Irish Taxi Forum
Public Area => Taxi Talk => Topic started by: Rat Catcher on April 14, 2022, 02:25:52 pm
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https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/three-tips-help-maximise-your-23398941 (https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/three-tips-help-maximise-your-23398941)
Three tips to help maximise your chances of catching a taxi in Dublin this weekend
Many people in the capital have faced difficulty getting home late at night due to the decrease in drivers compared to 2020
By Emma Nevin
06:45, 16 MAR 2022 UPDATED11:01, 16 MAR 2022
NEWS
Demand for taxis has surged in Dublin since Covid-19 restrictions were scrapped earlier this year.
Many people in the capital have faced difficulty getting home late at night due to there being less drivers on the road in Dublin than in 2020.
This weekend is expected to be particularly busy for taxis as Dubliners head out to celebrate St Patrick's Day.
Read more: Taxi drivers to add extra 20% to meter fares on Friday
James Bowpitt, Operations Manager of taxi-hailing company Bolt Ireland, shared some tips on how to get a taxi in Dublin this Bank Holiday weekend.
He told Dublin Live: "The most simplistic tip is to try and share a taxi if you can.
"The less people needing taxis because more people are sharing one means that more people can get home.
"That's obviously not always practical because people live on different sides of town."
Mr Bowpitt said that if you're using an app, the best way to do it is to try and walk away from a crowded area before you start to book your trip.
"So if you're in Temple Bar, don't stand on the corner and order one. Walk four or five blocks and get away from the main hustle and bustle. That way you have a better chance of the driver accepting the trip," he said.
Read more: St Patrick's Day: American TikTok comedian riles up Dubs with his 'Patty's Day' guide
Read more: St Patrick's Day: Dublin Airport expecting 77,000 passengers a day as businesses bracing for pre-pandemic tourist numbers
"From the driver's perspective, they're driving to the side of the street to where you're standing and trying to work out who you are.
"It's very confusing for them late at night or if there's a bunch of drunk people at night, people will just try and jump into the car. So walk away is the best tip."
He also shared advice on how to best hail a taxi from the street.
"If you're trying to grab one off the street, the best thing you can do is position yourself on the left hand side of the road on a street that is incoming to a busy area.
"So say you're somewhere in Ranelagh. You want to be on a main street that's a little bit before you get to all the bars and pubs so you can nab that taxi before it arrives to where everyone would be waiting."
Mr Bowpitt said that last weekend, Bolt Ireland saw a huge spike in demand on their taxi-hailing app.
"Saturday was a very unique situation. It was probably the largest spike in demand that we've had for taxis in the last couple of years at least.
"That's a positive thing. Everybody's starting to get back out and about and nightlife is kicking off again in Dublin.
"But obviously that means there's a massive problem with moving people around and getting them in and out of the venues they want to get to.
"From a supplier perspective, it's just the simple fact that there are not enough taxis.
"Over the past decade or so, there's been about a 30-35% decline in the number of taxis operating in Ireland as a whole so that's where this problem has stemmed from."
He described the barriers that are stopping new drivers from entering the taxi industry.
"The NTA is currently undertaking it's Maximum Fare Review for taxis. That's expected to take a certain amount of time though, it's three to six months and then implementation so that's not a quick fix either.
"The 2019 Review was never implemented because they went to implement it and then Covid-19 hit. So the taxi drivers have been short a pay rise essentially for four years.
"So the enticements not really there for somebody new to start driving a taxi.
"Now you have additional problems on top of that. With buying a car, there's supply chain issues and fuel costs are rising because of the crisis in Ukraine at the moment.
"There are a lot of financial factors that make it difficult for someone looking to join the industry."
Mr Bowpitt said possible changes to maximum fares in the NTA review and wider use of E-bikes and E-scooters for shorter trips may help solve problems with Ireland's taxi industry down the line.
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I've no problem getting a taxi.You just need to know where to look.
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'From a supplier perspective, it's just the simple fact that there are not enough taxis.'
