Taxi privacy issues......

[Golf888]

ok, not exactly about frequent flyer...
But wanted to know about other people experience about taxi.....
Taxi have a small machine where they can display people names, even addresses.....

Several times, after you tell them the destination, u can see
them trying to search for possible name at the destination address.....

Is there not some privacy law to prevent this???

 

[QF WP]

Taxi have a small machine where they can display people names, even addresses.....

The "small machine" (different brands in different States) displays the booking details (if you've made a telephone booking); so they know they are at the correct pick-up pointand get the right pax. It will have information like name and pick-up address plus comments field (in BNE taxi's I think that all it shows, not sure but think SYD and MEL taxi's show more info).

Several times, after you tell them the destination, u can see
them trying to search for possible name at the destination address.....

When they find out your destination, most drivers will then go to another screen which shows them taxi stands in different areas (all with short 4 or 5 letter names and all have 3 or 4 numeric codes), with the number of jobs holding and the number of taxi's logged into the area. So they are actually looking to see what chances they have of getting another fare near your destination. I think that is what you are seeing, not any names of people at the destination, so thus no Privacy Act issues.

 

[BlacKnox]

ok, not exactly about frequent flyer...
But wanted to know about other people experience about taxi.....

Taxi drivers in Japan wear white gloves and are outstanding. I have never had a driver take me off-route to get a better fare. They always take you (what they believe) the cheapest and fastest route to your destination. And also, no-one ever expects a tip, which is refreshing.

The taxis here also have a mechanism which automatically opens and closes the door for PAX. My mother visits me twice a year and just when she's used to not opening/ closing the door (in CTS), she returns to OZ and leaves the door open after exiting taxis. Much, obviously, to the chagin of her driver.

Well now we're totally off topic. I just wanted to comment that taxi drivers in Japan are honest and competent. But it does cost around $9 just to get into the cab.

 

[Golf888]

Thanks Lindsay Wilson.

 

[danielh]

Well I think I'll do a small hijack and add in some observations.

Because of work I take at least 4 long taxi rides a week (ie. home to airport, airport to client, client to airport, airport to home).

I happily use my Diners card in about 7/8 of the rides but occasionally I get a Taxi who only puts Diners (and I assume AmEx) on those horrible plastic sliders for manual processing.

My pet peeves is that unlike doing this the electonic way, it often takes WEEKS before you see that particular taxi trip on your statement (both online and physical) and that it can often be boosted up beyond the 1.11 multiplier you apply for GST on the service and ride.

It's a BIIIIIIGGGGG headache going through the whole complaint route for those few extra dollars and right now I'm compiling the last few months worth of travel for a big complaint.

I've even got taxi rides for dates I did not TAKE!!!!

Admittedly this could be because i did not fill in the date field so hence I have to wait for all my other taxi rides to filter through to confirm if this was a receipt for that day.

My tip to you all is to insist as much as possible to do it electronically, if you DO have to do a manual process then make sure you have the DATE on the drivers and your receipt, make sure you have the drivers number on your copy and that the DRIVERS receipt has all the right number fields put in.

Eg. Melbourne trips to the airport going through city link will be something like:

Base Fare = $40.00
Service Charge = $2.20
Total = $42.20

The driver will often just say the $42.20 amount and unless you know or ask you will have to do some mathmatics to get the fields correctly filled.

Also, because you will be charged an additional 10% service charge, your expected bill will be 1.11 times the amount on your receipt so don't panic if you see a slightly larger figure.

Whew... End of Rant.... I had to fill in TWO today so was a bit peeved about it. Almost two whole weeks without one and suddenly a double whammy.

I made sure the drivers knew I was filling in all their information on my receipt though to reduce thoughts of funny-buggers.

Regards
Daniel

PS: No disrespect to the 99.99% of hard working and honest Taxi drivers out there but I seem to get the 0.01% that likes to do a dodge.

 

[dajop]

My tip to you all is to insist as much as possible to do it electronically, if you DO have to do a manual process then make sure you have the DATE on the drivers and your receipt, make sure you have the drivers number on your copy and that the DRIVERS receipt has all the right number fields put in.

And make sure you fill in the amount in words, do not leave any spaces in either the words or figures, and put a dollar sign before the number!

Once I had a fare for 16.40 , the driver filled in both the words and the number - leaving me to sign. Of course the "sixteen" was just a scrawl. However, the driver changed the 1 into a $ sign, then put a 0 after the 6 and magic it becomes $60.40. Need I say more?

 

[thadocta]

Victoria is the only state where the passenger can insist on the transaction being processed electronically, where electronic facilities ae available.

In ALL other states, if the passenger insists on using a card, then it is up to the driver as to how to process the charge. Some drivers prefer manual transactions as they get the cash faster than via electronic means (ScabCharge is the main culprit here, they take very few days to charge the customer but many many weeks t pay the operator of the cab).

If the driver declines to use electronic means, and the passenger declines a paper-based transaction, the only alternative is cash, which the passenger will be required by law to pay, and will be committing an offence is the passenger refuses.

Dave

 

[moa999]

Certainly in Sydney, the Cabcharge sticker in most cabs states they are only allowed to use Electronic methods for Credit cards, only the Cabcharge card can be done manually.

Don't seem to enforce it though.

 

[thadocta]

Certainly in Sydney, the Cabcharge sticker in most cabs states they are only allowed to use Electronic methods for Credit cards, only the Cabcharge card can be done manually.

Don't seem to enforce it though.

That is applicable only if the driver/operator chooses to use Cabcharge to process the (Ampayment. If they choose another processor then it can be done manually.

Dave