Scummy thing to do.

lazygal

I got a taxi yesterday and the driver told me about his previous fare. Four students going from UCD into town and they did a runner without paying. The driver was genuinely upset about this, not in a 'poor me' way but that a group of lads would do that. Does anyone actually think this is funny or an acceptable thing to do? Really made me angry thinking of those lads not paying their way and costing this guy time and money.

I know there might be an AH thing of taxi drivers whinging and moaning and that I've fallen for a sob story and this guy needs to get over it. But it seems like a really scummy thing to do.

Oh hai

I hear that's a pretty common thing unfortunately. Lousy.

Israel_Dagg

Easy. Get the fare before bringing them.

Hilly Bill

Thats students for you.

Hande hoche!

Fairly lousy thing to do, no doubt they are having a laugh about it and thinking what legends they are.

Staff Infection

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Thats students for you.

Sadly. Just out of college myself and am happy I always paid my way and never did a runner or stole stuff from pubs but too many people I know did.
One lad I know tried to nick/pilfer a broom because he was (quite rightly) told he was too drunk and refused a drink in a pub.

Where To

I must be the only taxidriver in the world who doesn't mind when a fare does a runner. If it means that much to them let them run, let them have their fun. Fun doesn't last.




BUT MY MEMORY LASTS.:)

Luap

Take a poo on a bus. Hate when scummers do that.

Irishcrx

Yeah it's an awful thing to do, I did it once a good few years ago. Had no intention of doing it when I got the taxi but I realised as I was nearly home that I had lost my money and had nothing else on me , nobody at home either so I legged it when I got out.

I really should have just explained and paid the man the next day but I was pissed and wasn't thinking , ashamed I was..

The Royal Scam

Surely he could track them down through the college from CCTV near where he picked them up

laoch na mona

Where To wrote: »

BUT MY MEMORY LASTS.:)

I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for a free lift, I can tell you I don't have the petrol. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you pay the fare now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.:D

AckwelFoley

Luap wrote: »

Take a poo on a bus. Hate when scummers do that.

One peach took a dump on the floor of the toilet in a late bar in town. Right beside the urinals. Cubicles must have being occupied. Another gent decided to piss at the bar while ordering a pint.

Hilly Bill

A woman once took a dump on the dart and another a piss on platform 6 in Connolly. Both from the same background.

Czarcasm

Where To wrote: »

I must be the only taxidriver in the world who doesn't mind when a fare does a runner. If it means that much to them let them run, let them have their fun. Fun doesn't last.




BUT MY MEMORY LASTS.:)

Quick one Where To but can taxi drivers not ask that their passengers belt up before they start the car?

And just while I think of it- are they not allowed use child locks on the doors and release them once the passenger pays their fare?

Of course it's a scumbag thing to evade paying for a service when you use it! I don't often carry ready cash with me but if I have to get a cab when my regular driver is off duty, any cab driver I've ever travelled with has never had a problem stopping off at an ATM for me to withdraw cash for the fare.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Where To wrote: »

I must be the only taxidriver in the world who doesn't mind when a fare does a runner. If it means that much to them let them run, let them have their fun. Fun doesn't last.




BUT MY MEMORY LASTS.:)

How often does it happen, on average? Genuine question. Once/week, once/month maybe more?

Where To

Czarcasm wrote: »

Quick one Where To but can taxi drivers not ask that their passengers belt up before they start the car?
You can ask them, and most people actually do belt up, but with some you might as well ask them to perform open-heart surgery on themselves.
And just while I think of it- are they not allowed use child locks on the doors and release them once the passenger pays their fare?
Part of the suitability inspection is ensuring all doors open from inside and out. I use a childlock on the offside rear to prevent people opening the door into traffic but I'd probably be fined for doing this. I don't feel comfortable about locking people in anyway, and I'm sure most customers wouldn't either.
Of course it's a scumbag thing to evade paying for a service when you use it! I don't often carry ready cash with me but if I have to get a cab when my regular driver is off duty, any cab driver I've ever travelled with has never had a problem stopping off at an ATM for me to withdraw cash for the fare.
Any driver that has a problem with a passenger stopping at an ATM should have their head examined. And their licence revoked.

