tuscanlifeedit

We had a puzzling experience in a London black cab this summer. We went from Trafalgar Square to our hotel near the Tower Hill tube station. The ride seemed inordinately long, and when we got there, the meter read 18£. It seemed high and the ride had seemed long, but we were in a good mood and had had a great evening, so we weren't particularly upset. My husband handed the driver 20£. The driver handed him back 12£, and chatted and joked with us. OK, but what about that meter reading?

Robert2533

Yes, you were "ripped off".

janisj

letsgo39: It is almost certain you <u>were not ripped off in London</u>. Trust me on this. The streets around Paddington station are a VERY special case. I know the area very well and have taken taxis, and car services, and driven myself through Paddington many times.

You cannot compare a trip to Paddington w/ a trip from Paddington. Simply not comparable. The one way system, construction, congestion, closures, etc etc. Just too many variables. One time our car service had to go around twice and even then had to let us off away from the station entrance simply because one lane was blocked.

London cabbies are among the most honest on Earth - chance for a rip off -- maybe .0002%

avalon

I agree with Janisj completely. London streets are always being ripped up. Right now they are replacing the old Victorian water pipes and traffic is a mess. I've heard of people being overcharged when they use a non-offical taxi but never a real "black" cab

nancicita

Would it be easier to ask the taxi driver to give a price quote before getting in the cab? If they quote me 35 euros, I say ok, and then when it's time to pay, I give 35 euros. If the price ended up being higher, I just do the "innocent shrug" and say, hey you told me 35 EUR, so that's all I got!

Nikki

If the cabs are metered, the driver has to go by the meter, so even if he estimates 35 euros for a trip, he has to charge more if it ends up being longer than expected. That "innocent shrug" won't work.

josele

Answering to OP, the meter shows the trip from the official taxi stop to your place, plus the while's been waiting for you. If you had just picked the taxi on the street, it should have been an initial fare of 2,05 to 3,10 eur depending on weekday and time. Upon arriving at the airport, you should have to pay the meter, plus 5,50 airport supplement, and that is all. Indeed you were ripped the final 8 eur. If you have the bill, do not hesitate to make a complaint.

annhig

We had a puzzling experience in a London black cab this summer. We went from Trafalgar Square to our hotel near the Tower Hill tube station. The ride seemed inordinately long, and when we got there, the meter read 18£. It seemed high and the ride had seemed long, but we were in a good mood and had had a great evening, so we weren't particularly upset. My husband handed the driver 20£. The driver handed him back 12£, and chatted and joked with us. OK, but what about that meter reading?>>

???? it looks as if the meter said £18 and you were charged £8! one up for the london cabbie, i think.

lincasanova

The way I figure it is you were perhaps overcharged 2.5 euros ( the difference between the 5.50 airport supplement and the 8 euros he told you).

He was probably pre-charging what he wanted you to tip him.!!!

FrankS

Cathy,
I was talking about the line for the taxi drivers at Madrid airport not the passengers.

alihutch

http://www.wikio.com/shopping/core/v...131188&rt=6008

Mucky

Whilst in Hamburg a few years ago on business, we took a taxi from the hotel to the office every day and back again, most days we had the same driver. This journey took around 45 mins every day and and cost a metered amount, I can't remember how much.

Anyway on the last day we were working up to a deadline and due to a flight change we changed schedule, which means we needed to leave the office as late as possible, check out at the hotel and get to the airport within around 90 mins.

The taxi driver pulled up as usual, we told him we were in a desperate hurry and for him to get us back to the hotel as quickly as possible then to the airport.

Indeed he did, he took an alleyway within 10 mins of the office and we were at the hotel within another 10 mins. Total 20 mins.

We had been metered everyday for a week for around 45 mins because he decided to rip us off by going the long way round.
Needless to say the thieving leech didn't get a tip.

I supect this is common place.




Muck

thursdaysd

Muck - that's why I use a map.

letsgo39

janisj, Thank you for the info and your opinion.I am sure you know the area much better than I do but a double bill?

Whatever.Don't care.

spaarne

letsgo39 says: <i>Chicago it's subway.Who can keep track?</i>
In Chicago it's the El, not the subway. You obviously cannot keep track. Pun intended.

I agree that London taxi drivers are the most honest in Europe. In every other country I have the driver write down his estimated price unless I am familiar with the city and know the approximate cost.

Joyce15

Wow...I didn't expect so many replies. And in response to some earlier posts, I only posted the question to help other travelers. We loved Spain and will be returning next year.

Treesa

Don't think you were ripped off. You were slightly overcharged.

Mucky

thursdaysd on Jan 3, 10 at 1:45pm
Muck - that's why I use a map.


Lol - me too when I'm paying.

janisj

<B>Letsgo39:</B> "<i>Thank you for the info and your opinion.I am sure you know the area much better than I do but a double bill?

Whatever.Don't care.</i>"

Double or even triple would not be unusual. It isn't just distance you know -- time in transit also affects the meter.

Taking a cab from point A to point B on a quiet weekend morning would cost much less than the exact same ride at 6 PM on a work day. Congestion alone might add 15 minutes and £10 or £15 to the fare.

One simply <u>cannot</u> assume a cab ride will cost the same as the same ride at another time.

The only reason I'm picking at this point is -- you think you were scammed. I'd hate for you to think that is what happened. You most likely were not cheated at all - honest. Next time you are in London, feel secure taking cabs.

danon

"Would it be easier to ask the taxi driver to give a price quote before getting in the cab?"

Only if one assumes cab drivers around the world speak your language
or one can communicate in number of languages.

In all my travels I was ripped off only in Rome ( long time ago) and in my own country on visit to another city - it was late at night, the driver realized it was our first visit and took a loooong way around.