Taxi waiting time fee

feduptraveller

I take my children to school in a taxi several times a week (3-4 times), as we only have one car, and it's too far for them to walk or cycle. I generally use the same taxi company, and have a good relationship with the drivers. I pay a standard rate.

This morning the driver asked for a higher fare once we'd reached the school (around 20% higher). When I asked why, he said he added a waiting time fee, as we were more than 3 minutes late in getting into the taxi after the time I had booked it for.

I paid, but was quite annoyed by this. We were in the taxi and ready to go 6 min past the time I had booked it for. The drivers are sometimes 5-10 minutes late in getting to our house, this happens at least once a week.

I understand that they have a tight schedule in the mornings, but shouldn't any penalty fees be clearly stated in advance? Also, given that the taxis are often late, it doesn't seem fair to have a penalty fee, but receive no discount when they are late?

I asked the taxi company for their policy, but they just said that it's up to each individual driver.

I just wondered what other people thought, and if this is a common thing (it's never happened to me before). Thank you!

agrinnall

Were you paying cash? If so, just pay the fare and let him sue you for any extra that he thinks he's owed. And don't give him a tip for being a tw8t.

davidmcn

feduptraveller wrote: »

I asked the taxi company for their policy, but they just said that it's up to each individual driver.

Certainly normal for there to be a charge for waiting time in the council-dictated tariff e.g.
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/4118/taxi_fare_card_from_18_june_2018.pdf
- whether the driver starts the meter running the second they arrive is I suppose up to them, but they can't charge more than what they're allowed.

charlotte1994

feduptraveller wrote: »

, it doesn't seem fair to have a penalty fee, but receive no discount when they are late?

I asked the taxi company for their policy, but they just said that it's up to each individual driver.

You're right! It's not very fair that they're happy being late but not happy waiting for an extra 2 minutes. I can see why they charge, a lot of companies do. It should really be in the policy. I don't think it's fair, I can see why they would charge if they have to wait 5-10 minutes as passengers should know when they want the taxi for.

I was once waiting for a taxi, he started beeping the horn as soon as I was locking the door, I can't have been more than 30 seconds from when he first arrived! I was waiting at the window.

Maybe mention it casually to another taxi driver next time if you feel comfortable? The ones you get to know might be more sympathetic

Johno100

Are we talking about a Taxi (AKA Black Cab, Hackney Carriage) or a Private Hire Vehicle (AKA Minicab) here?

CardinalWolsey

You understandably get annoyed when the taxi is late to pick you up - quite possibly because their previous fare was late getting in to the cab. Yet you feel that you should be able to keep the cab waiting - free of charge and therefore at the cab drivers cost - when you can't get out of the front door on time?

Three minutes waiting I think is fare enough (sic), but the six minutes you state you were late I don't see why you shouldn't pay for. A cab drivers time is money.

KatrinaWaves

As said in previous replies, time is money. You book them from a certain time, you have to pay from that time.

You don’t get a discount for them being late because if you book a 30 min journey you get s 30 min journey, they don’t give you a twenty minute ride instead and say ‘sorry I gotta leave now, walk the rest of the way’ likewise if they turn up early they don’t start the meter running.

You are moaning about them sometimes being late but you do realise they will be late for their next client because you did this this time... bit hypocritical.

If them being 10 mins late causes you a financial loss then I would absolutely contact the cab company but that’s not really a scenario that is common.

feduptraveller

Johno100 it's a Hackney Carriage, with a meter (although they normally charge a flat rate within the town boundaries).

Cardinal, I understand that being late causes problems and costs money, and happy to stick to a rule if that is what they want to enforce. But it doesn't seem fair to come up with an arbitrary cut-off point without telling customers first?

KatrinaWaves

How was it arbitrary? Was it the cost of the meter for 3/6 minutes? That’s not arbitrary and they wouldn’t need to inform customers that charges start from the time of booking as that’s implied.

If he said ‘it’s a tenner cos you kept me waiting’ then that would be abitrary...

JuicyJesus

feduptraveller wrote: »

Johno100 it's a Hackney Carriage, with a meter (although they normally charge a flat rate within the town boundaries).

That doesn't make sense really. A Hackney carriage is one you would flag down or pick up from a rank, so it's not clear how you'd possibly be late for one.

If you called to book it (or used a website or app to do so) it's private hire. Different rules apply there.

feduptraveller

JuicyJesus, ok, thanks for clarifying. The taxis are licensed Hackney carriages, and they are sometimes on the rank, but can also be pre-booked. They have a crest on the side of the car. I call them a week ahead to pre-book.

Are the fees on the meter different when they are pre-booked?