Have You Been Overcharged on a Taxi?

Ljust-human on 03/09/2024 - 08:33
Last edited 03/09/2024 - 08:37

I recently took a taxi in Sydney from the Domestic Airport to Darlington and I was charged $60+ (about $30 more than what it should be legally as advised by the Point-to-Point commissioner operator). I unfortunately did not get the number plate, but I did file a report using the invoice from the EFTPOS machine along with a chargeback request with my bank.

Yes, I know I should have taken an Uber but there was surge pricing and it was $37 for that trip from the airport so I thought I might give taxis a try.

Has anyone had a similar experience?

Poll Options expired

  • 99
    Yes, I have been overcharged by a Taxi in Australia
  • 7
    No, I have always been charged the correct fare
  • 8
    None, I just take rideshare
Travel Taxi

Comments

  • Gervais fanboy on 03/09/2024 - 08:48
    +2

    So he didn’t turn on the meter?

    • Duckie2hh on 03/09/2024 - 09:45
      +11

      Usually the scam it to add the surcharge (i.e., tolls, maxi cab surcharge, overnight surcharge, etc).

      • HeWhoKnows on 04/09/2024 - 17:03

        Thats NOT a scam. You have NO IDEA!
        Adding tolls is perfectly legitimate.
        If after 10pm or before 6am (we dont know in OPs case) the distance rate and the time rate increases automatically and so does the flag-fall so its perfectly legitimate
        The meter rate is not "manually adjustable".
        i.e. There are no external "adjustments or settings" that can be made
        Please post facts, not "fiction"

        • Gervais fanboy on 04/09/2024 - 17:17
          +1

          If after 10pm or before 6am (we dont know in OPs case) the distance rate and the time rate increases automatically

          You are right about that, the peak rates cannot be manually altered, they happen automatically.

          Having said that, drivers can manually add toll expenses to the total fare and the dodgy ones actually do it too, On my first day in Australia someone did it to me lol.

        • Duckie2hh on 04/09/2024 - 22:55
          +2

          Adding tolls is perfectly legitimate.

          Not if you didn't travel on a toll road.

        • just-human on 05/09/2024 - 12:37
          +2

          I did not travel between those times, as I mentioned in another comment it was during regular hours. Also, no tolls were present on the route that was taken so they had no legitimate reason to add those.

          Either way, I feel like a good improvement would be making it impossible for drivers to modify or add charges to the meters and for tolls to be added automatically (I’m sure that would be possible in 2024). I also think there should be a requirement that Taxis are able to produce an itemised invoice (e.g. breaking down all charges) so that passengers can check for unnecessary charges.

    • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 10:23
      +3

      The meter was turned on but they can add charges to the meter as Duckie2hh mentioned. Either way, there's no possible way you could spin it for the math to work out to that fare.

      • Gervais fanboy on 03/09/2024 - 10:48
        +2

        there's no possible way you could spin it for the math to work out to that fare.

        Exactly what I was thinking too when I read @Duckie2Hh’s comment. Even with the tolls and maxi cab(I doubt it) surcharge, no way it should add over $30 to the total fare.
        The driver must have pulled some other dodgy crappy on top of all that, Uber didn’t kill the taxi industry, these taxi drivers did.

        • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 10:52
          +3

          Yeah, the car was not a Maxi, I was travelling alone with one suitcase.

          I agree with that last part though. Uber didn't take over the market by chance, they offered a better product and innovated in an industry that was old and had many issues. Consumers have benefitted a lot from Uber such as making the fixed pricing system commonplace.

      • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 10:58
        +1

        Also, I did the maths and factoring in tolls (no toll roads were taken), distance, flag fall, and airport surcharge, the fare should have been about $26-30. That means that to get the charge up to what the fare was, the driver would have had to sit in 40 minutes of traffic travelling under 26km/h.

        The trip was 16 minutes…

        • HeWhoKnows on 04/09/2024 - 17:45

          The only way to "up" the fare is to take you for a "city tour" on your way to Darlington.
          If the trip only took 16 min this is highly unlikely.
          Without knowing what day or time you took the ride (assume between 6am and 10pm) the fare should be around $30-32 based on trip distance being 8km.
          ($18.30 distance + $5.45 airport + $3.60 flag-fall + $1.32 passenger levy + idle time? + 5% credit card charge)
          There is no toll road between Airport and Darlington so no tolls to be included.