.

Where To

Johnny Electricity wrote: »

How often does it happen, on average? Genuine question. Once/week, once/month maybe more?

Not that often with me, maybe three in the last ten years.

Most of my work is either contract or repeat custom, and I'm very fussy about my clientele too. When the taxidriver knows you, where you live, and how often you use a taxi it kind of defeats the purpose of doing a runner.

Markcheese

In the uk the black cabs have a central locking system, you get in tell the driver where you want to go, doors lock and don't open again till you pay....
Driver safe behind a screen too ...

Where To

Markcheese wrote: »

In the uk the black cabs have a central locking system, you get in tell the driver where you want to go, doors lock and don't open again till you pay....
Driver safe behind a screen too ...

Yeah, quite a few cities are like that, I couldn't work in that kind of environment though, if I have to take measures to keep myself in my own vehicle then the job's not worth doing.

ToddyDoody

dog with a boner (pink)... Fairly scummy

Czarcasm

Markcheese wrote: »

In the uk the black cabs have a central locking system, you get in tell the driver where you want to go, doors lock and don't open again till you pay....
Driver safe behind a screen too ...

That's exactly the sort of system I had in mind that should have been introduced here years ago, and a screen for driver safety too, because I've heard on a couple of occasions now of taxi drivers being attacked by scumbags wanting to avoid paying the fare.

If I was a cab driver, and I never understood this in Ireland, but there is no way in hell I'd allow a customer to sit into the front passenger seat. They'd have to sit in the back. It's also a good thing too to see some cab companies now have introduced a pay by credit card system.

Hurricane Carter

Ah. That old chestnut.

So how much did you tip him in the end?

jippo nolan

Hilly Bill wrote: »

A woman once took a dump on the dart and another a piss on platform 6 in Connolly. Both from the same background.

Were they romingAround?

kowloon

Markcheese wrote: »

In the uk the black cabs have a central locking system, you get in tell the driver where you want to go, doors lock and don't open again till you pay....
Driver safe behind a screen too ...

They have a little red light that tells you when you can and can't open the door. The ones I was in only had the locks on when the cab was moving though. I was living in what would be considered a nice area though.

Piliger

Johnny Electricity wrote: »

How often does it happen, on average? Genuine question. Once/week, once/month maybe more?

I had a long conversation with a taxi driver in Ranelagh about this back in the summer - he said it happens about once every six months to him. No big deal but I think taxis should all have cameras for this reason and for driver's safety.

Conchir

Where To wrote: »

I must be the only taxidriver in the world who doesn't mind when a fare does a runner. If it means that much to them let them run, let them have their fun. Fun doesn't last.




BUT MY MEMORY LASTS.:)

I now finally understand your avatar, username and location. I had always thought they were quite random.




:pac:

Pottler

Hilly Bill wrote: »

A woman once took a dump on the dart and another a piss on platform 6 in Connolly. Both from the same background.

I hate that, no matter how often you wash it, every time you're going for a triple 20, you just think - there may still be a bit of poo..

fasttalkerchat

I never did it myself. Although I did underpay one driver who tried to rip me off.
Another taxi driver who was a rude bollix I told to pull over and let me out, although I had been in the car less than a minute.

Pottler

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

I never did it myself. Although I did underpay one driver who tried to rip me off.
Another taxi driver who was a rude bollix I told to pull over and let me out, although I had been in the car less than a minute.

Or the ones who assume everyones a tourist and take you the scenic route. I had one bring me off down the quays to the Point to get me from Heuston to Temple Bar. The fare came to almost €20.:eek: I smiled, gave him a tenner and said keep the tip. Was still a rip off. He seemed a bit annoyed. Doing a runner is just scummy though, just fess up that you don't have the fare, give your mobile no. and say you'll ring driver tomorrow and arrange payment. They might get huffy, but at least you're not going off on your toes like some alleycreeper.

steddyeddy

lazygal wrote: »

I got a taxi yesterday and the driver told me about his previous fare. Four students going from UCD into town and they did a runner without paying. The driver was genuinely upset about this, not in a 'poor me' way but that a group of lads would do that. Does anyone actually think this is funny or an acceptable thing to do? Really made me angry thinking of those lads not paying their way and costing this guy time and money.

