Is there anyone else out there who finds that at times they are baffled by the minicab companies that operate in Sheffield?

Numerous times I have called these companies as I was under the impression that they were in the business of taking bookings over the telephone and having a guy in a car trun up outside your door and drive you to your intended destination for a fee.

But when I can actually get through to them they usuall inform me that they can't send a taxi to pick me up as they have nothing in the area...no matter how far in the future I want to be picked up.

Most have the kindness to actually ask me where I live before telling me that they can't help, but what strikes me as strange is the fact that I live in the same city that they supposedly hire taxis out in and not on the dark side of the moon.

One night for example, I called dozens of firms asking to be picked up from Hilsborough and driven to Eccalsall road and as usual there was no chance of getting a taxi before 9:00pm.

Yet when I finally told them to stuff it and walked to the tram stop at Hilsborough Corner, there were mini cab drivers picking up people on the street...can the fact that they have no drivers available have anything to do with the fact that the drivers are picking up in this way?

Anyone else had similar experiences?

nope sorry, the taxi company i use is actually quite friendly :D

The new policy of the taxi firm we use is not to take bookings 30mins+ from requested pick up time.
eg: If you want a car at 8pm, don't try and book until after 7.30pm
:loopy:
Obviously we will not be using them again :nono:

Originally posted by Bluelunar
nope sorry, the taxi company i use is actually quite friendly :D

which company is that?

Most Taxi firms are laws unto themselves. I've lived in Sheffield for most of my life and they have never changed. There is one company who I've used that are absolutely spot on- never failed me yet. However, there are 2 firms I could mention who are not worth the time of day.

we booked a cab once to take us home from a party-mid week I might add. Cab disn't turn up and we rang seven times over a 2 hour period. In the end, we spoke to the owner who told us to "**** off and stop wasting my time".

Originally posted by Andy
which company is that?

Didn't want to mention names but it's got a "R" and "D" in it.

It's a pity really cos prior to this brainstorm they were very reliable indeed :sad:

Once tried to book a cab on New Year's Eve.

Rang up four hours ahead of time as I thought that was the best plan, give them plenty of notice.

"Sorry love, try closer to the time you want it."

Thanks, never thought of that...then you can tell me you're all booked up and I should have tried earlier.

Originally posted by Andy
which company is that?

network taxis from meadowhead :D

I use swift or alpha, there're usually not to bad.

Durring the week it's almost impossible to book or get a taxi between 7.30am and 9.30 as they are booked for school runs. Afternoons are just as bad, after 2.30pm and by 4pm you can't get one as it's the rush hour until 6pm.

Originally posted by newera
Durring the week it's almost impossible to book or get a taxi between 7.30am and 9.30 as they are booked for school runs. Afternoons are just as bad, after 2.30pm and by 4pm you can't get one as it's the rush hour until 6pm.

I know exactly what you mean. We have that problem at work when we try to get taxis for people to get to the station. Mercury say you must allow them 45 minutes prior to the train leaving and even then they can't guarantee it will turn up (and we are only at the top of West Street). During school run times it is a total waste of time ringing DB they just say they are all out on the school run. I did find a really quick one last weekend though (Saturday night) I wanted a taxis from Chapeltown to Wincobank and phoned TC Cars and it arrived within 10 mins and this was at around 10.40pm - pretty good if you ask me!
:thumbsup:

Taxi companies in sheffield are a joke...tried to ring Mercury and book a taxi for quite early one morning and got told there weren't any in my area...WELL THATS THE BLOODY POINT..YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SEND ONE TO MY AREA TO PICK ME UP YOU HALFWIT...so I walked 2 miles and got a black cab.

Originally posted by Carmine
Yet when I finally told them to stuff it and walked to the tram stop at Hilsborough Corner, there were mini cab drivers picking up people on the street...can the fact that they have no drivers available have anything to do with the fact that the drivers are picking up in this way?

Anyone else had similar experiences?

If they were private hire cabs rather than black cabs then they were acting illegally. Only black cabs are allowed to pick up in the street. The other type of taxis are supposed to take their calls through a central station. They could be prosecuted if you took the details and reported them to the council.

Originally posted by Mo
If they were private hire cabs rather than black cabs then they were acting illegally. Only black cabs are allowed to pick up in the street. The other type of taxis are supposed to take their calls through a central station. They could be prosecuted if you took the details and reported them to the council.

They could yeah but does anyone really give that much of a toss to do it? They've helped me out many a time by stopping when they shouldn't so I'm not exactly gonna bite the hand that feeds me.

Originally posted by wibbles
Taxi companies in sheffield are a joke...tried to ring Mercury and book a taxi for quite early one morning and got told there weren't any in my area...WELL THATS THE BLOODY POINT..YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SEND ONE TO MY AREA TO PICK ME UP YOU HALFWIT...so I walked 2 miles and got a black cab.

If there isn't one in the area they aren't about to send one from the other side of Sheffield for you - it doesn't exactly make economic sense does it.

Originally posted by wibbles
Taxi companies in sheffield are a joke...tried to ring Mercury and book a taxi for quite early one morning and got told there weren't any in my area...WELL THATS THE BLOODY POINT..YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SEND ONE TO MY AREA TO PICK ME UP YOU HALFWIT...so I walked 2 miles and got a black cab.

Er, you could have called Shefftax on 272 0000 and they would have sent a black cab to your door.

got told the same by Shefftax!!!

Originally posted by fnkysknky
If there isn't one in the area they aren't about to send one from the other side of Sheffield for you - it doesn't exactly make economic sense does it.
But if they're based in Crookes and you want a taxi from Walkley somewhere along the line there has to be a taxi around that area....economic sense aside the point is that they advertise as a taxi company...end of....not a taxi company that may pick you up if one of their drivers is about within 100 yards of where you want picking up

Originally posted by wibbles
But if they're based in Crookes and you want a taxi from Walkley somewhere along the line there has to be a taxi around that area....economic sense aside the point is that they advertise as a taxi company...end of....not a taxi company that may pick you up if one of their drivers is about within 100 yards of where you want picking up

Doesn't matter where they are based, it depends where the taxis are at the given moment in time. They are a taxi company, they don't have to accept any fare - of course they will pick and choose to suit them best, their purpose is to make money.

Originally posted by fnkysknky
They could yeah but does anyone really give that much of a toss to do it? They've helped me out many a time by stopping when they shouldn't so I'm not exactly gonna bite the hand that feeds me.

Obviously not.

If you are a woman travelling on your own then things may be different. You would not know who the hell you were getting into a cab with. Many attacks on women have occurred because of doing exactly as you do.

Whats to stop any psycho trawling around waiting to be flagged down?

Ohh so it's all my fault then.... thought as much ;)

My sister was actually attacked by a "Taxi Driver" when she flagged a cab down.

We don't actually know if he was geniune or not. My sister did as many young girls do, went to town got far too drunk, got into what she thought was a cab and trusted the man to take her home. Instead he took her around Sheffield for more than 2 hours and sexually assaulted her before finally agreeing to take her home.

He then threatened her that if she told the police he knew where she lived.

He was never caught.

about a year ago 3 taxi firms merged city,regency and i think the 3rd one was alpha they are now called R.C.A. 2651651 i use them nearly every day and never have to wait more than about 10 mins..spot on in my opinion :)