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Dodgy tips, aggressive drivers, "smelly" vehicles - taxi complaints went through the roof in the last four years

More than half of the complaints made last year concerned the behaviour of taxi drivers.

File Photo Three taxi drivers who challenged the deregulation of the taxi market in 2000 have lost their case in the High Court. The drivers argued that the sudden deregulation of the market had reduced the value of taxi plates from almost 100,000 euro to Rollingnews.ie Rollingnews.ie

COMPLAINTS AGAINST IRISH taxi drivers have increased by a huge extent in the last four years.

Figures released by the National Transport Authority (NTA) under freedom of information indicate an increase of 170% in the number of complaints made in 2015 versus 2011.

In fact, the total of 928 complaints made last year was slightly lower than the number made in 2014 (346 such complaints were made in 2011).

fig 1 NTA NTA

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Over half of the complaints made relate to driver conduct, with 32% of reports made concerning issues over fares.

fig 2 NTA NTA

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Almost 58% of complaints received no further action. 29% of cases saw “advice given” to the taxi driver in question. 2% of cases lead to fixed payment notices (fines, basically), and a further 2% of cases saw official warnings given to the drivers in question.

fig 3 NTA NTA

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22% of cases were referred externally to other bodies such as An Garda Síochána or the Department of Transport. This is not an indication of the severity of the complaint however, but rather of the suitability of the other body to deal with said complaint – eg the gardaí are best placed to deal with road traffic issues.

26/2/2014 New Luas Lines Construction Mark Stedman Mark Stedman

Complaints regarding vehicle condition

53 complaints were received by the NTA regarding the condition of taxis in 2015.

  • One customer complained of a “dirty and filthy” taxi which smelt of “days old sweat”. When the driver was consulted he admitted that his car had been in poor condition and that he had taken it out of service
  • Another customer spoke of a “filthy dirty” vehicle which was also “a little smelly”. This vehicle was inspected and found to be “not up to the required standard”. The driver was issued with a “rectification notice” and warned as to his “duties and responsibilities as a driver”.
  • Another complaint saw a customer complain of a car with “lots of clutter and dirty rags in it”. “The car smelled very bad and had a pungent air freshener.” In this case the vehicle was found to be in good repair  and had been recently valeted. Advice was given to the driver.

Complaints regarding driver conduct

491 complaints were received regarding driver conduct, more than half of all submissions made by aggrieved customers.

File Photo Three taxi drivers who challenged the deregulation of the taxi market in 2000 have lost their case in the High Court. The drivers argued that the sudden deregulation of the market had reduced the value of taxi plates from almost 100,000 euro to Rollingnews.ie Rollingnews.ie

  • In September 2015 a customer asked his taxi driver not to park outside the hotel he was staying in. In response, the customer alleged that they were called “a c**t” and “a pr**k” and told to f**k off several times. The taxi driver then allegedly told the customer that he would see the customer “on Monday night when I am alone”. Upon investigation “advice was given” to the driver, who was issued with “a reminder of his duties and responsibilities”.
  • In July 2015 a driver refused to take a fare for between Harcourt Street and Grand Canal Street. When he heard the destination from the customer he told them that he was “booked” and made them get out. The customer expressed herself “annoyed” at not being able to secure a lift home because the fare was deemed to be too small. However, she declined to provide evidence which would have supported a prosecution.
  • In October 2015 a driver in Dublin told a customer to approach another taxi rather than his own. The other taxi refused to take the fare as he was awaiting another customer. This led the driver of the first taxi to get out of his car and “roar” at the other driver “in the most aggressive manner I have ever witnessed” to “take these people” or to move on immediately. He then reached into the other taxi, grabbed the car keys, and threw them “onto the middle of Dame Street”. He then told the customer to get into his own vehicle, but they refused. The driver was issued with a formal warning by the NTA and admitted in an interview that his behaviour was unacceptable.

