GET IT SORTED IN 14 DAYS OR I,L SEE YOU IN COURT.
Discussion
A57 HSV said:
Oh yes! giving mini cab drivers the route is standard practise. Can be tricky though, as English is not always 1st language.
Have to admit I haven't used a mini cab for several years now, could be that they are now more strictly regulated.
A few years ago i went on a stag do. The minicab driver got very very lost (even though he said he knew where he was going) and by the time we got where we were supposed to be the fair was close to £100 instead of the expected £40-£50. We thought he'd apologise and charge us what it should have cost, instead he offered to knock £10 off. We told him to piss off and got out of the cab, the cab driver lept out and threatened us with violence if we walked off....... The thing is there were 6 of us (all big lads) he must have thought he was bloody superman! In the end we told him to take £40 and be happy or square up to us and get a thrashing.... he took the £40.
mungo said:
And what was the great crime? my reversing lights had stuck on.I,m a taxi driver this appened at 2am sunday morning,i also had passengers on board,rather than warn me he kept me waiting while he checked my licence. so now i have to take the ticket he gave me to a garage and get them to check that i have fixed the problem and get them to emboss the ticket {like they do on an mot}all at my expense.B****rds.
He was doing his job. Which is a far more useful contribution to society than taxi driving
Whilst I agree that the copper in question was only doing his job, I do think everyone deserves to be dealt with respect, and from the posts above it would appear that this cop fell short of the mark there somewhat.
I also feel that your jibe about usefulness of occupation is a bit below the belt mate.
My respect for taxi drivers is at a low at present. My lodger was fleeced for £40 for the 12 mile ride home early one Friday morning. Set me thinking, what does a cabbie make on an average Friday/Saturday night? £500?? I know there are fuel costs, and insurance is expensive, plus the fee they pay to their controllers etc... but even so, not a bad wage. Although I wouldn't want to transport pissed/abnoxious winkers around all night. (Well, I do, but they are usually safely locked in the cage in the back of the Police van!)
As for the illegals in London. Several of my mates just walk off and don't pay and I have no sympathy for the driver at all. The cars are usually deathtraps and they certainly are not insured. We got a a car from Skyport Cars back from Heathrow. Shower of sh1te. Driver was doing 60+ in the 40 zones around Heathrow, struggled to stop at red lights and used his phone whilst driving. Suffice to say, English did not appear to be his mother tongue.
But all that said, I've always found London Black Cabs to be highly professional. They know where they're going, you pay a metered fare, and you know that they've gone through a hell of a lot to get that coveted bage.
As for the illegals in London. Several of my mates just walk off and don't pay and I have no sympathy for the driver at all. The cars are usually deathtraps and they certainly are not insured. We got a a car from Skyport Cars back from Heathrow. Shower of sh1te. Driver was doing 60+ in the 40 zones around Heathrow, struggled to stop at red lights and used his phone whilst driving. Suffice to say, English did not appear to be his mother tongue.
But all that said, I've always found London Black Cabs to be highly professional. They know where they're going, you pay a metered fare, and you know that they've gone through a hell of a lot to get that coveted bage.
xxplod said:
My respect for taxi drivers is at a low at present. My lodger was fleeced for £40 for the 12 mile ride home early one Friday morning. Set me thinking, what does a cabbie make on an average Friday/Saturday night? £500??
Let's get one thing straight I am a licenced hackney carraige (black cab) driver (not a mini cab)and have been since 1976, my fares are all metered.
XXPLOD what planet are you living on, "£500 on an average fri/sat night" do me a favor, I'd be lucky to do half that, then minus my fuel and other costs.
I met a rude copper once, does that mean that all Coppers are rude? NO. So if your unfortunate lodger got ripped off by ONE taxi driver that does'nt mean we are all crooks.
P.S What annoys me also, is that the copper was making out I had commited a hanging offence.
