Rude behaviour, bad driving and overcharging top list of complaints against Southampton cabbies

Overcharging fares, bad driving and rude behaviour were the most common cause of complaint against 49 drivers last year.

However, a Freedom of Information request showed that not a single driver had their licence stripped by Southampton City Council in 2008.

It comes just days after the Daily Echo reported that the city’s 480 hackney carriage drivers and taxi firm bosses are to be balloted on whether they want to increase fares.

Official figures released by the city council show the number of complaints rose from just 19 in 2006 to 31 in 2007 and 49 last year.

Bad behaviour was the biggest gripe (32 complaints), followed by overcharging (28), driving (22), unlicensed hire (six), failing to arrive (four) and talking on the phone (three).

In 2006, one driver lost his licence for repeatedly overcharging customers and a second lost his licence for being abusive.

Southampton Taxi Consultative Council chairman Clive Johnson said the actual number of complaints was far higher because many were made directly to firms.

Mr Johnson, who is also chairman of Radio Taxis, said any of his drivers caught overcharging were made to repay the full fare and multiple offenders were sacked.

Anyone who wants to become a taxi driver must hold a British driving licence, pass a medical, undergo a criminal record check and complete a “knowledge” test of Southampton.

However, Mr Johnson said this process was far too simple and all Radio Taxi drivers, including company directors, were this month due to undergo a Government-funded driver safety awareness course, for a BTEC qualification.

Southampton Hackney Association chairman Ian Hall called for new drivers to also undergo a test on their command of English and undertake a course to improve their customer service skills.

“We are ambassadors of the city and nobody wants bad driving or bad behaviour from drivers to be the impression people have of Southampton,” he said.

Under a new table of fares proposed by the SHA, the daytime starting fare will go up from £2.20 to £2.60, while the night-time one will go up from £2.95 to £3.50.

The distance after which charges go up is also changing and will mean a one-mile daytime journey would go up from £3.80 to £4. For example, a threemile trip will cost £7.20 instead of £6.60, while a five-mile journey would cost £10.40 rather than £9.20.

The fare ballot comes as dock owners Associated British Ports is to hand responsibility for selling its docks permits to the city council in a bid to raise standards and increase the number of taxis allowed to pick up a cruise passengers from 170 to 200.

ABP last year suspended the issue of new docks permits through the STCC amid a row over dress codes, cherry picking of fares, allegations of overcharging, a shortage of taxis and squabbles between drivers from rival firms.

Royston Smith, Cabinet member for economic development, attributed the rise in complaints to an awareness campaign run by the council to encourage more people to voice concerns about cabbies.