Premier Cabs: A Challenging Journey with Granville's Taxi Service

A Pattern of Disturbing Failures: Reliability Concerns

Premier Cabs, operating out of Granville, NSW, has garnered a strikingly low 2.000000-star rating, and the overwhelming customer feedback paints a worrying picture regarding reliability. Multiple reviewers have reported significant failures in fulfilling bookings, particularly concerning pre-booked accessible vehicles.

Here's a breakdown of the recurring issues:

• No-Shows & Unacceptable Delays: A concerning number of customers have experienced booked taxis simply not arriving. One reviewer, attempting to transport their elderly grandmother from a nursing home, faced a 45-minute initial wait followed by hours of further delays and evasive responses from Premier Cabs’ communication channels. This highlights a serious failure to account for passengers with specific needs and time constraints. Another reported a completely missed airport transfer, with “horrible excuses” offered over the phone.
• Lack of Communication & Accountability: Customers consistently express frustration stemming from a lack of communication. Even when issues arise – like delayed or missing taxis – follow-up or even basic apologies seem to be absent. The complaints surrounding the missing accessible vehicle and the airport transfer explicitly call out the lack of proactive updates and blame-taking.
• Pre-booked accessibility blunders: Multiple accounts detail bookings made specifically for wheelchair accessibility being ignored. Cancelling specialist appointments due to non-arrival is a cruel consequence of this recurring error and underscores the fragility of relying on Premier Cabs for essential transport.
• Disregard for Timeliness: The impact of these failures translates directly into wasted time and disrupted plans. A hospital pick-up, a crucial specialist appointment; these are not situations where delays are acceptable, and Premier Cabs appears consistently unable to deliver on promised arrival times.

Driver Conduct & Professionalism: A Serious Cause for Concern

Beyond mere reliability, disturbing accounts of unprofessional and even threatening behaviour from Premier Cabs affiliated drivers have surfaced. While a single positive review praises a punctual driver, the vast majority highlight significantly concerning incidents, eroding any faith in the company's driver vetting and training processes.

• Verbal Abuse: One reviewer specifically describes a driver being verbally abusive and shouting at them over a perceived delay, even ringing the customer’s mobile repeatedly and screaming. Such behaviour is utterly unacceptable and warrants immediate disciplinary action.
• Extortion Attempts: A separate report accuses a driver of attempting to charge significantly inflated fares, more than $200 for a short journey of less than 20km, and refusing to use the meter. This constitutes a blatant violation of fair taxi practices.
• Threats of Violence: The most alarming accusation involved a driver from a subsidiary company, Silver Top Taxis, threatening a customer’s wife with physical harm and threatening to damage the family home. This is a deeply serious matter, demanding immediate investigation and potential legal action. This incident particularly highlights the complex relationship Premier Cabs has with its subsidiary companies and the potential for inadequate oversight.
• Lack of Response to Complaints: Even when customers attempt to lodge complaints (as evidenced by one reviewer emailing about a driver), they are met with silence, further compounding the sense of disregard for customer wellbeing. The company’s lack of acknowledgement or follow-up reveals a startling absence of accountability.

"Their professional standards are very low if they employ people like this." - A customer comment reflecting widespread concern about driver quality.

Counterpoints and Isolated Positive Experiences

It’s important to acknowledge that not all experiences with Premier Cabs are negative. One reviewer expressed sincere gratitude for a punctual driver ("Taxi 437") who returned a lost subsidy card, highlighting a potential for positive service.

Another left a five-star review, praising the driver's timeliness. These individual successes, however, stand in stark contrast to the overwhelming majority of negative feedback and are overshadowed by serious concerns regarding systemic issues. Furthermore, the critique of the service is consistent across a variety of reviewers. A single, positive experience does not negate accumulated negative trends.

Alternatives and Recommendations: Steering Clear?

The consistent pattern of failures and concerning driver behaviour described in this article strongly suggests that caution is warranted when considering Premier Cabs. The overwhelming sentiment amongst reviewers leans heavily toward avoiding this service altogether.

• Ride-Sharing Apps: Numerous reviewers explicitly recommend using ride-sharing apps like Uber as a safer and more reliable alternative.
• Strongly Consider Alternative Taxi Services: Other taxi companies in the Granville area might offer more dependable service, although further research is advised.
• Thoroughly Confirm Accessibility: If requiring an accessible vehicle, verification via multiple channels is crucial before relying on Premier Cabs. Do not solely depend on a booking confirmation.
• Document Everything: Should you choose to use Premier Cabs, carefully document booking details, driver identification, and any interactions. This is particularly important in case of any issues or disputes.
• Voice Your Concerns: Continue to report negative experiences to consumer protection agencies and taxi regulatory bodies. Transparency is vital in holding Premier Cabs accountable for its service delivery and driver conduct.