Mytaxi admits 'tech gremlins' have left people unable to book cabs after its Hailo switch
The service has run into problems after its ‘unprecedented’ changeover.
CAB-BOOKING APP Mytaxi has admitted that “tech gremlins” have prevented some users from being able to hail rides after its changeover from Hailo.
A number of punters have complained that they have had trouble booking taxis through the app, which replaced its popular predecessor after the Daimler-owned Mytaxi merged with its UK-based rival.
Mytaxi has spent €5 million on an advertising campaign to promote the new name.
However, the company’s Facebook page has received a large number of negative reviews, with some customers complaining that the app says there are no taxis available whenever they try to use it.
Others have said that when they used the pre-booking option, a driver didn’t show up at the appointed time.
https://www.facebook.com/stingertough/activity/10158729647090327
Similarly, the company’s App Store listing has received a series of one-star reviews, with users complaining they are unable to book cabs and bemoaning the switch from Hailo.
Customers have also complained that some drivers couldn’t process payments for journeys booked through the app.
Working 24/7
In a statement, Mytaxi told Fora that “merging two taxi apps like this has never been done before” and the move from Hailo was ”one of the largest app migrations that has ever taken place in Europe”.
“It has been a huge undertaking in terms of data transfer, driver and passenger app migration, testing. Of course there are tech gremlins and challenges along the way.”
The company said it was “working 24/7 to iron issues out as they arise” and that it has released several updates to both the driver and passenger apps since its launch in March.
When asked by Fora why some users were experiencing difficulties with the pre-booking function, the company said it had to “restrict the number of bookings at busy times of the day”.
“We are working hard to increase further the number of drivers on MyTaxi so that all of our customers can get a taxi when they need one,” it said.
While Hailo performed well in Ireland, it struggled against its rivals in many other markets. Before selling its majority stake to Daimler, the London-based company recorded a £22 million (€26 million) loss after trying to break into North America.
