Cabbie overcharged newlyweds (From Somerset County Gazette)

Cabbie overcharged newlyweds

9:00pm Wednesday 10th March 2010

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A CABBIE who overcharged a couple on their wedding night has ended up with a bill for almost £550.

Solo taxi operator Michiel Scribbins, 67, of Mill Leat, Hemyock, pleaded guilty by letter to the offence to Taunton Deane magistrates.

The court heard he charged the newlyweds £30 for the journey from their wedding reception at West Bagborough House to Cedar Falls, in Bishops Lydeard, and also failed to use his taxi meter.

Licensing officers who investigated the incident calculated that the fare should have been no more than £22, even after making allowances for disputed waiting times.

Scribbins was ordered by the court to pay a £235 fine. £285 costs, a £15 victim surcharge and £8 compensation to his passengers.

After last Thursday’s case, Cllr Tim Slattery, Taunton Deane Council’s environmental services portfolio holder, said: “Overcharging is a serious matter.

“The public has a right to expect fairness and honesty from licensed taxi drivers and this is clearly not acceptable practice.

“I would urge the public to make sure that taxi drivers use their meters for every journey without exception, and to ask the driver if the correct tariff is being used.

“The amount shown on the meter is the maximum amount that the driver can charge, and waiting time is automatically taken into account.”

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