Since when do taxi drivers get to pick and choose their fares?

riveratom · 29-03-2014 12:21AM #1

The answer is probably 'since forever'.

Got into a taxi on the rank half way up Dawson Street earlier. Specifically didn't hail one passing on the street or further up the rank since I figured it was the one to go for (I know you can choose any technically).

Get in and once the driver hears I only want to go to Pearse St station, he tells me (barely made out his unbelievably thick accent), that it is too close and that he has been waiting to get to the front of the queue (the usual rubbish you hear about).

When I tell him he has to bring me to where I want to go and that I am in a rush to make the train, he's like 'no, no'. Tell him I am making a complaint and the a*rsehole is like 'feel free, feel free'. Get out, call out his plate number to him and walk off. Pretty sure I see him grinning back at me when I look back.

End up sprinting to the station and making it with two minutes to spare.

So, has anyone ever made a complaint to the regulator and what happened when you did?

'Public service vehicle' - good one!!

wazky · 29-03-2014 12:24AM

Think that's bad?, the fcuking bus driver wouldn't drop me up to the pub today.

Country's gone to the dogs.

Sir Arthur Daley · 29-03-2014 12:26AM

Are you going to complain to the regulator OP?

jamo2oo9 · 29-03-2014 12:26AM

It happened to me before when I was getting a taxi from DLBP beside the airport and needed a quick hop to the airport for the bus home. Asked the taxi man how much, he said fiver on the old airport road and 15 for the other road. Told him I'd get in via old airport road so I hopped in and what does he do? He goes the long way and he refused to go by the old airport road so he pulled in before the roundabout and kicked me out. Couldn't get his registration details but if I was given a list of people, I could identify him. Doesn't work that way in taxi complaints.

tomwaterford · 29-03-2014 12:27AM

its not a public service vechicle...private owned

The_Pretender · 29-03-2014 12:27AM

To be honest I'm not sure how I'd feel if Taxi drivers are NOT allowed to choose the fares they want. I understand that it could lead to discrimination, but at the same time in most cases a Taxi driver is a self employed private business, and so should be able to do what he/she feels will make the most profit.

Duiske · 29-03-2014 12:28AM

That sprint probably added a few weeks to your lazy ass life. You should be thanking the guy.

SEPT 23 1989 · 29-03-2014 12:30AM

jump into a taxi at the airport and demand they take you to Swords

they love that

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 12:34AM

tomwaterford wrote: »

its not a public service vechicle...private owned

It is a public service vehicle, hence the name Small Public Service Vehicle.

Driver can't unreasonably refuse journey under 30km.

the groutch · 29-03-2014 12:36AM

I'm think I read before that if a taxi in a rank refuses you, then he is legally off-hire and has to leave the rank.
Iirc it was happening alot with people getting taxis from the airport to Swords/Santry.

kenmc · 29-03-2014 12:37AM

tomwaterford wrote: »

its not a public service vechicle...private owned

so why is Psv.ie dedicated to taxis, limos and hackneys? http://www.psv.ie/driverslicence.html

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 12:37AM

the groutch wrote: »

I'm think I read before that if a taxi in a rank refuses you, then he is legally off-hire and has to leave the rank.
Iirc it was happening alot with people getting taxis from the airport to Swords.

It's not that's he's off hire, he can't be on the rank unless he's plying for hire and he can't refuse a fare to Swords whether he likes it or not.

Sir Arthur Daley · 29-03-2014 12:40AM

riveratom wrote: »

Specifically didn't hail one passing on the street or further up the rank since I figured it was the one to go for (I know you can choose any technically).

Does one not have to go to the taxi first in line at rank no?

happypants · 29-03-2014 12:40AM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

jump into a taxi at the airport and demand they take you to Swords

they love that

I had to do that before and I genuinely felt bad for taking the taxi from the rank until I saw the carry on of the driver. I work with people with disabilities, myself and another staff returned from bringing some service users away for a weekend.

The house we were returning to is in swords, physically the only way to get the 6 of us with luggage back to the unit was by taxi (it was after last bus). The attitude of the taxi driver was appalling, he drove like a maniac around to the house and grunted the price at us when we arrived and practically threw the bags out.

riveratom · 29-03-2014 12:41AM

Duiske wrote: »

That sprint probably added a few weeks to your lazy ass life. You should be thanking the guy.

How's that then?

riveratom · 29-03-2014 12:42AM

WikiHow wrote: »

Does one not have to go to the taxi first in line at rank no?

I mean further back up the rank, this guy was first in line to leave.

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 12:42AM

WikiHow wrote: »

Does one not have to go to the taxi first in line at rank no?

