5000 Cars

Beware sneaky hidden charges

I booked Cabs 5000 to pick up my parents from Heathrow, who were arriving on a flight from India.

The actual pick up and drive back home was fine, but once we got home I was asked to pay extra beyond the agreed fare because it had taken my parents an hour from landing to getting into the cab. This wasnt a parking charge simply a 'waiting fee'. I was told they wait for 45 minutes 'for free' anything beyond that is extra.

I have two reservations about this:

First, if you are picking people up from the airport it's only to be expected that passengers will take some time to clear immigration and baggage - especially long haul flights at Heathrow. That is why airport pickups are always more expensive than drop-offs in the first place.

If cabbies dont want to wait, they shouldnt get to the airport exactly at the flight arrival time - even with the shortest queues and quickest baggage carousel, it takes at least half an hour from aeroplane door to airport exit.

Secondly, why is this time stipulation not provided at the time of giving a quote? There was no mention at all! When I called the dispatch and asked them, I was bluntly told "you must have been told". Really pathetic customer service.

I have been a frequent user of Cabs 5000 for local journeys, but am now going to take my business elsewhere.

By km2409 at 16:41 on 10/07/10