Trust

(A welcome talking point after an embarrassing disagreement with passengers)

Passengers sometimes have good reason to hate cabbies. Sometimes they don’t. Early on Saturday evening I refused to be hoodwinked by three young women and a bloke. After arguing over $1.20 each, one person loudly exclaimed, “Oh, I hate taxi drivers.”

Upon accepting a radio booking in Darling Point, possibly Australia’s most exclusive ‘old money’ suburb, I arrived at a well-lit mansion and notified base. After a few minutes there was no sign of movement so I started the meter, as I was entitled to.

Soon a young fella came out and informed me that I was ten minutes early. “Mate, we booked you for 7:15.” I told him there was no booking time on the job details but I’d happily wait for them, with a ticking meter, of course. He grumbled how it was my fault and he wouldn’t pay the waiting time, then headed back inside.

Finally the party emerged and one woman immediately demanded, “Can you please restart the meter. This job was booked for 7:15.” I refused and suggested cancelling the booking altogether. There was plenty of other work around. So a hurried discussion took place outside the cab but they had no other choice due to the high demand, leading to the aforementioned remark.

Once aboard the woman and fella whinged how they shouldn’t have to pay waiting time when the company stuffed up the booking, blah, blah, blah. Then he requested I contact the base and confirm a second taxi ordered for the remainder of their party. This was his downfall.

When the radio operator revealed the second taxi had been cancelled their story looked shaky. So I asked what time my taxi had been booked for. The reply came loud and clear, “I’ve got seven o’clock here.” I thanked the operator and waited for an explanation from the insistent protestors.

However the young fella maintained the booking was for 7:15, before adding, “But I didn’t make the booking.” Huh? “Well,” I inquired, “how can you be so sure about the booking time?” There was an awkward pause before the demanding woman admitted, “Um, I made the booking.” The subject quickly changed and nothing more was said about it. Surprisingly, though, there was no offer of an apology.

And people claim they don’t trust cabbies. Why, we’re even more trustworthy than some of our biggest critics, politicians and journalists.

Comments

[Rob W]

Sympathies for the awful clients. I must say though that some taxi drivers aren't as cool as you are. A few years ago, after dinner with a relative, my ex and I called a cab to take us from Roselands to Bondi, a pretty good fare. It was a busy night and the cab took ages to come. Finally, our kind hostess made us a welcome cup of tea and just as I began on my tea, the cab arrived. You know how it is when you've just begun tea, I asked the cabbie if I could bring it with me to sip and enjoy in the back seat. An irrational request as I realised, as he fulminated against us. 'That's OK, I'll take the cuppa back inside,' I said and did so. I returned to the front and the cab was gone, my boyfriend astonished. We went inside, called another cab, finished our tea and more than an hour later called the company to see what had happened. Maybe that cabbie had had a bad night. He had screamed at me and then my boyfriend, and then he apparently called the company and told them that we'd 'thrown hot tea' in his face and all the other cabs were advised against picking us up. Yes, I was a bit thoughtless but there was no aggro from us at all. In the end we called another company from our Usual and got home with a calmer driver who we tipped. The first driver, well he was already an angry man and prone to seeing things wrong. We were glad he hadn't driven us.

Rob W, a tip - when out of your area around changeover or late at night, it's often worth booking with a network from your home area. These drivers dream of return jobs back to familiar territory whereas the local drivers can be reluctant to leave their area, hence your initial wait.

For example, Roselands is covered by Legion cabs whilst Bondi is a Combined area. In which case first try Combined. If returning home to the Shire, say, call St George, or Manly cabs for the northern beaches, etc.
Adrian

[Ex Legionnaire]

It's funny how the biggest winges about cash come from the richest suburbs eh? And, in my experience most runners come from the north shore or the north west.....

[Ken]

Great story. It reminds me of how people can choose to be cheap and petty about the smallest things. I've learned to ignore them as best I can... realizing that complaining is just a slightly muted form of anger.

[king of new york hacks]

I get at least one or two of these customers a night....I love pissing them off by telling them that I just got back from Tahiti and did they know they put umbrellas in my drinks there? They usually stare at each other in silence for the duration of the ride. Its a mindgame and we are too clever to let them win !!

[Andy]

Any chance you can post a list of which taxi companies cover which areas? Your idea about the booking system makes sense..so i wanna take advantage of it :)

Cheers!

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King, that umbrella rave is hilarious.
Andy, as a general rule here's each network area:
Combined-largest company covering city; inner west; eastern suburbs.
Premier-based in Parramatta covering west and nor-west suburbs from Gladesville to Penrith and Windsor.
Legion-Bankstown based and covering inner south west.
South West-based in Liverpool and extending to Campbelltown.
St George-based in Kogarah and covering Hurstville area and Sutherland shire.
ABC-lower to upper north shore.
Manly-Warringah - Manly and northern beaches
Peninsula-northern beaches.

[manly cabbie]

what about RSL ,VIP,LIME at least you didn't mention silver (only for wankers)service and as for peninsula yes they say they cover the nrthern beach's but with only 10 or so cabs they don't do it very well.

[adrian]

Thanks, Manly cabbie. Lime is primarily wheelchair enabled Vito maxis based in Alexandrian and RSL is...inner city based?

Also, I've been unable to post normal comments recently. Don't know if others have been affected but the bug is now rectified.