WHEN is a taxi not a taxi? When it takes 40 minutes to turn up despite being pre-booked.

I don’t take many taxis, only if I’m catching a train or going to a function for work.

And on Friday night I remembered why I don’t normally bother with them.

On the Wednesday I booked a taxi with Harry’s to take me to the Park Royal Hotel for Warrington Law Society’s ball which I’d been invited to. I also booked one to come back, asking to be collected at 11.30pm.

At 11.25pm my husband and I stood outside the function entrance (which I had clearly pointed out on the phone not to collect us from the main reception area so there wasn’t any confusion).

We waited until 11.40pm and when the taxi failed to turn up I called Harry’s.

The woman on reception said someone would be with me within 10 minutes, she said something about not having any cars in the area.

So we waited. Another 10 minutes went by and I made another phone call.

Again she made excuses about having problems but said someone was in Stockton Heath and would be with me shortly.

I pointed out that I had pre-booked the car two days before but she said something flippant about me not booking it with her.

I told her I booked it with a colleague of hers and asked why her company accepts bookings when it cannot fulfil them?

Eventually after a 40-minute wait the taxi (which obviously hadn’t been in Stockton Heath) arrived at 12.10am. If he thought he was getting a tip he’d picked the wrong person on the wrong night.

On its website Harry’s is described as “Warrington’s premier 24-hour private taxi hire service, on time every time!” Hilarious.

It goes even further boasting: “Harry’s Taxis have built an enviable reputation for taxi hire that is courteous, on time, clean and friendly knowledgeable drivers.” Yes it actually reads like that.

I’m not quite sure why it needs to point out they’re clean, I wouldn’t expect dirty drivers. I notice in this testimonial it doesn’t include its receptionists because courteous isn’t a word that springs to mind for the one I spoke to.

But sadly Harry’s isn’t alone in its woeful service. I’ve used other taxi companies which have also let me down.

I’ve been standing on my own outside a venue – at least five minutes early when a taxi has failed to show.

One time I called and I was told I was down as a ‘no show’. I argued that it wasn’t possible as I had been there waiting early and no taxis had arrived.

But they have the upper hand, you need a lift and they can be as awkward as possible.

So the next time I’m going to an event I’m staying sober and driving, at least when I’m tired I can come home instead of standing around like Cinderella waiting for her fairy godmother.