Sirs

We arrived at Malaga Airport on Saturday 7 July and got in a taxi. 

We have been going to Malaga Airport since 1999 and have NEVER had a problem; the taxi drivers have always been friendly, courteous and helpful.

Unfortunately on Saturday 7 July this changed.

We asked to go to The Hotel Las Palomas in Torremolinos and the driver laughed loudly, almost hysterically.

In Spanish he then started to SHOUT some things I understand, for example:  «Puta de madre»  «Putas de madres»  «Mierda Torremolinos»  «que joden» and something I do not understand «Ya caya»

This continued on the WHOLE journey and only stopped when we arrived at Hotel Las Palomas.

The driver also took off his seat belt several times, banged his hands on the steering wheel and took his hand OFF the steering wheel several times.

He also locked the doors.  This was very frightening.

When we arrived at Las Palomas he asked for €20.  I asked if this was correct as we had normally paid about €15.

The driver started to shout more and became very aggressive and intimidating.  I gave him €20 and he went away.

2 or 3 minutes later he came back, stopped on the WRONG side of the road, got out of the taxi and ran towards me with a price list shouting at me and waving the list in my face.

I read the list and saw that prices had changed a little.

This was witnessed by the owner of the cafe/bar facing the Las Palomas Hotel.

I think the taxi was a Malaga taxi.  It was white with a big blue stripe.

The number was 221.

The taxi has an Internet address for UNITAXI on the back of the car.

There was a green and white Malaga football pennant on the front mirror.

We were too frightened to ask for a receipt or his name.

I complained in the Oficina de Turismo, Plaza de La Independencia, Torremolios on Monday 9 July and the woman (I think she is German) phoned your office, then gave me this fax number to contact you.

As I say we have never had a problem with taxi drivers since 1999 and it would be a pity if this driver were to be a tourist's first impression of Spain, the Spanish people or taxi drivers.

Yours Sincerely

Henry & Carol Shields