Hmm...what started as a throwaway comment "sorry guv, don't go south of the river" has grown legs and arms. To be honest I haven't had any trouble getting a taxi back from the West End for more than 20 years. However, on the odd occasions when I have ordered a cab (not a black taxi) from a restaurant some of them do try and rip you off. For instance, a couple of weeks ago I ordered a cab from J.Sheekey (lovely fish restaurant in St Martins Place) and the cabbie charged me ?40!!!! I know it's no more than ?30 so we had a bit of an exchange of words. Rather than argue with him I gave him his 40 quid but I was damned if he was gonna get a tip.