What is yer man Bowman on about?.Not all taxis work for Bolt or use apps at all.There's not all lot happening on the Bolt app during the day shift recently.A bit of a spike after midnight isn't a reason to fuk a load of new taxis on the road.What if the new lads don't wanna work nights.How many e scooters will er need then?
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YOUR VERY OWN FRANKINSTEINS MONSTER >YOU SUPPOERTED THEM TO DO THIS TO YOU >YOU FUCKING SHITHEADS . rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl
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Erm you work for Freenow..they spout the same shite everytime someone gives them an interview.
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https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/three-tips-help-maximise-your-23398941 (https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/three-tips-help-maximise-your-23398941)
Three tips to help maximise your chances of catching a taxi in Dublin this weekend
Many people in the capital have faced difficulty getting home late at night due to the decrease in drivers compared to 2020
By Emma Nevin
06:45, 16 MAR 2022 UPDATED11:01, 16 MAR 2022
NEWS
Demand for taxis has surged in Dublin since Covid-19 restrictions were scrapped earlier this year.
Many people in the capital have faced difficulty getting home late at night due to there being less drivers on the road in Dublin than in 2020.
This weekend is expected to be particularly busy for taxis as Dubliners head out to celebrate St Patrick's Day.
Read more: Taxi drivers to add extra 20% to meter fares on Friday
James Bowpitt, Operations Manager of taxi-hailing company Bolt Ireland, shared some tips on how to get a taxi in Dublin this Bank Holiday weekend.
He told Dublin Live: "The most simplistic tip is to try and share a taxi if you can.
"The less people needing taxis because more people are sharing one means that more people can get home.
"That's obviously not always practical because people live on different sides of town."
Mr Bowpitt said that if you're using an app, the best way to do it is to try and walk away from a crowded area before you start to book your trip.
"So if you're in Temple Bar, don't stand on the corner and order one. Walk four or five blocks and get away from the main hustle and bustle. That way you have a better chance of the driver accepting the trip," he said.
Read more: St Patrick's Day: American TikTok comedian riles up Dubs with his 'Patty's Day' guide
Read more: St Patrick's Day: Dublin Airport expecting 77,000 passengers a day as businesses bracing for pre-pandemic tourist numbers
"From the driver's perspective, they're driving to the side of the street to where you're standing and trying to work out who you are.
"It's very confusing for them late at night or if there's a bunch of drunk people at night, people will just try and jump into the car. So walk away is the best tip."
He also shared advice on how to best hail a taxi from the street.
"If you're trying to grab one off the street, the best thing you can do is position yourself on the left hand side of the road on a street that is incoming to a busy area.
"So say you're somewhere in Ranelagh. You want to be on a main street that's a little bit before you get to all the bars and pubs so you can nab that taxi before it arrives to where everyone would be waiting."
Mr Bowpitt said that last weekend, Bolt Ireland saw a huge spike in demand on their taxi-hailing app.
"Saturday was a very unique situation. It was probably the largest spike in demand that we've had for taxis in the last couple of years at least.
"That's a positive thing. Everybody's starting to get back out and about and nightlife is kicking off again in Dublin.
"But obviously that means there's a massive problem with moving people around and getting them in and out of the venues they want to get to.
"From a supplier perspective, it's just the simple fact that there are not enough taxis.
"Over the past decade or so, there's been about a 30-35% decline in the number of taxis operating in Ireland as a whole so that's where this problem has stemmed from."
He described the barriers that are stopping new drivers from entering the taxi industry.
"The NTA is currently undertaking it's Maximum Fare Review for taxis. That's expected to take a certain amount of time though, it's three to six months and then implementation so that's not a quick fix either.
"The 2019 Review was never implemented because they went to implement it and then Covid-19 hit. So the taxi drivers have been short a pay rise essentially for four years.
"So the enticements not really there for somebody new to start driving a taxi.
"Now you have additional problems on top of that. With buying a car, there's supply chain issues and fuel costs are rising because of the crisis in Ukraine at the moment.
