Scroll back and check your recent logs. You may have missed seeing the payment due to spam.
The next step is to politely ask the customer whether they payed.
Chances are they simply forgot and will gladly pay once reminded.
If a customer flatly refuses to pay, mud-mail the club president and the vice-president informing them of the events.
Logs are useful to help clarify.
Repeated offences can result in a player being blacklisted from the club.
Blacklisted players are banned from all taxi services.
If you can do the request:
Be polite and try to be quick about it; no one likes waiting. If, for some reason, you get delayed extensively (these things happen) it might affect the club's reputation and a good way of conduct is to give the taxi for free as compensation for the wait. This will most likely make the customer look more kindly on the delay and might actually make the customer prefer you for his/her taxi needs.
If you are too busy for a request:
Tell the customer that you're busy and can't do it, but that you will pass it on to the others in the club (see below). You should not just tell the customer no, forcing him/her to ask another member. Under no circumstances should you ignore a request hoping that the person will ask someone else!
When you are unable to answer a request you should first inform the client that you are unable to take them, but you will refer them to the club channel. Then inform the channel, stating the client's name, location and destination.
Aliases can be useful here, though they are not necessary.
Direct contact with the client is good etiquette, but if you are in a hurry an aliased reply can be used.
For example: alias taxi-ref tell $*$ I am terribly sorry, but I am unable to transport you at the moment due to being busy with other matters. I shall, however, refer your request on the club channel. Please be patient and wait for a reply.
If no one takes the request after a few minutes, please repeat the referral.
If you don't have the location asked for:
If you have a location nearby, you could ask the customer if a taxi to there is okay instead. If it's not okay or if you don't have a nearby location, pass on the request.
If a request comes across the channel which you desire to take:
Immediately inform the channel of your wish to do so.
It is largely a case of "First in best dressed", although whoever answered first may decide to let you take it.
Once you have informed the channel, you may then contact the client.
Some examples of real taxi requests are available via this link. They should give you an indication of how to handle things.
If a person shouts for a Taxi.
Send them a tell informing them that it is better to use tells in order to avoid confusion.
In addition to the fact that shouts can only be heard in a limited area in any case.
Also inform the channel that you are taking them in case someone else also heard them, or refer them if you are busy.
If a person asks several members at once in a multi-tell.
Ask them to kindly ask only one person at a time so that confusion can be avoided. Inform the channel if you intend to take the client.
If a failed portal spell results in miscast, a burning door or a rumbling door.
Push the door over and recast at no extra charge.
The same goes for any other fail, be it the blorple forgetting the location or divine hand not working.
If a player asks to be recruited into Taxi.
If you are not a recruiter, direct them to this website, ask on the channel if any recruiters are on and inform the client that they will need to contact a recruiter. The recruiters are listed in the club refer.
Regarding "off-duty"
Off-duty is not to be used when you are simply not in the mood to take people, rather it means that you really can't take anyone.
Too many off-duty members or the only member online being unavailable has an extremely detrimental effect on the guild's reputation, which is why it is to be used only in extreme cases. If you are seen to be off-duty constantly a committee member will have a talk with you to discuss your reasons.
Situations where it is appropriate to be off-duty include but are not limited to Playtesting, CTF games, Social events (eg. Assassins Ball, Lancre Witch Trials, etc), personal time and spell/ritual loss due to loss of life.
You may not use the off-duty sign when merely grouped, rather let the fact that you are grouped dissuade people.
There is no need to set an on-duty sign, if you are not grouped or visably off-duty then you are assumed to be available.
Remember, being on duty does not mean you have to take every request sent your way, if your busy you can still refer any and all requests to the channel.
Regarding grouping.
Before grouping, consider how many other members are online and if they are already grouped.
It is important to try and make sure that at least one member if available to take requests at any given time.
You should also consider grouping in areas which you can portal/passage/fly to, just in case of emergencies.
Grouping means you are effectively unavailable for transport, the status being akin to off-duty, but not quite so dire.
Note: These grouping guidelines may be considered recommendations rather than binding law, however, you are strongly urged to follow the procedure. Too many members being unavailable has a detrimental effect on the reputation of the guild.
Members should wear their club badge at all times.
If you lose your badge a new one can be obtained for $1 in the club room of the Patrician's Palace.
Syntax: replace insignia for taxi
Donations to club funds can also be made here.
It is recommended that you always check 'taxi history' upon logging in, to see if there are any clients waiting for transport.
Not only is this a conflict of interest, but it will also mean unnecessary confusion for our customers regarding prices, policies etc.
Ear muffing of tell events is discouraged.
Muting of the club channel is prohibited.
Idling is not a valid reason to avoid taking a request.
If you do not login to the mud for a period of two months or more, you will be fired from the guild and will have to be re-recruited. You can apply for 'Leave' by mud-mailing the president. Leave will be granted for a maximum of one month.
Once the leave period ends you will have 2 months to login before you will be fired from the guild.