Taxi Driver Online

Rogue taxi firm probed by police

AN UNLICENSED Sheffield taxi firm which has apparently left passengers stranded at airports is being investigated by police.
Council bosses are warning people not to use the firm, called Aston Cars, which claims to operate from boarded up premises on City Road. They say the firm appears to have left a number of people out of pocket after taking them to the airport, charging them a full return fee then failing to collect them at the end of their holiday. Clive Stephenson, principal licensing officer in the authority's Taxi Licensing Section, said: "We noticed Aston Cars had advertised in the Yellow Pages, but wasn't licensed to operate as a taxi company in Sheffield.
"We are also aware that the alleged business address of Aston Cars is boarded-up premises at City Road.
"We want to warn the public that if they use this so-called taxi operator they could be at risk, as there is a serious possibility that drivers or vehicles are not licensed by the council.
"The message to the public must be to take care and use one of the many licensed operators in the city who use properly licensed drivers and vehicles that are checked by the council and properly insured.
"It appears from information that has been passed to the council that Aston Cars is collecting passengers to take to an airport and asking for full payment for a return journey in advance.
"However, we have been told that a number of people have been left stranded at the airport and haven't been able to get their money back as yet.
"We are co-operating fully with the police to resolve this matter, but meanwhile we would urge people to use properly licensed firms."

Why doesn't the LO just pick up the phone, ring the bloody number, and then nick whoever turns up?

It's not that hard really.