Taxis in Galway - bad experiences?

galwayguy22 · 25-11-2008 05:59PM

I was driving along and some gob****e pulled out right in front of me, drove a few meters, then wanted to turn off to the right so was waiting in the middle of the road. I had such little time to react I basically had to veer to the left to "undertake" him, as you do when someone is waiting to turn off right.

In the process a taxi man decided to preempt me and was trying to undertake both me and the person in front of me, despite the fact that I had no indicator to turn off right.

Anyway long story short we nearly crash into each other and come to a screeching stop. He sits there looking at me so I roll the window down to see what he has to say. He say's in a sarcastic tone, with thick eastern European accent:

Sarcastic Eastern European Taxi man wrote:

I suppose it's not my fault

To this day I'm baffled by it. He's either a genius who has left me scratching my head for days, or he's to lazy to get a grasp of the English language despite the fact he makes a living in an English speaking country and works in a position which involves communication with the general public all the time.

I can understand someone saying "I suppose it's my fault" sarcastically, but what he said just makes no sense. He's basically accepting that he was at fault.

Mr Cork Man · 25-11-2008 06:06PM

d-gal wrote: »

last saturday night i got into a taxi in eyre square, i was with my girlfriend and since i was working the next day I was going back to mine and she was going back 2 hers. So i told the taxi driver both destinations and he turned around and shouted at me 'NO, only one place I drive!' :eek:
So after a bit of yelling and moaning I agreed to go back to the girlfriends house (knocknacarra) and I would get another taxi from there (back to salthill).
So once we stopped at hers the fee was €13 (overcharging of course), I took my wallet out, handed the guy €5 and told him if he didn't kindly f off I would report him to the police for being abusive and threatening. Usual shouting from him, he got out of his car and went for me, I pretended to ring the guards and he legged it
Moral of the story: don't trust the foreign independents, majority try and rob ya and are ignorant pr1cks
Galway Taxis all the way

Big o for me.

d-gal · 25-11-2008 06:11PM

cornbb wrote: »

You gave the guy a fiver to take you from Eyre Square all the way out to Knocknacarra and threatened to ring the guards on him for attempting to collect the fare you owed him? Nice, real nice. There's an "ignorant pr1ck" somewhere in that story alright, I'm not 100% sure it was the taxi driver though.

Eh he refused to bring me to salthill so it would cost another 8/9euro to get home. Oh and the ignorant pr1ck comment at me, very mature of u :rolleyes:

cornbb · 25-11-2008 06:17PM

d-gal wrote: »

Eh he refused to bring me to salthill so it would cost another 8/9euro to get home.

Thats beside the point, by paying him only 5 euro to take you and your gf to Knocknacarra you basically robbed the guy. 5 euro is less than the minimum metered fare for 2 people on a saturday night, not to mind the value of a trip all the way to knocknacarra. And then you have the gall to accuse the majority of foreign taxi drivers of "trying to rob ya!" Are you seeing what I have a problem with here?

AvrilLavigne · 25-11-2008 06:18PM

cornbb wrote: »

You gave the guy a fiver to take you from Eyre Square all the way out to Knocknacarra and threatened to ring the guards on him for attempting to collect the fare you owed him? Nice, real nice. There's an "ignorant pr1ck" somewhere in that story alright, I'm not 100% sure it was the taxi driver though.

The guy is supposed to bring you where you ask so the taxi driver was an ignorant prick and 5 is all he deserved. It is probably because of sycophantic people like you that they think they can get away with telling the customer where they want to go and charge whatever they want. Fair play to you d-gal, 5 was perfect for the asshole. Recently had a guy from Claddagh cabs attempt to charge 7 x 9 to go knocknacarra form the cab office.

cornbb · 25-11-2008 06:21PM

AvrilLavigne wrote: »

The guy is supposed to bring you where you ask so the taxi driver was an ignorant prick and 5 is all he deserved. It is probably because of sycophantic people like you that they think they can get away with telling the customer where they want to go and charge whatever they want. Fair play to you d-gal, 5 was perfect for the asshole. Recently had a guy from Claddagh cabs attempt to charge 7 x 9 to go knocknacarra form the cab office.

