Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
General Topics => All things that have nothing to do with Turkey => Topic started by: Jacqui Harvey on December 18, 2010, 20:36:14 PM
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My Son-in-law came from offshore, on Thursday. After a long journey he arrived at Heathrow today, Saturday, at 11.00 to get his flight to Aberdeen. Firstly, B.A. lost his bag, he waited in a queue for 2 hours to see someone, and they told him to go back wait at the carousels, he did for 2 hours, no bag turned up. Then he had to get in a queue to find out if he could re-book his flight. He waited for 4 hours in the queue. He had nothing to eat or drink. Then there was an announcement that the Airport was closing and everyone should leave as there where no more flights. The Holiday Inn at the Airport which usually charges £75.00 per night were now charging £400.00 per night. My daughter in Aberdeenshire booked my Son-in-law an Hotel 3 miles from Heathrow. He got outside the airport and found a queue for taxis. He waited 2 hours. When the taxi arrived he was told that the Hotel was out of the taxis limit and he would not go there unless my Son-in-law paid £65.00 for the 3 mile trip. He paid it. He has now been told there are no flights to Aberdeen until Monday morning. so another night in the Hotel at £140.00 per night, with no luggage, he was making a trip to get some essentials when he got to the Hotel. It seems to me that all the vultures come out and make a profit from the misery travellers are suffering.
What must tourists think of rip off Britain? I am so mad, I am just fizzing about the way my Son-in-law has been treated.[:(!]
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Never mind what a tourist thinks of 'Rip off Britain'! We live with it day in and day out and are totally fed up with being explolited! Only light on the horizon is 'It will get worse'!:(
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This is a sickening story Jacqui,Talk about kick a man when he's down!
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I would be very tempted to contact all the daily nationals Jacqui. The "Rip off" merchants should not be allowed to get away with this: :)
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I agree, publicly name and shame Jacqui.
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That is terrible...Definatly name and shame.
All the taxi cab companies in the Dartford / Crayford area put their fares up to double when the first snow flakes fell.
What ever happened to pulling together?? Helping each other out ect?? Let's hope there is never another war on home shores ... Goodness knows what these profiteers whould do then!!
Maybe for a little bit of feel good we could name any companies or people that do help out when times are hard or the snow is thick on the ground??
I will stat with my lovely hairdresser Sophie... Who has bought a pair of hiking boots so that she can walk the 3 miles to work in the morning so that all her customers can still have their hair done before Xmas!! lol :D
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Name and Shame.
My Son-in-law has told my daughter that the taxis where all black cabs. They only wanted to take passengers into London so they could stay there and pick up more fares, they did not want to come back to Heathrow and did not want short journeys near the airport, which is why they did not want to take my Son-in-law. In the end after he was refused by about 5 cabs he started to shout and one guy said he would take him but would have to charge the full fare to London which was £65.00. As he had been stood freezing in the snow for 2 hours he had no choice but to pay this amount for a three mile trip.
This morning my daughter has managed to get him into an Hotel near the Airport
for this evening, it's a Radisson Hotel and she managed to find a discount website and instead of £300.00 she has paid £50.00. but the Radisson said that her husband must show the credit card used for the booking when he arrives. My daughter told them it's in Scotland, so now they have told her she must fill in a form they are sending her and scan the credit card back and front and send an email to them with the card scan... Total madness, they both have the same last name and all the Radisson need to do is check with the Bank.
Last night my Son-in-Law was so cold and tired he got into bed with all his clothes on and fell asleep.
My daughter was telling me that the besides the Holiday Inn wanting £400.00 per night the Travelodge (normally £39) are now charging £299.00 per night. Thank goodness she has a computer and can book for my Son-in-law. I pity anyone on their own at the Airport without internet access.
Incidentally, no news of his bag, apparently there are hundreds of missing bags. So he has to go to Debenhams this morning to buy some essentials.
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An absolutely sickening experience. What is this country coming to when all pople look at is excessive profit. When the ash cloud caused hundreds of tourists to get stuck abroad the UK media was full of stories of how people were ripped off - they want to do a story on the shame of our own country
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Thats a terrible story, I agree with the others, name and shame, just hope all is ok now,
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No, he went to the hotel at Heathrow and was in a queue in the snow for 5 hours waiting to get in to the desk to check in. Apparently, there is over booking and Expedia booked their customers in and there where no rooms. There are people wandering around outside the Hotel who have been told to go to Leicester square for Hotels. Expedia laid on a coach, but the driver got fed up waiting and left. My Son-in-law has now found out his flight tomorrow has been cancelled... The nightmare continues.
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I'm pretty sure that a taxi at the airport cannot refuse a fare. If it happens again he might want to get the cab licence no and report him to relevant authorities (and tell the driver that is what will happen) They have to accept whatever fare first comes along no matter how short or long the journey.
Sounds like a nightmare for him, hope he gets home soon.