15/1/2014. Taxi Drivers Protests Rollingnews.ie Rollingnews.ie

Complaint regarding overcharging

  • In October 2015 a taxi driver in Dublin added €9 to his fare for no reason, according to the customer. In an interview with the driver he claimed that he had been instructed to add a tip. He was then informed that adding such a tip to a fare is not officially acceptable. The driver offered to refund the tip, which the customer said should be given to charity, as it “wasn’t about the money”. Once more, “advice was given” to the driver.

Complaint regarding refusal of fare

  • In December 2015 a female taxi driver was hailed by two young men. When informed where they wished to go she replied “no way” and “sped off dangerously”. The customer suggested that the driver “needs to learn manners”. The driver was subsequently issued with a fixed payment notice for an unreasonable refusal to carry a passenger. The driver freely admitted declining the fare, saying that she had “some trouble with young men previously”.

Read: ‘Fake taxi’ driver ‘lucky to avoid jail’ for continuing to drive vehicle after being banned

Read: “Your organs are no use to anyone in the ground” – a donor’s kindness has given this girl her life back

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    Mute Barry Vickers
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    Jan 31st 2016, 11:47 AM

    “Think of something pleasant so you appear sincere” OR be sincere.

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Jan 31st 2016, 11:28 AM

    You forgot to mention that Winston Churchill spent most of his life in an alcoholic haze. His famous “fight them on the beaches” speech sounds so belligerent because he was apparently 3 sheets to the wind . The nation thought that it was his fighting spirit that made him sound so resolute but in fact it was more probably the contents of a bottle of brandy that gave him that growling tone. The only thing he didn’t do was finish off his speech with “the fugging bashtrds, I’ll take ‘em all on!”.

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    Mute The Dude
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    Jan 31st 2016, 12:00 PM

    …rewriting history there Brian, are we?

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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Jan 31st 2016, 12:43 PM

    Ya churchy baby loved the sauce, some of his hardest and best decisions were made late at night with a brandy bottle. He said that he got more out of booze than booze ever got out of him.

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Jan 31st 2016, 3:32 PM

    The Dude, far from it. Churchill was a renowned drinker who had champagne for lunch and dinner followed by brandy and was rarely seen without a glass of whiskey by his side. He reputedly got sick as a young boy and his doctor advised him to drink sherry as a remedy only he neglected to mention how much and more importantly when to stop, This article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/11371641/The-day-I-tried-to-match-Churchill-drink-for-drink.html lays out what Churchill drank during the day. It would make most people completely useless by tea time but to someone who had being drinking for years it would be achievable.

    Another notable person who was an working alcoholic for most of their life and still achieved success is Ingvar Kampard, the founder of Ikea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingvar_Kamprad . He reckons that he became an alcoholic by drinking large amounts of vodka while doing deals with suppliers and customers in Poland as he grew the business. He reputedly drinks 2 bottles of vodka a day but dries out 3 times a year.

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    Mute The Dude
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    Jan 31st 2016, 4:09 PM

    It didn’t stop him from becoming the greatest leader of the 20th century!

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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Jan 31st 2016, 4:50 PM

    I never said it did. Although calling him the greatest leader of the 20th century may well be a matter for debate.

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    Mute Mono Official
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    Jan 31st 2016, 11:55 AM

    Keep your hands out of your pockets as you shake someone’s hand. Solid advice

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    Mute Vladimir Vasyectomy
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    Jan 31st 2016, 12:00 PM

    Mono Official
    And politicians take note, – keep your hands out of other people’s pockets when shaking their hands…

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    Mute Vladimir Vasyectomy
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    Jan 31st 2016, 11:24 AM

    ” 2. Reduce how quickly and often you nod. ” – Mary (headbangin’ to a ‘Whole lot of Rosie’.) Robinson take note.

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    Mute Oran Joyce
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    Jan 31st 2016, 12:14 PM

    ‘Make people feel like they’re the most intelligent, impressive and fascinating person you’ve ever met’
    So.
    If you’re talking to some boring a**hole then you’re actually suppressing your rational intelligence and becoming a two faced duplicitous a**hole yourself in the process.
    Great.
    That really makes sense.

