Hello,

Does anyone know of any reliable taxi companies in Sheffield?

Twice in the last week I have booked a taxi the day before I needed it and then it not turned up on time. The worst thing was that when I called 15 mins after it was due I was told that they hadnt got a car for me yet.... What is the point of booking one?

Hopefully Ill pass my test soon but still it would be nice to know the nember of a taxi that is reliable and true to its word.

hiya
ive tried numerous different companies and they all seem as bad as each other. I was told that the problem is that the taxi operators have no control over when the drivers actually work. Perhaps thats a business idea to actually directly employ taxi's.

i Always use mercury and in over 2 years using them weekly i have only had one problem with them (a new driver couldn't find my house) there number is 01142 662 662

Last week i called a taxi to pick me and my friend up from a pub and said clearly the name and the area the pub was in. however after a ring back service to advise me the taxi was there and wasnt i called again to be told that the car had gone to a different pub with the same name, when i said that i had clearly stated the area the guy said "must have miss heard you" and that was it apart from telling me it would be over half an hour before he could get me another car. rubbish.

Yesterday (20th) I used Mercury Taxis.
I'd like to say here what a lovely pleasant person I spoke to on the 'phone,
'J' will know who she is :thumbsup:

The taxi was here within 5 mins.

Excellent service.

Thanks:clap:

Mercury are by far the best (and biggest) in Sheffield. I always used them even when several of my falily members worked for a rival company! :blush:

K x

I was surprised last night after ordering a Network cab (usually really late!) arrived at the quoted 10minutes: from -1000 points Network go up by 10 in my book :D

Thanks for your messages.

I always thought that Mercury was a reliable company but Im sorry to say the it was them that I was talking about in my original thread.

Although Ace never even bothered turning up at all once.

Mercury are OK if all you need is a lift to or from the pub BUT, don't rely on them if you have a deadline ie a train/plane to catch etc they're just not professional enough for that sort of work. I booked a taxi with Mercury for 5.30am to get me to the station for 6.00am. At 5.45 still no taxi....ring their office who say ...yes he'll not be long...as soon as he gets to your area etc. I said " look you don't understand I need a taxi like NOW, I booked this yesterday" but was given more of the " We couldn't really give a s**t" type waffle. I was forced to get a neighbour out of bed to take us and we just made it. I would rather walk home now rather than give my custom to Mercury...a bunch of cowboys in my experience.

Never once had a problem with Mecury, we hired their minibus to take us to Manchester on Wednesday, not only was he spot on time, he actually looked up the route before picking us up so not to get lost :D

In the last year or so always used to use and recommend Mercury, but in the last few months they seem to have gone downhill... I think three of the last four times I booked one it either turned up stupidly late (if I book the day before that kind of suggests I'm bothered about the time!) or just didn't at all.

Before that I always used RCA but they went just the same, which was why I switched to Mercury.

End result, haven't found anyone I trust...

We should really get our cars sorted out, hey Rich?

We've never had a successful taxi booking with Mercury.

Try Phoenix on 234 3333. They've always been very good so far.

I don't know who's good, but I know Mercury aren't.

Several times now, I've tried to order taxis to pick me up from someone's house in the early hours, as it's too far to walk home from. And all you get is "We've got no-one in that area."

Like I give a ***** whether there's anyone in the area! They're a taxi company - it's their job to GET someone in the area. If they tell me I can't have a taxi for 90 minutes because everyone's across town, fair enough. But to refuse me a fare so bluntly is beyond ignorance.

Originally posted by RichD
But to refuse me a fare so bluntly is beyond ignorance.

I don't see why.. There is more than 1 taxi company in Sheffield. Don't just rely on one :roll:

I use ARC and they seem very good, they are on 0114 2476666

I once rang a taxi company and they were polite and asked where I wanted a taxi from and instead of apologising and saying "sorry nothing in that area" she just hung up without saying anything!! i found her rudeness amusing, but not when i had to sprint to get the last bus in heels.

I've never had any problems with Mercury in years. They are the only taxi company in Sheffield that I actually trust not to rip me off with the fare, or go the 'longest' way round!

My sons use Dad's taxi all the time. Very reliable, anywhere, anytime and no charge!

mercury - when their good, their very very good, when their bad they are FAR beyond wicked.

I still use Mercury for my sins, even after vowing never to use them again. The reason that I still use them is because of the ring back along with the fact that I can never remember any other taxi numbers and in addition, better the devil you know!

This being said (and recommendations are noted) if I find another company who offer a call back service and who are reliable I would ditch Mercury immediately.

