AN ELDERLY couple has been barred from a Basingstoke taxi firm, leaving them struggling to travel around the borough.

Tony and Sue Gibson went to a party in North Waltham on October 29 and booked a cab through Go 470, but due to poor signal in the area did not know the driver had arrived.

When Mrs Gibson, 75, called to check on the taxi, she was informed they had now been barred by the firm.

“When I booked the taxi I did mess them around a bit by changing the time twice, but I was told that I needed to provide a mobile number and they wouldn’t take a landline number,” said the Beaconsfield Road resident.

“But we were informed that the drivers don’t get good signal in North Waltham, so we were unaware that the taxi had turned up.

“If they had called the landline, knocked on the door or even told us to wait outside it would not have been an issue.”

The couple, neither of whom drive, rely on taxis to get around Basingstoke and Deane.

Mrs Gibson and her 80-year-old husband claim that when they tried to book with another company they were informed they had also been barred from them.

Mrs Gibson added: “We have never had a problem with the drivers, but the operators didn’t seem to listen and just told us we were barred.”

If it wasn’t for another guest at the party offering to drive the pair home, they would have been stuck trying to find alternative transport to take the 15-minute ride home.

The couple were informed by Go 470 that if they paid for the two taxis which were called out the ban would be lifted.

A spokesman from Go 470 said that the couple were informed when the two drivers had arrived in North Waltham and also claimed the pair became aggressive towards the firm’s staff.

He said: “We sent out two taxis to North Waltham and both times the customer was a no show.

“When told they were barred they started swearing at my staff, something which we are not willing to stand for.”

He added: “The bar will remain in place unless the two missed taxis are paid for.”

The Gibsons strongly deny any claims of using any abusive language towards the firm, adding they were “just frustrated” with the way things have been dealt with.