Central Taxis

[Speedy]

I phoned a taxi for my mate this morning after he had woke up drunk from the night before(bit of a mess, he had spewed on his shirt last night).

We were at a friend's flat and he had his car with him but we weren't letting him drive home since he'd struggle to get to his car never mind drive home in it.

Anyway the taxi came and my mate was standing with no top on and his shirt in a bag and the taxi driver refused to take him in that state.

I then phoned up for another taxi and the guy said, did you just phone for a taxi because you have missed it? I told him I hadn't missed it and the driver refused to pick us up and he said if the driver refused the fare then there's nothing he could do and he couldn't send another taxi. I then asked what he suggested we should and asked if he thought it was a good idea to force my friend to drive home in a condition that his company had just deemed unfit to get in a taxi and he said "if he wants to drive home then that's not my problem" and hung up.

Fair enough if the driver doesn't want to take someone because he thinks he'll be sick in the taxi or something but I thought the operators attitude was shocking.

Just thought I'd see what people's opinions on that were?

[1two]

I phoned a taxi for my mate this morning after he had woke up drunk from the night before(bit of a mess, he had spewed on his shirt last night).

We were at a friend's flat and he had his car with him but we weren't letting him drive home since he'd struggle to get to his car never mind drive home in it.

Anyway the taxi came and my mate was standing with no top on and his shirt in a bag and the taxi driver refused to take him in that state.

I then phoned up for another taxi and the guy said, did you just phone for a taxi because you have missed it? I told him I hadn't missed it and the driver refused to pick us up and he said if the driver refused the fare then there's nothing he could do and he couldn't send another taxi. I then asked what he suggested we should and asked if he thought it was a good idea to force my friend to drive home in a condition that his company had just deemed unfit to get in a taxi and he said "if he wants to drive home then that's not my problem" and hung up.

Fair enough if the driver doesn't want to take someone because he thinks he'll be sick in the taxi or something but I thought the operators attitude was shocking.

Just thought I'd see what people's opinions on that were?


TBH mate if i was the taxi driver i wouldnt let him in my car/cab if he was as bad as you say! but agree sounds like the guy had a bit of an attitude!
Just dont use them again, or dont drink!:wink:

[Woody70x2]

The problem could have been solved by giving your mate a loan of a top? I wouldn't pick up a bare chested jakey in the morning either.

I suspect that the operator could have dealt with the situation with a better level of customer service, but he was correct in saying it wasn't his problem.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Be interesting to know what the taxi driver's rationale was.

Must have been bad for the driver to make the journey, and then decide it wasn't worth his while. I'm guessing he thought there was a chance of the bloke spewing again, or that he was so wasted he might fall asleep, or cause trouble.

Personally, I woun't take someone who is so drunk that other people are bundling them into a taxi. Taxis are there to carry people from A to B, not to act as nurses for those who are incapable.

I've gone to pubs, where they carry some bloke out, and all they know about him is a first name and the general area they live in - eg Jimmy, going to the South Side. My answer is "you got him drunk, you get him home".

Worth thinking about the next time you have someone with you who gets totally plastered.

[Speedy]

Be interesting to know what the taxi driver's rationale was.

Must have been bad for the driver to make the journey, and then decide it wasn't worth his while. I'm guessing he thought there was a chance of the bloke spewing again, or that he was so wasted he might fall asleep, or cause trouble.

Personally, I woun't take someone who is so drunk that other people are bundling them into a taxi. Taxis are there to carry people from A to B, not to act as nurses for those who are incapable.

I've gone to pubs, where they carry some bloke out, and all they know about him is a first name and the general area they live in - eg Jimmy, going to the South Side. My answer is "you got him drunk, you get him home".

Worth thinking about the next time you have someone with you who gets totally plastered.

Basically because he was drunk. I didn't have a problem with that, it was more the operator I thought was out of order. The thing that came to mind was the "how are you getting home" posters that are dotted around town. At the least I would have thought the guy could suggest to try another company.

This was at 6.50am by the way. He had already been sleeping for 3 hours, not that anyone else knew that at the time.

[Phil D. Rolls]

Basically because he was drunk. I didn't have a problem with that, it was more the operator I thought was out of order. The thing that came to mind was the "how are you getting home" posters that are dotted around town. At the least I would have thought the guy could suggest to try another company.

This was at 6.50am by the way. He had already been sleeping for 3 hours, not that anyone else knew that at the time.

Don't drive for Central, I've heard their operators can be a bit short with people though. That said, I dare say if your mate was undesirable, another company would hardly thank them for passing on the business.

Tbh, if he'd been asleep for three hours, I doubt he would have been a basket case. Sounds like you've been unlucky, but it's a stark reminder that taxi drivers are allowed to refuse fares on certain grounds. I think you've been unlucky though.

[LustForLeith]

Not sure what the call handlers probrem is but can maybe see it from the drivers point of view. Imagine if your mate spewed in the back of his taxi and the driver was just starting his shift. He's then got to go off road and clean up the mess and try and make it smell acceptable.

[-Jonesy-]

thought taxi drivers got £50 for a "soiling"

[Phil D. Rolls]

thought taxi drivers got £50 for a "soiling"

£20 - if you can get it from the punter.

[LustForLeith]

£20 - if you can get it from the punter.

Thought it was £25? This is liek an auction. Any advances?

[Phil D. Rolls]

Thought it was £25? This is liek an auction. Any advances?

Last I looked on the tariff it was £20, yep...

http://www.fastblacks.com/taxi_fares_2006.pdf