Taxis picking on non nationals

eden_my_ass

Just a little personal story, I'd like to name names but I'm guessing I can't. My girlfriend booked a taxi last week for a short trip (3 km) in the Cork suburbs last week, when the taxi arrived and she sat in and said hello in her local accent the driver straight away asked if there was a mistake as her name wasn't Irish. When she confirmed she wasn't nothing more was said and off he went on the most pointless out of the way route to the destination (a route of 4.2 km and through a much lower speed residential area than was necessary). My girlfriend doesn't drive so although she knew the route wasn't one we'd take she couldn't really pass comment. At her arrival for her scenic trip she was charged 11 euros 30 (I've worked it out to approx 9 euros according to the regulators tariffs)...for a drive I've done myself at that time of day (mid morning) in maybe 4 mins ( pickup and destination are both sitting on the south ring road...which he didn't take).

And the return cab back to the same point, from (I think theres no danger in compliments) WILTON CABS cost.... 6.50

I have called the company in question, asked to speak to the owner/manager, was promised a callback last Friday but never got it. I would love to name the company to share the experience, maybe the mods will let me know if my post is safe enough to name names, I'm not making any accusations just stating the facts as they happened.

p.s. for those in the know of cork, the same company took a friend from ballincollig to victoria cross at 7 in the morning last year...via model farm road...the idea of a straight and shorter empty carrigrohane road must have been too much to handle.

Illkillya

Maybe you are right but it seems a bit of a jump to assume that it's because she's not Irish. I certainly wouldn't waste my time trying to follow up on it, just don't use that company again if you still suspect it.

eden_my_ass wrote: »

p.s. for those in the know of cork, the same company took a friend from ballincollig to victoria cross at 7 in the morning last year...via model farm road...the idea of a straight and shorter empty carrigrohane road must have been too much to handle.

I see what you mean, but he probably wanted to be facing into town when he dropped her off rather than having to turn right and stop by the Jaguar dealers to drop her off (awkward to turn around if there's any bit of traffic in Victoria Cross)... not necessarily trying to bleed an extra 30c out of her because she's foreign.

eden_my_ass

Illkillya wrote: »

Maybe you are right but it seems a bit of a jump to assume that it's because she's not Irish. I certainly wouldn't waste my time trying to follow up on it, just don't use that company again if you still suspect it.



I see what you mean, but he probably wanted to be facing into town when he dropped her off rather than having to turn right and stop by the Jaguar dealers to drop her off (awkward to turn around if there's any bit of traffic in Victoria Cross)... not necessarily trying to bleed an extra 30c out of her because she's foreign.

I don't easily jump to conclusions, but why was he bothered to verify that she wasn't local, if not then to take a route that he'd have gotten a slap over the head for if he tried it with a Corkonian...maybe non-national is a bit much, if it was an accent from Dublin maybe he'd have tried the same, neither are excusable, but you're right about the lesson learned, and we won't, and I will advise others against them...which is why I want to post the name here, I did give them a chance to explain and the operator actually verified the route onscreen (gps is great) and agreed with me that it wasn't at all the shortest route to take.

ronaneire

Eh taxi drivers, nothing wrong with them but they are a law on to themselves.
My friend and I were coming out of Dublin City on Paddy's Night, well late Wednesday morning and the taxi driver got into a rant over the amount of taxis that there is on the roads and how hard it is for them to make a living.
This driver has not Irish and fair play to him making a graft for hims family. But I did see his point, we tried to reason with him and explain that there was a time when no one could get a taxi in the early hours of the morning.
So maybe now the fact we have so many taxis on the roads they dont get enough work so the scenic route is the extra option at a price of course. :P

eden_my_ass

Illkillya wrote: »

I see what you mean, but he probably wanted to be facing into town when he dropped her off rather than having to turn right and stop by the Jaguar dealers to drop her off (awkward to turn around if there's any bit of traffic in Victoria Cross)... not necessarily trying to bleed an extra 30c out of her because she's foreign.

Sorry to quote again, I like your logic here but sadly he was dropping her to the door of one of the student accomodation blocks there, no matter which way he went he would be facing town when he exited....and at 7 in the morning traffic at the cross isn't a problem either.

eden_my_ass

ronaneire wrote: »

Eh taxi drivers, nothing wrong with them but they are a law on to themselves.
My friend and I were coming out of Dublin City on Paddy's Night, well late Wednesday morning and the taxi driver got into a rant over the amount of taxis that there is on the roads and how hard it is for them to make a living.
This driver has not Irish and fair play to him making a graft for hims family. But I did see his point, we tried to reason with him and explain that there was a time when no one could get a taxi in the early hours of the morning.
So maybe now the fact we have so many taxis on the roads they dont get enough work so the scenic route is the extra option at a price of course. :P

Well then some of these taxi drivers might be a tad thick in their marketing/economics, and a liability to their company, since one pissed off customer can mean countless lost fares in the future. Not worth the extra euro or two is it?

