I booked a wheelchair taxi on Monday of this week for 7 pm tonight (Wednesday 30th) from Northern General Hospital to take my husband to a pub to watch the England game with his friends. A lot of friends were meeting there. Guess what .... the taxi didn't show. I called Shefftax at five past seven to make sure they were on the way. They told me they didn't have anyone available, even though they accepted my booking on Monday (outward and return). They did apologise but said there was nothing they could do. Thanks Shefftax. Thanks to you to my husband sat in a television room on a hospital ward instead of joining his friends. All taxis now need to be accessible to wheelchairs but what's the point if they don't turn up!!!

Have you formally complained? Sorry to hear about your hubby's disappointment!

K x

I will be complaining tomorrow, both to the licensing department at the City Council and to Shefftax. My husband suffered a stroke last year (only 47) and football is his passion. His mates are very supportive which is why they all made the effort to go the pub to see him tonight.

If you don't get any joy, try contacting Action Desk at The Star; that's just the kind of story they'd love!

K x

You may be interested to read through this thread click here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28268&perpage=15&highlight=taxis&pagenumber=1) where eventually Mercury admit that pre-booking is a waste of time.
All that happens is that your request is put out on the radios, say, half an hour, in advance until some driver accepts. If no driver accepts then you are in schtuck!

Like many other things in this world, greed has meant that customer service is no longer a priority in the Sheffield Taxi trade.

If you write to the Star, point them to this Forum.

Originally posted by cgksheff
You may be interested to read through this thread click here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28268&perpage=15&highlight=taxis&pagenumber=1) where eventually Mercury admit that pre-booking is a waste of time.
All that happens is that your request is put out on the radios, say, half an hour, in advance until some driver accepts. If no driver accepts then you are in schtuck!

Like many other things in this world, greed has meant that customer service is no longer a priority in the Sheffield Taxi trade.

If you write to the Star, point them to this Forum.

You're right I'm sure cgksheff! I just hope that if we name and shame, we might get something done about the shoddy C/S we keep receiving collectively!

K x

Thanks, Kristian,

I repeat. There is no longer any such thing as a secured advance booking!

Tell the world!

Tell Rony Robinson!

Tell the Star!

Tell every cab driver you meet!

Tell them to look at this Forum!

But.... these ****** currently make money while ignoring this problem. They don't care!

Solutions:

I've always said that pre-bookings should attract a premium.

Start a new Taxi Company in the old style where you control cars/drivers in that a booking can be allocated.

Join together in a petition to be presented to SCC in order to change local taxi bye-laws so that bookings are recognised.

Originally posted by Kristian
If you don't get any joy, try contacting Action Desk at The Star; that's just the kind of story they'd love!

K x

Name and shame! Try The Star Action Desk as Kristian suggested. Don't forget to write to the Licensing Department at the Town Hall.

Originally posted by cgksheff


Solutions:

Join together in a petition to be presented to SCC in order to change local taxi bye-laws so that bookings are recognised.

The licensed taxi trade association recently presented a petition to the council requesting restrictions on the number of taxis.

Petitions to Sheffield council can be sent to a Mr M Ogle, c/o the Town Hall. They can be presented in person, but best to inform Mr Ogle in advance. Council meets on the first Wednesday afternoon of the month. But petitions can be presented to most official meetings of the council, including your local Area Panel.

Originally posted by redrobbo
The licensed taxi trade association recently presented a petition to the council requesting restrictions on the number of taxis.

Petitions to Sheffield council can be sent to a Mr M Ogle, c/o the Town Hall. They can be presented in person, but best to inform Mr Ogle in advance. Council meets on the first Wednesday afternoon of the month. But petitions can be presented to most official meetings of the council, including your local Area Panel.

Thanks for some good advice redrobbo!

K x

Originally posted by cgksheff
Thanks, Kristian,

I repeat. There is no longer any such thing as a secured advance booking!

.

there is really no taxi compnay in sheffield that will honour prebookings? I had hoped this was just a problem with certain dodgy companies...what do people do if they need to go to the airport in a taxi?

I was generalising and possibly exagerating.

There are some very good smaller companies and even the larger ones can turn up on time occasionally.

This is a reprsentative of Shefftax.

I have recently only come across this complaint. I would like to on behalf of the company appologise for the grievance we have caused you and your husband.

We have attempted to contact you through sheffield forum in an attempt to resolve the issue to your satisfaction. But currently we have had no success .

If you could kindly get in touch with us, we would be more than happy to try and resolve the matter.

