Half of taxis stopped were breaking rules

4:00pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News

ALMOST half of all taxis stopped in snap inspections in Bolton last year were suspended from carrying passengers for breaking council rules.

Corroded brake pipes, oil leaks, bald tyres and broken lights were all among the faults discovered in spot checks carried out in operations run by Bolton Council, the police and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

A total of 114 taxis — most of which were private hire cabs but which also included Hackney carriages — were stopped during 10 days of spot checks between May and December last year.

Of those, 49, including three Hackney carriages, were given suspension notices, which means a driver has seven days to fix any faults.

Until then, the vehicle cannot be used as a taxi, although it can still be used as a private vehicle.

If repairs are not complete after seven days, the vehicle’s plates have to be handed in to the council. If still not fixed after two months, the vehicle’s licence is revoked.

Council regulations say taxis should be kept clean, should be “mechanically sound” and should contain the correct identification.

Other failings identified included insecure radios and no fire extinguishers.

Fines were also issued by police for offences ranging from not wearing a seat belt, broken brake lights and illegal tyres.

Bolton Council said it is introducing tougher measures to tackle the problem.

Charles Oakes, chairman of the Bolton Hackney Drivers Association, said he supports the planned new measures. He said: “The figures are appalling. I’m not bothered about things like scratches, but I am if they’re failing on safety.

“All the trade representatives have said this has got to stop.”

Cllr Kevan Jones, the vice-chairman of the council’s licensing committee, said: “Although the figures presented could be used to paint a gloomy picture, my own experience is that the companies I used were offering a good, safe service.

“However, when I look through the list of defects, most of which should have been picked up on pre-duty checks, I have to ask questions, not only of the driver, but the operators too.”

A council spokesman said: “The council is about to implement a new framework for the testing of Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, together with more robust measures for identifying and suspending vehicles with serious defects.”

Comments(51)

georgethebrave says...
9:34am Thu 10 Jan 13

Well I never!

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cosmicma says...
9:54am Thu 10 Jan 13

if a taxi is found to be unsafe for the road it's license should be revoked on the spot

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georgethebrave says...
10:17am Thu 10 Jan 13

cosmicma wrote:
if a taxi is found to be unsafe for the road it's license should be revoked on the spot
And they shouldn't get it back, these drivers make a fortune so paying a tenner for a part worn tyre, or 99p for a brake light bulb is well within the limits of affordability. These cars are a tool of the trade and should be maintained to the highest standard. I would rather walk than get in one of these old clapped out rust buckets anyway!

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Phil from Smithills says...
12:04pm Thu 10 Jan 13

One of the scams is to have new tyres on the private hire vehicle for the tests and then, having passed the test, change to very used tyres. The new tyres being passed around their private hire friends to get through the road test.

Report this post »

georgethebrave says...
12:30pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Effin typical, so basically they have very little or no regard for the paying customers safety? Some of the cars used like Y reg toyota avensis' are decades old and you don't have to get close up and inspect them to know they aren't road worthy, they should be crushed!

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Count de Monet says...
12:32pm Thu 10 Jan 13

georgethebrave wrote:
cosmicma wrote:
if a taxi is found to be unsafe for the road it's license should be revoked on the spot
And they shouldn't get it back, these drivers make a fortune so paying a tenner for a part worn tyre, or 99p for a brake light bulb is well within the limits of affordability. These cars are a tool of the trade and should be maintained to the highest standard. I would rather walk than get in one of these old clapped out rust buckets anyway!
Clapped out rust buckets? All taxis/private hire vehicles have to pass an MOT test conducted by the local council, every 6 months.

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wild one says...
12:48pm Thu 10 Jan 13

METRO per chance....(whistles)

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georgethebrave says...
12:57pm Thu 10 Jan 13

wild one wrote:
METRO per chance....(whistles)
More than likely, just shows once again the mass disregard for the laws of our land!

