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For the price of a local call or a free call from your mobile, call a cab radio company and get a quote with a human on the end of the line,far cheaper than 59p.

- brian Lee, birmingham, 16/01/2011 11:31
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Dont forget about John Worboys who they reckon is Britains most prolific sex attacker was a Licensed London Black Taxi Driver not a mini cab driver. FACT. Furthermore, Mincab drivers now known as Private Hire Licensed Drivers hve to have the ENHANCED Criminal Record Check. FACT. I think Black Cab Drivers are only required the have the standard check.

- John, London UK, 04/04/2010 15:38
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The London taxi app is a very rough guide to taxi fares, I've tried it once so far and it was pretty accurate but that was because the roads were clear, I bet if I tried it through London on a busy day with road works and diversions it would be wrong because there is no way it can be accurate %100 all the time.

As for minicab drivers i've compared my meter reading to their fares and it always turnes out Licenced London taxis are cheaper and that's a comparsion check against the legit minicabs. god knows what you'rd pay for a cowboy minicab.

People need to wake up and not just see Licenced London taxis as a rip off, you can not get a farier deal it's on the meter and you know you'll have a safe journey home.


getting into a Merc minicab you will pay the price for it, but that's your choice and a risk you take, there are still to many assults and rapes in the back of minicabs.

- Steve, London, 19/02/2010 15:12
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From my house in putney to the berkley hotel one Sunday £35 with Addison lee. Black cab home with a drop off in wandsworth £28.

Sunday morning 1am so bar putney high st mini cab wanted £9 to take me to the end of putney bridge rd. Black cab £4. If people want to get ripped off by mini cabs then so be it. I won't be.

- Matt London, London, 19/02/2010 08:23
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Too many private hire employees on duty today all with something to say, unfortunately most of it is garbage.
London has a recognised world class taxi service, it also has a minicab service. The city needs both.Its the authorities job to regulate the Taxi service and also to make sure the mini cabs are operating legally.
From what i see every day the only ones trying to bend the rules are the mini cabs. How on earth can you compare a foreign mini cab driver with limited english and a satnav with a Black cab driver who has studied for 3 or 4 years to get his badge and gone through numerous tests to be on the road. As for costs they are set on a meter and not by the driver, its up to each individual to make a choice what he uses and when.

- Mr S.Port, London, 19/02/2010 00:53
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I've already downloaded this app to my much beloved iphone and for a single girl trying to get home at night I think it's great. It's pretty accurate and in under a minute I can find out whether the remaining £20 in my purse is enough to get me home safely. I'm not going to use it to hassle cabbies - in fact, it means I'll probably use them more!

- Jenny, London, 18/02/2010 21:06
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Got this app and it's rubbish, it goes the wrong way, never funds the start or destination even when it's pre-set route, goes down no right turns, all this will do is have people thinking that the taxi is going the wrong way which will start arguements. The first job I put in came up 12.70 and a taxi metre does not even go up in 10p increments.

- Gary, London, 18/02/2010 16:36
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Daisy and Ben. You must of ridden in a mini cab. Niether of your examples are anywhere near correct. (i think you must have mini cab ties!)
Daisy if'he wanted' £24 sounds like it was a mini cab as Black cab drivers don't haggle, there is a meter for your protection.
ONLY Mini cabs can and do charge what they like, there are NO rules to govern their prices!
Mini cabs fares start at a minium of £6. (Clapham Common cabs) Black cabs £2,20.
Plus good luck with sat nav drivers im sure they will take into account all the roadworks.closed roads.diversons, heavy traffic,shut bridges et al. Still your paying handsomely so enjoy the ride!

Oh and if you want a gem! Mini cab driver was requested to go London zoo ended up at the Animal staute in Park Lane because his Satnav took him there!

- Nigel, London, 18/02/2010 16:18
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All this talk of blacks cabs reminds me of how they are a law to themselves.

Whether it's turning in the middle of a road, stopping without consideration of other road users or having bus lanes and motorways lanes for them to use.

I have never understood why van drivers and lorry drivers aren't allowed to share the same lanes.

- Richard, London, 18/02/2010 16:07
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In these tough economic times, people of London should save themselves both time and money and use Black Taxis.

- Brian, London

Errrrr if that's the case shouldn't they be using the night bus or tube if it's still running?

On a serious note I would never use hackney cabs as I think they are too expensive, but I would never use the touts as the cars and drivers stink and the cars look like they would not pass an MOT, even most of the legal mini cab firms in the West End have dirty smelly cars, and suspect drivers.

There are apparently several reputable private firms although I only know the well known one Adison Lee, which for me is cheaper.

I would prefer to use a hackney cab as I know they are self employed so they get all the money, but they work out about £8 dearer after a night out, which as we all know is expensive in London as it is, and that is if you can see one about to flag down.

The problem I find is that because hackney cabs are metered if there is heavy traffic a fare for me can vary by between about £18-£24, even at £18 it's dearer.

- P Staker, London, 18/02/2010 16:00
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As a black cab driver,Mr. Farrell it is you clear that you are a plant or a minicab driver. Never in a million years would W1 to N1 go £35. Bishopsgate to Streatham Hill last night went to £27, with a stop at a cash point and a slight diversion because of the closure of Southbound Borough High St.

