Service to clients

Some letters to the press beg to be answered, one in particular being that of Karl Consiglio (Taxi Driver's Behaviour, November 1).

Mr Consiglio did phone the office on arrival at the Gillieru to complain about the driver's behaviour but, on verifying the facts as mentioned by Mr Consiglio, we arrived at the conclusion that the events were somewhat different and that the driver was not at fault. The letter to The Times strengthens this view.

The argument or whatever (call it what you will) started at our garage when Mr Consiglio's girlfriend insisted with the driver on the route that he should take to the Gillieru (any driver worth his salt knows where the Gillieru is situated and the way to it from St Julians). Any misunderstanding on arrival at the Gillieru was due to the driver expressing himself in English, which to many is still a foreign language.

No obvious dirty undertones, intentions and desires as construed in the mind of Mr Consiglio were in the mind of the driver when he spoke to Mr Consiglio's girlfriend in his presence. Incidentally, not only is the driver a non-smoker, contrary to what Mr Consiglio stated in the letter, but he is also an avid anti-smoker.

Such behaviour is unacceptable, continued Mr Consiglio. What we find unacceptable is Mr Consiglio's attitude towards the common worker, something which is not uncommon among some his kind. Our drivers know that the best way to earn that something extra is to pamper the clients, not to molest or insult them.

Regarding the so-called expensive fare to Gillieru, Mr Consiglio knew beforehand the charge and did not quibble about it because it is not the first time he used our service. The mention of a competitor of ours shows that there were ulterior motives behind his letter to The Times, since the competitor mentioned is nearer to his residence than we are.