Melbourne taxi drivers refusing to take fares under $15

[NM]

from news.com.au:

ABOUT one in three Melbourne taxi drivers will refuse to take passengers short distances in the city's CBD at night.

A blitz on city taxi drivers on weekends found that potential passengers were told trips costing up to $15 were too short to bother, The Herald Sun reports.

 

[bambbbam2]

Friend of mine drives a cab on the NSW Central Coast and I completely believe this.

I also agree with the cabbies - in Perth there is a 'ultra-peak surcharge' on fri and sat nights. Works a lot better.

 

[dajop]

It's not just the CBD .... on my last day in Melbourne I returned my company car to the office, and then went out the front to catch a taxi. (being at the St Kilda end of St Kilda Rd a lot of taxis drive along there returning to the CBD). I wanted to travel to near Flemington racecourse, which was turned out being a $20 ride that night ($21 I think to be exact). But unfortunately it was Friday afternoon, and well many drivers just prefer to hang around in traffic in the hope for a big fare from the CBD.

After three rejects I actually got into the fourth cab before telling him where I wanted to go. When I told him, he started driving off ... whilst the rear door was still open and my parents were in the middle of getting into the taxi. I was too angry and didn't think quickly enough to get his number. But frankly it was appalling. Eventually taxi no 6 agreed to take me. :evil:

Now carless in Singapore, I catch taxis almost every other day and have not had a bad egg yet. But I detest catching taxis in Melbourne.

 

[simongr]

Why should cabbies be able to pick and choose their fares?

 

[serfty]

Why should cabbies be able to pick and choose their fares?

They can't - legally!

However, enforcement is another issue ...

I have posted before on this and other fora - I loathe having to take taxi's ... :evil:

 

[NM]

Why should cabbies be able to pick and choose their fares?

That is the point - they are not supposed to.

 

[simongr]

Friend of mine drives a cab on the NSW Central Coast and I completely believe this.

I also agree with the cabbies - in Perth there is a 'ultra-peak surcharge' on fri and sat nights. Works a lot better.

This was my point - I don't know how anyone can agree with the cabbies on this. I also would disagree with introducing a ultra-peak surcharge - that is basically price gouging that everyone slams QF for here...

 

[munitalP]

I use private cars whenever the need calls for it in the main centres, MEL, BNE & SYD. Even if this is a short trip or a pickup after dinner at a city resturant for return to the hotel. My usual drivers always assist, and although I pay a premium, it's still better that being treated pooly like the OP

You can complain to the VTD... this is the official word...

"Fare refusal on the nose

Ever known a fellow taxi driver to refuse a fare because the trip was too short or wasn't heading the right way? Perhaps not, but according to the Victorian Taxi Directorate's Transport Safety and Compliance Unit, fare refusal is rampant in the taxi industry.

On average, the VTD receives 45 complaints a month just on fare refusals. The most common reason? Because the driver considers the trip too short. While many drivers spend hours waiting at the airport for the jobs with higher fares, those who regularly take short fares are achieving the same financial results. Interestingly, it's not only the public who make complaints about fare refusal, but taxi drivers as well.

According to the Transport (Taxi-Cabs) Regulations 2005, taxi drivers 'must take a passenger who has hired the taxi-cab, or who is attempting to hire the taxi-cab at any time when it is available for hire, to the place where the passenger wants to be taken, unless the driver refuses under regulation 36 (1) to carry, or to continue to carry, the passenger.'

Under regulation 36(1), however, you may refuse to carry, or continue to carry someone who, in your opinion, is 'violent, noisy, misbehaving, filthy or offensive' or 'in possession of an item which is not able to be safely and securely accommodated within the taxi-cab.' There is an exception in this legislation, where taxi drivers cannot refuse to take passengers who want to be taken to a hospital.

If someone makes a complaint against you for refusing a fare, the VTD's complaints handling procedures allow for appropriate disciplinary action. Some of the possible actions include: an official warning, a penalty infringement notice for $110, or possible review of your driver accreditation. Any complaints regarding fare refusal will also be noted on your file.

So no matter how short or long a passenger's requested trip is, before refusing a fare, think about your obligations under the Transport (Taxi-cabs) Regulations 2005."

Mr!

:shock:

 

[bambbbam2]

The way my friend deals with it is this:

a) you cannot refuse a fare because of distance
b) you CAN refuse a fare if you feel the passenger cannot afford the fare or you fear for your safety

So everything just comes under B.

I suppose I have sympathy for the drivers because I know how little they mostly earn and the terrible hours, no sick leave, no annual leave and, if you work fri/sat/sun nights like my friend, you are at risk of being stabbed or beaten every week.

 

[Flashback]

Could come in handy printing that out and keeping a copy in my travel documents file ...

 

[Hvr]

The way my friend deals with it is this:

a) you cannot refuse a fare because of distance
b) you CAN refuse a fare if you feel the passenger cannot afford the fare or you fear for your safety

So everything just comes under B.

I suppose I have sympathy for the drivers because I know how little they mostly earn and the terrible hours, no sick leave, no annual leave and, if you work fri/sat/sun nights like my friend, you are at risk of being stabbed or beaten every week.

With regards to B as a well dressed and always sober man who is never physically threatening then any driver would want to be on very sure grounds refusing me. Naturally I can show the requisite amount of cash required.

No sympathy for drivers who are functionally illiterate and have no idea where they are going. I suggest they cause more problems than they every solve.

