I've just got back from a night out in Camden and, as it was late, took a cab home to Putney.
I agreed a price of £15, before seeing the car... which was a burgundy, J registration Fiesta 1.1 Popular Plus. At least there was no chance whatsoever of Plod stopping the car as an illegal minicab.
Has anyone else found a less likely taxi, excluding possibly those three wheeled rickshaw type things in India and Bangladesh...
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A few years ago Cardiff was full of black and white painted Lada Riva taxis!
By the way, if the minicab was a bit unlikely, lets hope they were actually insured, etc, because there are far too many horror stories about unlicenced minicabs going round at the moment.
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We have a local guy who uses a Subaru Impreza Turbo! Ideal if you're in a hurry.
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At the end of a night out in London I often get a "minicab" with a mate of mine back to Finchley. The setup seems to be a mass congregation of old cars (usually J reg and earlier) hanging around outside each nightclub. On occasions you even get some well organised person directing each requestee to suitable car though invariably even if you don't want a s**ding ride home they don't half pester you if they're quiet.
You then go through the price haggle, walk off, and when they run after you and agree you hop in and get a lift back.
None of these guys can have the proper insurance, maybe even license etc. I am not tarnishing proper minicabbers who are an excellent bunch normally but with no minicab licensing in London it is incredibly dodgy!
After being driven back one night had the driver start demanding more money with menaces. He got told to "go away" though using non-HJ filter friendly terms - Fine if there's more than one of you but a good reason to never get one of these alone.
Also got in a minicab in Clapham one night (which had been parked slightly away from the nightclub there) only to find we had to get another straight away because a rival had slashed all of his tyres.
Very rarely do I get in one of these and think - blimey, I bet this went through the MOT no problems!
I'd probably never use one sober but at the end of a long beer fuelled night it's always the easiest option and your common sense it also somewhat depleted.
Dread to think what the insurance implications would be if one of these guys had an accident with you in the car...
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Actually, I *know* he had no insurance. In any case, it was an illegal pickup outside the pub, but at 2.20 a.m., I didn't care. And for £15, or half what I expected, I still don't think I do.
Actually, www.octaviars.com/baaheed.htm would be quite unlikely as well.
My flatmate once phoned for a cab, expecting to pay about £15. Ten minutes later, a car is outside, beeps, and he gets in it. He gets over Hammersmith Bridge after 5 or 10 minutes and his mobile rings... the cab he ordered is waiting outside the flat. A bit tricky for the driver to explain that one away. Plus, when he got home, the driver demanded £40. My mate gave him £20 and legged it.
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Some years ago I lived in North London and still recall one mincab that arrived one night to take me home to Enfield
It was a Pug 504 which looked ok from the ouside. However once inside it was evident there had been a fire inside the car which had originated in the front. The front seat was burnt through to the springs and most of the headlining was gone with melted and distorted fittings. Quite surreal really I shudder now to think about the state of the brakes or other essential safety items.
as ever
Mark
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When living in RL quite nice S a couple of years ago, there were a couple of genuine private hire firms using Fiestas. At least they were 5 door cars. Wonder if they're still about?
James
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"What realy gets up my nose"( I want it in this thread the other one is too long)is dirty stinking taxis that have never been cleaned out for dear knows how long perfumed by the cigarette smoke and body odour of the miserable driver who only comes to life when he impolitely tells you how much you owe him and grunts when you don't give a tip.
Has anybody else out there been to Japan before? there is a nation that knows how to be polite and clean.
Mal.
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Happens all the time. Your choices are:
1) Black Cab. Too expensive for anybody but rich tourists and won't go beyond a mile from Charing Cross in any direction.
2) Licenced mini cab. Book 4 weeks in advance and re-mortgage your house for the fare.
3) Illegal cabs. Where there's demand there's supply.
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Back in the early 90s I worked in Blackburn for several days, I was amazed to find all the minicabs I saw were Lada Riva Estates, I was even more surprised to find that handles had been removed from the insides of the rear doors.
Steve.
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Sounds a bit like my old Renault ;)
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How about using a known, local, trusted company. Arrange for them to meet you - better still get them to take you to the venue, find out the driver's name and then ask control if he can pick you up later. That way mutual knowledge an trust can develop.
Yes - I do know what I am talking about, I am in this business myself,
Don drbe
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When near home, I always use the same cab firm. The problem is that, when near home, I very rarely need a cab. My flatmate does use that firm for airport runs quite a lot (on expenses) but my main need for taxis is to squeeze out an extra hour of sleep when I've already drunk too much.
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