I see a lot in my job including so called "professional" police drivers who abuse the law i.e. lights not working, speeding, jumping red lights when not in an emergency and 159mph testing a car
mungo said:
He was doing his job. Which is a far more useful contribution to society than taxi driving
What do you mean by this? We (us taxi drivers) make the coppers job on a fri/sat night a lot easier by picking up drunks and trouble-makers and getting them off the streets. We have to put up with a lot being Taxi drivers and where are the coppers when you need them? Probably looking for hardend criminals driving with their reversing light stuck on (tough work but somebody has to do it)
>> Edited by zr1 368 on Wednesday 15th June 22:33
>> Edited by zr1 368 on Wednesday 15th June 22:34
>> Edited by zr1 368 on Wednesday 15th June 22:35
parrot of doom said:
Ever been in a Spanish or Italian taxi? They think hard shoulders around curves in the road are short-cuts.
English taxis are bloody great compared to those guys.
It's all relative though, the driving population of Italy are, by and large, complete loonies. Red lights mean nothing, and the only time they will slow down is when leering out of the window at a bit of totty.
gone said:
Pray spill the beans
There are many things that Taxi drivers do which cause extra work! I will not elaborate further as there will be a tendancy to make generalisations which although prevalent among taxi drivers, will give others who use taxis cause for concern
Taxi drivers are prone to stretching laws they think should not apply to them to the limits and beyond!
Most Taxi drivers whether licensed or not run on the ragged edge of things!
Both the police and taxi drivers are tribal indulgences. Taxi drivers are the ones who drive about late at night and thats very naughty. It would be interesting to hear how many of them get pulled during the day.
sheepy said:
sadako said:
Take the reversing light bulbs out. They are not required by law.
But if fitted at MOT time time, must work, i do believe
Nope. My XJS reversing lights are quite definately not working, but it's managed two MOTs with out them.
I was always under the impression that any lights present at an MOT test must work...
Oh well no great problem, i must be one of the few who actually bother to check my lights occasionally, judging from what i see out there on Her maj's highways
zr1 368 said:
My respect for taxi drivers is at a low at present. My lodger was fleeced for £40 for the 12 mile ride home early one Friday morning. Set me thinking, what does a cabbie make on an average Friday/Saturday night? £500??
Let's get one thing straight I am a licenced hackney carraige (black cab) driver (not a mini cab)and have been since 1976, my fares are all metered.
XXPLOD what planet are you living on, "£500 on an average fri/sat night" do me a favor, I'd be lucky to do half that, then minus my fuel and other costs.
I met a rude copper once, does that mean that all Coppers are rude? NO. So if your unfortunate lodger got ripped off by ONE taxi driver that does'nt mean we are all crooks.
P.S What annoys me also, is that the copper was making out I had commited a hanging offence.
I see a lot in my job including so called "professional" police drivers who abuse the law i.e. lights not working, speeding, jumping red lights when not in an emergency and 159mph testing a car
Touché! and
We can all give an example of anecdotal evidence to prove that "all XXX's are terrible drivers" etc, but it doesn't make it so.
zr1 368 - I was keen to point out that proper licensed black cab drivers are highly professional, and in my experience are very good drivers. They tend to have an excellent awareness of what is around them. If all cabbies were of the calibre required to become a licensed black cab drivers we wouldn't have half the problems we do.
My guess at earnings was just that. A guess. The recent example was not just one cabbie. They were private hire cars, several all quoted circa £40-45 for the 15 minute drive from Farnborough to Guildford. Am I right in thinking a private hire car can charge what it likes? I figured in a 8 hour shift it couldn't be too hard to get say a dozen fares, as people queue for ages for a small number of cabs and trade always seems brisk for the cabbies working.
Professional cabbies (like yourself) have my utmost respect. Police often rely on cabbies who witness crimes of all types and often provide excellent evidence.
Aside from the illegal cabs and the illegal immigrants that drive them, my other beef is the cabbie who picks up the totally pissed idiot, drives miles to find said idiot has no money then drives to the Police station to complain. I've been asked for fares up front, and I actually prefer it - makes the who thing more transparent.