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Update he is still in the queue for the Hotel 6 hours now.
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The taxis in Newbury have a starting price of £10...gits
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Hire car not an option ?
Ron
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We thought of that, but the roads are so bad around Edinburgh we doubt he would get through. He finally got into the Hotel after 6 3/4 hours his shoes and socks are soaking after standing in the snow outside the Hotel. The Hotel has run out of food so he is off to the MacDonalds!!
Incidentally, his Mum and Dad have been stuck in Tenerife for two days after their flights back to Edinburgh were cancelled!!!
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Hi There PeeCee is quiet right about the London Taxi's ... If they have their light on they HAVE to accept the passanger they stop for or they can lose their licence. Not much use to him now but worth noting for the future. xx
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When we were stuck at Heathrow a couple of years ago we paid £300 to stay at the Crowne Plaza for around 6 hours. I'm too old to be sleeping in airports! They are a total ripoff.
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Black Taxi,s at Heathrow hate taking local fares at anytime,they are all so greedy.We flew in a few years back,and went to a black taxi to take us to the Hotel where we had left out car.The taxi driver done nothing but moan about having to wait in line for an hour and then get a local fare.
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Just to clarify.
A Taxi for hire at Heathrow Airport is legally required to take a fare up to 20 miles if it is inside Greater London. If the destination is even 100 yards outside this area the passenger and driver negotiate a price. The driver is not legally required to take the passenger to their destination if it is outside Greater London. The passenger is entitled to negotiate with as many other drivers as they wish.
This is also the case for a Taxi for hire in London that stops for a passenger. It is a legal requirement to take a fare up to 12 miles, or an hour's duration, if the destination is within Greater London. Again, if it is outside these parameters then the driver and passenger can negotiate a price.
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quote:
Originally posted by Princess Fiona
Just to clarify.
A Taxi for hire at Heathrow Airport is legally required to take a fare up to 20 miles if it is inside Greater London. If the destination is even 100 yards outside this area the passenger and driver negotiate a price. The driver is not legally required to take the passenger to their destination if it is outside Greater London. The passenger is entitled to negotiate with as many other drivers as they wish.
This is also the case for a Taxi for hire in London that stops for a passenger. It is a legal requirement to take a fare up to 12 miles, or an hour's duration, if the destination is within Greater London. Again, if it is outside these parameters then the driver and passenger can negotiate a price.
I think all that was not taken into account by my Son-in-law who had waited 9 hours in the airport and then two hours in the snow outside the airport waiting for a taxi. It seemed that the taxi drivers were making there own rules as they went along as they had all the passengers exactly where they wanted them.[:(!]
Latest news is my Son-in-laws flight has been cancelled again tomorrow, he is staying in the Hotel tonight, but tomorrow there are no more Hotels at Heathrow with rooms. He is heading into London to try to get a train or a bus. Of course the Heathrow express is not running so it's going to be £65.00 by taxi (or whatever the drivers are charging tomorrow) to get into London.:-\
Incidentally for all those moaning about the price of Efes in Calis. It's £4.50 for a pint of beer in the Hotel at Heathrow. :o
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National Express operate a Hotel Hoppa which serves 21 hotels around Heathrow Airport for just £4 each way door to door, from all terminals and the Central Bus Station.
http://www.heathrow-airport-guide.co.uk/transport.html
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Thanks for that, I will tell my daughter who has been on the internet all day trying to find some transport for my Son in law.
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can fly stansted to glasgow for £30 on the 21st with ryanair if that is any use
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Thanks for that Steve, but he has already booked an open train ticket which means he is not guaranteed a seat, he just has to turn up and can get a train to, hopefully, Aberdeen. The cost of this magic ticket...£209.00. Up to now their bill is £1,000.
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Well, he got the train this morning at 6.15am to Aberdeeen. When they got outside Peterborough all the lights went off and the train stopped. Apparently the train behind them pulled all the power lines down, so now they are waiting for an engine to pull them back to the Station and have been told it will be a long wait... I really just can't believe anyone could have such bad luck, there seems no end to this.
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After 14 hours on various train routes the one from Newcastle to Aberdeen broken down at Edinburgh. My Son-in-law took the train to Kirkcaldy and stayed at his parents last night. Today, his Brother in Law drove him up to Aberdeen, so it has taken 6 days to get up here since he arrived at Heathrow and cost over £1,000... and still no bag.:([:(!] :o
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On the news at 6pm tonight the head honcho at Heathrow is offering not to take his bonus,not much comfort to your son- in- law Jacqui or the customers who have been stuck at the airport for 4 days :(
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I think him and the Transport Minister should both resign, if it was up to me they would both be jailed.
