Saturday, April 12, 2008

‘Cab, innit’ gets girl a cabinet

A teenager called directory inquiries to book a taxi but ended up having a cabinet delivered – because she asked for a “cab, innit”.

The 19-year-old Londoner wanted a taxi to take her from her home to Bristol airport, and first asked for the number using the Cockney rhyming slang “Joe Baxi”. When the baffled operator told her she could not find anyone listed by that name, the teen snapped back: “It ain’t a person, it’s a cab, innit.”

The operator then found the nearest cabinet shop, Displaysense, and put the girl through. She then spoke to an equally bemused saleswoman and eventually fumed: “Look love, how hard is it? All I want is your cheapest cab, innit. I need it for 10am. How much is it?”

The sales adviser said it would be £180 and the girl gave her address and paid with a credit card. The next morning, the company delivered an office cabinet to her home in South London.

The girl then called back in a fury and Displaysense finally realised the mistake. The firm, of Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, has now apologised and refunded her cash after the mix-up two weeks ago.

Marketing manager Steve Whittle said yesterday: “We thought it was a joke at first but the girl was absolutely livid. “We have suggested that maybe she should speak a bit clearer on the phone.”

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