My guess at earnings was just that. A guess. The recent example was not just one cabbie. They were private hire cars, several all quoted circa £40-45 for the 15 minute drive from Farnborough to Guildford. Am I right in thinking a private hire car can charge what it likes? I figured in a 8 hour shift it couldn't be too hard to get say a dozen fares, as people queue for ages for a small number of cabs and trade always seems brisk for the cabbies working.
Professional cabbies (like yourself) have my utmost respect. Police often rely on cabbies who witness crimes of all types and often provide excellent evidence.
Aside from the illegal cabs and the illegal immigrants that drive them, my other beef is the cabbie who picks up the totally pissed idiot, drives miles to find said idiot has no money then drives to the Police station to complain. I've been asked for fares up front, and I actually prefer it - makes the who thing more transparent.
I think the illegal cabs are great. Just about the only form of public transport in London that is cheap and plentiful. I'm sure the taxi-drivers union would have us believe otherwise (they're all rapists! their cars are death traps!) but then they would wouldn't they.
Is there really moral highground in running a cartel and pointing at the people who are unlicenced and uninsured trying to break it?
Is there really moral highground in running a cartel and pointing at the people who are unlicenced and uninsured trying to break it?
If you can, next time you're in a mini-cab office waiting for 'four-two pick-up', have a look around the walls of their own crusty couch strewn waiting area. Bets are its wallpapered in the old 'Been involved in an accident?????' 'No-win no fee' 'Call Ambulance Chaser and Partners for Compo Advice on 0800 …….'
Have a look…. Wallpapered…….
Have a look…. Wallpapered…….
johndoc2000 said:
If you can, next time you're in a mini-cab office waiting for 'four-two pick-up', have a look around the walls of their own crusty couch strewn waiting area. Bets are its wallpapered in the old 'Been involved in an accident?????' 'No-win no fee' 'Call Ambulance Chaser and Partners for Compo Advice on 0800 …….'
Have a look…. Wallpapered…….
And your point is?
My point is that the erratic driving and generally held opinion that they own the road discussed at length above should not be messed with. These guys are tearing around in (often) death traps with members of the public on board. Advice - get out of the way. Apart from the good ones - they couldn't give a toss if they came into contact with your pride and joy - in fact all the better. Back to base and grab one of the plentiful ambulance chaser contact numbers and haul you up for whiplash.
Their claim gets paid for by insurance premiums - yours and mine.
Why all the NWNF advertising - is it like an A&E dept in there with masses of wounded mini-cab drivers???
We all know the motivation of the no-win-no-fee brigade. I'm sure most of the posters on here wouldn't stoop to lodge spurious claims but driving like a header away from your office covered in the afore mentioned wallpaper…. please..
>> Edited by johndoc2000 on Thursday 16th June 13:29
Their claim gets paid for by insurance premiums - yours and mine.
Why all the NWNF advertising - is it like an A&E dept in there with masses of wounded mini-cab drivers???
We all know the motivation of the no-win-no-fee brigade. I'm sure most of the posters on here wouldn't stoop to lodge spurious claims but driving like a header away from your office covered in the afore mentioned wallpaper…. please..
>> Edited by johndoc2000 on Thursday 16th June 13:29
Your making a very wide general statement there arn't you! The Taxi office I worked at never had any of those posters etc. If anything the drivers avoided that lot as all they wanted to do was get their car repaired and re-inspected so they can get back to earning a living.
My local hospital is strewn with the posters and leaflets so all the NHS staff must be scroungers lodging spurious claims at every oportunity.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, You never remember a good taxi driver but you sure as shit will remember a bad one! (This also goes for any person, grouping, proffesion or product etc)
My local hospital is strewn with the posters and leaflets so all the NHS staff must be scroungers lodging spurious claims at every oportunity.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, You never remember a good taxi driver but you sure as shit will remember a bad one! (This also goes for any person, grouping, proffesion or product etc)
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