Report this post »

wild one says...
2:03pm Thu 10 Jan 13

georgethebrave wrote:
wild one wrote:
METRO per chance....(whistles)
More than likely, just shows once again the mass disregard for the laws of our land!
very true, they dont give a hoot about the law...

Report this post »

MattRimmer says...
2:52pm Thu 10 Jan 13

I once got in a taxi, he asked me were i was going so I told him he then asked how much i usually pay I told him to look at his mile sheet, which he did not have I said its usually about a fiver he said "call it 8 quid" cheeky so and so. I got out the taxi and he drove off in a huff but before doing so he called "a fat White C***"
I do not believe he was a genuine taxi driver. they deserve everthing they get. heavy fine and a 12 month ban. I feel sorry for the genuine hard working ones.

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wild one says...
3:50pm Thu 10 Jan 13

The majority of metro taxi driver's don't speak a word of bloody English, stink to high heaven, and come out in there JIM-JAM'S.....No self respect what so ever.....

North west taxis every time ...

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cosmicma says...
4:00pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Count de Monet wrote:
georgethebrave wrote:
cosmicma wrote:
if a taxi is found to be unsafe for the road it's license should be revoked on the spot
And they shouldn't get it back, these drivers make a fortune so paying a tenner for a part worn tyre, or 99p for a brake light bulb is well within the limits of affordability. These cars are a tool of the trade and should be maintained to the highest standard. I would rather walk than get in one of these old clapped out rust buckets anyway!
Clapped out rust buckets? All taxis/private hire vehicles have to pass an MOT test conducted by the local council, every 6 months.
and who owns the garage that MOT the taxis ??

is bank street taxis still in business ???

Report this post »

aardwolf says...
4:37pm Thu 10 Jan 13

georgethebrave wrote:
cosmicma wrote: if a taxi is found to be unsafe for the road it's license should be revoked on the spot
And they shouldn't get it back, these drivers make a fortune so paying a tenner for a part worn tyre, or 99p for a brake light bulb is well within the limits of affordability. These cars are a tool of the trade and should be maintained to the highest standard. I would rather walk than get in one of these old clapped out rust buckets anyway!
No no no. you must be aware that not a single minicab driver in Bolton earns over £100 a week topped up with benefits. Odd though that the drivers always live in palatial houses...

Report this post »

Count de Monet says...
4:46pm Thu 10 Jan 13

cosmicma wrote:
Count de Monet wrote:
georgethebrave wrote:
cosmicma wrote:
if a taxi is found to be unsafe for the road it's license should be revoked on the spot
And they shouldn't get it back, these drivers make a fortune so paying a tenner for a part worn tyre, or 99p for a brake light bulb is well within the limits of affordability. These cars are a tool of the trade and should be maintained to the highest standard. I would rather walk than get in one of these old clapped out rust buckets anyway!
Clapped out rust buckets? All taxis/private hire vehicles have to pass an MOT test conducted by the local council, every 6 months.
and who owns the garage that MOT the taxis ??

is bank street taxis still in business ???
Bolton Council carry out the MOT tests on council premises.

Report this post »

Replytohatersandscum says...
4:46pm Thu 10 Jan 13

georgethebrave wrote:
Well I never!
hello scum
why have you not commented on the other stories that involve "your kind "

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boltonnut says...
4:50pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Taxis all over the world are pieces of sh!t.

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boltonnut says...
4:57pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Go for it George, I'm bored.

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nickyboy70 says...
5:05pm Thu 10 Jan 13

i got run over by a taxi a few yrs ago at a supermarket he never stopped my huusband got me of the bonnet and recognised the driver i got the police involved they looked at the video footage and could not see enough to press charges but because he never stopped and i asked how i was me and my husband would not let it drop i took him to court and the judge noticed that 2 witnesses where definatly watching the accident case won these drivers feel they above the law its about time they were looked at.

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davoovad says...
5:32pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Ha Ha, who would have believed it, these people are just a bunch of law breaking scumbags, they couldn't care less about the laws in this country.
Get rid !!!