Mercury have put my back up on several occassions but they have also redeemed themselves with a generally good service, but like I say when their bad their really really bad.

I generally use ACE.

They're not perfect, but generally fairly reliable. Mercury have been dreadful for me.

Ace do call-back btw.

Originally posted by RichD
I don't know who's good, but I know Mercury aren't.

Several times now, I've tried to order taxis to pick me up from someone's house in the early hours, as it's too far to walk home from. And all you get is "We've got no-one in that area."

Like I give a ***** whether there's anyone in the area! They're a taxi company - it's their job to GET someone in the area. If they tell me I can't have a taxi for 90 minutes because everyone's across town, fair enough. But to refuse me a fare so bluntly is beyond ignorance.

So what would you prefer then Rich? For them to tell you that they have got someone in the area, and then not be able to fulfil? At least this way you know where you stand!

Without casting asperions on the reason you were at your friends until the early hours, if you had been drinking, and they could tell, they probably just didn't want your business!

K x

We always use RCA. They have never let us down.

Back when I was at school they used DB Cars, based somewhere on the Wicker, they were crap, most of their drivers were nobs and they usually turned up either late or far too early.

Originally posted by Kristian
So what would you prefer then Rich? For them to tell you that they have got someone in the area, and then not be able to fulfil? At least this way you know where you stand!

Without casting asperions on the reason you were at your friends until the early hours, if you had been drinking, and they could tell, they probably just didn't want your business!

K x
What I'd prefer is for them to say, "There's no-one in the area, it'll be at least XX minutes until we can get you someone. Would you like to wait that long?" Even if I had to wait 2 hours I'd have been happy to, as walking was NOT an option.

I realise if I sounded drunk they may not want my business, and I don't take any offence at you saying so. But for the sake of clarity I have to tell you I rarely drink, and never to excess. I got bored of drunkenness a couple of years ago, when I realised how expensive it was getting to reduce my evenings to an incoherent haze.

I've tried a few different taxi companies in Sheffield and can't believe how bad they all are! Sometimes you get individual drivers who are lovely.

I called ACE to pick up some friends from my house and they refused to come out because "according to our map there are no houses on that road" !!! Needless to say I refuse to use them at all.

Called Regency one morning for a cab to work and was told it would be at least 1.5 hours so got the bus. As I went past their office about 15mins later 2 cars were parked outside doing nothing?!

Booked Travellers well in advance but never turned up.

Latest ones '1st class cabs' have been great (2471111 by the way)

Going out in Sheffield is a pain, we usually arrange for 1 person not to drink as that's the only way we can guarantee getting home.

The trick is to find out which company is local to you, and the chances are they would have drivers who prefer to work their own patch. Mercury are based at crooks and they tend in general to do well in that section of the city. Network has offices in Abbeydale and cover that general area of Woodseats Lowedges, Netheredge etc. In the same sense Ace who were based at (now sold to RCA) London Road used to cover Sharrow better than say Parson cross.
So, basic rule of thum is to find out location of the taxi firm's offices and use one that is nearest to your pick-up location, and not rely on one that you always use, especially if you are not in their service area.
The other point of booking a day or two day in advance rarely makes any difference, because they, as in all the taxi firms, will only start looking to send a car ten minutes before the pick-up time, regarless of how long they have had the information in their system. If unfortunately at that stage they don't have a car available then you are simply made to wait, whichever company you have booked with. No driver will go and simply sit and wait when he could be working, and so because most of the drivers are self employed and working under contract to the firms, they are not then pushed for fear of losing the drivers to the competition.

Mercury is a victim of its own success in that being the biggest firm more is expected from it. It follows that bigger the company, more the chances are that they would have a driver near to you. Its always worth asking them to check on computer where the nearest driver is, because Mercury have GPS tracking in all their cars so that they can see on computer screen where all their cars are, but if still they decide to lie to you then, well can't help that. The system is good but only as good as the people using it..............

Used to use Mercury and they were good.

Recently have had two very bad experiences with mercury and both time sit took them over an hour to get a cab to m,e despite telling me it would eb ten minutes and one was on its way. If they just told the truth it would be nice. the trips were very important.

Absolutely my point, they all have the capacity to let you down with lame excuses. When you phone the message get logged onto the system that a car is required at a certain location. The computer then checks that against all available cars who would wait vacant in the area that they may have dropped passengers in. If a car is in your zone then a data signal is sent to that car, giving your details to the driver. If he was in your zone then the driver should not be more than five minutes away. The zones are generally are such as Walkly would be one zone and Crooks be another and Broomhill yet another, so that the nearest driver is given the task to go and pick you up. Trouble would start for example when there are no drivers available in yours or the surrounding areas. All the call centre can do is send a constant message to the drivers’ data screens that a car is needed at this location, and nothing more. If you happened to be waiting in a busy with traffic area that drivers try to avoid (because it wastes time and fuel) then that is when the waiting starts. No company sets out to let people down but its best not to rely on them so much that they can hold you to ransom.

