Telford residents are sending a warning to fellow taxi-users after claiming a driver became abusive and threatening in the early hours of the morning.
Ruth Lister, from Shawbirch, booked a car with Central Taxis to take her and five others to and from a 50th birthday party in Wolverhampton on Saturday, September 19. The trip required the driver to make a number of drop-offs at the end of the evening.
Miss Lister was quoted £75 for the round trip and paid the full fee, to include the return journey, after being dropped off at the party.
But when the driver returned in the small hours, she said he began ‘demanding’ more money.
“The driver started demanding more money off of us at 1.30am and was very abusive and threatening,” said Miss Lister.
“We wanted drop offs at Muxton, The Rock and Shawbirch but coming back from Muxton he pulled over into the bus stop and said ‘I am not having this’.
“We had already paid him £75 and he was asking for another £10 on top. He was very abusive and aggressive. It’s not like we were a bunch of teenagers – the average age in the car was 40.
“It ruined the night.”
Another passenger in the car that night, who asked not to be named, said: “He stopped on a main road and opened the back door and told us to get out. I have never been in a situation like that.
“It is only an extra £10.
“I was angry somebody could turn round at that stage and say he needed more money.”
In the end, the group paid the tenner, got a receipt and arrived home safe and sound.
All efforts to obtain a £10 refund have so far failed.
Miss Lister said she wanted to warn other people in Telford that the same could happen to them.
“My concern as we head towards Christmas is how many people will be too plastered to realise what is happening?” she said.
A spokesperson for Central Taxis Limited legal and contract department said: “We are very aware of this customer’s complaint.
“Central Taxis Limited take all such complaints very seriously and we are applying all our resources to completely resolve this matter in a professional and satisfactory manner. It would therefore be unethical and unfair to a valued customer to expostulate in a public forum.”
By Chrissy Symmons
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