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myfanwy7 says...
5:36pm Thu 10 Jan 13

The next stage should be more prosecutions for shocking driving. Some of the worst driving you ever see is from taxis: unexpected u-turns in the road, speeding, stopping pretty well anywhere at the drop of a hat and sticking hazard warning lights on (as if that makes it ok)

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mr.mark.c says...
6:32pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Count de Monet wrote:
cosmicma wrote:
Count de Monet wrote:
georgethebrave wrote:
cosmicma wrote:
if a taxi is found to be unsafe for the road it's license should be revoked on the spot
And they shouldn't get it back, these drivers make a fortune so paying a tenner for a part worn tyre, or 99p for a brake light bulb is well within the limits of affordability. These cars are a tool of the trade and should be maintained to the highest standard. I would rather walk than get in one of these old clapped out rust buckets anyway!
Clapped out rust buckets? All taxis/private hire vehicles have to pass an MOT test conducted by the local council, every 6 months.
and who owns the garage that MOT the taxis ??

is bank street taxis still in business ???
Bolton Council carry out the MOT tests on council premises.
If they tested all cars the same way the roads would be empty, may I also say that it isn't an MOT and Bolton council are among the most stringent in the UK.
Feel free to take your car to the Mayor st depot for an MOT (yes they do normal ones) and ask them to test it as they would a private hire car, guaranteed 100% fail.

Report this post »

davoovad says...
6:35pm Thu 10 Jan 13

They'd fail it at Mayor st anyway, they always make faults up !

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dougie kay says...
8:16pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Replytohatersandscum wrote:
georgethebrave wrote:
Well I never!
hello scum
why have you not commented on the other stories that involve "your kind "
usually ,numb nuts, our type don't drive dodgy taxi's, own toxic take away's ,cream the benefit system . Having witnessed. one of your beloved taxi drivers. stop to collect a fare , only to drive off when. he realized she was on crutches .a true slime ball. Metro of course

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oftbewildered2 says...
8:36am Fri 11 Jan 13

MattRimmer wrote:
I once got in a taxi, he asked me were i was going so I told him he then asked how much i usually pay I told him to look at his mile sheet, which he did not have I said its usually about a fiver he said "call it 8 quid" cheeky so and so. I got out the taxi and he drove off in a huff but before doing so he called "a fat White C***"
I do not believe he was a genuine taxi driver. they deserve everthing they get. heavy fine and a 12 month ban. I feel sorry for the genuine hard working ones.
their licence and photo should be on display, along with a list of charges. Ideally they should all have a meter (they do on the continent). In fact on the continent, the total fare includes a tip. They should be clean (!!!) with all lights working - and the drivers should NEVER use a mobile phone.

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MattRimmer says...
8:59am Fri 11 Jan 13

cosmicma wrote:
Count de Monet wrote:
georgethebrave wrote:
cosmicma wrote:
if a taxi is found to be unsafe for the road it's license should be revoked on the spot
And they shouldn't get it back, these drivers make a fortune so paying a tenner for a part worn tyre, or 99p for a brake light bulb is well within the limits of affordability. These cars are a tool of the trade and should be maintained to the highest standard. I would rather walk than get in one of these old clapped out rust buckets anyway!
Clapped out rust buckets? All taxis/private hire vehicles have to pass an MOT test conducted by the local council, every 6 months.
and who owns the garage that MOT the taxis ??

is bank street taxis still in business ???
Bank street taxis are the worst taxi firm ever. does that guy who takes orders still works there who wants to fight everyone?

Report this post »

oscarfizz says...
10:26am Fri 11 Jan 13

if taxi drivers are scumbags as some have commented then they are talking through their backside. TRY PICKING UP HALF THE MORONS WE DO FOR A LIVING YOU MIGHT CHANGE OPINION. As for earning a fortune thats another myth made up by people who have,nt got a clue. I do e,thing legal and proper so don,t tar everyone with same brush thanks.

