Complaints About Taxis Have Risen This Year
Bad smells, rude drivers and overcharging are just some of the almost 500 complaints made about taxi's in the first six months of the year. The National Transport Authority says that's an increase of 25 percent on the same time last year.
The majority of complaints to the National Transport Authority related to driver behaviour. In one case a Dublin taxi driver ordered his two passengers to get out in the freezing cold because one of them was 'hiccuping' , another involved a woman who said she felt threatened and intimidated.
Overcharging is also another massive bone of contention with 168 complaints to the end of June - in one instance an Indian man was charged 43 euro from Dublin airport to his destination - a journey which normally costs just 25 euro.
Wendy Thompson is Head of Taxi Regulation at the National Transport Authority. She said "every single complaint is investigated by a compliance officer".
Joe Heron President of the Irish Taxi Federation says he'd prefer no complaints - but sometimes its unavoidable.
Anyone who wishes to make a complaint is urged to get in touch with the NTA at www.transport for ireland.ie