MrDerp

eden_my_ass wrote: »

Sorry to quote again, I like your logic here but sadly he was dropping her to the door of one of the student accomodation blocks there, no matter which way he went he would be facing town when he exited....and at 7 in the morning traffic at the cross isn't a problem either.

Sorry to do this to ya. I'm from Model Farm Road, used to live at Victoria Cross and wasn't sure about your distances so I checked them on Google Maps.

From the Roundabout to the east of Ballincollig, to Victoria Cross:
via Model Farm Road 4.9km
via Carrigrohane Straight 4.8km

A difference of 100m.

Model Farm Road would have more traffic lights, potential for the meter, but if this was a hackney then it's a moot point.
Now, you can do the carrigrohane straight faster, probably with better fuel economy.

I used to drive to Ballincollig and back regularly from Victoria Cross when I lived there, and distance never came into it.

I reckon the taxi driver goes in and out of town from Ballincollig several times a day, and so just picks his route based on whatever he feels like doing at the time.

eden_my_ass

MrDerp wrote: »

Sorry to do this to ya. I'm from Model Farm Road, used to live at Victoria Cross and wasn't sure about your distances so I checked them on Google Maps.

From the Roundabout to the east of Ballincollig, to Victoria Cross:
via Model Farm Road 4.9km
via Carrigrohane Straight 4.8km

A difference of 100m.

Model Farm Road would have more traffic lights, potential for the meter, but if this was a hackney then it's a moot point.
Now, you can do the carrigrohane straight faster, probably with better fuel economy.

I used to drive to Ballincollig and back regularly from Victoria Cross when I lived there, and distance never came into it.

I reckon the taxi driver goes in and out of town from Ballincollig several times a day, and so just picks his route based on whatever he feels like doing at the time.

No need to be sorry, I should have stressed in the case of that route, it probably wasn't any extra cost, it was the sheer inconvenience when you're trying to get to work on time. Taxi drivers have one task, get their fare from A to B in the safest and swiftest time possible, did you ever sit into one and say "Listen bud, I'm in no hurry, you pick the route that suits you and we'll just have a good chat on the way to help pass your day"

Victor

eden_my_ass wrote: »

I would love to name the company to share the experience, maybe the mods will let me know if my post is safe enough to name names, I'm not making any accusations just stating the facts as they happened.

I'd prefer if you didn't. I'd much prefer if you took it direct to the taxi regulator.

scorpioishere

These things happenned a lot in dublin and lots of my collegaues who is not irish faced that problem. They were charged more and sometimes they doesn't get a receipt if they asked for one. As i said in previous posts about taxis, some of them are not professional at all. And some of them knows very well what they are doing. It's time to complain about them, those who are rude, those who take longer routes, those who doesn't know the way, those who doesn't have change to give back. If they can't do the jobs they better look for another one or move somewhere where they can be useful. AND THEY HAVE THE GUTS TO PROTEST....:mad:

Quaver

OP, I don't think it's just non-nationals, I have found that as a non-local living in Cork (originally from Dublin), I get ripped off by taxi drivers taking me the scenic route. Once, I hopped in a taxi home from the Airport, a journey which has never cost me more than €15, and he took me the loooong way, and tried to charge me €25! (on a sunday evening, with no traffic about). Needless to say, I didn't pay it as I only had about €18-19 on me, so that was all he got.

bill_ashmount

eden_my_ass wrote: »

At her arrival for her scenic trip she was charged 11 euros 30 (I've worked it out to approx 9 euros according to the regulators tariffs

I've been in taxis countless times where the fare has varied by a euro or two. Sometimes drivers take slightly different routes. 2.30 euros is hardly a scam and if she had a Cork accent it is fairly likely that she will know the area and he is hardly likely to try and oull a fast one.

What's wrong with him asking was there a mistake with the name, not very subtle I admit (and something I wouldn't do), but hardly the greatest crime in the history of mankind.

TBH this is a non story and looks like complaining for the sake of it.

mikemac

This goes on everywhere OP.

I was ripped off a few times in Belfast and I clearly don't have a nordie accent.
I didn't realise I was being ripped off until the locals start telling me the correct prices and I learned the direct routes.