Nope. Despite what the bullies outside the Gresham would have you believe.

kenmc · 29-03-2014 12:43AM

WikiHow wrote: »

Does one not have to go to the taxi first in line at rank no?

no, but they like to make you think you do. why should you settle for a clapped out 03 corrola when there's a 141 7 series right behind it....

tomwaterford · 29-03-2014 12:43AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It is a public service vehicle, hence the name Small Public Service Vehicle.

Driver can't unreasonably refuse journey under 30km.

The Backwards Man wrote: »

It's not that's he's off hire, he can't be on the rank unless he's plying for hire and he can't refuse a fare to Swords whether he likes it or not.

fukk it anyway...I in town (Waterford) yesterday,and your told me...he didn't have to bring me to train station as it was his vechicle,and I ended up having to walk:mad:

your 100% right here:)

Strumms · 29-03-2014 12:43AM

Lots of stories about taxi drivers operating out of the airport and giving customers grief.. Me included... I'm in Glasnevin and I've been given the passive aggressive silent treatment to down right abusive. Now I just politely state my destination and keep quiet... If they turn out to be nice guys and want a chat great I will also tip... If they get mouthy so do I.. STFU and drive...

riveratom · 29-03-2014 12:43AM

WikiHow wrote: »

Are you going to complain to the regulator OP?

That's the plan, have his plate number. Just wondering if anyone had any response back from the regulator.

Kaizersoze81 · 29-03-2014 12:44AM

In fairness it's about 300 metres from middle of Dawson st to Pearse st station. I'd refuse to take you too. Ridiculous distance to expect a taxi to take you.

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 12:45AM

tomwaterford wrote: »

fukk it anyway...I in town (Waterford) yesterday,and your told me...he didn't have to bring me to train station as it was his vechicle,and I ended up having to walk:mad:

your 100% right here:)

Usually does fcuk all good but the next time it happens get their details and complain here.

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 12:48AM

riveratom wrote: »

That's the plan, have his plate number. Just wondering if anyone had any response back from the regulator.

They are usually very good at responding (I'm even on the Christmas card list:pac:), taking action not so much.

One thing though, there's more chance of them taking action if they know about it than if they don't.

riveratom · 29-03-2014 12:49AM

Kaizersoze81 wrote: »

In fairness it's about 300 metres from middle of Dawson st to Pearse st station. I'd refuse to take you too. Ridiculous distance to expect a taxi to take you.

You're either available for hire or you're not so who cares whether you or this driver thinks it's a ridiculous distance.

tomwaterford · 29-03-2014 12:50AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Usually does fcuk all good but the next time it happens get their details and complain here.

I will...it could be months before ill get a taxi again....usually its out home to the backend of nowhere (25+ miles)...they ask for payment beforehand...is this allowed??

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 12:55AM

tomwaterford wrote: »

I will...it could be months before ill get a taxi again....usually its out home to the backend of nowhere (25+ miles)...they ask for payment beforehand...is this allowed??

Yeah, technically it has to be by way of a waiver signed by the customer that they have agreed to a set fare beforehand.

Journey of that distance I would say it's fair enough the driver looked for the money up front.

Stavros Murphy · 29-03-2014 12:59AM

I applied for a PSV licence, got it, got the car, the whole nine yards. It then dawned on me that I'd have to drive fcukers around, wherever they wanted to go. Fcuk that.

tomwaterford · 29-03-2014 01:00AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Yeah, technically it has to be by way of a waiver signed by the customer that they have agreed to a set fare beforehand.

Journey of that distance I would say it's fair enough the driver looked for the money up front.

TBF anything id sign in them states of drunkness definetly wouldnt stand up to attention
I wasn't complaining....I suppose it fair enough though...the town would be empty by the time he'd get back

The Backwards Man · 29-03-2014 01:02AM

Stavros Murphy wrote: »

I applied for a PSV licence, got it, got the car, the whole nine yards. It then dawned on me that I'd have to drive fcukers around, wherever they wanted to go. Fcuk that.

So you decided to drive us around the bend instead?:P

Tasden · 29-03-2014 01:06AM

I went to the first taxi at a rank once and was only looking to go about ten/fifteen minutes drive away, so I asked him was that ok before I got in because I assumed they wouldn't want to, and he laughed at me for asking

said a fares a fare in these times so get in.
On many nights out we've used the "will 20 get us wherever?" and 99% of drivers will say yeah ok.
Taxi drivers get a lot of bad things said about them but the majority I've encountered have been lovely.

Since when do taxi drivers get to pick and choose their fares?

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