I lived in Melbourne for many, many years and know my way around. The number of drivers who try and scam me by taking very long routes to a fairly close destination is amazing. Also the credit card scams are amazing.

The old machine doesn't work is a favourite, I've been known to threaten to call the taxi rank supervisor at airports and tell them the cab is unroadworthy because the credit card machine isn't working.

It then magically works. Of course the next trick is to make sure that you get your credit card back and not have a business card folded in the middle of the receipt.

I once knew a former CentreLink investigator and they could make a call and get any driver investigated. A couple did when they ripped off a colleague. They had their unemployment benefits stopped and faced criminal charges for benefit fraud as well.

 

[odysseus]

I'm somewhat surprised you can still get fares under $15 anyway. The past few times I've taken them which haven't been for very long distances, the fare is still substantially more than $20.

The old machine doesn't work is a favourite,

They're still doing that, are they...

Also had one Melbourne driver nick off with my credit card, and was unable to get it back even though it was reported to the cab company within a minute, and the card company within an hour. He then proceeded to charge ever increasing amounts for a lengthy period of time. Cabcharge wore the loss as I understand it.

One of my worst experiences was at Sydney airport was when I went to get in, gave my destination, and the driver started swearing at me loudly and forcefully and lengthily to get out because it was too near (incidentally, one of the fares I referred to >$20 above).

I was a bit shocked and did so and got into the next one, and was then told off by that driver for not taking the one in front and saying I should have argued and took down details and so on, although he at least took me.

Yeah, you live and learn, but equally these guys shouldn't even be doing this. It's not the passenger's fault things are the way they are, yet to get abused just because you're using a taxi is really screwed up. As for reporting them, yes you can do that, but even the Victorian one just says it will be noted on his file. Sure, he may not get that promotion, but I don't know that he is looking for it either.

 

[Mal]

In Queensland, I know the taxi rules rather well so have had a few discussions with cabbies when they've tried to do something wrong.

Don't tend to catch too many cabs these days, but knowing the rules does come in handy.

 

[mannej]

Reading the responses regarding the Melbourne taxi issues, I feel that my partner and I were very lucky indeed during our recent visit at the start of the month. All took us to our destinations even if under the $15 mark, without trying to take the long way. I guess it paid off for them as we always tipped them due to our appreciation

 

[simongr]

In the past I have frequently taken cabs for $8-12 around the CBD. To my reckoning given the flag fall and a potential churn of pax those runs should be more profitable rather than less...

 

[Moody]

I live fairly close to the airport (sub $25 fare) and don't enjoy it when there is a queue of taxis rather than passengers at the rank. It usually means that the cab you jump into may have been there for quite some time and some are more successful at hiding their disappointment than others. The cabbie I picked up last week after a long day trip to Perth didn't say anything but travelled at warp speed to drop me off. Didn't bother me any 'cos that's how I drive too!

But what I would like to do is take the option I exercise at normal ranks when I just want to go a short distance. I walk to the end of the queue and pick the last cab - as is my right. A few of them have suggested I should have chosen cab #1, but when I tell them the destination they understand and after taking me 5 minutes around the corner for $10 they at least can often get back to their favourite queue without losing their place. So they are happy and so would be the driver at the front of the queue who didn't wait an hour for a $10 fare. Of course they instead may be seething about the smeghead who doesn't know one end of a queue from another.

 

[medhead]

In the past I have frequently taken cabs for $8-12 around the CBD. To my reckoning given the flag fall and a potential churn of pax those runs should be more profitable rather than less...

Exactly. Any cabbie who refuses a short fare doesn't know how they earn money. Every flag fall is worth 2 or 3 km at night. In am hour running around the cbd you can earn $30 to $40 just for turning on the meter.

Re the comments on refusing a fare as mentioned it is perfectly legal to refuse a fare. Drivers are allowed a safe workplace. Doesn't matter if you wear a suit, it is based on the driver judgement and includes an offensive passenger. I have been kicked out half way for accussing a driver of ripping me off. Fair enough, but then I didn't have to pay him either.

Edit2: fare refusal is exactly the same as the pax being able to refuse a driver. After the kick out a always pick a different cab company at a rank

 

[Keith009]

I've come across the issue once, and promptly lodged a complaint to the VTD. Didn't follow up on what eventually happened to the taxi driver though.

I find taxis in Melbourne comparatively expensive, yet the level of service often leaves much to be desired. More often than not I have to direct the driver myself, sometimes even to major roads/landmarks. Once I even had to show the driver how to use Melways. I wish more of them have GPS.

 

[simongr]

But what I would like to do is take the option I exercise at normal ranks when I just want to go a short distance. I walk to the end of the queue and pick the last cab - as is my right. A few of them have suggested I should have chosen cab #1, but when I tell them the destination they understand and after taking me 5 minutes around the corner for $10 they at least can often get back to their favourite queue without losing their place.

That's not an option at SYD at 6PM when the queue of people is 100 long and there aren't queues of cabs waiting...

 

[Moody]

That's not an option at SYD at 6PM when the queue of people is 100 long and there aren't queues of cabs waiting...

True - and I believe there is some system in place to compensate cabbies for short fares from the airport. I think they get the TQC's attention by honking their horn, and they punch the taxi number into a hand-held device. The cabbie then has a set time in which they can return to the airport and by-pass most of the queue.

I don't recall if the driver last week honked his horn to register for this facility, but he certainly drove like he had stolen the cab. Can anyone confirm the existence of this "short fare" scheme?