I know there might be an AH thing of taxi drivers whinging and moaning and that I've fallen for a sob story and this guy needs to get over it. But it seems like a really scummy thing to do.

Well from UCD to town isn't that far so there was no need to do something like that.

fasttalkerchat

Pottler wrote: »

Or the ones who assume everyones a tourist and take you the scenic route. I had one bring me off down the quays to the Point to get me from Heuston to Temple Bar. The fare came to almost €20.:eek: I smiled, gave him a tenner and said keep the tip. Was still a rip off. He seemed a bit annoyed. Doing a runner is just scummy though, just fess up that you don't have the fare, give your mobile no. and say you'll ring driver tomorrow and arrange payment. They might get huffy, but at least you're not going off on your toes like some alleycreeper.

This was my story:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=77757716&postcount=4534

gallag

Been tried on me twice. Caught them. Don't understand the guys that just let people steal from them. I never overcharge, I just expect what's owed. One time a woman had me run her about while promising the cash at the final stop, then with an actual smile told me she was broke lol, I took her tv as security and she payed a few days later. As far as I am concerned someone doing a runner are robbing me and I am entitled to make a citizens arrest.

Dodge

gallag wrote: »

Been tried on me twice. Caught them. Don't understand the guys that just let people steal from them

As my taxi driver mate put it; "what happens if I catch up with a gang of lads and they turn around and give me a beating. is that worth the €20 fare?"

Drakares

laoch na mona wrote: »

I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for a free lift, I can tell you I don't have the petrol. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you pay the fare now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.:D

Read that in the Neeson accent :pac:

gallag

Dodge wrote: »

As my taxi driver mate put it; "what happens if I catch up with a gang of lads and they turn around and give me a beating. is that worth the €20 fare?"

At what value does it become worth it? Also, **** them drunk guys and their wilde windmill punches, I know I have spent more time in the ring than they have been drunk. I know everyone on the internet is a hard man/millionaire but as a former hw amateur boxer I fancy my self against a few guys that have difficulty standing, if it was four sober rugby players I would probably reconsider though but that's unlikely to happen. I also have an emergency button in my car that alerts the police and any near by drivers.

Ush1

AckwelFoley wrote: »

One peach took a dump on the floor of the toilet in a late bar in town. Right beside the urinals. Cubicles must have being occupied. Another gent decided to piss at the bar while ordering a pint.

I've seen that happen in Coppers.:pac:

Where To

gallag wrote: »

Been tried on me twice. Caught them. Don't understand the guys that just let people steal from them. I never overcharge, I just expect what's owed. One time a woman had me run her about while promising the cash at the final stop, then with an actual smile told me she was broke lol, I took her tv as security and she payed a few days later. As far as I am concerned someone doing a runner are robbing me and I am entitled to make a citizens arrest.

So you stole her TV? How does yhat make you any different from her, exactly?

Plazaman

I know some of them are pricey but would the in car CCTV not be invaluable for a Taxi Driver? I know Where To has said he only got 3 runners in the last 10 years but there are in car cameras that record both inside and facing out the window. If driving is your living and your on the road most of the day it'd be good insurance from runners/being in an accident etc.

I'm remembering the case (last year?) of the student who was in Oz and got accused of doing a runners as some fella gave his name before doing a runner. He sued the newspapers/facebook as the publicity might interfere with him getting a job. Too lazy to look and link but the CCTV of yer man in the passenger seat was the key to the whole saga.

gallag

Where To wrote: »

So you stole her TV? How does yhat make you any different from her, exactly?

How did I steal her tv?

Where To

Plazaman wrote: »

I know some of them are pricey but would the in car CCTV not be invaluable for a Taxi Driver? I know Where To has said he only got 3 runners in the last 10 years but there are in car cameras that record both inside and facing out the window. If driving is your living and your on the road most of the day it'd be good insurance from runners/being in an accident etc.

