber charge you for the designated route - so all these drivers have done is waste their own fuel and time trying to get a larger fare. They also got rather poor ratings from me which bumps them down the pecking order. And they wonder why turnover is so high.
Rather handily, Uber charge you for the designated route - so all these drivers have done is waste their own fuel and time trying to get a larger fare. They also got rather poor ratings from me which bumps them down the pecking order. And they wonder why turnover is so high.
After a night in central London we jump in a "cab" and ask to be taken to Harpenden. English not being the drivers first language he took us half way to Orpington before we realised the mistake.
Ended up being a very funny trip. Half way home his oil light comes on, he panicks and tries to stop in the 3rd lane of the M1! He's quickly persuaded to get the f
k off the motorway and check the oil at the nearby services where he proceeds to pour a full 5 litres in. It doesn't take long before it becomes obvious he's overfilled the oil! He then convinced himself that he can burn the excess oil off by simply driving faster! Supported by his drunken passengers he hit 120mph with smoke pouring from the back.
Ended up being a very funny trip. Half way home his oil light comes on, he panicks and tries to stop in the 3rd lane of the M1! He's quickly persuaded to get the f
k off the motorway and check the oil at the nearby services where he proceeds to pour a full 5 litres in. It doesn't take long before it becomes obvious he's overfilled the oil! He then convinced himself that he can burn the excess oil off by simply driving faster! Supported by his drunken passengers he hit 120mph with smoke pouring from the back. Seemed to be standard practise for ripping off tourists in Tenerife, pretending to mis-understand where you asked to go and then running a longer journey on the meter. I completely lost my rag the second or third time it happened as we'd asked to go to Siam Park which is about the single biggest place on the island and were taken to a playground with some water sprayers instead... that ride was free.
After that, we showed the drivers a flyer or guide book to confirm first, then hotel cards on the way back.
It really spoilt the holiday for me and also we would probably tip at least the same, or more, as the amounts they ripped us off for as in a good mood on holidays so they lose out all round anyway.
After that, we showed the drivers a flyer or guide book to confirm first, then hotel cards on the way back.
It really spoilt the holiday for me and also we would probably tip at least the same, or more, as the amounts they ripped us off for as in a good mood on holidays so they lose out all round anyway.
Yes but only in Dubai. As my brother lives in Dubai and we have been there a few times we know it quite well. We have still on several occasions been taken to the wrong place particularly when trying to return to my brothers house. On the basis of simplicity our usual approach is to get the driver to stop, get out pay them and then get a different cab to the original destination.
In Mexico City a few years ago we had a rather inebriated lady taxi driver take us to the wrong Holiday Inn. Much amusement trying to make her understand her mistake!
Another taxi driver there tried to overcharge us massively then reappeared at the end of the day to take us home, very pleased to see us. Mexico City is quite interesting...
Another taxi driver there tried to overcharge us massively then reappeared at the end of the day to take us home, very pleased to see us. Mexico City is quite interesting...
Yep, twice, both in USA. First time to be fair he really struggled to get me to my hotel in New Orleans, but it was the night of the Bayou Classic football game, lots of streets closed by police, roads blocked by fans out partying, just dumped me at the roadside told me to run "that a ways" and then pissed off. Didn't charge me either. I just ran through the streets with suitcase etc, fortunately knew where I was going, but it was unsettling.
Second time was in Vegas, again the traffic was heavier than normal for some reason, plus he had gone the rip off the tourist route, didn't realise we knew our way around, then got grumpy when pulled up on it. At which point he pulled into the forecourt of some hotel, claimed he'd misheard the destination, blatant liar, then when my mate paid him the exact meter amount complained about no tip. Such a good and accurate advert for, in my view, a bloody awful place.
Second time was in Vegas, again the traffic was heavier than normal for some reason, plus he had gone the rip off the tourist route, didn't realise we knew our way around, then got grumpy when pulled up on it. At which point he pulled into the forecourt of some hotel, claimed he'd misheard the destination, blatant liar, then when my mate paid him the exact meter amount complained about no tip. Such a good and accurate advert for, in my view, a bloody awful place.
Yes, I've been taken to the wrong place, in Tel Aviv.
My first trip to Israel with work and meeting the Exec Committee fur the first time for dinner, driver has address and pre-booked.
Drives round an area for 20 mins not finding restaurant with my boss calling asking where I was.