Thanks,


01142751111

This is a reprsentative of Shefftax.
I have recently only come across this complaint. I would like to on behalf of the company appologise for the grievance we have caused you and your husband.
01142751111

Well, Mr Representative of Shefftax she's not the only one with a complaint. There was this from me back in July:
"Ordered a taxi from Shefftax to get my husband to the station for the 5.20 am London train... didn't turn up.... loads of excuses, ("he's in the next road" etc. "Why is he in the next road? We live in this one") all a load of rubbish. Missed his train, plans all b*ggered up, ended up going for the first bus of the day. Taxi showed up here at 5.30 am saying his mate had had a puncture so he'd come out instead. If that was the case why didn't the office tell us?
And now I'm wide awake and stressed out and posting on here at a silly time in the morning!"

And then there was the time you left us stranded again when we were trying to get to the station to catch a train to Manchester Airport en route to the USA. That was a fun time too!

Clearly we're not expecting yo to do anything about this now, but it might give you an idea that all is not well with your bookings system!

Can anyone tell me the name of a good reliable taxi company.
We have just returned from two weeks of sun and had a lovely time only to be let
down yet again by a so called taxi co.
They didn't turn up to pick us up to go to the and we only just made our flight and were
nowhere to be seen on our return.

We used Rivelin Travel who specialise in airport runs. They were brill but we had a large party - I don't know if they can accomodate small groups? They were on time, waiting for us at the airport on our return & reasonable prices.

hehehe.....I've gradually worked my way through quite a few taxi companies.

I used one company for ages, but one day when I needed a taxi to get to teh station they sent someone who arrived about 20 minutes early - I wasn't even dressed. I popped out and explained the situation, and he said that if I sent him away I'd have to rebook, and if I asked him to wait I'd have to pay. I contacted his despatcher and she was totally useless as well.

That was it - I'd used them for a year or two but their service had declined and I just switched immediately.

In some months I've spent around £50 with hire cars - not including black cab fares. The £50 now goes elsewhere.

At the moment I've had reasonable service from Phoenix.

For airport runs I've never been let down by Ace Cars, even with silly 0200 and 0400 pickups and the like.

http://www.1stclass-travel.co.uk/

ive never herd of shefftax but i will steer clear of them now.

Its simple really. If you book with a bigger firm like RCA or Mercury then law of averages say there will be a car in the area. It doesn't matter if you book a year in advance IF a car isn't in the vicinity then they won't come.

So best sticking to RCA/Mercury. Sometimes they might let you down but at least you have a decent chance of getting one on time with so many cars on their books.:thumbsup:

I recently booked with Shefftaxi's for a 7am pickup. I immediately suspected they wouldn't turn up at 7am when they asked what time my bus left. Got a call at 7.00 to say they were on there way ... didn't have my wits about me to say shouldn't you be here already. Finally arrived at 7.20am and then tried to take me to the train station - I just got there in time. Won't be using them again.

I recently booked with Shefftaxi's for a 7am pickup. I immediately suspected they wouldn't turn up at 7am when they asked what time my bus left. Got a call at 7.00 to say they were on there way ... didn't have my wits about me to say shouldn't you be here already. Finally arrived at 7.20am and then tried to take me to the train station - I just got there in time. Won't be using them again.

All companies ask this.

If you only allow a short amount of time, they are likely not to take the booking, or advise that you have it earlier.


Also for other readers, this thread is 2 years old.

Yeah I totally agree with you, I wanted to take my dog to the vet. The taxi turned up 2 hours later, the driver couldn't speak a word of English and when he saw my ill dog he said sorry and then something like no kutay allowed, 1 hour later dog die in my lap, I am trying to sek compenstion from them as I have lost the love of my life and my soul mate.

Makes you wonder who gives these people a licence in the first place:loopy::rant::huh::mad:

After being let down by several taxi companies when booking to go to airports we always find it much better to just drive there ourselves and book into one of the car parks near by it is usually cheaper than a taxi any way.

the driver couldn't speak a word of English
and when he saw my ill dog he said "sorry"

'Sorry' could be classed as a word used in the English language.

After being let down by several taxi companies when booking to go to airports we always find it much better to just drive there ourselves and book into one of the car parks near by it is usually cheaper than a taxi any way.


Why don't i believe a word you are saying?

The taxi turned up 2 hours later, the driver couldn't speak a word of English and when he saw my ill dog he said sorry and then something like no kutay allowed, 1 hour later dog die in my lap :loopy::rant::huh::mad:
You sat there for TWO hours waiting and after he left you without saying a word in English you wait another hour for the dog to die? Sounds like you were trying your best to get to the vets then? :huh:
What prevented you from making a simple phone call to another taxi firm in three hours..... shum exageration shumwhere methinks :rolleyes:
Shefftax maybe is a poorly run firm but some of the tall tales from it's supposed customers are hillarious, they deserve each other.

