Holding The Country To Ransom.

Jane’s car failed its MOT, so it has been taxis to and from work. Her taxi is £12 to work and £12 back. Sadly her car has been in the garage for over a week. The small local, top quality, family run garage, seems to have been overwhelmed. Usually it doesn’t take this long for the MOT and for any repairs to be done, she is not sure what went wrong this time.

This morning, was different, unexpected.

Jane told us, “The Uber was not picking up,” That is jargon to me, but it was explained to me, “I was unable to connect to a taxi driver, when I do connect to a taxi, I will then know how near or how far he is, he is on his way to me and I will know how much the fare is.” Jane went on, “The fare is paid in advance, before he arrives, via the app on my phone.” I have never used an Uber, if I use a taxi I only pay cash at the end.

Jane said, “So, none of the taxis would connect, I was getting very nervous as time was going, I had got up very early, and today was an important one.”

Jane went on, “I had to pay for a more expensive type of Uber, because no one was accepting on the normal one.” I said, puzzeled, “Normal?” She saw my face as I said, “What do you mean by normal.” Jane said, “There are options on Uber, you can pay for a ride in cars with more comfort and stuff.”

Jane said, “He nearly didn’t accept my ride, because he was ‘about to eat and pray’.”

I said, to Jane, “Well how much did you pay to get here?” She said, “Each day it has been £12 he charged me £26.”

We were schocked! I said, “They are holding the Country to Ransom.” Surely they can have someone else working, so that they don’t lose any business?”

Jane replied with her usual gentlness, “I told the driver, ‘I am so grateful that you accepted my request’”.

This evening I asked her, “How was it going home?” Jane said, “No Ubers were accepting my request, so eventually I had to take the bus home, it took me over an hour.”

I hope she gets her car back soon from the garage.