Finally get dropped off and told it's round the corner.....it wasn't.
Boss calls, asks what I can see and we work out I'm 2 miles away, in the rain!
Arrived 45 mins late!
My first trip to Israel with work and meeting the Exec Committee fur the first time for dinner, driver has address and pre-booked.
Drives round an area for 20 mins not finding restaurant with my boss calling asking where I was.
Finally get dropped off and told it's round the corner.....it wasn't.
Boss calls, asks what I can see and we work out I'm 2 miles away, in the rain!
Arrived 45 mins late!
Once pre booked a cab to Heathrow from Leicester. A regular business run for me at the time, early flight so a 5am departure. Can company always sent a decent car on the airport runs and an English driver.
This one morning and Eastern European turns up in an Astra. I hop in the back and go to sleep, sparco. Cries of the 5 month old ringing in my ears and eyes stinging from another night of lost sleep.
Some time later the driver wakes me up, we are at the airport. I roll out the door, bleary eyed and notice it doesn't look normal. Asked him what terminal we were at and he points at the sign behind me. That's when I noticed we were at fking Gatwick. 
Very nervous journey round the m25 in rush hour trying to get to the correct airport.
This one morning and Eastern European turns up in an Astra. I hop in the back and go to sleep, sparco. Cries of the 5 month old ringing in my ears and eyes stinging from another night of lost sleep.
Some time later the driver wakes me up, we are at the airport. I roll out the door, bleary eyed and notice it doesn't look normal. Asked him what terminal we were at and he points at the sign behind me. That's when I noticed we were at f
king Gatwick. Very nervous journey round the m25 in rush hour trying to get to the correct airport.
A view from the other side.
I drove a 'black cab' in London for almost 30 years, and love us or hate us, we know where we're going, and how to get there.
One day, while cruising Old Bond Street, I was hailed by a Texan couple, the guy was 60+, bolo tie, boot cut jeans and weathered cowboy boots, he boomed, "Take us to the Tar hotel son, okay?"
I nodded, then expertly made a right into Bruton St., through Mayfair, crossed Park Lane into Hyde Park, to High St. Kensington, then to Scarsdale Place and pulled up at the Tara Hotel.
From the back, a kindly voice said, "Looks nice son, but where's the goddam river?"
You've guessed it, he wanted the Tower Hotel, now the Guoman Tower Hotel, on the Thames at Tower Bridge, but his Texas accent threw me.
Egg on face, I spun round and aimed for East London.
I apologised and offered to knock a hefty chunk off the meter fare, but he said not to worry about it, he'd enjoyed the ride, and would try to speak clearer in future.
I didn't take any American's destination for granted after that, be they Yankees with clipped Boston accents, or down-home Dixie boys, I'd double check.
I drove a 'black cab' in London for almost 30 years, and love us or hate us, we know where we're going, and how to get there.
One day, while cruising Old Bond Street, I was hailed by a Texan couple, the guy was 60+, bolo tie, boot cut jeans and weathered cowboy boots, he boomed, "Take us to the Tar hotel son, okay?"
I nodded, then expertly made a right into Bruton St., through Mayfair, crossed Park Lane into Hyde Park, to High St. Kensington, then to Scarsdale Place and pulled up at the Tara Hotel.
From the back, a kindly voice said, "Looks nice son, but where's the goddam river?"
You've guessed it, he wanted the Tower Hotel, now the Guoman Tower Hotel, on the Thames at Tower Bridge, but his Texas accent threw me.
Egg on face, I spun round and aimed for East London.
I apologised and offered to knock a hefty chunk off the meter fare, but he said not to worry about it, he'd enjoyed the ride, and would try to speak clearer in future.
I didn't take any American's destination for granted after that, be they Yankees with clipped Boston accents, or down-home Dixie boys, I'd double check.
I had a taxi driver in Croatia take a bit of a detour. We were discussing the Croatian war of Independence when he suddenly veered off the main road and onto some dirt track. I now find myself bashing my head on the roof of the taxi as the Skoda's knackered suspension struggles to keep up with the road surface, thinking this can't possibly be the quickest way to the airport.
'I show you something'
Then we emerge into a bombed-out hotel complex. Five stars still prominent on the facade but not in gold, simply eerie black remnants from where they once were.