          But typical day time travel time would be closer the 25mins so OP obviously took the ride at a quiet time of day/night. Hence the uber surge rate mentioned
          If between 10pm and 6am the distance rate increases by $4 plus peak time extra hire charge of $2.50 if that was on Fri, Sat or public holiday. (+$6.50)
          So the most it could have cost is about $37-39.

          The only explanation is that the meter has been tampered with to charge higher rates!
          So not what anyone else is suggesting.
          Pity OP didnt get the number plate as this is a reportable offense.
          Maybe not the taxi driver - rather the taxi owner!
          But I'm sure the taxi drivers would be aware

      • HeWhoKnows on 04/09/2024 - 17:09
        -1

        Duckie2hh is talking absolute RUBBISH so dont take any notice of thier post.

        You are better off reading my posts which are FACTUAL and full of useful information collected from NSW Govt Transport web site

        If you dont believe me or want more FACTUAL information, see here:

        https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/ways-to-get-around/tax…

    • HeWhoKnows on 04/09/2024 - 16:29
      -3

      OP has supplied little information and obviously knows little about riding in cabs…
      Cab charges are not based on distance alone.
      They are also based in TIME travelled
      That is the length of time AND time of day/night.
      Later at night the fare rate increases.
      Cabs are also entitled to charge for any extra fees incurred such as airport fees and road tolls.

      Hence depending in time of day it will cost more.
      If a toll road such at the M8 was used it will cost more.
      There is also a $5.45 surcharge for airport pickup as well
      Plus $3.60 flag fall…that almost $10 already and you havent even left the airport.
      And if the taxi driver got stuck in traffic it will also cost more.
      There is also a surcharge (up to 5%) for using credit cards

      Sydney Cab Rates are as follows:
      Hire charge: $3.60
      Peak time hire charge: $2.50 (in addition to the hire charge, 10pm – 6am on Friday's, Saturday's, and evening prior to Public Holidays),
      Distance rate: $2.29 per kilometre
      Night distance rate: $2.73 per kilometre (trips between 10pm – 6am)
      Waiting time: $56.68 per hour (94.4c per minute) while vehicle speed is less than 26 km/h
      Cleaning fee: if you dirty the taxi, you may be charged up to $120
      In addition as mentioned above, the airport pick up surcharge of $5.45, road tolls (if any) and 5% credit card surcharge…so everything quickly adds up!

      Then this as well: The temporary $1.20 Passenger Service Levy currently applies to all point to point transport trips in NSW, including taxi trips. A total of $1.32 will be added to your fare ($1.20 plus 12 cents GST) if the service provider elects to pass on the cost of the levy to their passengers

      The only way for a cab to charge more (illegally) is to take you on a "city tour" on your way to your destination.

      I assume OP would have checked the meter before paying so having meter on or off is not the question.
      Also fares can be "negotiated upfront" with some drivers hence meter is not required if tyhat is the case.

      For OPs information $60 could be a bit expensive for a trip from Sydney airport to Darlington taking everything into account. But I would not be surprised if that is the correct fare as we dont know any of the details/circumstances

      Not much Op can do now anyway.
      The service was provided as requested so there is absolutely no case for a charge back, whatever the charge was.

      • just-human on 04/09/2024 - 20:35

        Hi, before I posted this I did the calculations based on the time of day and the information on Transport for NSW.

        The calculations are as follows:
        Hire Charge = $3.60
        Distance Rate = 2.29*7.8 = $17.86
        Airport Surcharge = $5.45
        Passenger Service Levy = $1.32
        Total = $28.23

        The time of the trip was around 8pm on Monday so there is no night distance charge or peak time hire charge. The trip total time was 16 minutes, which is the low traffic estimate from Google for the same route the driver took, but we don't need to make assumptions to find that this fare is impossible. The difference between the fare charged and the total calculated above is $35.

        Wait time calculation
        Minutes waited = 35/0.9444 = 37.06 minutes to be exact

        Given that the trip was 16 minutes, it is mathematically impossible for the fare to have reached the amount that was charged.

        The service was provided as requested so there is absolutely no case for a charge back, whatever the charge was.

        I would argue, as the representative at the Point to Point Commissioner said as well, that I only authorised the legal charge. Technically what they did was a scam as the rates they were charging broke the law.

  • El cheepo on 03/09/2024 - 08:58

    Did you see him over charge you? Eg: see him manually imputing more charges into the meter.

