the_rck | (no subject)

The cab to get us to the appointment failed to show up. When I finally got through, forty-five minutes after our scheduled pick up time, they said they still hadn't dispatched a cab and didn't know when they'd be able to. I ended up sending Cordelia back to class. We'll have to eat the $60 missed appointment fee. I'm pissed as hell, but I don't see what I can do. I'm stuck with this company because they're the ones contracted to do the A-Ride. My only recourse would be either to spend three times as much on a real cab or to try to take the city bus (which would require leaving earlier and a good bit of walking and crossing of busy streets without a light and generally terrify the hell out of me).

The cab company says the problem is the weather, that when it's snowing they can't be on time. I pointed out that this is Michigan in January. There will be snow. That's inevitable. The whole point, for me, of scheduling the trip days in advance is that the cab should show up on time. Why else do they need so much advance notice?

The social worker offered to reschedule for tomorrow, but I can't justify pulling Cordelia out of school again this week. It's a big deal. Plus, if it's still snowing, who knows if the cab would come then?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Argh, that is not cool. I'm really surprised that they would turn down regular business from you like this, especially since it's their business to be driving in the wintertime!

*grumps on your behalf*

I think that they make less money off of A-Ride passengers than they do off of regular passengers. That means that they give priority to other passengers even though the A-Ride people have to schedule days in advance.

But yes, driving is their business. The roads are nasty, but I called two days in advance. Getting a cab on time seems like a no brainer.

I frankly think they should have to pay the $60 fee. At the very least, I'd be tempted to complain to whoever/whatever organizes A-Ride and contracts with them.

I'm definitely going to complain. I mean, they make me schedule days in advance. They should schedule the cabs in advance, too.

The cab company is behaving inexcusably. If you have the energy, you would be entirely justified in complaining to A-ride and the better business bureau. (I think this one. http://detroit.bbb.org/) Being delayed by snow SOUNDS like a reasonable excuse, but it really isn't. Not dispatching a cab at all? That's not just delay. If they realized early in the day that they could not dispatch cabs to all their contracted riders, they had an obligation to contact all the people they are leaving stranded. Not only did they fail to do that, they didn't even answer their phones when you called them (even when it was too late for you to do anything at all about it. Not even try for a "last minute reschedule" instead of a "missed appointment.")

I've complained to the bus company (A-Ride is their program. They just contract with this particular cab company). I'm not sure about the Better Business Bureau. The cab company is a business, but the A-Ride is a government subsidized program for people with disabilities and the elderly.

I am so sorry that happened to you. It sounds like a completely miserable afternoon. *hug*

It was. Cordelia missed an hour of school while we stood and waited in the school lobby. That annoys me nearly as much as the missed appointment fee.