"There are a lot of financial factors that make it difficult for someone looking to join the industry."
Mr Bowpitt said possible changes to maximum fares in the NTA review and wider use of E-bikes and E-scooters for shorter trips may help solve problems with Ireland's taxi industry down the line.
It should be remembered that spunkbubbles like Mr Bowpitt have little or no experience in the taxi industry.
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To be fair to Bolt, Free Now, et al Jim Waldron and the late Joe Heron both claimed to represent the trade and both complained of drivers leaving the trade to pursue more lucrative occupations years ago. In fact, Waldron went on to complain about the cost of entry which, in his opinion, is too high.
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John m:
"YOUR VERY OWN FRANKINSTEINS MONSTER >YOU SUPPOERTED THEM TO DO THIS TO YOU >YOU FUCKING SHITHEADS . rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl rofl"
Erm yesterday radio Nova was quoting the Carson chap from Freenow(who you cover work for) saying that the taxi fleet has been depleted by 30% over the past ten years and 10% of that was during the pandemic.Remember how we were very heavily over supplied for the duration of the recession and subsequent years.
Right now Freenow are running very expensive adverts on telly and youtube at the same time as complaining there are no taxis.Why would they be trying to drive demand with adverts if they don't have enough drivers?.They're offering no bonuses compared to Bolt and Uber but still expect drivers to pay the highest commission of all three.Seems very odd to me.
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Right now Freenow are running very expensive adverts on telly and youtube at the same time as complaining there are no taxis.Why would they be trying to drive demand with adverts if they don't have enough drivers?.They're offering no bonuses compared to Bolt and Uber but still expect drivers to pay the highest commission of all three.Seems very odd to me.
Because there's a huge "churn" in both drivers and customers all the time and a fresh supply of donators have to be found constantly or else "their" 15% will disappear into the ether....
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I get that MMW but do they not realise we all listen to the radio when we're working.Calling for more taxis isn't gonna encourage us to cover more work for them.Yesterday I covered less than a third my normal Freenow work.Got a fair bit on Bolt.
The radio Nova news bulletin mentioned fuk all about Freenow having a bit proper competition for the first time in years.If they want more jobs covered they need to reduce the commission.If they can do it for EVs they can afford to do it for the rest of us.Hopefully they'll cop on.
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what do freenow take from each trip? what do bolt take?
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what do freenow take from each trip? what do bolt take?
15 and 13% respectively!!
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what do freenow take from each trip? what do bolt take?
15 and 13% respectively!!
Bolt will go to 15 as well id say. A lot to give away.
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In every 100, free now will give you 85 back and bolt 87. Not much of a difference given freenow offers more choice and quicker jobs. Bolt should have stsyed at 10% other wise its just a gimmick
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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what do freenow take from each trip? what do bolt take?
15 and 13% respectively!!
Bolt will go to 15 as well id say. A lot to give away.
They'd be mad not to.
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I'd use Bolt and Uber just because they don't give preference to the ambassador wankers like Freneow.Half of the lads on here defending Freenow have or have had stickers on their heaps.Every set of lights in Dublin has at least one taxi that's Freenow branded giving away free ad space.Bit sad really how willing lads will give away such a valuable advertising asset for free in the current economic climate.Gobshites really.At least Bolt gives a reduction in commission for advertising on yer heap.
The fact that Freenow is roughly 13% more expensive than Bolt and 20% more expensive than Uber is a massive bonus and a huge disincentive for drivers to use their app.Those increases are huge.
They'll all try to raise the commission but only if we keep giving them the edge over each other.
I know the maths looks bogey but I think saying one app is 2% dearer is inaccurate.The actual percentage increase much bigger.
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I'd use Bolt and Uber just because they don't give preference to the ambassador wankers like Freneow.Half of the lads on here defending Freenow have or have had stickers on their heaps.Every set of lights in Dublin has at least one taxi that's Freenow branded giving away free ad space.Bit sad really how willing lads will give away such a valuable advertising asset for free in the current economic climate.Gobshites really.At least Bolt gives a reduction in commission for advertising on yer heap.