Things you have to learn in any new city.
If I moved to Cork and it's a city I don't know, I'd imagine there is a fair chance I'd be paying higher fares then you as I wouldn't know how to direct the driver and even spot scenic routes. Not for a while at least

scorpioishere

bill_ashmount wrote: »

I've been in taxis countless times where the fare has varied by a euro or two. Sometimes drivers take slightly different routes. 2.30 euros is hardly a scam and if she had a Cork accent it is fairly likely that she will know the area and he is hardly likely to try and oull a fast one.

What's wrong with him asking was there a mistake with the name, not very subtle I admit (and something I wouldn't do), but hardly the greatest crime in the history of mankind.

TBH this is a non story and looks like complaining for the sake of it.

First of all thats not his business to know whats your name , where you come from etc etc.. you are asked to go and drive to point A, you go and drive to point A.

slimjimmc

scorpioishere wrote: »

First of all thats not his business to know whats your name , where you come from etc etc.. you are asked to go and drive to point A, you go and drive to point A.

In this case it is his business to know the name of the person getting into his car. Remember, the OP's girlfriend booked the taxi in advance so it's perfectly valid for the driver to confirm she was the fare he was booked to pick up.
If she hailed the taxi on the street then I'd agree with you.

There's nothing in any of the OP's post which say the driver asked where she came from.


Unfortunately I reckon that taking the most profitable route will become more of an ocurrance now that the recession and glut of taxis is biting.

bill_ashmount

scorpioishere wrote: »

First of all thats not his business to know whats your name , where you come from etc etc.. you are asked to go and drive to point A, you go and drive to point A.

How is he supposed to know if he is picking up the right person if he doesn't ask the name, sweet Jesus.......

IIMII

Quaver wrote: »

OP, I don't think it's just non-nationals, I have found that as a foreign national living in Cork (originally from Dublin), I get ripped off by taxi drivers taking me the scenic route. Once, I hopped in a taxi home from the Airport, a journey which has never cost me more than €15, and he took me the loooong way, and tried to charge me €25! (on a sunday evening, with no traffic about). Needless to say, I didn't pay it as I only had about €18-19 on me, so that was all he got.

I corrected your post to take account of the fact you are a foreigner in the Peoples Republic of Cork..

eden_my_ass

slimjimmc wrote: »

There's nothing in any of the OP's post which say the driver asked where she came from.

Sorry I didn't add his exact line to her was "You're not Irish are you"...if I was cynical I'd suggest he had a "non-local/non-national" button on the meter maybe, at least it would be clear then wouldn't it.

To those who feel theres no complaint here, you obviously like been taken for a ride, I don't, and I don't like when those I care about are so I did my duty and complained to the company, they haven't chosen to respond so I came here in a hope that I could share the company name and my experience and let others decide whether to do business with them. You think the taxi regulator will maintain and publish a list of the best and the worst companies, I don't.

This is what the little person can do in society, share their experience, let others judge it and make what they want of it. Like I said, WILTON CABS, great price and direct service, I'd advise anyone to use them....THE OTHER COMPANY, bad service, bad price, I'd advise against. Just my opinion though!

IIMII

Better off just contacting the taxi regulator, you'll just end up with a debate here. Which is grand but it won't give you joy.

eden_my_ass

IIMII wrote: »

Better off just contacting the taxi regulator, you'll just end up with a debate here. Which is grand but it won't give you joy.

And corporate/national regulation in this country is so honest,rewarding and worthwhile? :P

Lets be honest, I'll get more exposure causing a debate here than I ever would adding my name to a list of "whining Joe Publics" making more work for another poor civil servant. Nah, I'll stick with boards, if even one genius here puts the pieces together and guesses the company in question, AND avoids them in future then I will feel justified in raising my complaints here. That won't happen with the regulator...not in Ireland. Had they taken my direct complaint and responded in some acceptable way I could at least say they care what their customers say...they don't.

ronaneire

eden_my_ass wrote: »

Sorry I didn't add his exact line to her was "You're not Irish are you"...if I was cynical I'd suggest he had a "non-local/non-national" button on the meter maybe, at least it would be clear then wouldn't it.

To those who feel theres no complaint here, you obviously like been taken for a ride, I don't, and I don't like when those I care about are so I did my duty and complained to the company, they haven't chosen to respond so I came here in a hope that I could share the company name and my experience and let others decide whether to do business with them. You think the taxi regulator will maintain and publish a list of the best and the worst companies, I don't.

This is what the little person can do in society, share their experience, let others judge it and make what they want of it. Like I said, WILTON CABS, great price and direct service, I'd advise anyone to use them....THE OTHER COMPANY, bad service, bad price, I'd advise against. Just my opinion though!

Power to the little people

eden_my_ass

ronaneire wrote: »

Power to the little people

Not much power if I can't name and shame (I want mod approval so I can't be accused of getting Boards in trouble)