How about drivers asking for payment upfront to take you somewhere then not taking you all the way there without furthur payment.

Tip of the iceberg.

I used seven cabs - all Hackney - in Manchester over the weekend, of which three were filthy inside, only one driver had his 'badge' visible and five used mobiles - not hands-free - while driving.

All Taxi/private hire drivers should take a driving test before they get their hackney license, as my experience over the years shows me that taxi drivers are the worst drivers on the road, just because they make their living by driving doesnt make them own the roads, but they think they do.
A close second for bad driving is Bus drivers, they tend to pull out from stops by just giving one flash of the indicators and dont bother with mirrors, "I'm bigger than you and I'm coming out".

What about the sexual assault and rapes on Woman that never get reported?

horrible black cabs...staff always unpleasant and i always get asked to pay upfront...maybe im being discriminated cos i shave my hair...anyway, makes me feel like a criminal when im not

All I can think of is that passengers must weigh considerably more than you think. When Taxi's have passengers in them the weight slows the vehicle right down yet when there are no passengers the Taxi is so much more lighter and quicker. Manchester down the Parkway 35 in a 40, returning to Manchester not 35.

Lots of taxi drivers in manchester use their mobiles while driving, I make them stop the cab and get out for my safety, how can they do a public service safely whilst chatting on the mobile why dont the police tighten up on this offence, I suppose its just a matter of catching them doing it.

Is this referring the Hackney Carriage drivers or mini cab drivers? It would be nice if you made it clear

I cycle everywhere in town and the amount of foreign taxi drivers that do not know how to drive is incredible. They think they own the roads and they are rude when you get in their taxi. Half of them do not know the quickest routes to your location either.

The people of Manchester are known around the country for being friendly and funny. I suggest all taxi drivers in manchester be put on personality courses.

I've not had many problems with taxis and black cabs over the years, but one incident sticks in my mind. I was in the centre of Manchester and flagged down a black cab, I told him I wanted to go to Flixton and he drove off, only missing my foot because I jumped back!

1,500 complaints in one year.

Can't remember ever seeing any names and faces here. Must be getting the wrong rag or are the council to busy to help and instead they are counting the amount they will be getting from their gold plated pensions.

I have had experience of bad manners and hostility myself.
I live less than 5 miles from the airport and the black cab drivers go ballistic when they find out how long my journey will be. It's not my fault they sit there all day waiting for a fare.
I would rather have a mini cab - the drivers are normally much more pleasant and dont seem to hold a grudge against us passengers

"In Oldham, town hall bosses fined five drivers for plying for hire or having no insurance " This isnt protecting the public dosnt the council realise that driving the public around uninsured should be a prison sentence?What laws do we have to protect the public from these idiot taxi drivers.Its time to check all taxi drivers details and background .how are the public being protected when we have so many people in the country with forged documents etc...Full background checks. DNA AND FINGER PRINTS OF ALL TAXI DRIVERS. "COMPUSARY".

kevin in hulme... nice comment ! i drive a bus and your spot on. most drivers see a bus indicator and speed up as they get a condition called (OMG i might get stuck behind that bus for 50 yards till it pulls in again) and the other one frustrating is when there are two lanes each way and we just want to pull out to pass a parked car do they not think we will pull back in to the left as all bus stops are at the side of the road ?

Rick D'alaglio ........... spot on

I made a complaint about racist comments from a taxi driver - I was appalled! I contacted the office about it, gave his driver and cab number, the operator was very apologetic and said someone would contact me after the weekend, no one ever did.

Most Private Hire in Manchester seem to have one set fare for any destination.....
£25.00 ..... and some idiots pay it and then complain afterwards

Judging by the comments on here, perhaps the headline should read "*ONLY* 1,500 complaints against cabbies in Greater Manchester" !!

Reportng the Hackney Carriages(Black Cabs) to the Licencing Department at the Manchester Town Hall is a complete waste of time, they can say they issue warning to drivers but how do we know this? I have reported 2 drivers for drinking alcohol and using a mobile phone on more than one occassion yet they are still driving Hackney Carriages so either the Licencing Department ignored the complaint or did nothing about it. Some drivers give each others names as I haver caught these two drivers out and they weren't even the drivers as shown on the Drivers ID madge shown in the Hackney Carriage, these two drivers still pick up on the city centre and the police and council do nothing about them. Reporting drivers is a waste of time, no doubdt the council will not take their licences of them as the drivers pay nice big fees to the council for their licence fees. What wll it take for the council to do something active to rid our streets of these illegal drivers?
It's so easy to cheat, all that you have to do is get a licence from the council and them let your mates drive the cab,so the council can just say all our LICENCED DRIVERS are CRB checked etc, but whats the point of that when a large number of Hackney Carriages use a number of drivers who are not CRB checked.