The driver told him before the trip started where he would take him, if d-gal didn't like that at that point then he should have gotten out and taken another cab. Instead he went til the end and refused to pay a fair price for the trip. Maybe it was ignorant of the cab driver to do that, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't have been paid the price he was owed by law. If it said 13 quid on the meter, then thats what he owed.

AvrilLavigne · 25-11-2008 06:29PM

cornbb wrote: »

The driver told him before the trip started where he would take him, if d-gal didn't like that at that point then he should have gotten out and taken another cab. Instead he went til the end and refused to pay a fair price for the trip. Maybe it was ignorant of the cab driver to do that, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't have been paid the price he was owed by law. If it said 13 quid on the meter, then thats what he owed.

If any taxi driver in Galway city is not willing to drive from Eyre Square to Knocknacarra and then to Salthill, they are an ignorant prick who should not be working as a taxi driver. Simple as.

for arguing with the guy and

for only giving him a fiver.

kraggy · 25-11-2008 07:27PM

galvianlord wrote: »

I didnt really want to mention whether he was a foreign national or Irish, an asshole is an asshole in my book regardless of nationality. But if it matters he would have been from Africa generally but I didnt quite get into his country of origin there. On the other hand last week I would have had another taxi, this time the driver was from Nigeria, he was really nice, chatted away about life and his life over there and how he ended up here etc

As to reporting him I didnt even look at the number I was so irate and went off and had a little hissy fit for myself.

Well then, at the risk of sounding harsh, you deserve for this to happen you again.

That's the problem with us Irish. And that's why we continue to have bad service in our restaurants, bars, clubs, taxi's etc. WE DON'T COMPLAIN enough.

So off he'll go again tomorrow and try and pull the same stunt with someone else.

Sponge Bob · 25-11-2008 10:45PM

We cannot complain , 90% of saturday night taxi drivers in Galway have no english...seemingly

biko · 25-11-2008 10:47PM

JohnCleary wrote: »

According to my primary school days when they made us learn stupid fcuking songs, Africa is a Continent

"Af - rica, the Continent of Af - rica is sooooooo far awayyy" ... Then the song goes on about tigers n lions n other sh1te

Only in Kenya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en3PZ09fue8

Mrs OBumble · 26-11-2008 01:45AM

cornbb wrote: »

The driver told him before the trip started where he would take him, if d-gal didn't like that at that point then he should have gotten out and taken another cab. Instead he went til the end and refused to pay a fair price for the trip. Maybe it was ignorant of the cab driver to do that, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't have been paid the price he was owed by law. If it said 13 quid on the meter, then thats what he owed.

+1

5 from Eyre Square to Knocknacarra is pure robbery (taxi-driver = the victim). IMHO he should have called the guards on you, and you wouldn't have had a leg to stand on.

Mrs OBumble · 26-11-2008 01:49AM

galvianlord wrote: »

J... if I am in town would just head up to the rank in the square and hop in the first cab in line.

Some of the independents or small-company folk have charged fares that I thought were inflated. Not excessive, but still more than they should have been.

So now at a rank I only take a taxi if it has the company name on it, and that name is one of Galway Taxis, Big-O or Pro-cabs.

If it's busy so there's not much choice, I'll sometimes bend this rule, and then I try to pick the "least dodgy looking" driver.

dcukhunter · 26-11-2008 03:24AM

d-gal wrote: »

last saturday night i got into a taxi in eyre square, i was with my girlfriend and since i was working the next day I was going back to mine and she was going back 2 hers. So i told the taxi driver both destinations and he turned around and shouted at me 'NO, only one place I drive!' :eek:
So after a bit of yelling and moaning I agreed to go back to the girlfriends house (knocknacarra) and I would get another taxi from there (back to salthill).
So once we stopped at hers the fee was €13 (overcharging of course), I took my wallet out, handed the guy €5 and told him if he didn't kindly f off I would report him to the police for being abusive and threatening. Usual shouting from him, he got out of his car and went for me, I pretended to ring the guards and he legged it
Moral of the story: don't trust the foreign independents, majority try and rob ya and are ignorant pr1cks
Galway Taxis all the way

Way to go. I had this happen to me had to make a couple of stops to make all was fine when I got in half way there driver refused to bring me to my house to get something. I told him to stop got out payed for fare up till then. Went in to the office to complain the next day and was told by them that I should have refused to pay him and that was his office telling me that.:eek:

kraggy · 26-11-2008 04:44AM

biko wrote: »

That's 50 euro fine isn't it?

