IN RESPONSE to a recent letter from someone who took an expensive private hire taxi to Ponteland from Grainger Street in Newcastle, I would just like to say that you should have taken all the driver’s details.

This includes the council he worked for, the number of the plate, what company name was on his top sign, his name and then also a receipt.

The reason I know all these things is because my son is a taxi driver (private hire, forbidden to take passengers unless the fare is pre-booked).

My son was most annoyed when I told him about your experience of being overcharged as it puts all drivers in a bad light and at the end of the day they’re not all bad lads.

I would presume most of the lads will be highly annoyed at that driver totally ripping you off.

I sincerely hope that in the future you never have this happen to you again as he was obviously a greedy “bad apple” – and do remember next time you get in a taxi to look for his ID badge which will have his photo and name on.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/have-your-say/readers-letters/2008/06/14/taxi-driver-is-giving-others-a-bad-name-72703-21075723/