A TAXI company has been bombarded with negative reviews after appearing to mock the First Minister and offending independence supporters.
With the All Under One Banner (AUOB) march set to take place in Dumfries this Saturday, a local taxi company's attempt to insult Nicola Sturgeon spectacularly backfired.
Connect Cabs Dumfries posted on Facebook – where it appears to go by the name Connect Taxis Dumfries – an image of the First Minister as Jimmy Krankie and labelled independence supporters “the Jimmy Krankie appreciation society”.
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“Please remember that they're will be some traffic disruption this Saturday morning/lunchtime, as the Jimmy Krankie appreciation society march round the town centre,” it read. “Please remember to give yourself extra time to get to your destination.”
The post, online since Monday, has seen furious independence supporters take to Google, and the firm’s Facebook review page, to post a series of one-star reviews.
Yes Dumfries tweeted out a screenshot of the post with the comment: “FYI people coming to Dumfries – this taxi company has politely asked that we do not give them business.”
At the time of writing, the company’s Google page contained 29 one-star reviews all posted within around an hour of each other. The Facebook review page for the firm had more than 250 recent one-star reviews.
“Used in the past but will never use again,” began one review, “I'm open to people having their own political opinion but when it's posted as a company in a derogatory way then it's a step over the line I'm afraid.”
Another read: “Where do we start? Disrespectful of thousands of visitors to Dumfries. Disrespectful to the Elected office of First Minister. Anyone thinking of using this Company should First check reviews, facebook & the like, there are plenty of other firms in the area, shop around, don’t fill the pockets of the ignorant.”
“It's a pity the star ratings start at one star,” read another. “Some minus stars would have been appropriate in this case.”
One other reviewer said: “Firstly, when the taxi arrived he wasn't in his car, he was in Fred Flintstones car. Barney would not move to let me sit in front so I had to get betty to slap the shit out of him. The taxi driver did not provide me socks for the backseat, my feet got very dirty. He also did not go YABBA DABBA DO when he promised he would, very disappointed, will not be using again.”
A spokesperson for Connect Cabs Dumfries said: "I honestly thought it would bring a wee smile to folks faces.
"Naive with the joys of hindsight. This post was simply to remind people to plan extra time for their journeys, not complaining about the march.
"Normal posts are seen by roughly 100-150 in the local area. Didn't realise such a harmless pic would cause such a social media frenzy."
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