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Jan 31st 2016, 12:44 PM

    One sure fire way to become the least influential person in the world….

    Tell people what you really think of them.

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    Mute Fred
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    Jan 31st 2016, 12:47 PM

    That is the most intelligent, impressive and fascinating thing I’ve ever heard. Please, Oran, do go on…

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    Mute Oran Joyce
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    Jan 31st 2016, 1:33 PM

    Is that you Oprah?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 31st 2016, 1:34 PM

    Oran what if bullies read this and thing, yes we can bully someone and use these techniques against the victim they are bullying? By spreading lies about the victim to justify the bullying as craic or as excuses for the bullying by controlling the reasons for it or getting others to join in on it because they are stupid or immature not to know the difference?

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    Mute Oran Joyce
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    Jan 31st 2016, 4:08 PM

    ……

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    Mute NO 2 FF/FG/LAB
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    Jan 31st 2016, 11:26 AM

    Keep on noticing this trend: Take a common sense subject, go over think the subject for years & then write a book about it.

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    Mute John Mc Carthy
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    Jan 31st 2016, 12:51 PM

    No to FG/Lab/FF
    So what is the alternative ?
    A shower of misfits !

    Careful what you wish for

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    Mute Johnneary
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    Jan 31st 2016, 11:48 AM

    Seeing as it’s about being a false leader.
    Should we not ad.
    1 Be corrupt and willing to take back handers.
    2 Get wealthy corrupt backers behind you and be willing to forward their agenda no matter how vile it is.
    3 Loose all respect and love for fellow humans including your own family.

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    Mute The Dude
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    Jan 31st 2016, 12:01 PM

    …and use a teleprompter.

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    Mute Vladimir Vasyectomy
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    Jan 31st 2016, 12:18 PM

    Johnneary
    And hire 25 personal assistants and staff to tell him what to say, – but heaven forbid that he takes part in any live debate, in case he’s found out…

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    Mute The Dude
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    Jan 31st 2016, 12:47 PM

    …I was referring to Hussein Obama

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    Mute Johnneary
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    Jan 31st 2016, 2:15 PM

    Amen Guys.

    Practicing all of the things in the above article won’t produce a charismatic/good leader.
    It may produce a bought out, false also-ran puppet pseudo leader, kleptocrat or crony capitalist.

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    Mute JimmyMc
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    Jan 31st 2016, 11:58 AM

    ‘Think of something pleasant and a photo of Oprah underneath..bad call

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 31st 2016, 1:38 PM

    This is a joke but did you mean… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SOvZmVD1kQ

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 31st 2016, 1:26 PM

    I use to get drunk and loved everybody then and I didn’t have a good time unless the other person had a good time as well.
    How about stopping this nonsense and become truthful to yourselves and to others, liking or loving people is the best way to becoming charismatic. Anything else just makes you a liar to yourself and to others.
    I do dislike this as it is a way to make people fake in other to get what THEY WANT and that is using people. Another name for people like this is sociopathic…

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    Mute Larry Whack
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    Jan 31st 2016, 1:12 PM

    13. Get confident, stupid!

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    Mute Ken Pepper
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    Jan 31st 2016, 7:41 PM

    Wave your hands all over the place whilst talking

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    Mute Tom Molloy
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    Jan 31st 2016, 8:50 PM

    Is not meaning and believing what you say the most important thing not good acting.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jan 31st 2016, 1:21 PM

    You wha? “Think of something pleasant so you appear to be sincere.” Become an excellent listener by deliberately pausing and asking questions.” and “Combine your power with warmth to create a full, charismatic package.”

    Congratulations, you are now becoming a sociopath?

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    Mute fusha2020
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    Jan 31st 2016, 1:27 PM

    A bad handshake is the worst, men or women it doesn’t matter a limp,weak n slithering handshake has just ruined anything else you try to say! Also don’t touch me anywhere else when you shake my hand, my hand your hand end of,no shoulders, no elbows, no mid arm,no mid waist just the hand thanks!

    4
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