Whilst you were treated unprofessionally I also think your policy of ordering multiple cabs with a view to cancelling whichever one doesn't turn up first is totally wrong. Mini cab drivers don't typically work for the company, they work for themselves and pay the cab company a monthly finders fee. They then have a gadget (like a pager) that alerts them when the company sends them a fare. They often live many miles from the cab office you call. When you call a cab and cancel it, factor in that you have wasted the drivers fuel, his time, and his place in the job queue. Driving a cab is not well-paid work. Most have to work 70 or 80 hours a week to make ends meet.

If you are looking for a company with an excellent standard of independent drivers in their books try Panther cars in East Dulwich or Linkway on HOP. Both have never let me down