It sounds easy: tap a button on your phone, order a taxi, and go. But sometimes, it’s not that simple. Sometimes, you meet drivers who make the ride unforgettable. Taxi drivers also have lots of stories about their passengers.

The Story:

1.)

I was late and called a taxi. I climb into the car, and the air conditioner is on full blast in the cabin, it’s literally freezing. The driver himself had a hat and a down jacket on. I say, “Could you turn off the air conditioner? I’m freezing here.”
And he replies, “It’s my first time driving this rented car. I got it this morning, and the air conditioner had already been on. I don’t know how to turn it off, and the owner of the car doesn’t pick up the phone, so I’ve been driving like this for 3 hours and freezing myself.”
I put on my hat and gloves and buttoned my coat. We drove in silence for the rest of the journey. I got out, and the guy went on freezing.

2.)

A very old car arrived to get me to my destination. So, we’re driving, and about halfway down the way, the driver gets nervous. He started shaking his leg, like on gym equipment. Suddenly, he said, “We can’t go. I think the brakes have failed.” And it’s late, we’re in the middle of nowhere, my phone’s dying. I asked in despair, “So, we can’t make it?” And the driver replied, “We can. I’m just worried about you. But we can make it.” Eventually, we got home. Slowly, in low gear. I didn’t complain. The man did his best. And there were no taxi apps at that time to complain to.

3.)

I’m taking an order, the notes say “a small dog.” I arrive, there are actually 2 dogs. The owner looks at me pleadingly, “Please take us. No one wants to take us. My dogs are obedient, clean.”
I say, “Okay, get in. But if something goes wrong, we’ll look into it when we arrive.” She’s like, “Of course, everything will be fine. If there are any problems, I will compensate for everything.” On the way, one of the dogs starts running around on the back seat, on the floor, on its owner. I didn’t pay much attention, just asked the woman to calm it down.
We arrive, she pays me, and gets out. And I see that the interior is completely covered in fur. Everything: the seat, the backrest, the floor. I come out and say, “Lady, look, my car is covered in your dog’s hair, please pay for the vacuum cleaning, and I’ll go.” She just scolded me and that was it.

4.)

I took an order in the morning, it was a passenger traveling to a large shopping mall. About half a mile from the point of destination, the passenger says, “Drop me off here, I’ll take a walk, and you won’t have to go round the parking lot.” Later I noticed that there is less money on the balance than there should be.
I called support, and it turned out that the passenger complained that she was not dropped off at her destination and had to walk around the whole shopping mall with a sore leg! I explained the situation, and they sympathized with me, but they couldn’t help me, because I finished the order before I reached the final destination. Of course, I never got the money.
Now, if a passenger wants to get off earlier and pays with a card, I always ask to change the endpoint. Or I drop them off where they ask, but complete the order only where I am supposed to.