| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? 22:57 - Dec 14 with 1550 views | monytowbray |
Am I the only person who seems to be having issues getting one full stop right now? Seems they are constantly unavailable and fully booked. Is it because they’re avoiding East side of town (where I live) due to roadworks or is it a genuine issue? Can’t even get one to the train station tomorrow morning from any of the firms, gonna have to lug a load of Xmas presents on foot tomorrow.
I dread to think what I’d have to do if I lacked mobility or it was an emergency. Just die I suppose?! |  |
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| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 00:33 - Dec 15 with 1464 views | StNeotsBlue |
I've no specific knowledge of the situation in Ipswich but I'd imagine it's similar to my area where I am a taxi driver. Lots of people left the trade during the pandemic and haven't come back or bothered to renew their licence.
Also for someone new to get a badge you are looking at about £400 before you've earned a penny and the DBS checks were taking months to clear, although it's improving now. A lot of companies took on too many school contracts, as it is guaranteed money, but have left themselves with no extra capacity during those peak hours. [Post edited 15 Dec 2022 0:34]
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| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 04:28 - Dec 15 with 1393 views | mutters |
I feel your pain. I don't live in Suffolk these days but I have the same problem where I live (Wye Valley). The only way I've got a little bit around it is to always use the same people so they get to know you and are willing to make an exception. I got stuck 15 miles away from home a few months ago with no taxis. Phoned a guy direct and he came out even though he wasn't working as he's got to know me. |  |
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| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 06:58 - Dec 15 with 1298 views | Fixed_It |
Is it because you refuse to pay your fare?  |  |
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| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 07:02 - Dec 15 with 1296 views | hype313 |
I phoned Hawk the other night to try and get one at 6.30 and they said they didn't have anything until 9, I then went on Uber and within 3 minutes one arrived, the Uber driver was from Hawk and apparently they have the Uber licence, I told him what had happened and he shook his head and said the whole thing was a mess. |  |
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| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 07:26 - Dec 15 with 1253 views | DJR |
| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 00:33 - Dec 15 by StNeotsBlue |
I've no specific knowledge of the situation in Ipswich but I'd imagine it's similar to my area where I am a taxi driver. Lots of people left the trade during the pandemic and haven't come back or bothered to renew their licence.
Also for someone new to get a badge you are looking at about £400 before you've earned a penny and the DBS checks were taking months to clear, although it's improving now. A lot of companies took on too many school contracts, as it is guaranteed money, but have left themselves with no extra capacity during those peak hours. [Post edited 15 Dec 2022 0:34]
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Yes, that's my experience in Kent as a passenger, according to the taxi drivers I've spoken to when a cab finally arrives. |  | | |
| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 08:46 - Dec 15 with 1134 views | JakeITFC |
Yeah it’s annoying, it’s been the same in London for a while too where it used to be a breeze to get an Uber or whatever it can now be near impossible to get something after a night out in the west end.
One thing that was impressive in Qatar was that Uber was like the old days here - didn’t have to wait for more than two minutes at any point in Doha (and they were dirt cheap), but I suppose that’s not surprising in a country that basically sits on top of petrol and has an abundance of cheap and poorly treated casual labour. |  | | |
| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 08:53 - Dec 15 with 1110 views | itfcjoe |
Not quite the same, but my Mum had to call an ambulance for my Dad on Tuesday morning at 8:30am, was told an 8 hour wait. Obviously I was able to get round and get him to hospital - literally 5-10 minute drive - and she would have been in reality as well. But if had to wait for that ambulance, or a taxi which like you have been absolutely shocking lately he could well have died.
When even the private alternatives to Ambulances are screwed like this, it's going to be a horrible winter for some that they might not see the other side of. |  |
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| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 09:14 - Dec 15 with 1050 views | DJR |
| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 08:53 - Dec 15 by itfcjoe |
Not quite the same, but my Mum had to call an ambulance for my Dad on Tuesday morning at 8:30am, was told an 8 hour wait. Obviously I was able to get round and get him to hospital - literally 5-10 minute drive - and she would have been in reality as well. But if had to wait for that ambulance, or a taxi which like you have been absolutely shocking lately he could well have died.
When even the private alternatives to Ambulances are screwed like this, it's going to be a horrible winter for some that they might not see the other side of. |
Too true. But sadly, the government's aim is to keep the focus on migrants and strikes, and lots appear to buy into these as the most important issues, as opposed to the shocking state of public services. | | | |
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| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 09:27 - Dec 15 with 1001 views | C_HealyIsAPleasure |
Yep have had the same, I don’t really go out often but on the occasions I have and tried to get a taxi at short notice in the last few months it’s been impossible
If I went out more I’d probably have learnt to pre-book, although in reality that’s a pain as fine if you need one to head out somewhere but not when you don’t know what time you might want to head home
Assume it’s a lack of drivers as someone else has mentioned in the thread |  |
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| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 09:34 - Dec 15 with 989 views | DJR |
| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 09:27 - Dec 15 by C_HealyIsAPleasure |
Yep have had the same, I don’t really go out often but on the occasions I have and tried to get a taxi at short notice in the last few months it’s been impossible
If I went out more I’d probably have learnt to pre-book, although in reality that’s a pain as fine if you need one to head out somewhere but not when you don’t know what time you might want to head home
Assume it’s a lack of drivers as someone else has mentioned in the thread |
Yes, the taxi drivers I have spoken to suggest that during the pandemic many went off to be delivery drivers etc, and probably can make much more money that way. | | | |
| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 09:37 - Dec 15 with 975 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 09:34 - Dec 15 by DJR |
Yes, the taxi drivers I have spoken to suggest that during the pandemic many went off to be delivery drivers etc, and probably can make much more money that way. |
Yeah anecdotally, the ones in my area lost a lot of cabbies who went to do HGV driving for more money and less abusive drunks! |  | | |
| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 09:51 - Dec 15 with 929 views | gainsboroughblue |
| Ipswich cabs - sh1te lately or just my luck? on 07:02 - Dec 15 by hype313 |
I phoned Hawk the other night to try and get one at 6.30 and they said they didn't have anything until 9, I then went on Uber and within 3 minutes one arrived, the Uber driver was from Hawk and apparently they have the Uber licence, I told him what had happened and he shook his head and said the whole thing was a mess. |
Hawk are really hit and miss. I find they are either outside your door within a couple of minutes or unavailable for hours.
I have their app on my phone. Not sure entirely how advantageous it is around booking, other than the convenience of not having to talk to somebody , but I know that if there are delays, you don't get to know for how long. The page keeps spinning until a driver is available. Often sometimes too, if you are looking at the progress page, the estimated time gets longer, then shorter and the cars assigned to your job change.
If you need a cab between 2-4pm in a week day, you really will be struggling as it is school kicking out and the roadworks situation in Ipswich currently exacerbates everything.
If I need to get to the train station, I will always play it safe and book it days in advance. |  |
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