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Conference govt02::basingstoke

Title:	* BASINGSTOKE - Gateway to Wessex *
Notice:	BASINGSTOKE - John Arlott lived here - then left, I wonder why
Moderator:	COMICS::CORNEJ

Created:	Wed Jul 27 1988
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	925
Total number of notes:	5875

110.0. "That'll be about 5 min's love." by COMICS::MILLAR () Mon Feb 27 1989 13:52

    Hi There,
              Is it me, or does anybody else have trouble with Taxis
    in this town. I don't mean the actual cars, more like the pathalogical
    liars employed on the radio. How many times have I heard It'll be
    there in five minutes love... Only to be stood around 20 mins' later.
    
    During the recent spell of "winter weather" the problem appears
    to have increased. I have now had 10 - 15 min's love, & could you
    wait outside please because it's raining !!!.
    
    The other night I ordered a Taxi at 5:00 pm to pick me up in Viables
    at 5:30pm, this was ordered at 4:00 pm.. 5:40 pm no Taxi Hmphhhh.
    Phone up.
    Q. Hello I ordered a TAXI for 5:30 pm.
    
    A. Ah yes love. He's stuck in traffic just now, hang on I'll ask
       him how long. Oh he say he's round the corner with you in **5 mins'**
    
       5:55 pm.
    
    Q. Where is my Taxi please.
    
    A. Aha. He's out of the traffic now and you should see him any second
       now!!
      
    
       6:05
    
    Taxi Turns up.
    
    Q. when did you get the call.
    
    A. 5 minutes ago.
    
    Q. Why did the girl on the radio say you would be 5 minutes, 35
       minutes ago.
    
    A. I dunno mate, hang on I'll ask her.. Ere' love.. This bloke says
       He's been waiting 35 minutes. (love now speaks) Well that's his
       fault because a cab Turned up there and he wasn't there.
    
    (flame off now)
    
    Well is it me .. Or does everybody else drive their own cars here.
    
    
    Bruce..

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
110.1	GET A CAR!!!	UBOHUB::ROCK_C	Fraggle	`Mon Feb 27 1989 15:43`	9
	I took driving lessons and got a car as a result of the taxis in this town. There are one or two good firms. I forget the numbers now but I'll find out and let you know. You do really need a car in this place as to get from one estate to another you usually have to get two buses. If you go by Taxi...... well you know the answer to that one. Claire
110.2		SHAPES::KERRELLD	at last, a new personal name	`Tue Feb 28 1989 08:08`	16
	There are two main systems used for running a Taxi base. 1. Organise which cars are available when (hours on the road), book all incoming calls against cars availability, get drivers to announce POB (passenger(s) on board) and ETA (expected time of arrival). This enables an accurate reliable service to be maintained. 2. Drivers appear and disappear on the road at whim. Base operator takes every call and writes it down sequentially in a book, calls for a car free and when one replies gives out the next job and crosses it from the book. You are a victim of the 2nd system, don't use that company again, tell all your friends and collegues and they will have to improve or go bust. Dave.
110.3	PATHALOGICAL LIAR SIGNING IN!	LARVAE::LUCIE	Make mine a Pint of ESB!	`Wed Mar 01 1989 09:38`	23
	Well this is one subject I certainly can get involved in as I am one of the so called 'Pathalogical Liars' that works for one of the local taxi firms! Re. last, our system works as (1) and basically I think works really well. I never tell people 5 minutes, because more often than not it takes 10 mins for a driver to get anywhere in Basingstoke. Then people get the hump when I tell then its gonna take 10 minutes - "What 10 minutes oh forget it!". Apart from the fact that Basingstoke is full of the some of the rudest/ignorant individuals I have ever come across in my life, working as a Bell-Op is brilliant fun, and earns me good pocket money too. So if you don't want to hear 5 minutes when they mean 15 minutes, give me a call on Tuesdays/Thursday nights (57555) because as a DECie I canny lie to customers! Cheers Lucie
110.4	Don't lie, bend the truth a bit ...	COMICS::BELL	Mirror or window ?	`Wed Mar 01 1989 12:35`	9
	Re -.1 > ... because as a DECie I canny lie to customers! Let's face it, saying "5 minutes" and meaning "15 minutes" isn't any worse than "Yes sir, the relevent Engineering group are working on it" or [the best one of all] "Fixed in a future release" ! :-) Frank
110.5	If it's Broken it's Comms	COMICS::MILLAR		`Wed Mar 01 1989 13:44`	4
	Frank, Sounds like a "comms'" issue to me !!! Bruce..
110.6	No way matey !!	COMICS::LANG	More Trouble Every Day...	`Wed Mar 01 1989 15:42`	7
	Hmmmm Bruce, to me it looks like a PC problem !!! Harv
110.7	Do you write TV scripts?	SHAPES::STREETR	This is my theory	`Mon Mar 06 1989 14:02`	6
	Did anyone see "Carrott Confidential" last Saturday? Brilliant take off of a cab base office.....even down to 'he'll be there in 5 minutes'... Ray.
110.8		LARVAE::MUNSON_P	Way to go 'frisco	`Sat Mar 18 1989 10:07`	12
	Well I used the District cab service every day to go to and from Highfield, it was booked a week and a half in advance.... Monday - Home 10 mins late - Highfield 5 mins early Tuesday- Home 2 mins early - Highfield 25 mins late Wednesday - Home on time - Highfield 6 mins late Thursday - Home 9 mins late - Highfield 20 mins late Friday - Home 5 mins late - Highfield 10 mins early (Wow!) I think that about sums it up. (��)Paul.