    Or did he take a longer way? Or did you just get stuck in traffic? Including stuff like tolls etc that are not factored in?

    Theres a few factors at play to work out what happened.

    along with a chargeback request with my bank.

    Ha!
    Why would your bank give you a charge back?

    • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 10:16

      He did not take the longer way or use tolls, Google Maps tracked my location the entire time. Traffic was very minimal at the time, with the actual time taken to be about 17 minutes (Google's estimate on that route with no traffic).

      I also requested a chargeback as the representative at the P2P commission told me to do that as I only authorised the legal fare not the excess.

      • El cheepo on 03/09/2024 - 10:23

        So how were the charges added?

        • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 10:26

          Honestly, I'm not sure but maybe it would have been best to record the meter with my phone, but it shouldn't be my responsibility to keep track of that. The fare was well in excess of what it should have been for that time and distance. The distance was 7.8km in 16 minutes.

          • El cheepo on 03/09/2024 - 10:31

            @just-human: It does suck to get done over like that but i doubt your bank will process the chargeback.

            Why didn’t you say anything at the time?

            Usually when they do sneaky stuff like that or take you the long way etc, a call to the company with the drivers id or rego is enough to get a refund.

            But you don’t have any of that stuff, so it seems like this might be a live and learn lesson.

            • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 10:34

              @El cheepo: Honestly, it was a long flight and I didn't want an argument. My plane coming into Sydney was already delayed due to weather and I was hungry, sick, and tired. I honestly think that they take advantage of people in these circumstances because they think that most people won't lodge a chargeback/complaint. Technically what they did is illegal so hopefully my bank will process the chargeback.

    • HeWhoKnows on 04/09/2024 - 16:47
      -4

      Correct
      OP got the service they paid for.
      Absolutely no reason for chargeback

      Unbelieveble.

      Talk about going overboard and without any proof.

      I suggest OP gets an uber next time.
      At least you know the cost up front.
      Even if its not cheap

  • donga100 on 03/09/2024 - 09:07
    +4

    That's just standard operating procedure for taxis.

  • boomramada on 03/09/2024 - 09:11

    In my books, when Uber significantly increases their price on demand also considered to be overcharging.

    • Gervais fanboy on 03/09/2024 - 09:36

      Btw they sometimes enforce surge pricing even when it’s not that busy and there’s an abundance of idle drivers in the region. Uber has to be one of the most deceitful companies out there..

    • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 10:19
      +1

      In my opinion, Uber is a bit different than taxis. While it is annoying to be charged more due to surge pricing, it is not illegal. Taxis are a regulated industry with set rates they must adhere to.

    • donga100 on 03/09/2024 - 10:21
      +5

      Uber tells you before you book if they are going to charge more. Taxis just have a permanent surge pricing and then scam you for more along the way.

      • boomramada on 03/09/2024 - 10:41
        +1

        For that argument, you can pre-book fixed-price taxis now but still overcharging on peak time is rude.

    • p1 ama on 03/09/2024 - 13:48
      +2

      No, the critical difference is that when you book an Uber, you are told what the price is upfront. If you're not happy with the price, you have options (e.g. wait until the surge pricing is over, take public transport, call a mate, walk…etc.)

      The issue with overcharging in Taxis is that they are done after the fact. So you've already taken the trip, and you are there being coerced into paying more than what the fare was, and many cab drivers becoming physically imposing when you try to argue with them about what the fare should actually be.

      • HeWhoKnows on 04/09/2024 - 16:53

        "many drivers"
        I dont think so.
        And how do they overcharge?
        The meter is right in front of you
        Any additional charged are added on right in front of you

    • HeWhoKnows on 04/09/2024 - 16:51
      +1

      No its not overcharging.

      If there is a shortage of drivers and high demand the rate goes up.
      If you want an uber ride you accept.
      You can choose not to accept and get a different ride.
      The higher rate is designed to draw other uber drivers into the area to help satisfy the high demand.
      But no, Im not happy with that, but thats how it works.
      You wait maybe 10mins for the higher rate to drop.

  • IIGnomeII on 03/09/2024 - 09:53
    +3

    Yes.
    I've watched them add additional fees to the ride, asked them what it was for and they apologised saying their finger accidentally hit a button.

    I've had one cab who drove me to the airport skim my card details and withdrawl money while I was in another state. And I know it was the because my card wasn't handed over anywhere else and the location was close to the airport.