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Hi Jacqui, bit late in to this conversation, but just wanted to say im sorry for your son in laws problems, how blooming awful for him. I also just wanted to clarify, not all black cab drivers are the same, I am Hackney carriage licensed, and I drive a black cab at the weekends. By law we can not refuse a fare, at all, no sir ree. I appreciate your soninlaw had other things on his mind rather than get the cabbys number (always displayed in the back of a cab with our photo i.d.'s) (which also must be on display) some cabbys dont display these for reasons of being complained about. but just so you all know for future, you have every right to demand a black cab driver take you to your destination, and if not just say you'll report them to Hackney Carriage, they soon will take you. Also just wanted to agree with the majority that as soon as the snow hit in my town in Essex some petrol stations prices went up! On saturday I was in the cab (working) when the snow hit, and had a fare on board, so i turned the meter off, and we picked up people on the way that were walking and stranded, I had 5 random people in the back and they were all so appreciative of me picking them up and not charging. They tried to pay me but i wouldnt accept. droppped them all off as near to their homes as I could, got stuck going back to my house, 10 minute journey too 1.5 hours for me to get home. Got home and snuggled up happy in the knowledge that I had helped some people and got them home safely. Not all black cabbys are bad, just some are miserable giits. Sorry for your troubles Jacqui x
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Horrendous tale of doom and gloom.I'm told that an email address is up and running direct to Number Ten.Pretty sure that they would be very interested in your saga,especially the price hikes. Nothing to lose by so doing and who knows someone with "clout" may put a stop to this nonsense ! x
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Nice one nuttybird
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Indeed GB. Well done nuttybird:D
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If only NB had been at Heathrow to pick up my Son-in-law, could do with a few more like her. Still no bag, but he is happy to be home for my 6 month old Granddaughter's first Christmas. I really hope he will get his money back from B.A. but I don't hold out a lot of hope.
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NuttyBird a big, no huge pat on the back for you.
I am probably going to get slammed now from all quarters, but who cares.
If you travel anytime of the year and there is s delay or problem, get on with it! accept that 'S***e happens'
Happy Christmas everyone: :)
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Well done NuttyBird.A good deed is always rewarded.
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Hi NB
I've been driving a London Licensed Taxi for 25 years and I would like to confirm as correct the facts previously posted in this thread, referring to the details of when a driver is not obliged to take a fare.
Also, is this a new requirement about the photo id? Where exactly should it be displayed?
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quote:
Originally posted by Shrek
Also, is this a new requirement about the photo id? Where exactly should it be displayed?
It isn't new in Liverpool. Taxi's here have displayed both the drivers id and the cabby's local authority registration number for years now and they have to be in full view of the passengers. Four years ago arriving late at Liverpool airport a cabbie tried to rip us off and I reported him to the airport for which he received a month ban from picking up there but also they reported him to the local carriage authority! Only way to get rid of 'Rip off' merchants is to report them! :(
Well done NB!!:D
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I had two ideas for Christmas travel, a good one and a really good one.
The first idea was to book flights so we could spend the last weekend before Christmas in Belfast. A good idea that the kids would love. I found the flights and had them ready on the website to book. As things turned out, Edinburgh Airport was closed on the day of our flight out and Belfast at a standstill on the day that would have been our return. The better idea I had was not to bother booking any flights.
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Hi Shrek, Yes photo I.D. along with your licence number must be displayed in the taxi for clients to see. If you have a black cab then it must be displayed on the screen (seperating you from the client) behind you. Also Hackney carriage licensed taxi drivers can not turn a fare down. I wanted to get a taxi from Fenchurch St one night to Liverpool Street, i would usually walk this but not at 11pm at night, the cabby said no he wouldnt take me, so I walked behind his cab and took his number, he asked what I was doing and I told him I was going to report him as he couldnt refuse a fare, he knew what i was talking about so then changed his mind and let me get in his cab! the fare was £5 (so I appreciate its not a great run) but even still with his rudeness I gave £10 to make it a worthwhile journey. He apologised and all was fine. I got my license 4 years ago this coming January. My Dad has been a black cabby for 35 years now as well. Im just stating what I was told by the licensing officer. Thanks all, no pat on the back needed, its just common sense, when the snow fell people where struggling and it was horrible to see, so i picked them up x Merry Christmas all xx
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Just to clarify the Black Cab situation at Heathrow. I was speaking to my Son in law about it yesterday. He told me that it was explained to him by a woman who was calling in the cabs and putting passengers in them, that the Black Cabs at the Airport are Metropolitian cabs which means they will take you in the London Metro area. As he was going three miles to an Hotel in Staines, it was outwith the area as it was in Surrey, which is why no one would take him. After three refusals, the fourth black cab guy told him he would take him to Staines, (this was only when my Son in Law got into the cab and refused to move), but he had to charge £65.00 as it was outwith the Black Cab remit. My son in law told me that at that stage of being in the Airport for 9 hours then outside in the snow for 2 hours waiting for a cab he would have paid £500.00 just to get to an Hotel that night.