But it is really a excellent story so I have resolved to share.
For those among you that don’t understand me I possess and operate a cab company in a small town named Rye on the East Sussex Kent border.
On Monday maxi cab week I got a call out of me father who was manning the cab phone saying he had received a call from the Chief Inspector”Wexford” stating that he wished to speak to the owner of the business enterprise and might not be able to talk to anyone else concerning the situation, my dad had obtained his phone number and asked me to call him back as a matter of urgency.
I was silent taken back with this and thought it all sounded a bit serious, but I’m an honest chap and didn’t believes it would be anything to be concerned about.
I took down the number and proceeded to call the Chief Inspector.
“Chief Ispector “Wexford”?” I inquired…
“Yes Speaking.” Was the reply.
“Hello.” Nicholas Robus here from Taxi – Time Ltd, Rye, East Sussex. In my opinion you had been attempting to get me personally as a matter of urgency,” How can I help you”
Slightly more sudden afterward before came the answer.
“On Saturday night I had a cab ride with one of your guys from Icklesham to Fairlight Lodge Hotel, it took over half an hour or so the driver moved all around the houses and charged me 27.50 then shortchanged me 2.00. The driver in question is a crook and a thief and should by charged under the complete extent of the law. I would like a refund for the entire volume.
Now considering that I benefit…. When I don’t get a cheque in the for the total #27.50 I shall soon be having a word with my colleagues in your area and rendering it very difficult for you to carry on operating as a Taxi Company.
Do I make myself more clear.”
I am not readily shaken, however, the tone and optimism of this person made me think that he was deadly serious. And under normal circumstances I would have been annoyed by way of a call such as this and immediately searching for out which driver had done the task so I could give them a rollicking.
But, in this case I couldn’t accomplish this as I had done myself.
I recalled the man involved, and remembered I had actually under-charged him with two or three quid because I forgot to start off the meter and just remembered a two or three down the road. So that as for short changing this is a clear lie. The tight older bugger made sure he got his # 1 2.50 change. I don’t want to stereo-type however there are indications if you browse between the prior few lines.
My company will do a wonderful deal of work with the neighborhood council and also we will also be bound by a strict code of conduct set out in the Rother District Council Miscellaneous Provisions action for Hackney carriage and Personal Hire operators. Any sort of legal proceeding against my business might have far reaching effects, and that had been a little bothered by the claims being made by the Chief Inspector.
But I was at the position to make counter claims since I’d provided the service personally.
I advised the”Chief” that I had been his motorist and justified the fare for him also informed him that his promise of being shortchanged was not true. I also offered to send him his own refund for a gesture of good will along with a photograph copy of our fare card and a few google maps with the route, mileage and fare calculations so he could see for himself which he’d never been ripped of as he claimed.
I also stated that if after taking a look at evidence he had been not happy he had been free to cash the cheque for the refund.
To which he responded. “Oh I’m cashing the cheque, also if I am not pleased with what I find I will be having a word with my colleagues about you.”
I needed his home address and thanked him for his period, reasuring him that everything will be from the article in the next couple of days.
After hanging up I replayed the conversation in my mind and a few things did not quit pile upward, such as the fact that he could not mount up, he was simply asking for a refund to the fare and not the #2 he claimed to have already been shortchanged. By now I had been now a little felt and felt like having a bit of a dig back, so that I called him back and asked if I could test his credentials.
“Why would you desire to do that” he exclaimed.
I explained to him that as a taxi driver I take a badge along with my identity can be plainly seen by my own customers and also that we often have leaflets pushed through the door by our local force telling us to assess peoples identity before allowing them within our home or handing over anything.
I was just doing my homework because he would have been only hoping to find out some funds out of me personally.
“I work for Scotland Yard, SO13, I cant give you information like that due to the nature of the work we perform, however, trust me I am genuine, ” I am a very high ranking officer, so you’ll walk in to almost any police station in the nation and find out I am who I say I’m. If you Want to go down this road my colleagues are only a phone call away, remember that who I Benefit”
I thanked him again for his time and reassured him that the cheque would be from the post.
Then I presumed. Head to almost any Police station inside the nation. Maybe not a bad idea .
Once I had hailed the phone conversations the officers at the channel stood with a look of stunned confusion on their faces.
“Oh Dear” they said.
“We’re sure quite how to manage this.” “I believe we better take a statement”
It was that if this guy had not been that he said he was he was in big trouble. The authorities take an extremely dim view of people impersonating police , particularly if it’s for private advantage.
But if he was who he said he was he was in serious problem for using his power and the way to figure out what was your own ordeal.
I chose a statement and left it at the hands of law enforcement to manage and has been awarded the advice on no account was to have any more dealings with him and never to ship anything at the post.
2-4 hours after I had been informed by Rye authorities which he was not who he claimed to be was thanked for bringing this to his attention, it was being dealt and he could be expecting a knock on the door in an associate of the police in his area very soon.
Now I don’t understand about you, but I’d love to be a fly on the wall if that happens.