Grrr… Sydney taxis
Two whinges in two days? There must be something in the water! However…
I’m not sure how I haven’t blogged about cabs in Sydney before because today certainly isn’t the first time I’ve been disappointed. Perhaps having lived in London for five years before moving here, I was spoiled? Did you know every black cab driver there has to learn 320 routes around the capital and pass an exam called the Knowledge? It takes between two and four years!
Last night, I booked cab with Silver Service (“Sydney’s first and largest luxury taxi fleet”) for 7.30am this morning. I hate to say it but I fully anticipated it not being on time. It’s not because things like that always happen to me but because I’ve been let down by them–and other cab companies–on numerous occasions. When it hadn’t arrived at 7.50am, I called and was told my taxi had been allocated and would be with me in approximately 13 minutes. It’s great that they can be quite so accurate about their intended lateness and that there’s a very high tech voice-activated telephone booking system, but all I really want is for them to turn up on time.
Last week I got a cab (not Silver Service) from the office to a meeting in Kings Cross. There was no seatbelt in the back and when we got to the road I needed to be in (or so I thought), the driver told me he couldn’t help me with the number so I’d have to get out where he chose to drop me and find it myself. When I got out (after paying, of course) I found out I wasn’t even in the right street but around the corner from it. There’s no discount for being dropped vaguely where you want to be either.
Then there are the cab drivers who have GPS systems but don’t seem to know how to use them. And if one more asks me “Do you know how to get there?” I may just scream. Isn’t it the very least you can expect for a driver to have a half decent knowledge of the CBD or the ability to politely use a GPS or even an old school street map to get there?
I have given up complaining too. The last time I complained to Silver Service about being dropped a 20-minute walk from the address I’d asked for in the middle of nowhere in Alexandria, I was told they couldn’t possibly track down the driver responsible, even though I told them where I’d been picked up and at what time and where I’d been (wrongly) dropped off and at what time. And don’t even get me started on the meeting I was late for in Artarmon the other week after the very pleasant but frankly useless driver drove round and round Naremburn for 40 minutes. At least he eventually turned the meter off.
There simply isn’t enough competition in Sydney which is, in my opinion, why complaints aren’t taken seriously. If you don’t like the service, what alternative do you have?
Actually, there is one if you live in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs: a new small business called Locol. Ideal for short trips, it’s priced by distance, so if you get caught in traffic you don’t pay more. It covers the East, the airport and the CBD. It’s a long way from being as big as Sydney’s other cab companies but you can pre-book a driver you’ll get to know and trust and they promise to be reliable, friendly and safe.
I know I’m not the first to complain about Sydney taxis and I won’t be the last but the fact that something’s always been bad and you expect it to be bad isn’t a reason to get away with it.
Got something to say? Join the small business forum here at DynamicBusiness.com.au.
Don’t get me started on drivers who want to know where you want to go first before letting you in. Then turning you down because the fare is too small.
If you get in a taxi at a rank or hail one and it stops for you, that driver is legally required to take you to your destination. But Adeline is right – SO many will just refuse if it’s only a short journey. Sure, they’re small business operators who have the right to earn a decent wage – but these regulations are in place for a reason.
I was once out in Kings Cross with a friend who lives in the inner west. It was Christmastime and cabs were hard to come by. She hailed a taxi and it stopped – but as she went to get in it she was pushed out of the way by a drunk woman who clambered in and told the driver to take her to Mona Vale. As my friend and I asked him to eject this woman and allow his rightful passenger to get in the car, he just shrugged and drove off. Why? Because the fare to Mona Vale would have been at least three times the fare to the inner west. And cabbies wonder why they’re all tarred with the same brush.
Jen,
My experience with Taxi’s Combined Services and the whole Cabcharge monopoly in Sydney (whats KKK going to do about that), as a Father of babies and small children, merits a BOOK rather than a blogpost.
It includes;
looking for cabs with Baby Capsules 20 minutes before they are required (rather than 24 hours in advance as we foolishly booked),
not looking for cabs outside of your geographic area for cabs with capsules and/or child seats,
28 day long term parking (at about $15 per day) at Sydney Airport due to their incompetence etc.
Cab drivers refusing to take you at the airport because “I’ve been queuing all day and you only like 5kms” away
Regularly receiving filthy cabs many of which seem like they are about to fall apart
This is not to say that many of them are very good and well maintained, but too often we only see the cab ready for the wrecking yard and get the driver who just doesn’t care (as you describe). Lets not even start about being unable to get a cab anywhere in the suburbs, but there are literally HUNDREDS of them parked at the Airport at any time of day. It’s an entrenched failure, I’m glad you have identified another alternative, but for most people in Sydney – especially in areas with little Public Transport – you rely on the monopoly and you suffer for it.
Perhaps we need the Mexican system of private minibuses running up and down suburban streets all day just offering to pick people up to get them where they need to go? Anything would be better than the absolute Taxi disaster which is Sydney.
In any case, I’ve learned to call either Lime or one of the ‘local’ cab companies instead. If Lime can’t hire one of their own, they always pass on to one of the other companies. I’ve never had an issue in receiving a cab from them.
