weird instances of taxi refusal

wonder what's happening to kolkata! i had suffered taxi refusals earlier, but mostly during late evening or night while going away from main city areas.
last weekend, a guy was not keen on going from hastings to behala (a route of approx 70-80 rs) right in the morning (around 0530-0600) - what a way to start the day! anyway, we crossed the road, got a bus, then a cycle-rickshaw & reached pretty fast, so he actually saved me money
again, while leaving from the south city mall, another guy was not keen on going to behala (a route of approx 90-100 rs) right in the afternoon (around 1400-1430) - i actually wanted to ask where he would be interested in going, but then i realised i didn't care less!

ok, noted a few more on a trip yesterday...

late morning time - around 1030-1045, reached taxi stand at behala parnasree & no taxis were to be found. a few empty ones passed by without stopping at the stand. waited for about 5-10 mins & then moved ahead. asked a taxi for going to royd st (near music world at park street) - a distance of about 10 km. he said he wants to go home & wants extra 20 rs for this inconvenience. asked another guy & he said he does not know the place, i asked him if he knew park street & he said he does not know. i wondered what business these guys are looking for during these hours!!!

in the evening time - around 1830, from theater road, asked a taxi for behala. he said his meter cable is cut off, so he'll have to charge a flat rate of 200 rs. got a bus right upto home & paid 7 rs - once again thanks to the guy for saving me money!

i earlier had some sympathy for these guys as the tariff at 10 rs/km is the lowest among the metros, but increasingly i'm beginning to understand why the rates are lower

another warning on prepaid:
took one from howrah & as soon as the guy left the stand he wanted the slip. i gave him the yellow one & he asked for the pink one. i told him i'll give it when we reach the destination. he started shouting that i have to give him the slip as per rule, to which i said that as per rule i have to give him after i reach the destination. he started cribbing that he'll have to come back to collect the money, whereas if i give him now he could collect it right away. i said no way & if needed, we can go back to the counter or a traffic police & clarify the rules. rest of the journey was uneventful & reached in the shortest time possible...
so, just stick to your stand 'pink slip will be given to driver at destination ONLY'...

So you did manage to get a pre-paid taxi at Howrah! Congrats on your achievement. i suppose this must be at normal hours of the day.

Regarding handing over the driver's copy, that's the situation one faces at airport also. But if you stick to the basic rule of not giving it to them before you reach your destination - no matter how angry they become - you'll always win.

actually it was - considering the pre-paid at SE is not always open. my train reached late, so at around 5:45am, the regular taxi line was not started, but pre-paid had started & there were hardly 4 people ahead of me in line, so i must have been lucky...

after the argument, i kept looking for the fine print or instructions & realised that nowhere it was mentioned clearly that 'pink slip must be handed to driver at destination only'. i do recall a similar note in the pre-paid challan at mumbai...

it is frustrating to deal with taxi drivers, make your blood pressure rise.
In kolkata some times walking short distance is better than dealing with these characters.

agreed, that should be the default option for every service. in indian context, i feel the only power you have as a consumer is to say NO to the service offering.
unfortunately, most of the cities & metros really suck at the walking options - with pavements hardly wide enough, encroached upon, broken or with huge holes, one has to end up walking on the street. so now you are again at the mercy of the same guys!!!

In these times of economic downturn, first time I am hearing of a guy who is shouting to get a 'pink slip'. In my office, people avoid getting any 'pink slip'!!