It can't be that hard for the council to enforce the law, all you have to do is check all the drivers details on Hackney Carriages that are parked up at Portland Street, Oxford Road, Albert Square etc on a weekly basis at different times.

I know one driver some years ago who was banned from driving but somehow still drove a taxi after supposedly passing the CRB check, do the council just check for assualt and sexual offences in these CRB checks are actually check they have a licence. And by that I don't just mean produce a Photo Driving Licence which they still hold even though they are banned from driving.

For all of you complaining, I suggest you try driving a taxi and see just how little you understand it not.
It's a hellish job with ever increasing fuel costs and fares which the Council never raise. You have to deal with some awful members of the public who seem to think it is their divine right to abuse another human being.
My father drove a taxi for 20 years prior to retiring and had been beaten up twice (once so savagely I couldn't recognise my own rather); was robbed countless times; had people do runners; had people kick his cab in regularly; and at least once a week would have to come home because some cretin had either thrown up, urinated or defecated in the back of the cab.

The airport and Piccadilly train station both charge for black cabs to rank, and that's before the fair is paid.

My father was nothing but well dressed, courteous and that black cab was washed, cleaned, polished and hoovered twice a week. He took pride in his job as did many who worked with him. My father retired from it 10 years ago and has certainly improved his life, not having to face the constant abuse from the public.

Oh and MEN a cabbie is a Hackney Carriage driver. Private Hire drivers are not cabbies. Yes there are 1,500 complaints in Manchester - but given that there are probably more than 5,000 journeys made every DAY throughout Greater Manchester, I suspect that you'll find that the % of unhappy customers is minuscule.

Part of this alleged bad behaviour from some cabbies is the habit of using peoples driveways as a quick turnaround in such places as cul de sacs when good manners and consideration should be implimented by making their turnaround on the road or street where they dont infiltrate residents driveways.
I ask the question would these same cabbies gladly accept somebody practicing the same thing on their driveway or path? I think not!
However there are a lot of cabbies who respect other peoples land or property and I thank them for it but these others that cannot be bothered to find somewhere other than driveways etc well I honestly believe they are being let down by some of their fellow cabbies.....

Had one from Cresta cars nearly crash into me in Cheetham Hill then have the cheek to get out and start shouting! Never had a problem with Manchester Cars though, used them for years.

I never use black cabs in Manchester because the majority of the drivers barely speak Englsih, have no idea how to drive a car, do not understand the highway code, drive agressively, and have no idea about where places in Manchester are : I asked for 'the Town Hall' once whilst outside the Bridgewater Hall (we didn't walk because my friend was on crutches) and I had to give the driver directions - I'm not kidding, he had no idea where it was !

I've also been in the back of black cabs when the driver was on his mobile handset, been taken the 'scenic route' more than once, had to put up with them having no change, no manners, and generally speaking no willingness to be helpful at all. They are (with a small number of exceptions) a disgrace to the city, and when you compare them to London cabbies and their knowledge of the roads I think you have to agree that we get a very bad deal here in Manchester.

On the other hand, minicabs around Manchester are way better - I use them for work very often and would be totally lost without them.

Black cabs ? I'd rather walk. In the rain.

Oh, the irony - I misspell the word 'English' when mentioning that not may black cab drivers seem to speak it properly. Oh well, I was ranting a bit.

But the point still stands.

I remember getting a black cab outside M & S couple of years ago going to Salford Quays to meet a friend. I got in the cab but he had to stop at lights couple of lads came over asking for direction he told them to get in he would drop them. When I objected he was really put out. Guess what he hadnt got a clue where he was taking me I ended up getting out of the cab at the first land mark I recognised at the Quays and having to walk from there. Maybe they need someone to check the permits because Im sure he didnt have a legal badge, apart from having no idea where he was taking me his English was so bad we couldnt understand each other properly.