Try watching all the touts outside clubs and Abacus, and hear what these " wonderful minicab" drivers try to charge. £20 from Abacus ( that is Cornhill by the way), to Whitechapel - £20 they say, goes about £8 with a professionally trained driver in a black taxi.

The App will show what thieving rip offs Londons Private Hire trade are.

In relation to the comment about begging people to get in, if people are unable to control themselves and get themselves into such a drunken state that they cant communicate, or keep the contents of their stomachs down, is it our job to allow people to be sick all over our office, you may get in just after that and it wouldnt be a pleasant journey.. Major firms in the city wouldnt accept people in that state into their office, why should we. Private Hire or minicabs as they are known, have spread the lie that Black Cabs are more expensive, as that is the only argument they have. Truth is much more different.

In these tough economic times, people of London should save themselves both time and money and use Black Taxis.

- Brian, London, 18/02/2010 15:11
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A cab from west end to N1 late at night will rarely exceed £20

Mark, London

Oh I so wish that were true, last time I took one 3 years ago it was £26 from Covent Garden to Islington Green.

But being a cabbie you would say that wouldn't you.

Another little gem MI6 Building at Vauxhall to Elephant and Castle 2 years ago, he wanted £24!! It's 1.8 miles for Gods sake.

and instead of just driving straight down Kennington Lane, he went along Albert Embankment, and via London Rd? so much for "the knowledge"

The days of the black cabbie having a monopoly in London are coming to a slow end, the black cab industry is like a 70's dinosaur, with a union mentality and people have cottoned on long ago.

Black cab drivers need to modernise not only their pricing, but generally awful attitude, I've even seen them still smoking driving over London Bridge recently, and that was made illegal in 2007

- Daisy Willets, London SW1P, 18/02/2010 15:09
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Ben and Daisy are typical of the sort i get in my cab who big themselves up infront of their mates because of the area of London they live in,when in actual fact they have'nt got two pennies to rub together.They scrape out all the coppers to find a £5 fare.You stick to the mini-scabs people,you deserve each other.The next time you take a mini-scab,maybe you could give the driver a shot of anti-perspirant and toothpaste,because most of them would'nt know what the hell it was ! Nice !!!

- Jamesy, The London Cabbie., London, 18/02/2010 14:57
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I can't help feeling there's a few private
hire employees amongst your previous
contributors, such is the vitriol aimed at
the London taxi industry, quite sad when
the worlds greatest city has the worlds
finest taxi service. As for cost, a mini cab
jorney is seldom cheaper than a ride in
a taxi, which can also be booked in
advance, you can now even book a licenced
taxi on Twitter.

- Karl James, Ewell England, 18/02/2010 14:55
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Ben farrell you are a liar. I have been a black cab drivr for four years and never in a million years does a cab from the west end to N1 average £35. I drove from marble arch to Herne hill in south London via pimlico and the fare was £26, why you find the need to talk such nonsense is beyond me. A cab from west end to N1 late at night will rarely exceed £20. It never fails to amaze me how people will have a night out and are prepared to spend £25 on a round of drinks but resent paying £20 to iget home safely. I can get a cab home from London bridge to Sidcup in kent at 2am for £40, that my man is not expensive.

- Mark, London, 18/02/2010 13:28
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I'll stick to Addison Lee, you phone, they quote, they text when it's on it's way, and then text again when it's outside, so no one can nick your cab.

They are cheaper, and help with bags if you have any as opposed to the arrogant black cab driver who think they are Gods gift to travellers in London.

Another point many people do not realise with the majority of black cab drivers (not all I might add) is that if you get a rude one or they try it on by going the long way round, is to complain to the PCO (Public Carriage Office) who take all complaints very seriously, if a cabbie is pulled in often enough, they lose their licence.

- Daisy Willets, London SW1P, 18/02/2010 12:49
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in addition to my recent post ... it's best to find a taxi firm who charge re post code to post code. i live in N1 and a Black cab from the West End on average would come to £35 plus tip. I read recently that the major has approved another rise in taxi fares. It is amazing how they remain in business.

- Ben Farrell, London, 18/02/2010 12:03
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who can afford Black cabs these days? i use a well known cab firm, order cars in advance, never have to wait, or beg to be allowed in, and they are ALWAYS cheaper than Black cabs ... and they only have silver Rovers or BMWs. it's actually a nice way to end a night out.

- Ben Farrell, London, 18/02/2010 11:27
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I will be sticking to licensed mini cabs thank - Black cabs are a rip off - and have been ever since I can remember.

What a useless app - try telling a black cab driver that hes taking the wrong route and see how he reacts.

- Ancient Wisdom, London, England, 18/02/2010 11:13
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Does it take into consideration the multitudes of London bridges that are closed?

- Bob, Cheam, 18/02/2010 11:08
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Who other than tourists and City boys uses black cabs? The fares are extortionate, whether you calculate them in advance or not. I always wonder how all these black cabs survive at the rates they charge.

- Alex, London, 18/02/2010 10:54
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