Taxi scams are rife – here’s how to avoid them
Getting ripped off by a cab driver is an experience many of us could relate to even before a major investigation by this masthead and 60 Minutes revealed systemic fraud within the nation’s biggest taxi company, A2B.
The stories on A2B – owner of 13cabs, Silver Service and Cabcharge – spurred calls to overhaul the sector from police, politicians, the judiciary and the nation’s leading disability and consumer rights advocates.
Until then, there are some things everybody can do when catching a taxi to avoid being scammed.
- Note down the taxi’s number plate;
- Take down the credentials of the driver – operators are required to display ID from the taxi service they drive for. It should have a driver photo and identification number;
- Check the meter wasn’t already running when you got in the car, that it is turned on once you get in, that it stays on until the end of your journey and is turned off when you get out of the cab;
- Confirm you are being charged the correct fare and not extra, for example for a full maxi taxi;
- Ask for a receipt and check there are no suspicious or unexplained charges added, such as “other” fees; and
- Check the pick-up and drop-off locations on the receipt are not generic places such as “home”, or “city”. The receipt should almost always have the specific location or suburb listed.
Customers using Cabcharge vouchers should be vigilant because drivers may process an inflated fare once you leave the car, as exposed in the Taxileaks files and an undercover 60 Minutes operation.
Ask the issuer of your Cabcharge voucher to check the account was charged the correct fare.
Issuers of Cabcharge vouchers should monitor their accounts for suspicious activity.
Of course, if something more serious happens, like an assault or theft, then the police should be your first port of call.