    And the final one was using a cab charge to get home from work, we dropped someone off on the way (no detour) and the driver said a $5 fee was needed to be paid for the extra stop.

    Suffice to say I refuse to use taxis anymore, I don't know if any of them have an app like uber but unless I can see what the fee will be and pay through the app I won't use them.

    • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 10:21

      I heard that card skimming happens sometimes too. It's always best to pay using Tap and Pay or digital wallets because they can't be skimmed.

  • Cave Fire on 03/09/2024 - 13:37
    +4

    Always ask for the receipt. Used to get cabs from Brisbane City to old suburb almost in Browns Plains. Usually about $60. Got a cab in off peak and it was around $45. Drunk me mentions to the cabbie "that's cheaper than normal" (because it was off peak). He presses a few buttons and turned the fare into $60 saying "thats right, there was a mistake" and fare was now $60+. I think they guage wheter they can rip you off or not.

  • Bargainitis on 03/09/2024 - 14:11

    My 2c on the matter. I have been around the taxi industry to know a bit but some questions first.

    1) what time of the day was this? there is a night fare rate that starts in the evening till early morning. If you took a cab then, the pricing will be higher than daytime

    2) Are you sure you didn't take any tolls? Airport to Darlington can go via the M5 / cross city which doesn't look like a motorway but has tolls depending where you ultimately exit

    3) if you use your card to pay, its a 5% surcharge.

    If none of the above is applicable, then there is a chance the meter has been altered if thats what was spat out at the end (vs. the driver verbally quoting). I do know the older machines can be calibrated (i.e, jumps quicker). The newer machines are safe (never seen it out of spec) and should include all tolls and fees in the final number (so none to be added).

    From my experience, an Uber is generally better and cheaper unless its surging. I find airport Uber to be generally as expensive as a cab (everyone lands and half the people are ubering) but home / city to airport is cheaper always for me.

    Next time if you think the fare is running fast, just take a receipt and the plate number down and report thereafter. I generally dont get into arguments with cabbies unless its life threatening issues. Its not worth it.

    • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 16:11
      +1

      1) The trip was between 8-9pm Sydney Time on a Monday so night rates did not apply.

      2) Yes, I checked the trip on Google. The road the driver took was not the motorway and did not have any tolls.

      3) The card surcharge was listed as about $1.50 on the invoice, either way it shouldn’t have inflated the price that much.

      I definitely should have taken the plate but I was tired so forgot at the end. I did make sure to get the invoice though.

      • Bargainitis on 03/09/2024 - 17:17

        I dont understand.

        If the credit surcharge was $1.50 then that would imply the bill was close to $30 ($1.50 being 5% of the total).

        What am I missing?

        • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 17:25

          I can show you the invoice, the surcharge was not 5%.

              • Bargainitis on 03/09/2024 - 20:27

                @just-human: Sorry had to delete my post as the receipt still had too much info.

                Okay thanks for posting that. That is strange receipt as all taxis receipts I have show ~c. 5% service fee.

                You could still trace that receipt with taxi plate number etc if u could be bothered.

                • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 20:30

                  @Bargainitis: I deleted incase there's any revealing info but yes I did send the receipt to the Point to Point commissioner and hopefully they can find the car and driver.

  • cooldude123 on 03/09/2024 - 14:59
    +1

    Sorry to hear OP - had a similar incident in Brisbane where I was overcharged.

    I reported to Dept of Transport and Main Roads who took it quite seriously (took my receipt and got me to write a stat dec and asked if I was comfortable appearing in court, and advised that they were looking into pursuing enforcement action). I also got a partial refund from 13Cabs as well.

    • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 18:38

      Yeah, I reported it to the Point to Point Commission here in NSW. Not sure what they will do with the information but I did send them the invoice. Unfortunately no plates.

  • mapax on 03/09/2024 - 15:54
    +1

    I once had a dodgy taxi driver that tried to drive the wrong direction, he then did a runner after I got out and told him that I was calling the police and I wouldn’t pay until the they arrived.

  • Nillionaire on 03/09/2024 - 15:56

    I have never been in a taxi nor have I met anyone my age (25) or younger that has ever been in a taxi.

    • Cave Fire on 03/09/2024 - 17:05
      +1

      thy're useful in a pinch. Remember flagging a few down when I was younger and kind of feels like the movies lol.

    • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 18:40

      In theory, the main benefit I see is that they have maximum rates for distance and things which can be useful when Uber is doing surge pricing. One time I had to take a Taxi from CBD when it was raining and it was half the price Uber quoted. It just undermines the system and consumer confidence in Taxis when they pull stuff like overcharging.

  • layzie on 03/09/2024 - 16:27

    They have been pretty bad lately. Adding extra $30-$60 to the ride etc. You can log a complaint to the Taxi Provider. I've lodged one at https://www.pointtopoint.nsw.gov.au/
    It takes a while, however you have to keep chasing it up to get investigated and if they are in the wrong, will offer you a refund.

    • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 18:39

      Yeah, I've lodged one too. They said it will be a bit hard with plates but I can try a chargeback on my card.

  • sam-1966 on 03/09/2024 - 16:48

    Does having an old, male taxi driver with greasy hair and a few missing teeth making it really clear that he is happy to not charge in exchange for 'wink, wink' count?

    After throwing up in my mouth and pulled cash out so fast my head was spinning!

    And no, I didn't report it. I was young (probably 17 or 18) and so shocked I didn't think to get plates.

    • just-human on 03/09/2024 - 18:38
      +2

      I'm so sorry you've had that experience and I hope you're doing alright :)

      • sam-1966 on 04/09/2024 - 16:28

        Thank you, all good - it was so long ago that it makes my brain hurt to calculate the number of years!

  • Downvoter on 04/09/2024 - 01:35
    +1

    Did they take you to a suit shop along the way?

  • bamzero on 04/09/2024 - 09:51

    I think the answer is always yes, even if you don't realise it.

  • Darayus on 04/09/2024 - 10:56
    +1

    I had booked my taxi from home to the international airport, normally taxi with tolls come to $ 45 to $ 55, But this one charged me flat $ 100, so radio fee, maxi cab fee (actually I was the only one with 2 bags), Toll fees and return toll fees, airport surcharge. Night surcharge: I started my journey after 6.30 am and waited at home to load the bag in less than 5 minutes.

    I stopped supporting Taxi after this day, prefer Didi and Uber.

  • 2esc on 04/09/2024 - 12:06

    Poll option dont use taxi's or rideshare?

    About 25 years ago i used a taxi. Being regional just too expensive.

  • Sensiekatie on 04/09/2024 - 16:12
    +1

    It's a while ago so things are different I expect. Additionally, UBER didn't exist. I used to travel within Qld and interstate for work. Work travel always involved using CABCHARGE. I also had reimbursements to deal with for our program participants.

    I Quickly learnt that you had to watch them like a hawk when using CABCHARGE and the advice was out there to: always get the Reg No, get the taxi number, check driver is the same person as within the taxi licence they had to display (it often isn't the same person as they get others to drive for them). Additionally note down the travel details & CABCHARGE voucher number and the fare. Running the cost crntre, I would check the charged fare against my records for every one.

    The oldest trick in the book was for the driver to say the system was down and they would process it manually. I struck one who did this but added later on instead of manually. He processed it later alright. When the charge eventually came though for that number, it wasn't even the same day. I asked for details of the charge and after many grumbles they finally provided the from and to locations and time of
    travel etc.

    It was obviously a Saturday night outing in the city with his mates and from the CBD to an area north of Brisbane (out of the BCC district) as t about 2.30 am pick up and weeks later thany travel.

    I was able to provide them with my travel record details, driver id, cab id and reg no etc plus the correct charge total. Additionally adding the date of travel and that our place of work and my place of residence were nowhere near these points and we would never be travelling on that day at that hour.

    They were unimpressed but they did credit the charge. At that time most people didn't even bother to check the cabcharge costs on the cost centre records. I'm a bit pedantic though and they weren't getting way with this.

  • Amazingly on 09/09/2024 - 19:52
    +1

    Last trip overseas was a long one and all the news about inflation.

    Friendly taxi driver asking about trip and what I did for work etc. Couldn't see the meter and when asking why so expensive he said it's the airport surcharge.

    Normally $50 ("comfort Uber") but charged $70 (shitty old wagon).

    We always get Uber to the airport but coming home never bothered to work out where to stand for Uber back home and just walked straight to the taxi queue.

    When I saw this thread, looked up where the "Rideshare" pickup is at Sydney Airport. There's a Youtube video walk to it and will definitely make the effort to get an Uber in future.

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