Swimming pools full of weeds and rubble. Cracked tiles everywhere. Not a single window had any glass. The girlfriend is not liking this one bit and is grabbing my arm. I'm now also a little nervous and keep up chirpy conversation with our new tour guide. He tells me the hotel has been lke this since the war and was once a number one tourist destination.
He finally turns the car around and I am relieved that we seem to be leaving and that we are not going to be kidnapped and held in this 'hotel'. Then an armed man emerges from the hotel. Girlfriend's new tan from the beach has completely drained from her face but I clock the taxi driver's eyes in the rear view mirror and he seems as surprised and nervous about this new arrival as all of us. Man shouts at the taxi driver, gun rotating nonchalantly in his hand. We then set off at top speed out of the complex and back towards the airport.
Taxi driver apologisies profusely and tells us the man identified himself as 'security'.
It was an interesting experience and I gave the taxi driver a generous tip at the end. I told him he could put it towards some new suspension, but the quizzical look he gave me implied he thought I had said something else...
'I show you something'
Then we emerge into a bombed-out hotel complex. Five stars still prominent on the facade but not in gold, simply eerie black remnants from where they once were.
Swimming pools full of weeds and rubble. Cracked tiles everywhere. Not a single window had any glass. The girlfriend is not liking this one bit and is grabbing my arm. I'm now also a little nervous and keep up chirpy conversation with our new tour guide. He tells me the hotel has been lke this since the war and was once a number one tourist destination.
He finally turns the car around and I am relieved that we seem to be leaving and that we are not going to be kidnapped and held in this 'hotel'. Then an armed man emerges from the hotel. Girlfriend's new tan from the beach has completely drained from her face but I clock the taxi driver's eyes in the rear view mirror and he seems as surprised and nervous about this new arrival as all of us. Man shouts at the taxi driver, gun rotating nonchalantly in his hand. We then set off at top speed out of the complex and back towards the airport.
Taxi driver apologisies profusely and tells us the man identified himself as 'security'.
It was an interesting experience and I gave the taxi driver a generous tip at the end. I told him he could put it towards some new suspension, but the quizzical look he gave me implied he thought I had said something else...
ex1 said:
After a night in central London we jump in a "cab" and ask to be taken to Harpenden. English not being the drivers first language he took us half way to Orpington before we realised the mistake.
Ended up being a very funny trip. Half way home his oil light comes on, he panicks and tries to stop in the 3rd lane of the M1! He's quickly persuaded to get the fk off the motorway and check the oil at the nearby services where he proceeds to pour a full 5 litres in. It doesn't take long before it becomes obvious he's overfilled the oil! He then convinced himself that he can burn the excess oil off by simply driving faster! Supported by his drunken passengers he hit 120mph with smoke pouring from the back.
Similar happened to us. Asked to go to Watford, we all woke up still pissed in Woodford.Ended up being a very funny trip. Half way home his oil light comes on, he panicks and tries to stop in the 3rd lane of the M1! He's quickly persuaded to get the f
k off the motorway and check the oil at the nearby services where he proceeds to pour a full 5 litres in. It doesn't take long before it becomes obvious he's overfilled the oil! He then convinced himself that he can burn the excess oil off by simply driving faster! Supported by his drunken passengers he hit 120mph with smoke pouring from the back. Yep on holiday
We met some posh snobby neighbours on holiday who happen to have a holiday home in the resort we were in,
We agreed to meet up one night, she insisted on showing us Round her holiday home and all the bars and shops that she knew, she talked to the locals like dirt actually
We all got plastered and got a Vito minibus home and we were stopping at a wonderful five star hotel. Which was a bargain at the time it had just opened
Her local taxi driver took us to a real st hole of a two star hotel.
We all fell about laughing at the state of this place.
Eventually she berated him and he took us to our proper hotel and she sat there jaw on the floor at how nice it was.
We met some posh snobby neighbours on holiday who happen to have a holiday home in the resort we were in,
We agreed to meet up one night, she insisted on showing us Round her holiday home and all the bars and shops that she knew, she talked to the locals like dirt actually
We all got plastered and got a Vito minibus home and we were stopping at a wonderful five star hotel. Which was a bargain at the time it had just opened
Her local taxi driver took us to a real s
t hole of a two star hotel. We all fell about laughing at the state of this place.
Eventually she berated him and he took us to our proper hotel and she sat there jaw on the floor at how nice it was.
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