AVOID THIS PLACE!!!!
I had to go to Bournemouth today for a meeting and decided to go by train. Upon arrival, I caught a taxi in front of Bournemouth Rail Station--yellow taxi with Streamline Warrens/Radio Cabs logo. The man gave me a quote of 'about £8.00' and was pleasant throughout the journey. He took me directly to my destination in less than 10 mins (in heavy morning rush hour traffic). When we reached the office the metre showed £6.80--and that is what he charged me, even though he quoted £8.00.
However, when I was leaving the meeting, the office offered to call me a taxi to take me back to the station. A man from United Taxis arrived and did not give me a quote (I mistakenly presumed it would be about what I had paid earlier.). I said I wanted to go to the station and he kept hinting I should go to the coast, he said he was 'heading that way anyways'. He continually pointed out the route to the coast and kept saying he could take me there and I should go before leaving Bournemouth. I continually insisted I wanted to go to the station. He drove very VERY slowly--I saw the speedometer at just over 20 mph when the speed limit was actually 40 mph.
He slowed down even more every time we approached a green traffic light (the closer we got to the light/intersection, the slower he would go) and he completely stopped at the roundabouts, even though there was no one to our right (other cars next to us were driving through the roundabout whilst we sat and he chatted about the coast or night clubs until the car behind us would honk for him to go). Cars were going around us and honking as he was starting to hold up traffic--especially at every single intersection we crossed when he slowed down for no reason (other than in the hopes of catching a red light and running up the metre even further?). He did not go the same way the first driver took me, and I saw that we actually drove past the station TWICE! I was about to ask to be let out of the car when he slowly pulled into the station (the third time we passed it!). In total, this journey took 16.9 mins--I timed it on the stop watch feature on my Iphone--and it cost £10.00.
I have never seen anything like this in my life. It was quite obvious he was trying to run up the metre as much as possible and I was very angry for being so blatantly taken advantage of. Maybe this company just goes after tourist? --as I see they have a few old, positive reviews from people who claim to be locals..
My company pays for all of my travel expenses, but had I been paying for this I would have been furious and said something. As it was, I was just trying to catch my train after a long day of meetings. I wasn't sure what to do whilst I was in the car--tell him to speed up to the speed limit? Demand to be let out, even though I didn't know where I was? Tell him I refuse to pay more than I had paid on my trip to/from the same destinations earlier in the day? What is one meant to do when you can clearly see the driver is deliberately inflating the fare??
I have this guy's driver license number and Taxi/PH Plate Number--or at least, the one he gave me (I am happy to pass this on to anyone who asks) and I have reported him/this company to the various relevant agencies. Whilst I can appreciate this taxi was just £3.00 more expensive, it's still the principle that drivers/companies should not intentionally run up fares. This is a very bad practice, reflects Very poorly on the whole company, and generally gives the industry a bad reputation. £3.00 from me, and £3.00 from someone else will eventually add up.
I have further meetings in Bournemouth, and I will NOT be using United Taxis again. My office has been advised not to use this company again, and I would NOT recommend United Taxis to anyone. I have found a lot of information online about taxi driver scams (throughout the world, not just Bournemouth!) and what to look out for, etc. (I can share this with anyone who asks!) read more