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cosmicma says...
11:01am Fri 11 Jan 13

mr.mark.c wrote:
Count de Monet wrote:
cosmicma wrote:
Count de Monet wrote:
georgethebrave wrote:
cosmicma wrote:
if a taxi is found to be unsafe for the road it's license should be revoked on the spot
And they shouldn't get it back, these drivers make a fortune so paying a tenner for a part worn tyre, or 99p for a brake light bulb is well within the limits of affordability. These cars are a tool of the trade and should be maintained to the highest standard. I would rather walk than get in one of these old clapped out rust buckets anyway!
Clapped out rust buckets? All taxis/private hire vehicles have to pass an MOT test conducted by the local council, every 6 months.
and who owns the garage that MOT the taxis ??

is bank street taxis still in business ???
Bolton Council carry out the MOT tests on council premises.
If they tested all cars the same way the roads would be empty, may I also say that it isn't an MOT and Bolton council are among the most stringent in the UK.
Feel free to take your car to the Mayor st depot for an MOT (yes they do normal ones) and ask them to test it as they would a private hire car, guaranteed 100% fail.
if thats the case how are some these taxis on the road ??

and yes oscarfizz your right we shouldn't tar all taxi drivers with the same brush and i can imagine some of your fares are a nightmare but you have to admit that some taxi drivers shouldn't be behind the wheel and some vehicles should not be on the road

we as the general public pay for a service when we order a taxi we do not expect the vehicle to be unfit for the road or the driver hardly being able to understand a word of english with no clue where he is supposed to be taking us
granted not all taxi drivers are like this and some provide a very good service but their not the ones we are talking about
unfortunately we only hear about the bad ones

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pollypetals says...
12:14pm Fri 11 Jan 13

Name and Shame the company's involved in this fiasco All though this seems to happne on a regular basis in Bolton.They should be banned from driving and owing these companies as they are death traps x x x

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tracingagent says...
5:10pm Fri 11 Jan 13

What else do we expect? Quite apart from 'them' having no respect whatsoever for our laws, there is a very strong rumour that 3 drivers employed by a well known Bolton Taxi company have TB. How good is that? They also appear to have any respect for their customers health.
I have now stopped getting vtaxis from certain companies, I am sick and tired of the operator say "He will be 5 minutes" an 20 minutes they have not arrived, and why, because they pick up from the side of the road, rather than abide by the law.
I now only use North Western if I really need a taxi.

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tracingagent says...
5:11pm Fri 11 Jan 13

cosmicma wrote:
if a taxi is found to be unsafe for the road it's license should be revoked on the spot
Absolutely spot on. They should then be suspended for life from driving taxis.

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tracingagent says...
5:12pm Fri 11 Jan 13

Phil from Smithills wrote:
One of the scams is to have new tyres on the private hire vehicle for the tests and then, having passed the test, change to very used tyres. The new tyres being passed around their private hire friends to get through the road test.
They have every scam going, unbelievable.

Report this post »

davoovad says...
7:24pm Fri 11 Jan 13

tracingagent wrote:
What else do we expect? Quite apart from 'them' having no respect whatsoever for our laws, there is a very strong rumour that 3 drivers employed by a well known Bolton Taxi company have TB. How good is that? They also appear to have any respect for their customers health.
I have now stopped getting vtaxis from certain companies, I am sick and tired of the operator say "He will be 5 minutes" an 20 minutes they have not arrived, and why, because they pick up from the side of the road, rather than abide by the law.
I now only use North Western if I really need a taxi.
I think you should name the taxi firm that employs people with TB, people have a right to know !

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boltonnut says...
7:33pm Fri 11 Jan 13

I'm confused,do Bolton council rules supercede national laws?Reading the above article signifys that you could possibly drive a taxi with bad brakes,bald tyres etc in Bury but not in Bolton.these are not rules this is legistlation meaning laws.Typical Bolton council,putting them selves above the law.Maybe the REAL law should do some SPOT CHECKS into some of the council members recent RULE BREAKINGS?????