The fact that Freenow is roughly 13% more expensive than Bolt and 20% more expensive than Uber is a massive bonus and a huge disincentive for drivers to use their app.Those increases are huge.
They'll all try to raise the commission but only if we keep giving them the edge over each other.
I know the maths looks bogey but I think saying one app is 2% dearer is inaccurate.The actual percentage increase much bigger.
I think a taxi driver won mastermind years ago merc...must of bean a freak of nature oops
Why they don't understand encouragin competition amongst the apps is good for them ....I'll never know .....
But ya may aswel be talkin to a brick wall ......
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Competition is always good Octy...
Except of course the competition we get by flooding the country with thousands of extra taxis ,reducing our earnings to a pittance like ten years ago .The less power we give one app the less the NTA will listen to them.It won't be busy all the time.
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Do yu remember the traffic jams in Dublin of taxis Friday/Saturday nite an then nobody gave a bollix wen blokes wer hangin themselves all over the place out of ther attics .....some them blokes wer boasting in the pub bout the holidays an the golf an the Bulgarian apartment they baut before the crash......I remember one sat nite making 35 quid ....an all the cnuts that got in yur car round the time ( bout 6 apes a week ) used to say
" if carlsberg did taxis" .....an yu wanted them to just shut the fuk up wit a terrible urge to drive the taxi into the canal an lock the doors .....
Well that was fun........blokes on here talkin bout trummers an boastin shud take heed .....that plaugue an inflation, now war in Europe has the potential to kill the taxi business in a big way
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You're not wrong Octy and those times are always in my head as are the 90's and 80's....when panic sets in the first thing people do is stop discretionary spending and we'll be back to those dark days.
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You're not wrong Octy and those times are always in my head as are the 90's and 80's....when panic sets in the first thing people do is stop discretionary spending and we'll be back to those dark days.
Yea hal...I don't remember the 90,s ....I was drunk oops ....but ide be gettin rid of debt not gettin into it now ....if yur capable of drivin long hours now an all enthusiastic cause yur only Cople years at it an tink it'll last forever......it won't.....save like fuk ..its the fundamentals of the economy ting watdoyoucall it ting :-\....boom an bust .
Ther be fuk all plaugue hand outs anymore :-[
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Do yu remember the traffic jams in Dublin of taxis Friday/Saturday nite an then nobody gave a bollix wen blokes wer hangin themselves all over the place out of ther attics .....some them blokes wer boasting in the pub bout the holidays an the golf an the Bulgarian apartment they baut before the crash......I remember one sat nite making 35 quid ....an all the cnuts that got in yur car round the time ( bout 6 apes a week ) used to say
" if carlsberg did taxis" .....an yu wanted them to just shut the fuk up wit a terrible urge to drive the taxi into the canal an lock the doors .....
Well that was fun........blokes on here talkin bout trummers an boastin shud take heed .....that plaugue an inflation, now war in Europe has the potential to kill the taxi business in a big way
Best post on here by anybody in about 2 years.
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Do yu remember the traffic jams in Dublin of taxis Friday/Saturday nite an then nobody gave a bollix wen blokes wer hangin themselves all over the place out of ther attics .....some them blokes wer boasting in the pub bout the holidays an the golf an the Bulgarian apartment they baut before the crash......I remember one sat nite making 35 quid ....an all the cnuts that got in yur car round the time ( bout 6 apes a week ) used to say
" if carlsberg did taxis" .....an yu wanted them to just shut the fuk up wit a terrible urge to drive the taxi into the canal an lock the doors .....
Well that was fun........blokes on here talkin bout trummers an boastin shud take heed .....that plaugue an inflation, now war in Europe has the potential to kill the taxi business in a big way
Best post on here by anybody in about 2 years.