€140 actually.

Was 120 until the new charges came in 2 weeks ago.

kayos · 26-11-2008 09:45AM

Eyre Sq to knocknacarra at 13 euro is not over charging ffs. I live out there and that would be normal after 8pm and with an extra person. A taxi from the train station to my house before 8pm on my own is the guts of 12 when I am on my own. But in saying that the driver refusing to do knocknacarra and then onto salthill is bad form and to be honest a loss of earnings. He could have got money for some of his trip back to town to pick up a new fare.

But if there are non suitable taxi drivers (overcharging, aggressive or long detour types etc) then we should complain and complain to the regulator. I've had rip off drivers that are non local and non local. But when it comes to aggressive I've had more aggressive Irish taxi drivers than non irish.

d-gal · 26-11-2008 10:32AM

JustMary wrote: »

+1

5 from Eyre Square to Knocknacarra is pure robbery (taxi-driver = the victim). IMHO he should have called the guards on you, and you wouldn't have had a leg to stand on.

Lets see...him being threatening and abusive for me asking him to do his job i.e. drop me to salthill and then the gf to knocknacarra...ya not a leg to stand on :rolleyes:
For me going to mine and the gf going home usually costs around €11-12. If I had to get a taxi from hers to mine would be around €8.
If the taxi driver did his bloody job it would cost €12..but he yelled and refused to do 2 stops so i would have to get another taxi home as I did not want to leave the gf with this guy alone for the rest of journey. It would have then of cost me €21 (€13+8).
Oh and when I said Salthill and then on to knocknacarra he started to drive towards that direction and then started his yelling so it would have been hard to just hop out!

d-gal · 26-11-2008 10:36AM

kayos wrote: »

Eyre Sq to knocknacarra at 13 euro is not over charging ffs. I live out there and that would be normal after 8pm and with an extra person. A taxi from the train station to my house before 8pm on my own is the guts of 12 when I am on my own. But in saying that the driver refusing to do knocknacarra and then onto salthill is bad form and to be honest a loss of earnings. He could have got money for some of his trip back to town to pick up a new fare.

But if there are non suitable taxi drivers (overcharging, aggressive or long detour types etc) then we should complain and complain to the regulator. I've had rip off drivers that are non local and non local. But when it comes to aggressive I've had more aggressive Irish taxi drivers than non irish.

Kncknacarra is a big place so obviously there could be a difference in anybodies prices

26-11-2008 10:58AM

JohnCleary wrote: »

Caller ID which they then prob save your number on their DB, hardly rocket science

I'm not saying it is.

Just the very first time I rang them and they said my name back to me was very funny, think I even said, "wait, how do you know my name?"

Zzippy · 26-11-2008 11:25AM

JustMary wrote: »

Some of the independents or small-company folk have charged fares that I thought were inflated. Not excessive, but still more than they should have been.

So now at a rank I only take a taxi if it has the company name on it, and that name is one of Galway Taxis, Big-O or Pro-cabs.

If it's busy so there's not much choice, I'll sometimes bend this rule, and then I try to pick the "least dodgy looking" driver.

If its a taxi you pay the price on the meter. Thats fixed, they can't inflate it unless they add on extras at the start - just keep an eye on that. No taxi company is cheaper than another if they all work on the meter.
Only hackney cabs can name their price, but most of them are a good bit cheaper than taxis. I use hackneys all the time instead of taxis, late at night they will often ask you to share a cab which means lower fares again. Win win...

kayos · 26-11-2008 11:42AM

d-gal wrote: »

Kncknacarra is a big place so obviously there could be a difference in anybodies prices

Oh I know it is but I am kinda stuck in the middle of it around the clybaun hotel. Now if your closer to town fair enough it will be cheaper by a euro or two maybe. If your futher out it will be a bit more expensive by a euro or two.