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JustBecause says...
8:34pm Fri 11 Jan 13

All cash in hand, do they pay their "taxes" I doubt it.

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JustBecause says...
8:35pm Fri 11 Jan 13

And if half were breaking the law, then the council are failing their duties as well, they have a duty of care for the people in the town.

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farnworth's mafia says...
9:36pm Fri 11 Jan 13

most of u lot are jokes... if our kind of people( average white person on the dole) didnt drink as much and scounge on benefits , and got a job such as a taxi driver then maybe we wouldnot have non english speaking taxi drivers.

mojourity of white mans are drunks and dont have a days worth of work in them. with out them asians and foreigners this country would be tits up.

prove for my comments are many taxi firms are employing. if any one wanted a job dsperately they could get a badge, but instead they collect their dole and end up in the pub, or at supermarkets buyin smart price cider...

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unknown123lol says...
1:39pm Sat 12 Jan 13

MattRimmer wrote:
cosmicma wrote:
Count de Monet wrote:
georgethebrave wrote:
cosmicma wrote:
if a taxi is found to be unsafe for the road it's license should be revoked on the spot
And they shouldn't get it back, these drivers make a fortune so paying a tenner for a part worn tyre, or 99p for a brake light bulb is well within the limits of affordability. These cars are a tool of the trade and should be maintained to the highest standard. I would rather walk than get in one of these old clapped out rust buckets anyway!
Clapped out rust buckets? All taxis/private hire vehicles have to pass an MOT test conducted by the local council, every 6 months.
and who owns the garage that MOT the taxis ??

is bank street taxis still in business ???
Bank street taxis are the worst taxi firm ever. does that guy who takes orders still works there who wants to fight everyone?
no but I Remember at one point he had the whole town on lockers!

Report this post »

JustBecause says...
10:19pm Sat 12 Jan 13

farnworth's mafia wrote:
most of u lot are jokes... if our kind of people( average white person on the dole) didnt drink as much and scounge on benefits , and got a job such as a taxi driver then maybe we wouldnot have non english speaking taxi drivers.

mojourity of white mans are drunks and dont have a days worth of work in them. with out them asians and foreigners this country would be tits up.

prove for my comments are many taxi firms are employing. if any one wanted a job dsperately they could get a badge, but instead they collect their dole and end up in the pub, or at supermarkets buyin smart price cider...
Learn to speak you retard.

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northernsoul16 says...
7:32pm Sun 13 Jan 13

Bet they didnt breathalize any of them!!!! Dont drink ....My eye !!!!

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Whothis says...
1:56am Mon 14 Jan 13

wild one wrote:
georgethebrave wrote:
wild one wrote:
METRO per chance....(whistles)
More than likely, just shows once again the mass disregard for the laws of our land!
very true, they dont give a hoot about the law...
Who are these 'they' that you refer to?

Report this post »

Whothis says...
2:07am Mon 14 Jan 13

tracingagent wrote:
Phil from Smithills wrote:
One of the scams is to have new tyres on the private hire vehicle for the tests and then, having passed the test, change to very used tyres. The new tyres being passed around their private hire friends to get through the road test.
They have every scam going, unbelievable.
So these 'new tyres' being passed around between friends are universal fit for any vehicle? Wow......,,,,,!!! And their I was thinking that most vehicles have different tyre sizes, unless of course you just refer to a certain make, model and year of vehicle that you seem to have knowledge about that no-one else seems to possess. Or is it the same car going for multiple tests and the plates get passed around?? Or is their only one licence between all these drivers? And they have 'dibs' on it for picking up **** heads Friday/Saturday nights? Or as of late anyday of the week on Bradshawgate!

