MEL taxi scam

[kpc]

I avoid the Mel taxi scam by taking the expensive Skybus...I know off the cheap way via bus /train but don't fly into Mel often enough to be bothered

 

[Daver6]

Essentially all to do with the Uber PIN thing. Get in the car, give your PIN. Driver starts driving, then says “oh your PIN didn’t work”, “the app isn’t working”, give me your address and we can just go there and sort it out

https://www.reddit.com/r/melbourne/s/QgFjo83e5O

Workarounds are to book something that doesn’t use PIN ie premium for example

Or just get out of the car and go back to the line. I bet the PIN suddenly works then.

 

[nancypants]

Or just get out of the car and go back to the line. I bet the PIN suddenly works then.

Yeah that is another option. Story goes some of the fake taxi touts are now fake uber touts also (so the pin can never work)

 

[qfdoesntdomel]

It's definitely a huge problem. Certainly not something that happens in SYD. I have recently seen one kicked out of T2 a few months ago, and escorted over to the car park. I haven't actually had it in the last 2 months of multiple trips for a change. So maybe they are doing some enforcement at last. BTW, I don't ask them if they know it's illegal... I TELL them it's illegal and ask them for their name and number. That results in them disappearing real fast, or in many cases launching a spout of unprintable words. Lol. I actually enjoy it.

 

[AIRwin]

BTW, I don't ask them if they know it's illegal... I TELL them it's illegal and ask them for their name and number. That results in them disappearing real fast, or in many cases launching a spout of unprintable words. Lol. I actually enjoy it.

taxiscamdoesntdomel with @qfdoesntdomel around

 

[Quickstatus]

Or just get out of the car and go back to the line. I bet the PIN suddenly works then.

Just make sure they input the pin before they drive off.

 

[NM]

I would think that collecting a few of those "up to $10,000" fines would be a lucrative option for whoever receives the revenue. Could make a lot of revenue for a little effort.

 

[Ladylucas]

It makes us look like a third-world country and it's a disgrace. The Airport should be controlling it. Bet they give management kicks backs.

 

[fersea]

I avoid the Mel taxi scam by taking the expensive Skybus...I know off the cheap way via bus /train but don't fly into Mel often enough to be bothered

Good move. Take the legal scam not the illegal scam.

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

It's definitely a huge problem. Certainly not something that happens in SYD. I have recently seen one kicked out of T2 a few months ago, and escorted over to the car park. I haven't actually had it in the last 2 months of multiple trips for a change. So maybe they are doing some enforcement at last. BTW, I don't ask them if they know it's illegal... I TELL them it's illegal and ask them for their name and number. That results in them disappearing real fast, or in many cases launching a spout of unprintable words. Lol. I actually enjoy it.

More of them need to have adverse consequences inflicted.

 

[Murmal]

So who is actually responsible for enforcement? MEL airport, Vic Pol, AFP? It's not as if cctv isn't installed to track the touters for evidence. I notice the information board says a number to call. What chances that being effective?

 

[Balad2005]

So who is actually responsible for enforcement? MEL airport, Vic Pol, AFP? It's not as if cctv isn't installed to track the touters for evidence. I notice the information board says a number to call. What chances that being effective?

In Victoria the CPVI Act 2019 was introduced in response to increased levels of unsociable behaviour and allegations of harassment by touters, mainly at Melbourne Airport. There are periodic warning announcements on the airport PA and the odd crackdown by Victorian Commercial Passenger Vehicles Enforcement officers and the AFP. The AFP has more serious things to worry about though. And effectively its matter of jurisdiction for the Victorian State Government to deal with. Its a bit like travelling on the trams in Melbourne , sometimes there are inspectors and most times there are not.
Touting is still going on. I was approached last month on return from interstate,.A work colleague who does not come to Melbourne often was conned a few weeks ago with an excessive cab fare .My colleague is a very trusting person though the guy was genuine , but he won't get caught again.
To be up front it is worse since they moved the taxi ranks further out and many of the touts stay outside on the walkways and catch folk like my colleague who are infrequent visitors to Melbourne.

 

[The Flying Brick]

In the socialist paradise of Victoria laws do not apply to the guilty or the wrongdoers.

Zero enforcement and zero punishment makes Victoria look akin to some failed 3rd world narco State.

Fake taxi drivers drivers are just the tiny tip of one very huge iceberg.

 

[TAK]

Recently in Beunos Aires we caught a "touted" cab cause I counldnt find my uber and it was 1 am and I'd been flying all day and I'd been enjoying the free stuff they have in lounges, anywho after agreeing on a price, as soon as we got out of the airport, the firendliness all changed, bottom line, we were dumped at the side of the road and threatened that we had to pay more ( I had been trying to get him to stick to the deal) SO that was Argentina and I get it - this is Melbourne and if I havent been approached by these guys 50 times in the last couple of years, I just ignore them. Just like the 1 minute set downs, etc no one gives a toss and its pathetic really (actually its de rigueur in Vic,, few pay on busses, driving in the right lane is mandatory, ubers that wait in the parking lot hoping you'll cancel, 200,000 cars a day about to pour onto the Eastern Freeway just to stop at Hoddle street and ALexander Parade..........mind you, first world problems, we are lucky we can fly, but man its annoying!

 

[mel-world]

Recently in Beunos Aires we caught a "touted" cab cause I counldnt find my uber and it was 1 am and I'd been flying all day and I'd been enjoying the free stuff they have in lounges, anywho after agreeing on a price, as soon as we got out of the airport, the firendliness all changed, bottom line, we were dumped at the side of the road and threatened that we had to pay more ( I had been trying to get him to stick to the deal) SO that was Argentina and I get it - this is Melbourne and if I havent been approached by these guys 50 times in the last couple of years, I just ignore them. Just like the 1 minute set downs, etc no one gives a toss and its pathetic really (actually its de rigueur in Vic,, few pay on busses, driving in the right lane is mandatory, ubers that wait in the parking lot hoping you'll cancel, 200,000 cars a day about to pour onto the Eastern Freeway just to stop at Hoddle street and ALexander Parade..........mind you, first world problems, we are lucky we can fly, but man its annoying!

There is so much to love about Melbourne. Nowhere's perfect and so many cities are much worse. As you said, just be thankful we can afford to travel.

 

[JIMMYTHEJET]

This happens to me last time in Melbourne
I told them no and kept walking to uber

I feel like saying to them sign up to Uber you. Would have a ride instantly lol