Black & White Cabs Australia 4+

I’m not allowed to use ride-shade apps at work - this is the only reason I use black and white cabs. The service at B&W Cabs is terrible. Maybe 5 years ago when Uber wasn’t as popular the service was okay because there was no alternative. Even with the b&w app you still have to tell the driver where to go, and give them directions if needed. The up-front price offered through the app for a trip is always higher than the metered fare so why bother. The vehicles in the business class fleet are nice, the regular cars not so much. If the app was better - actually directed drivers, had more fare options, ability to link account to cab charge card so it pays automatically at the end of the trip - then maybe I’d give three stars. But as long as this app lags behind the better and cheaper ride-share services, it will still be one star.

I downloaded the app, input all my details and booked a ride for an hours time to get to an important work meeting on time. It said all confirmed. Five mins before it was due I opened the app to check the status of my ride. Instead I just saw a spinning wheel which just said “Finding a driver.” The appointed time came and went. Multiple calls to the call centre went unanswered by a human as they have completely automated their system to save money. The robot on the other end was useless - could not help me at all. I ended up ordering a ride with DiDi who dispatched a ride for the same cost and they actually turned up!!! AVOID black and white at all costs 🤬

I used this app to book a trip to the airport. I have two children below 5, and decided against rideshare apps and opted for licensed taxi company for booking confidence (as opposed to on demand hails).

I scheduled a (confirmed) booking the night before for an early morning ride the next day, only to have the app “find available drivers” 15 mins prior to booked time. The vehicle I chose was a maxi 12, so it was impossible to find a driver so early in the morning.

Calling them to check on the booking was useless too, as the app was a “cloud booking”, so the operator could not modify the booking in any way.

After 45 mins of anxious ramblings from the wife, multiple other (failed) attempts at finding a large vehicle to book on demand at 3:30am, I ended up driving my family 7seater to the airport for long term parking.

This app is no different from any other rideshare company with respect to scheduled bookings. You are not guaranteed a driver. Be aware!