Horror Story, Profiteering from Travel Misery

[peecee]

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.

[Jacqui Harvey]

Update he is still in the queue for the Hotel 6 hours now.

[tinkerman]

The taxis in Newbury have a starting price of £10...gits

[legless]

Hire car not an option ?

Ron

[Jacqui Harvey]

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!!!

[scareylady]

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

[littlereddevil]

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.

[milliemars]

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.

[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.

[Jacqui Harvey]

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.