How do I get my money back ?
 

I went into the office of CB taxis and booked a minibus for my family to and from Manchester airport. On arrival at Manchester airport the driver demanded the full balance for the drop-off and pick-up of £100. I wrote all the pick-up details down for the driver (a copy of which had already been left with the office) of our return flight number, arrival time and arranged to be collected at 9:30am on Saturday morning.....

We arrived at Manchester airport at 9:20am after an exhausting long-haul flight, we had 3 small children with us and so were not very happy when we found there was no taxi waiting for us. We waited for half an hour and then called the office, we were told the driver was on his way and would be there in 10-15 mins, so we waited....

At 10:30am we called the office again and were told that the person on the switch-board had just come on duty and didn't know anything about it, we were told to call back in 5-10 mins.

We called back at 10:40am and were told that the driver was on his way, when we asked where he was and how long he would be the switch board guy said he didn't know.

At 11:00am we called again (the taxi was now 90mins late) and were told there had been a huge accident on the motorway and the taxi was 15-20 mins away. There happened to be a police officer in the building and so my husband asked if he could radio through and find out about this 'huge accident', the policeman did so and surprise, surprise there was no accident.

By this time it was 11:25am, the taxiu was almost 2 hours late and we were freezing, we had no more the a few pounds in english money on us and there was still no sign of the taxi, we called the office back to be told that the taxi would be there in 15-20 mins, at this stage my husband told the switch board that we were gpoing to catch a taxi from outside the terminal because it was obvious that the taxi wasn't going to arrive and that we would expect reimbersing on our return, the switchboard operator said this was fine, so after finding a cash point and haing to withdraw £100 from my credit card we got a taxi home, which we paid £100 for.

When my husband went down to CB's office he was greated with hostility, he asked to speak to the boss who basically told him it was an issue between us and the driver, mothing to do with him. The driver admitted he had forgot to pick us up and was on another job when switchboard called him, he said he got to the airport at 11:35am (2hour and 5 mins late) and refused any refund because 'he got there eventually'. After at hour of arguing the boss and driver offered my husband £35 'to shut him up', which I am sure you will understand he refused.

Where do I go from here? who do I contact to make an offical complaint? Is there any chance of getting our money back ?

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

Ring 'em up again and tell 'em you're going to the Accy Observer with the story. There is nowt like bad publicity for any story. If you don't get the dosh back then, then you need to go to the small claims court, as well as getting them rubbished in the local press.

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

go to the taxi licencing dept at cannon street office,accross from the old con club and ask to speak to the person in charge of issueing taxi licences etc, they will investigate it for you,take all paperwork and receipts with you.

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

The behavior of CB taxis is once again terrible, what the hell is the boss doing passing the book to the driver? the blame ultimately stays with him being the prop. and all.

If I were you I would ring BOTH local rags, then get down to the license dept. and just wait and see how quick he offers you the full amount back.

Don't let them get away with this as they will only do it again and again.

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

With the amount of press reading the forum, no doubt they have already seen this story.:rolleyes:

Good Luck in getting a Refund, just dont give up.

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

I think thats an awful end to your holiday Joanne, I'm with Tealeaf on this, full refund or maximum publicity.

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

That is terrible hope you get your money back

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

Well That's what ya get for using CB taxi's!!

You should have used Hyndburn cabs

As Alan says, go to the taxi license office down at the council and ask to speak to Mr,Alan Golding. He is good and will probably be able to help you.

It's a disgrace that they think they can treat you like that. :mad:

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

What a shocking tale! :eek:

You must be livid. I hope you take the advice offered and end up getting your money back.

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

As one who sucessfully sued a holiday firm once - a small claims court might well give you ALL your money back

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

Well if that,s the case i would go to the the observer and the web site is Accrington Observer

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

simple...go with a reputable firm ...?bettys ?...
and if it were me I would go out at night with some thinners in squeezy bottle and look for one of their taxis - if I am out of pocket - then so will they...

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

Agreed!! Id never use any taxi firm like that, i refuse to pay the price they cahrge and dont like the way they drive like Narain Karthikeyan, dont bother with seat belts, dont answer you properly and politly and in my eyes dont earn the money they charge. Ive walked home from Ewood Park before instead of paying for a rip off taxi

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

I've got 3 taxi firms numbers in my mobile - Kenyon's in Hassy, Bash Cabs and the firm ginger works for. Mainly use Kenyons though. Trust them ive known the owners for roundabout 30 years you cant beat a taxi firm you can trust.