Not really marko ....just a mad cnut wit a ptsd memory oops :-[
>:(
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I'd use Bolt and Uber just because they don't give preference to the ambassador wankers like Freneow.Half of the lads on here defending Freenow have or have had stickers on their heaps.Every set of lights in Dublin has at least one taxi that's Freenow branded giving away free ad space.Bit sad really how willing lads will give away such a valuable advertising asset for free in the current economic climate.Gobshites really.At least Bolt gives a reduction in commission for advertising on yer heap.
The fact that Freenow is roughly 13% more expensive than Bolt and 20% more expensive than Uber is a massive bonus and a huge disincentive for drivers to use their app.Those increases are huge.
They'll all try to raise the commission but only if we keep giving them the edge over each other.
I know the maths looks bogey but I think saying one app is 2% dearer is inaccurate.The actual percentage increase much bigger.
I think a taxi driver won mastermind years ago merc...must of bean a freak of nature oops
Why they don't understand encouragin competition amongst the apps is good for them ....I'll never know .....
But ya may aswel be talkin to a brick wall ......
How is encouraging competition good when you are handing over YOUR CUSTOMERS to them to sell back to you .OCCI You and me are going to fall out if you keep up this sillyness .We should be trying to destroy the apps not encourage their use .If drivers didnt turn up for app work hands would start going out again especially when we all have to take credit cards .
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I'd use Bolt and Uber just because they don't give preference to the ambassador wankers like Freneow.Half of the lads on here defending Freenow have or have had stickers on their heaps.Every set of lights in Dublin has at least one taxi that's Freenow branded giving away free ad space.Bit sad really how willing lads will give away such a valuable advertising asset for free in the current economic climate.Gobshites really.At least Bolt gives a reduction in commission for advertising on yer heap.
The fact that Freenow is roughly 13% more expensive than Bolt and 20% more expensive than Uber is a massive bonus and a huge disincentive for drivers to use their app.Those increases are huge.
They'll all try to raise the commission but only if we keep giving them the edge over each other.
I know the maths looks bogey but I think saying one app is 2% dearer is inaccurate.The actual percentage increase much bigger.
I think a taxi driver won mastermind years ago merc...must of bean a freak of nature oops
Why they don't understand encouragin competition amongst the apps is good for them ....I'll never know .....
But ya may aswel be talkin to a brick wall ......
How is encouraging competition good when you are handing over YOUR CUSTOMERS to them to sell back to you .OCCI You and me are going to fall out if you keep up this sillyness .We should be trying to destroy the apps not encourage their use .If drivers didnt turn up for app work hands would start going out again especially when we all have to take credit cards .
True to an extent Johnny...but that subject has bean beatin to death on here for years .....if they don't use apps from ther gaffs or office they'll be using radio companies an I've no desire to use them from my experience....wear a uniform an you have 2 weeks holidays ??? Feck off .....
As for pickin up drunks an cunts Saturday nite ::) ide rather volunteer for a Ukrainian militia ....
No Johnny yu hav to movecwit the times ....the yung people are goin full scale autistics married to ther phone ...antin else makes them petrified....
Then you hav to factor in women joggers bean murdered by gypsies an gang raped by Brazilians after she asked for a lift home .... them women want to know who ya are an that ther journey is all recorded ....
I've picked up women standin beside a rank full of taxis an thers reasons behind it ...yu have to follow the times ....
Thers also yur own safety to consider.....
The apps are here to stay ....the only way to gain yur control back ...is to encourage competition amongst them until the technology evolves wer ther obsolete ....thats already in the process ......if yuv any uber shares ....sell them now ffs :D ??? :)
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UBER is the most evolved company on earth .The UBER game in food delivery is simple they deliver your food and in the future they will deliver your food .Thats how it will evolve eg Aunty Betty makes cakes in her bakery on mount street Uber or deliveroo charge Betty 20% of the cost of the cake to deliver it but in time UBER Kitchen will get the recipe from Aunty Betty and will bake her cakes for her under licence and they will bake and deliver and Betty will get 20% of the price for her recipe and brandname and Deliveroo or UBER eats will get 80% .Already doing that in Italy .So people in Swords or Tallaght can then order fresh Aunty Betty cakes and they will be baked in a local Kitchen in some nearby industrial estate .I wouldnt be selling any UBER shares I havent got .