I'm remembering the case (last year?) of the student who was in Oz and got accused of doing a runners as some fella gave his name before doing a runner. He sued the newspapers/facebook as the publicity might interfere with him getting a job. Too lazy to look and link but the CCTV of yer man in the passenger seat was the key to the whole saga.

I'd love to see CCTV made compulsory, and not just for taxis.

I'm lucky enough in the work that I do that I don't need it but I would have no problem with installing it either.

Where To

gallag wrote: »

How did I steal her tv?

You just said you took her TV.

ronan45

Where To wrote: »

I must be the only taxidriver in the world who doesn't mind when a fare does a runner. If it means that much to them let them run, let them have their fun. Fun doesn't last.




BUT MY MEMORY LASTS.:)

Whats your number? Have a few crimbo parties coming up:D


In seriousness, a chap i worked with YEARS ago, we were coming back from a night out, We had cash for the fare was about 15 quid. Nearing destination he writes a message on his phone and shows it sheepishly to me " RUNNER AT LANE " I was like huh what ... a few wink winks nudge nudge and i copped what he had in mind!
The taxi man had him WELL copped. So I sat there with no intention of jumpin... NO WAY... So like a big jackass he says to the driver, Ah sure we can get out here "yes lets get out beside this darkened lane" lol So the second the car stops doesnt Doogle try to do a big car escape only to find the taxi man had unbeknown to him put on the central locking. STUNG ha ha it was ****in sweet. He made some bull **** " ahhh i was only joking tryin to get me mate to pay" I loved it lol

Korvanica

Where To wrote: »

You just said you took her TV.

Bartering

gallag

Where To wrote: »

You just said you took her TV.

As security until she paid me, I though that was clear? It was the only thing of value she had except her phone and she said she needed that. No police called, I got paid, everyone happy.

razorblunt

Markcheese wrote: »

In the uk the black cabs have a central locking system, you get in tell the driver where you want to go, doors lock and don't open again till you pay....
Driver safe behind a screen too ...

Nope, the doors lock when the car is moving as soon as they stop at lights or anything the light indicating the locks on goes off and you can open it.

The newer Merc MPV type cab is ony opened by the driver though.

ghogie91

gallag wrote: »

As security until she paid me, I though that was clear? It was the only thing of value she had except her phone and she said she needed that. No police called, I got paid, everyone happy.

Walter White... is that you?

Dodge

ghogie91 wrote: »

Walter White... is that you?

Touch of the walter mittys too IMO

gallag

Do people think I handled it wrong? Instead of phoning the police I took security, I got paid and everyone was happy. Or should I just of let her laugh in my face and took the loss? With the time and travel involved to return it I lost out but it was the principle.

Where To

gallag wrote: »

Do people think I handled it wrong? Instead of phoning the police I took security, I got paid and everyone was happy. Or should I just of let her laugh in my face and took the loss? With the time and travel involved to return it I lost out but it was the principle.

What is she hadn't paid? What if she had rang the cops instead? How would you feel if eircom came round to your house and took your telly for security on an unpaid bill?

You've also admitted that you lost money over the head of it so I fail to see where you got any satisfaction out of this.

ghogie91

gallag wrote: »

Do people think I handled it wrong? Instead of phoning the police I took security, I got paid and everyone was happy. Or should I just of let her laugh in my face and took the loss? With the time and travel involved to return it I lost out but it was the principle.

I dont think you handled it anyway right or wrong as its not my profession so commenting on something like that would be unrealistic/misguided

but if you look at it another way, i drive a car so i know this much, did you not exhaust the profit of your fare by making the trip back to hand back the collateral and collect the fare?

What I mean is a non paying journey fare the night before, then a return trip the next day with the TV to collect the fare? Providing you did not charge interest, which i know you didnt

Surely you came out at a loss

"splitting hairs bill, splitting hairs"

jossnjuice

razorblunt wrote: »

Nope, the doors lock when the car is moving as soon as they stop at lights or anything the light indicating the locks on goes off and you can open it.

The newer Merc MPV type cab is ony opened by the driver though.

Exaclty, the whole point behind this was succinctly explained by the Arctic Monkeys..............

"red lights indicate doors are secure".