Taxi woes

[mjb]

Got in a taxi tonight up Hanley and the dodgy bugger wanted £lots to get where we were going. So we queried it and when he wouldn't give a straight reasonable answer I told him exactly "switch the meter on please". Then it got interesting as he refused to do so and "missed" the blatant correct turning, taking a considerable detour in the opposite direction. I told him something along the lines of "OK You're dodgy, take us to $destination for £peanuts else I'm reporting you to the council" (I always make sure any cabs I get into are showing a council taxi plate on the back so thought the threat would carry some weight). Well haggling failed, so we got booted out in the middle of nowhere and I tried to use my phone to photo his plates but he decided to drive off with his passenger door open instead. Twat. He didn't even seem to be able to answer as to whether he was a private hire or hackney cab (despite the meter sitting proudly in the middle of the centre console). Hmmm

But I I got his car number plate down ok in a txt msg to myself, and he had common taxi firm (no idea which :/ ) stickers all over the car. But looking back at it, R151YNO ain't the right plate for a newish Jap (probably Toyota) car. I bloody checked 3 times though! Guessing he'd disguised the 2nd letter because I do remember the spacing being odd; maybe I could hammer some online insurance site trying to find out what lett makes for a valid car

Any idea who I should report him to? I intend to carry out my threat as far as I can. No f*cker tries to rip me off and gets away with it, especially not if they're booting me out in the middle of nowhere, and definitely not when I'm craving for more beer!



On the flip side, we got picked up shortly after by a lovely Hackney driver who despite driving a Vauxhall was utterly wonderful and said I'd done the right thing. Didn't get to ask her what to do cos my mate was drunk and spouting utter shite in the back (figuratively!) but hey.... She earned herself a nice tip

[chili]

report it to the old bill as this mug may go round getting women etc in his car