London Taxis - Rude Aggressive Driver/what Is Protocol For Tipping????

[rabbitdrop]

I've just been in London for the weekend and had a bad experience with a taxi driver. I dont know what the protocol is re tipping. Normally where I live in Devon, I would round up to the nearest pound and I've never been told that this was the wrong thing to do.
However, I got a taxi a very short distance (ie less than half a mile) in London to my hotel and the taxi driver spoke to me very rudely and aggressively so I didnt feel it was appropriate to give a tip. Having already been rude to me the driver then drove off shouting.
Is this normal?
After that there were several occasions when I would have got a taxi but decided to walk as I didnt want to get shouted at by a taxi driver.

[Baldric]

Any help here?

http://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/essential-information/money/tipping

[douglas9401]

I've no direct experience of them in London but where I live 'taxi driver' and 'normal' are never used in the same sentence.

[jno]

normally you'd just round it up, but I wouldn't have done it to someone who was rude to me. It's rare, though. They make most of their money on short trips, too.

[RATTER15]

You pay a fare, only tip if you feel the driver has put himself out or is extra pleasant.

Let them moan, Taxi drivers are a pretty miserable lot from my experience and I used to be a Taxi driver in Devon.

[KARL]

I think I was all of 19 when I first visited London and took a taxi. After a chatty trip the driver put me through intense embarrassment over tipping. This didn't quite ruin the entire trip but it permanently coloured my view of London and I really do not like large urban areas where people are similarly likely to work on the premise that because you are almost certain never again to see the individual before you it does not matter how you treat them. Ever since I have limited my stays there to the absolute essential and I think I have never since taken a taxi there. I expect I should now be able to avoid the place for the rest of my days.

[B00]

If he was as rude and aggressive as you stated, id have given him nowt too and felt no shame or embarrassment about it either.

[ummmm]

Same as B00.....

After a night out in Birmingham, a hungover train journey home, taxi from the train station....and it broke down but he still wanted us to pay!!! Bog off....

[SlackAlice]

Normally I'd just round up to the nearest pound, but if he/she is aggressive and rude, then nothing. I'd follow it through with a complaint.

http://www.londonblacktaxis.net/complaints.htm

On the few occasions I've used London Taxis I've had no problems, apart from the incessant chatter.

[237SJ]

I hardly ever use them but I do use mini cabs and round here they are nearly all Asian and super professional and curteous. I have heard bad things about black cabs at airports though. They get really pissed off if they are asked to do a local journey as they want a long run into London - that`s where the money is. I wouldn`t use a black cab from the airport for that reason.

[mikey4444]

If the driver was as rude as you say rabbitdrop, he doesn't appear to be worthy of a tip, so you appear to have taken the right line. Perhaps the driver will think twice before being so unpleasant next time.

Well done to you !

My grandfather was a London cabbie before and after WW2 and my Mum always said how polite he was, as he recognised that tips put the jam on the bread at home !

[237SJ]

If you think they are bad, you should try the ones in Sydney (where they are quite aggressive drivers anyway). I was coming back in a cab one night and the driver got out and left me sitting there while he want off to start a fight with another driver who had cut him up. He then got back in, said "Sorry about that" and we continued on our way. I can`t remember whether I gave him a tip or not.

[sandyRoe]

LOL. You'd probably have been afraid not to

[silliemillie]

Tips are only for if they go above & beyond, he clearly didn't do this so you were right to not give him anything.

I don't think the rudeness is the norm tho, I used to work in London & got many black cabs over the years. Like the others I only used round the money up & they never had a problem with that.

Sadly you must have got a bad one.

[rabbitdrop]

Thanks for comments. I think I will make a complaint. Unfortunately I was so shocked by being shouted at that I didnt have the presence of mind to get the number plate of the cab. I know it was probably a one-off but I have to say it did spoil my otherwise enjoyable evening though. And the next day I planned my journey so as to allow walking time and avoid getting a cab in case it happened again. No, I've never had a problem in Devon. The normal thing is you get in the taxi, make a bit of conversation with the driver, pay and leave having rounded up to the nearest pound or fiver.

[jno]

yes, that's normal for London too. I used to use taxis every day when I worked there and never had a rude driver, so I think you've just been unlucky.