No apologies! Mercury are fab!

K X

Originally posted by Kristian
No apologies! Mercury are fab!

For all their faults and people making generalisations about taxi firms (as though they were an individual and not companies employing hundreds of people) Mercury are as a group of drivers just about the best you are going to get in this region. Sometimes we expect too much and then complain the world doesn't fall in line with our wishes.

Well if Mercury are the best we can expect, then it's God help the rest of 'em!!

In response to TAB1 I dont think that people who simply want to have a service provided for their money should be accused of "expecting the world to fall in with our wishes".

If a company that promises to collect and deliver people to a certain destination on time, fails to deliver that promise then i feel that people have every right to complain.

If i was to get a taxi and then fail to pay I would be in the wrong, just as they are when they fail to arrive.

Hear Hear Raegardner, The trouble with people in this country is that they are so willing to accept sloppy and third class service as the norm. They are Service companies for God's sake,yet seem so unable to provide good service.These sort of companies don't deserve our custom yet we still go back for more.

before I moved up here I used to visit regularly. Every time I'd book an Ace cab, just for the pleasure of hearing that gravel-voiced lady controller bellow "allowaaace" down the phone. it made me feel I'd come home, somehow. But since moving here and trying to use the company a bit more often I discovered it was indeed far from ace Her comforting "bewithyerintwennyminnitsloov" is generally utter pish. Satan Cabs is rubbish too - not sure of the name but its tel. no. is 2 666 666. It's the very devil trying to get them to supply a car at almost any time...

Originally posted by raegardner
In response to TAB1 I dont think that people who simply want to have a service provided for their money should be accused of "expecting the world to fall in with our wishes".

If a company that promises to collect and deliver people to a certain destination on time, fails to deliver that promise then i feel that people have every right to complain.

If i was to get a taxi and then fail to pay I would be in the wrong, just as they are when they fail to arrive.


MY POINT WAS NOT THAT YOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT YOUR MONEYS WORTH BUT NOT TO EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE

You are right, my apologies. Expecting a taxi to turn up at all is asking way too much.

Originally posted by leddi
I once rang a taxi company and they were polite and asked where I wanted a taxi from and instead of apologising and saying "sorry nothing in that area" she just hung up without saying anything!! i found her rudeness amusing, but not when i had to sprint to get the last bus in heels.

I've been getting this phrase more and more recently from various companies. I find it unbelievable and unacceptable that they make no attempt to even get something to that area. :mad:

I guess it’s the same as buses providing a less frequent service to the less profitable routs. They are only in that job for the profits, and if they are asked to send a car five miles to drive someone just down the road who is too drunk to walk, I can see why they would refuse.
It is unfortunate however that in their offices they employ bad mannered insomniacs to work in the early hours of the morning, simply because no right minded person would work those hours for small wages. That maybe explains the rude nature of late night staff in almost all taxi firms I have come across. I can't justify what they do but still appreciating the reasons why, may get more understanding. On the other hand most people phoning them late night may not be too polite either so if they are not about to send someone a car, then maybe some would decide a long winded explanation to a drunk person is not going to get them anywhere and they cut the line.
Who knows? - Instead of second guessing someone should simply phone and ask them.

Well, with the technology these days driver simply choose which jobs they want by pushing a button on their control panels. If someone rings a specific taxi company for a taxi then I think the company should do whatever they can to try to assign the job to someone after all it could result in loss of future business at the end of the day.

Originally posted by Lickszz
Well, with the technology these days driver simply choose which jobs they want by pushing a button on their control panels. If someone rings a specific taxi company for a taxi then I think the company should do whatever they can to try to assign the job to someone after all it could result in loss of future business at the end of the day.

Maybe that is the problem; the revenue of the taxi company depends not on you the customer but the number of drivers paying radio rents of around £80 each per week(mecury ,I am told have 350 cars, and none they actually own). The drivers on the other hand are then left with the upper hand in that the company is left merely as an agent for the driver. So when we phone for a taxi, effectively we are a customer of the driver and the driver in turn is the customer of the company, and you can see why the company would want to safeguard its revenue by keeping its customers i.e. the drivers happy.
If someone has enough money to employ drivers maybe there is an opening in the market place for a service that would actually serve rather than fleece the customer.