Taxi Driver's $10 Hidden Fee Angers Sydney

5 May 2023

A taxi passenger in Sydney got angry and posted his frustration on social media. He said $10 was added to his fare as soon as he got in the taxi.

Someone shared a picture of a taxi meter on Reddit. They were angry because the taxi driver pushed a button that added $10 to the price. This made the total price $17.70. The passenger swore at the driver and left the taxi.

Angry passenger says taxi driver added $10 to his fare as soon as he got in. Source: Reddit/phelan74

People got angry after reading the blog post and shared their bad experiences with taxi drivers in NSW. One person asked what the extra fee was for.

The person asked about a button to add $10 quickly. The original poster said that it's just the regular starting price.

Transport NSW says hiring a ride in urban areas costs a maximum of $3.60. But during peak hours, which are from 10pm to 6am on Fridays, Saturdays and before public holidays, it costs an extra $2.50.

To Ride-Sharing Services

The new CEO of NSW Taxi Council, Nick Abrahim, said in an interview with Yahoo News Australia that the actions of the taxi driver in this case were wrong.

Abrahim states that it's not right to do it. Breaking the rules and going against the standard practice is not acceptable. The NSW government regulates fares for taxis picked up from the rank or streets. Every time a passenger hops into the taxi, the driver must use the meter, even at the airport. The passenger pays what is shown on the meter at the end of the ride.

Taxis in NSW must use the meter for fares. Getty is the source.

Cab Rule Breach Causes Price Surge

Regulated fare means you won't get overcharged. You'll know the price beforehand. This is good for your peace of mind. Taxis can't charge whatever they want.

We don't want anything bad to happen and the rules say it's not allowed. That's why we are in favor of following the fare rules and making sure drivers do too. Abrahim from Yahoo News said we need to enforce this. Passengers should know the rules too and report any rule-breaking by drivers. If drivers do the wrong thing, they can be reported and investigated.

Correcting Taxi Overcharges: A Guide

Abrahim explained that it's hard to know which taxi company to contact from the receipt. That's because GM Cabs, the second largest taxi fleet in NSW, has a payment system for taxis across the country under the same name. So, every receipt shows the name even if the operator is different.

He said passengers should gather information if they feel they've been overcharged or if some charges are not clear.

We tell passengers to write down important information on their receipt. This includes the taxi's registration and brand. Information is also inside the taxi, like the company and registration. If there's a problem, call 1800-500-410. The Point to Point Transport Commissioner can help.

If you complain to the commissioner's hotline, you get a reference number. The taxi provider must investigate your complaint and take action with the driver. They have to report back to you and the commissioner on the outcome.

Abrahim gives advice for passengers who don't want to write down too many details in a taxi. He says to write the registration number, brand, date, time, and location of the trip. This information is enough to help an investigation.

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