While there will always be at least some undesirable elements out there to avoid, the vast majority of the UK’s taxi cab industry today is safer, more reliable and more affordable to use than it’s ever been. It’s simply the same case as every other industry area across the board where there will always be those looking to profiteer at the expense of their customers and to hell with the consequences – a constant in all business areas across the board.
The good news however is that according to the experts at camberley taxis, it’s now possible to avoid overpaying literally 100% of the time no matter who you travel with or where to. The days being able to get away with ripping people off are mercifully over and there’s simply no room for those that don’t play by the rules – it’s simply a case of being proactive and not giving them the opportunity to do so.
So, with this in mind, here’s a quick look at the six most important rules of all for making sure you never have to overpay for a taxi ride ever again:
1 – Book in Advance
As is the case with pretty much every service on offer these days, booking ahead will always guarantee you the lowest possible price. Most taxi firms are more than willing to offer special rates and deals to those booking in advance, whereas those picking folk up at random on the streets tend to charge exponentially more. So, while it may not be plausible in every instance, it’s a good idea to book ahead when you have the chance.
2 – Compare Options
No matter where you’re going, for what reason you’re going or when you want to go, chances are there will be dozens of taxi services all looking to score the job. As such, it’s in your best interests to look up at least a few different options online in order to see what kinds of prices are being offered from one place to the next. More often than not the differences will be quite minor, but at the same time you might just find that exceptional deal that saves you a small fortune.
3 – Price Promises
In the same vein, it’s a good idea to consider using a taxi service that insists on offering a full price promise with all services provided. This is of course something that generally only applies to advance bookings, but if you have the luxury of being able to book ahead, it’s a good idea to consider booking with a provider that guarantees the price quoted is the lowest in the business.
4 – Fix a Price Before Getting In
While it’s often tricky for even the best text driver to give the kind of quote that’s accurate to the penny, they should at least be able to advise on the very upper-ceiling price for the journey to be taken. For example, they should and ideally must be able and willing to tell you that it will not cost more than X amount of money regardless of what happens along the way (delays, diversions etc). The simple fact of the matter is that if you don’t set in stone a price ahead of time, you have no cause for complaint if you then find yourself being charged too much.
5 – Make Sure the Metre’s On
The law is quite clear when it comes to the use of metres is taxis that are not pre-booked. Quite simply, if you flag down a taxi at any time and are taken to a destination without the metre being used, the driver is breaking the law and you are under no obligation to pay them a penny. This of course doesn’t apply to pre-booked journeys or those paid in advance, but in other instancesis important to watch for – you might get a free ride!
6 – Check Reputations
Last but not least, if time and the circumstances at play allow you to do so, it’s in your best interests to spend at least a few minutes looking into the actual reputation and track-record of the taxi company just to see what their past and present customers have been saying about them. It could be quite revealing and sway your decision in one direction or the other, but chances are that if there’s anything important to find out, this is the best way of finding it out ahead of time.
Common sense goes a long way when it comes to travelling safely and ideally for the cheapest price.