Cabs are not a free ride

2:34pm Thursday 19th April 2012 in Letters

WITH reference to the letter in last week’s Guardian from L Donelan, stating that she was shocked by the taxi driver’s actions.

L Donelan should try driving a taxi at night. He or she would be shocked at what drivers have to tolerate. People verbally abuse us, running off without paying the fare, being sick in our cars, and threatening drivers.

This person who was left at the side of the road did not run out of money while buying drinks. She probably did not run out of money getting something to eat in town, but she ran out of money to pay a pre-booked taxi home.

Taxis are not a charity. Drivers pick up people on trust that they will be paid at the end of the journey.

This girl knew she did not have enough cash to pay for the taxi, but still got in. We have a living to make and this girl should prioritise how she spends her cash.

D HEESOM Latchford

Comments(7)

jitterbug says...
2:35pm Thu 19 Apr 12

Totally agree. If she didnt have enough money then she should have got a bus or called her parents.

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moleogod says...
8:08am Thu 26 Apr 12

to true. but at night no buses and why does everyone aume she lives with her parents. unles it said so in the last letter can say i read it with much interest. when i used to go out i knew it would cost about 9 to get home so i put aside 12 to make sure and didn't spend that money on booze

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Cleopatra says...
9:45am Thu 26 Apr 12

Everyone assumes she lives with her parents because it was her father who wrote the letter of complaint. But why is everyone assuming that the girl was expecting a free ride? Her mistake was in telling the driver that she was short of the fare. I myself have got into a taxi without a penny on me (but did not tell the driver that) because I knew there was money at my destination, with which I could pay the fare. Could have been the same situation with the young girl.

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Cleopatra says...
9:49am Thu 26 Apr 12

It would be interesting if the girl or her father would submit another post clarifying the situation. Maybe there would be egg on some faces.

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HappyGilmore57 says...
1:16pm Thu 26 Apr 12

You wouldnt get on a bus or a train with no money then expect apologies for being chucked off so why should taxi drivers face a hard time for doing the same thing?

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Cleopatra says...
7:38am Fri 27 Apr 12

Actually you are able to get on a bus without any money for the fare. The driver should take your name and address, as long as you can prove it is correct information, then an inspector will call and collect the fare but with extra cost for the inconvenience to the bus company.

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local man says...
11:50am Sat 28 Apr 12

get a taxi to a cash machine and draw some cash, that or walk. I dont blame cabby, not a charity.

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