Swiss Miss taken home by cops; cabbie to feel wrath

RE: Serious incident involving Shaftesbury Cars Ltd., Car #02

Dear Chilworth Court Aparthotel Management and Staff:

I am writing to inform you of a serious incident involving Shaftesbury Cars Ltd., Car #02, that occurred on the evening of 21 September 2010.

At approximately 7.10pm, the car arrived at Chilworth Court to take me to my destination in Acton Green. I specified the exact street address to the driver, and I looked up and marked the location in a map book, as per his request.

However, it soon became clear that the driver had no idea where he was going, despite his claims to the contrary. We were, quite literally, going in circles (a fact the driver initially denied). After approximately 20 minutes, the driver pulled over for a period of five minutes to study the map; he then insisted he knew where he was going. This statement proved to be completely untrue: we continued to circle. I instructed the driver to stop at a gas station to ask for directions, but he refused. He also became increasingly hostile towards me as the journey unfolded.

As a woman travelling alone at night in an unfamiliar neighbourhood with an incompetent and/or malicious driver, I was genuinely afraid for my personal safety.

After almost an hour in the car, I told the driver that I had absolutely no confidence in his ability to perform his job, and I demanded that he let me off at the nearest tube station. He did not immediately respond or comply. I then informed him that I was prepared to dial 999 if he did not let me out of his car at the first available safe location — NOT at the side of a deserted roadway, as he suggested. We happened to pass a police station, and I demanded to be let out of the car. I entered the police station visibly shaken and in tears. Two police officers, concerned for my wellbeing, drove me home in a police car.

Following these events, I called Shaftesbury Cars Ltd. to complain, but the night manager disregarded my concerns, saying that the driver had reported that I was an “aggressive” and “abusive” passenger. He also said the driver was one of the company’s best, and that I was overreacting about being “five minutes late for an appointment.” I am outraged at this disrespectful, patronizing, and ludicrous response to what was a potentially dangerous incident.

It is my strong recommendation that Chilworth Court immediately discontinue any association with Shaftesbury Cars Ltd. for the safety and wellbeing of all guests. I also ask that Chilworth Court share this letter with Shaftesbury Cars Ltd. in an effort to initiate disciplinary proceedings against both the driver of Car #02 and the night manager. I have enclosed a second copy of this letter for that purpose.

Please contact me if you require further information about this incident.

Regards,
Swiss Miss in London
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