Another bonus? As someone with small children ALL Lime cabs have Child Seats.
Gavin
This issue needs to be kept alive. Occasionally it is raised by mainstream media and it usually runs for a few days before dying out like other news stories. Haiti anyone? People know its currently a monopoly but if they knew to what extent there would further outrage. Cabcharge own almost every taxi company or part of them. Ask Lime and Mac bank about the situation. They have a license to print money given to them by consecutive state governments. The current NSW govt will lose the next election but will the incoming Libs do anything? Probably not. Why? The list is long and filled with $$. Best of luck http://www.Locol.com.au
Few points, lets be frank no point booking with Silver Service in peak, they are going to try Silver Service cars first then just put it out to the wider Taxis Combined network, might as well go straight to Taxis combined in the first place to widen your options…
Also it doesnt matter, as someone aluded to, if you book 1 week in advance the system will only start looking 20 mins before scheduled pick up.
Also am I correct in assuming you wanted to go Lower North Shore to the City? Those cabbies are looking for an airport fare… Thats just a fact of life.. Sometimes need to suck up an early bus I guess.
I suggest finding a friendly Silver Service cabbie, one you like and asking for his card, you will often find they operate mini networks within a network of like minded quality drivers. You may find you pay a slight premium (only slight) but they will turn up when they say they will. They are also a god send when you arrive at the airport at peak.
Simon do you work for a cab company? Surely you’re not supporting them.
@Jerry- No, just a realist offering practical advice on the situation.. I think the Taxi situation is shit but Kermode has had state gov after state gov in his pocket so cant see it changing..
Franksting I completely agree this subject is worthy of a book, or at least a novella. The other day after waiting 45 minutes in Kings Cross for my taxi I finally managed to hail one assuming that my “assigned” taxi had forgotten all about me. Got in the cab and the driver was driving (and talking) at 100 km per hour, leading me to believe that he was either on some sort of narcotic or completely inconvenienced by me (it was only a fifteen minute drive – not worth it for him?). I use cabs for corporate meetings almost daily and am yet to experience a wait-free day unless I just hail one from the side of the road. But call me old f’ashioned – I like to book in advance. I know there is no such thing as “booking” in the taxi world, but I used LOCOL yesterday for a similar trip, and I was assured when I pre-booked that I was actually making a booking as opposed to adding my name to a computer that would spit it out 7 minutes before my pick up time. True to their word Locol were bang on time, the driver was an awesome bloke and it was an absolute pleasure. I say good on Locol, and Lime, for tackling the big guys at cabcharge and doing a good job while they’re at it.
It’s no better in Melbourne. Had so many bad experiences I now go out of my way not to use them, even if the journey takes longer. They are often in a really bad state, don’t turn up on time, never apologise when they’re late, have GPS systems but don’t use them and have no idea of the local area.
What I don’t understand is that this issue has been written about so much in the past, ‘our taxi system is a national embarrassment’ etc but nothing seems to have been done about it. Who knows, if the standard of the taxi service improved, the number of drink drivers might decline…
Very valid whinge Jen! The state of service (lack of) amongst Sydney\’s taxi drivers is appalling. Just last night I had a taxi driver toss me his street directory so I could look up the street since he did not know where it was! Seriously. Want me to drive the car too?
@Scott I’ve had that too. Seriously, giving me the map is NEVER a good idea!
I could fix Brisbane\’s public transport for free byut the Brisbane lord mayor has spent 8 yrs telling they want traffic gridlock & are not interested in my idea. I\’ve had my GO CARD ticket for 2 years & 2 weeks ago I got a fine for using system properly because it doesn\’t work half the time.
I definately have something to add to the discussion. My flat mate and I were picked up from kings cross and were dropped at our apartment by a ‘friendly’ Nigerian combined taxis driver. As it turns out, his friendliness extended from polite conversation to masturbation as we reached moore park. My flatmate and I were both deeply disturbed by this. I took a business card from the dash board thinking that it would have the driver’s name. I was mistaken. When I called to complain to the company services I was told that without the name I couldn’t lodge a complaint. Understandable. I called King’s cross police to report the incident. A word of warning…Don’t sit in the front seat!
LOCOL has ceased operating from the 24 April 2010
My husband and I travelled from the Hunter Valley to Sydney at the weekend for a family party. We decided to stay at a motel and use Taxis, Dumb idea as it turned out. Waited more than 45 minutes for booked cab, eventually went to the highway and flagged down a cab (silver service) the address was in Willoughby and we were in Artarmon but he needed his GPS. Eventually got there. Party over, people leaving hosts thinking of their bed and we are still waiting for the cab we booked to take us back to the motel – eventually another guest gave us a lift. Not Happy Jan!!!! Never ever again will we rely on taxis – and I have spent a long time on computer trying to find somewhere to complain. This blog is the only place to blow off steam.
I know, it’s very disappointed. Taxi services are really bad, we have to wait for a long sometimes.
I must admit there are a few drivers which can get on my nerves but ah not much we can do lol