When the Credit card thing comes into play .Yes people will still app a cab to be picked up from the Gaff but why would they stand around waiting for an App a cab while the streets are full of empty cabs to get home .I stopped the other night it was pissing rain and the bloke says are you Liam I said no so he let me go and continued standing in the rain waiting for a taxi after refusing one .Imagine these fucking idiots might some day breed and we evolve back into single cell amoeba's .
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Picked up 3 arseholes last night at a rank. I told them 50 euro was the fare, they aren't happy with that.
Can we pay by card? I said seeing as we were passing an ATM I would like it in cash, ah no we will pay by card. No.
what I dont get is why they want to pay by card? are they so lazy they cant step out of a taxi and type in their pin to get cash? lads their age are fighting to the death in Ukarine to defend their country, these fools can't muster up the energy to take cash from an ATM, we are fcuked if we are ever invaded.
fare was 52 euro.
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What is it with lads around 18 to 24? They don't half have a high opinion of themselves. They think they are the best thing since sliced bread if you ask me. Very irritating dealing with them I find. what have they got to be so cocky about? is it the coke that makes them act like that?
All the American slang, and mullet haircuts, id rather deal with a load of travellers in the taxi.
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Picked up 3 arseholes last night at a rank. I told them 50 euro was the fare, they aren't happy with that.
Can we pay by card? I said seeing as we were passing an ATM I would like it in cash, ah no we will pay by card. No.
what I dont get is why they want to pay by card? are they so lazy they cant step out of a taxi and type in their pin to get cash? lads their age are fighting to the death in Ukarine to defend their country, these fools can't muster up the energy to take cash from an ATM, we are fcuked if we are ever invaded.
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Cudnt agree more.there all clowns
The women that age bracket are same though also and they have a huge lack of respect for us as drivers aswell..let them walk home the cunts
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@taxi1990
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I agree on the women, they think they are so smart, and educated. I will never forget chatting this knob one night, he was on about his college course, then I told him my experience in college. He says oh so you are a smart buck, just because I went to college, fcukin idiot. I think it has to be the drugs that has them that way, these fools are doing coke since youth discos. Had a couple Sunday night, early 20's, fare was 11.60, there is a tenner he says, I just looked at him, then he says oh I will get the rest, yer one laughs to herself like I sholdn't be so petty to look for what im owed.
another guy that age told me I shouldnt be working as a taxi, there are loads of ways to make money now, having a youtube channel was his great idea. met him a year later and he was working in some $hit factory, probably making 300 euro a week.
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Lol that's very funny,we make more than most of the snobby marble mouthers that get in the car but they think we are some uneducated clowns driving the car,eh I wasn't just born into a taxi drivers job,I've past experiences doing other jobs and bit and pieces, more experiences than any of these cunts will ever come across, the young people of today are too soft! And brain dead from social media and drugs,none of them want to do a hard days work,just want hand outs
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Most of them wont even be able to buy a house either lol.
"what do you do during the week?" that is what they would say if they weren't too snobby and stuck up to talk to us.
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Most of them wont even be able to buy a house either lol.
"what do you do during the week?" that is what they would say if they weren't too snobby and stuck up to talk to us.
Ask them did they buy the house you're dropping them to?
You're what age, and still living with Mammy & Daddy?
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Most of them wont even be able to buy a house either lol.
"what do you do during the week?" that is what they would say if they weren't too snobby and stuck up to talk to us.
Ask them did they buy the house you're dropping them to?
You're what age, and still living with Mammy & Daddy?
Then they say yes. I say cherish them, because you will miss them when they are gone. both my parents are dead, well my dad isnt dead but he is in a nursing home so good as.