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genesis22 says...
11:50am Mon 14 Jan 13

the fact 95% of all taxi drivers come from a single ethnic group, that taxi fares are paid cash, making it impossible to audit actual earnings, sums it up. Many from societies where corruption is a way of life will milk everything to their advantage regardless of rules, laws, etc. Why should they obey our system when they don't obey their own. I suspect the majority of drivers are milking the benefit system and topping up with decent cash wages from their taxi driving - quite legitimate though morally utterly wrong. After saying that I should acknowledge all those who do several jobs on low pay, quite industrious, hard working and determined, alas the bad ones in any group can tar all the good ones. As to why there are so few white drivers, are these companies reluctant to take them on in favour of their own kind ?

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JohnTheBaptist says...
12:20pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Metro I believe is owned by a white person and is the biggest taxi firm in Bolton.

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JohnTheBaptist says...
12:28pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Fair play to anyone who becomes a taxi driver. In this day and age where its difficult to find a job, the taxi drivers pass the test and graft to put food on the table, rather than sit on their backsides collecting JSA.

Re: taxes/benefits, thats something for the authorities and the tax man to deal with, its non of our concern.

Re: Cars used as taxis, again, thats something for the authorities, if its good enough for them, go and complain to them. There are criterias that need to be met i.e age of car, condition and a strict MOT test that needs passing before a car is allowed on the road.

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judyben says...
4:14pm Mon 14 Jan 13

farnworth's mafia wrote:
most of u lot are jokes... if our kind of people( average white person on the dole) didnt drink as much and scounge on benefits , and got a job such as a taxi driver then maybe we wouldnot have non english speaking taxi drivers.

mojourity of white mans are drunks and dont have a days worth of work in them. with out them asians and foreigners this country would be tits up.

prove for my comments are many taxi firms are employing. if any one wanted a job dsperately they could get a badge, but instead they collect their dole and end up in the pub, or at supermarkets buyin smart price cider...
This hardly raises the intellectual level of debate! I don't believe all taxi drivers fiddle the system,drive rustbuckets and blah,blah,blah That would be pathetic of me.I do take exception to your comments that the majority of white people are lazy drunks. This is a pathetic and racist point of view too.

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boltoncity says...
12:41pm Tue 15 Jan 13

All taxis in the UK should be Hackney carriages.

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mfrbwfc says...
5:54pm Tue 15 Jan 13

I used to work at a taxi rank in Bolton and will give you a honest opinion about how the taxi firms in Bolton are continuing messing about with the customers.

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mfrbwfc says...
5:57pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Firstly when I worked at the taxi rank the drivers would often try to rip me off. Now there's a reason you have to feel sorry for the drivers and that's that the fares are well too low in Bolton. But they have options to join different companies and they all choose the cheapest one which for me serves them right.
There are honest drivers out there but there are a hell of a lot more of dishonest drivers. Drivers use the customers alcohol levels instead of there mileage chart on many occasions.

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farnworth's mafia says...
11:49pm Wed 16 Jan 13

JustBecause wrote:
farnworth's mafia wrote:
most of u lot are jokes... if our kind of people( average white person on the dole) didnt drink as much and scounge on benefits , and got a job such as a taxi driver then maybe we wouldnot have non english speaking taxi drivers.

mojourity of white mans are drunks and dont have a days worth of work in them. with out them asians and foreigners this country would be tits up.

prove for my comments are many taxi firms are employing. if any one wanted a job dsperately they could get a badge, but instead they collect their dole and end up in the pub, or at supermarkets buyin smart price cider...
Learn to speak you retard.
its called slang u cockroach...

says it all u must a pisshead too thats why truth hurts

haha u plastics

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farnworth's mafia says...
11:59pm Wed 16 Jan 13

racist ? against hu n hw. all info in factual. face it

we mourn about foreigners taking jobs but cn mke a effort our selfs

btw i dont drink n nor am i sayin every one is a drunk.

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judyben says...
3:54pm Thu 17 Jan 13

farnworth's mafia wrote:
racist ? against hu n hw. all info in factual. face it

we mourn about foreigners taking jobs but cn mke a effort our selfs

btw i dont drink n nor am i sayin every one is a drunk.
Thanks for enlightening us all with your lucid and credible homespun philosophy.

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