I recently booked with Shefftaxi's for a 7am pickup. I immediately suspected they wouldn't turn up at 7am when they asked what time my bus left. Got a call at 7.00 to say they were on there way ... didn't have my wits about me to say shouldn't you be here already. Finally arrived at 7.20am and then tried to take me to the train station - I just got there in time. Won't be using them again.
Eat your heart out Sherlock! :hihi:
They went to the trouble of calling you that the taxi was on it's way?
Not known to ever happened before.
Some firms have a call back system where drivers trigger the computer to call when they actually arrive but never twenty minutes before arrival to say they are now setting off, wonderfull :hihi:

I have always used RCA and never been let down by them yet, guess I ahve just been lucky huh.

I have yet tried with it ....



Sufi
http://absinthealcohol.eslblogs.org/

Hi ,the most reliable taxi service in sheffield is offered by a company called fulwood executive travel , they acomodate any type of travel be it business or holiday. they have the most polite and well kept vehicles you could wish for.I have used them for the past 5 years without a single complaint. the tel number is o7747787551.hopew this resolves all your problems.

Yeah I totally agree with you, I wanted to take my dog to the vet. The taxi turned up 2 hours later, the driver couldn't speak a word of English and when he saw my ill dog he said sorry and then something like no kutay allowed, 1 hour later dog die in my lap, I am trying to sek compenstion from them as I have lost the love of my life and my soul mate.

Makes you wonder who gives these people a licence in the first place:loopy::rant::huh::mad:

so what did your dog die of???

Shefftax are the company who have been collecting my son at lunchtime from his school. He has special needs and has been doing some half days so comes home at lunch n a taxi.

His first driver did nothing but shout and toot his horn at other drivers and the taxi was in a bit of a state with seat belts not working etc. My son was so scared that I complained and they changed drivers.

The next driver took the longest possible route down the steepest most winding roads possible because he liked the scenery! I commented on this as it was adding sometimes almost half an hour to his journey home but he took no notice. He would use racist language in front of my son and have innapropriate conversations with his escort infront of him. He didn't seem to care that he had a child in the mini bus with him.

Thanks goodness he doesn't have to travel with them anymore as it's been nothing but incompetance and thoughtfulness from them from day one. Make me wonder why the transport department hire such idiots.

Just like to say im a taxi driver, do some work for shefftax

90% of faults are with the operator, they take jobs, then try to pass them on to there mates, but sometimes there mates are not working. So jobs are passed out very late.

If at TWILIGHT hours there are only a few drivers out, they probably accept the job but are the other side of town (hence late).

Your best bet go with larger companies such as CITY CARS or MERCURY. As they have around 800 drivers betwwen them.

Thanks

shefftax are a load of ****e it is true what hypester says a lot of back door jobs

steer well clear of them

For some strange reason the weston park hospital trust taxis as medicars to bring patients into the hospital when they are staying in for treatement. My uncle went in last wednesday morning, he needed to be in early for blood tests then a 20 hour chemo treatment, flush outs and more chemo. He expected the taxi at 8am and when it didn't show 2 hours later he had to organise his own lift in and even then arrived late as they were expecting him and had all the stuff ready. The taxi eventually arrived at 11.40 while my uncle was at the hospital when the driver was asked why he was late, he claimed that the hospital had booked him for 10.30 (even though weston park claim different) His attitude was that he was only an hour late so it didn't matter. The driver left a card to be taken to the hospital so he could claim his money as he still expected to be paid! They are a bunch of a**holes!

At the risk of being picked up by the resident troll for only posting on muslim and taxi threads I will take a chance. The law change that came in end of January this year I believe affects all medicar and hospital contract type of services in that there is a call to bring them under regulation of local Authority. So far they have been getting away without any licensing controls or CRB checks etc, but not any more. The council is now duty bound to regulate these drivers serving the vulnerable in society without any checks and balances, but who knows when SSC will get round to sorting it out.

For some strange reason the weston park hospital trust taxis as medicars to bring patients into the hospital when they are staying in for treatement.
Taxis do indeed pick up patients for treatment. Most of these requests are sent by fax the day before(or 2 days before), and I can assure you that almost all of the mistakes are with the 'faxee' as it were.

I'm not sure who has the contract with the Weston Park these days(even though this is a shefftax thread, I would find it hard to believe that they have 100% of the contract), but when I worked on a company that dealt with these bookings, the only good thing in all of this was that faxes are in writing, and we could prove the mistake wasn't with us[the taxi company]. (rather than unrecorded phone calls, where we could argue all day, who was in the wrong).


His attitude was that he was only an hour late so it didn't matter. The driver left a card to be taken to the hospital so he could claim his money as he still expected to be paid! They are a bunch of a**holes!
I'm sorry for your Uncle btw, this isn't a rant... as I respect that this sort of mistake makes life uncomfortable for people that don't need anymore complications.... if the driver had this attitude, then it's simply wrong.

In my experience, only drivers that have worked in the business for a long time, and/or have experience in picking up account jobs, that involve people who are extremely poorly, are given this type of work.