AvrilLavigne · 26-11-2008 12:39PM

d-gal wrote: »

Oh and when I said Salthill and then on to knocknacarra he started to drive towards that direction and then started his yelling so it would have been hard to just hop out!

This taxi driver was a pure d**k!

I'll say it again, fair play for only giving him a fiver!

For all those who are too cowardly to stand up to assholes!

workaccount · 26-11-2008 12:42PM

AvrilLavigne wrote: »

This taxi driver was a pure d**k!
I'll say it again, fair play for only giving him a fiver!
For all those who are too cowardly to stand up to assholes!

Is this post supposed to be for the people that didn't read your previous posts?

AvrilLavigne · 26-11-2008 12:48PM

workaccount wrote: »

Is this post supposed to be for the people that didn't read your previous posts?

Yes.

Thank you for repeating it!

workaccount · 26-11-2008 12:59PM

AvrilLavigne wrote: »

Yes.

Thank you for repeating it!

If you wish to go against the "law" then and feel as though to get back at this guy you must stoop to his level then give us your good reason instead of repeating your shallow statements. It would be nice if we could all take the law into our own hands wouldn't it?

Is reporting him not good enough? Should the op poster not have turned down the taxi at the beginning?

Or should he have given him the 5 euro and reported him? Then the taxi driver has a case too.

AvrilLavigne · 26-11-2008 01:05PM

workaccount wrote: »

It would be nice if we could all take the law into our own hands wouldn't it?

Some of us can, but like I said, cowards like you . . .

Mrs OBumble · 26-11-2008 01:08PM

d-gal wrote: »

Lets see...him being threatening and abusive for me asking him to do his job i.e. drop me to salthill and then the gf to knocknacarra...ya not a leg to stand on :rolleyes:

His word against yours. I'm picking you weren't that sober at the time, and perhaps not exhibiting the best of communication skills yourself. I could be wrong, of course, but TBH it seems very unusual that a driver wouldn't welcome a fare with multiple stops because they almost always involve a slightly longer route than going directly.

d-gal wrote: »

For me going to mine and the gf going home usually costs around €11-12. If I had to get a taxi from hers to mine would be around €8.
If the taxi driver did his bloody job it would cost €12..but he yelled and refused to do 2 stops so i would have to get another taxi home as I did not want to leave the gf with this guy alone for the rest of journey. It would have then of cost me €21 (€13+8).
Oh and when I said Salthill and then on to knocknacarra he started to drive towards that direction and then started his yelling so it would have been hard to just hop out!

You could, and should, have asked him to stop the taxi at any time. If he refused to stop, then you could have whipped out the cellphone and called the garda. The fact that you didn't do so backs up assumption above.

You still only gave him €5 for what should have been a €11-12 trip. That's theft, plain and simple.

workaccount · 26-11-2008 01:09PM

AvrilLavigne wrote: »

Some of us can, but like I said, cowards like you . . .

You are new to boards...have absolutely no idea who I am and yet you assume that I'd be afraid to take matters into my own hands if I wanted?

You think I'm not capable of losing my temper and breaking someones nose just like every other person in this world. Every person in this world is capable of murder even my friend but there's something we call civilization and mature members of society actually respect the law because they know it's made by mankind for mankind. It's the best system we have.

cornbb · 26-11-2008 01:11PM

AvrilLavigne wrote: »

Some of us can, but like I said, cowards like you . . .

You're calling him a coward for advocating the legally correct approach - either reporting the guy or refusing to take the taxi in the first place? How is that being cowardly? Instead you are saying its ok to basically rob the taxi driver just because you don't like his attitude. Taking the law into your own hands automatically equates to being brave now? Wow.

AvrilLavigne · 26-11-2008 01:17PM

cornbb wrote: »

Taking the law into your own hands automatically equates to being brave now? Wow.

It can do sometimes but automatically equating it to being brave are your words! Laws are changed all the time by people being brave enough to stand up for their own beliefs and not blindly following rules that are open to interpretation and do not fit all circumstances.

AvrilLavigne · 26-11-2008 01:20PM

workaccount wrote: »

You think I'm not capable of losing my temper and breaking someones nose just like every other person in this world

I didn't think so before but I do now!

Taxis in Galway - bad experiences?

Comments