REGARDING your report (LET, July 21) about an 'almost serious' incident concerning an argument between a taxi driver and passengers, a great part of the cause of such arguments is the blatant attempt by some taxi drivers to rip off their customers.

A charge of £30 for what is no more than a 20 minute journey almost amounts to attempted extortion.

Similarly, in Hyndburn, some taxi drivers, especially later in the evenings, try to charge extortionate fares from private hire passengers.

One firm that was one of the exceptions to this used to publish a price tariff sheet which was available both in the booking office and in their cars.

People knew in advance what it was going to cost them to travel to a large number of destinations -- Rishton, Great Harwood, Oswaldtwistle, Blackburn, Huncoat, etc, and very few incidents of the sort you reported were then occurring.

Perhaps Hyndburn's licensing department should be looking at having a similar system introduced either voluntarily or compulsory. Blackburn with Darwen would soon follow suit, I think.

HARRY ROBINSON, Juniper Court, Woodside Road, Accrington.