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

i had a run in with c/b cabs on sunday, i ordered a minibus for 12 of us to go to game cock sunday lunch time .....rang them 10am on the same day to confirm the booking told yes all ok 11-45am outside regency ......11-55am 1 6 seater turned up .....i packed him off ...... waited .. then rang them oh sorry was told but the 12 seater broken down ......you will have to have 2 6 seaters ...i replied you could have told me that when i rang at 10am .....by now im blazing ...had 2 more pick up's on way ......1 x 6 seater arrived he said you paying me now .....no says i wait for me over there & i'll pay you then ..........another 5 mins passes & my 6 seater arrives by this time its getting on for 12-10lunch time ......we picked up on way & as we approached the pub ....(game cock) i said right were's the other taxi he dosn't seem to be here ...i aint paid him ......tough !! i gave the taxi driver his money & the other taxi drivers money too & told him firmly that i would not be using them coming back or ever again ...... stick with it joanne get your money back & i hope you get compensation too. good luck .

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

Got a cheque (although we paid cash) from the proprietor for £100 after threatening to give the story to the observer of "family with small children left stranded at airport by C.B. taxis".

The proprietor tried to put the blame on everyone from Virgin Airline (he said they had not posted the arrival times on texitext), my husband, saying he gave them the wrong details, and other customers saying that they are often let down and ripped off by other customers!!

In the end I told him that we would leave it in the hands of the puplic and the councils taxi licencing department. This seemed to change his attitude but I am not sure whether this was due to the threat of bad publicity or the fear of being investigated, apparently the driver who took us to the airport had only been in the country 6 weeks (therefore was he registered to driver the taxi?) and the also openly admitted that he had forgot to pick us up and had then gone on another job which is why he didn't get there until after 11:40am (we had booked him for 9:30am).

I am still blazing at the way we have been treated and I just hope that the cheque doesn't bounce now or I will be annoyed.

Thank you all for your advise and support xx

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

What's the licencing procedure for a taxi driver ?

Sounds like the company should be investigated as a whole by the authorities

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

That's great news, glad you got your money back in the end:)
But would it not take more that 6 weeks to get a driving licence never mind a taxi licence

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

Think you should still go to the paper to warn people of how this firm operate. No way should you have been left waiting about at the airport as you were. If you get on to the paper it could stop some other family going through the same in the future.

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

Well it can take between 6-8 weeks for a CRB check to come back!! ( and thats for checks on British people ) :rolleyes:

Then they have to go through the Exam, which has to be done in English. In this test you have to do a Knowledge exam ( street names, areas ) and how to get to them. Now i'm sorry, but NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY that has only been here for 6 weeks will have the foggiest about streets and places. :mad: Then you have to attend a 6 week collage course.

Something smells a funny colour here to me!! and I would still report it to the taxi enforcement officers down at the council. It's Idiots like these that are giving the GOOD taxi drivers a bad name, and it really gets up my bloody nose. :mad:

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

£100!!!!

I'm a regular in Manchester and it costs £25 to get there from Ossy and £25 back!!!.. Ossy Taxi's all the way, censored those *CENSORED* censored..!!! ROBBING GITS THATS ALL THEY ARE!!

CANT BELIEVE IT... £100!!!!!!

JESUS F**** CHRIST!!!

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

It aint he's fault...:rolleyes:

Re: How do I get my money back ?
 

Cb's whole attitude is bad, the most common annoyance of not being a customer is they think they own the road!!! There is a taxi rank on street between bees knees & Baileys - whole roads specially for taxi/private hire parking - yet its not good enough for CB's no - they have to take up public parking on Cannon st [adjacent church] too, which really gets my back up cos deprives parking for other road users - plus EVEN when all spaces are taken again its still not content with that so they darn park parallel to other parked car on the entrance to the road from church st, so blocking the blumming road!!!! As spotted a few times :mad:

Wonder if hyjack of other operators still go on that another firm were guilty of :rolleyes: or are they now on digital waves????