Taxi drivers ‘exploiting’ revellers with ‘astronomical’ upfront fares

Complaints are surging over Brisbane and Gold Coast taxi drivers refusing to use their meters and demanding passengers agree to a fare price upfront. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Taxi drivers are “exploiting” revellers in Brisbane and the Gold Coast’s party precincts by refusing to run meters and employing “astronomical” price gouging to match rideshare surges.

The Taxi Council and Department of Transport and Main Roads are aware of an increasing trend where cab drivers demand passengers agree to a fare price upfront.

Sam Mortimer was out with friends at Howard Smith Wharves on Saturday, August 20 and about 11pm they wanted a maxi-taxi to go to Fortitude Valley.

Sam Mortimer was overcharged to travel 1.5 kilometres from Howard Smith Wharves to Fortitude Valley in a maxi-taxi while on a night out with friends. Picture: Lachie Millard

“The quote from the first taxi was $85. I said: ‘Absolutely not.’” he said.

“With the next one, we got somewhere around $65.

“Then the third one quoted $40, which I still wasn’t impressed by. I countered with $30, and he replied: ‘$40, fixed price, no meter.’”

Mr Mortimer accepted the “less astronomical” $40 fare for the 1.5-kilometre trip.

Meanwhile, a Gold Coast taxi passenger reported being charged $45 to go from Broadbeach to Surfers Paradise – less than 5km.

Cab drivers in the Fortitude Valley party precinct have demanded revellers pay $30 to go to Auchenflower, less than 7km, and $40 to Yeronga, less than nine kilometres.

Taxi Council Queensland chief executive Blair Davies confirmed he had heard increasing reports of this issue and said “a few bad eggs” are bringing “all taxi drivers into disrepute”.

“A lot of our cab drivers talk to rideshare drivers and are aware of rideshare surges … so they are taking matters into their own hands – which they are not allowed to do,” he said.

“They have probably worked out that the customer doesn’t have a lot of options and they’re exploiting the situation. That is why we invented taxi meters and why governments set maximum fare rates.”

Taxi Council Queensland chief executive Blair Davies insists only “a few bad eggs” in the industry are price gouging and has called on TMR to enforce the laws. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Davies said the reports he had received mostly came from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, where cab drivers face the greatest competition from rideshare drivers.

A TMR spokesman confirmed the Department had received an “increasing number of complaints” on this issue.

“We take these reports very seriously, and have recently increased enforcement efforts in identified hot spots,” he said.

“Various compliance investigations are underway into complaints received by TMR.

“A taxi driver and passenger may agree a fare before the journey starts, but the driver cannot insist on it and any agreed fare must not exceed a maximum fare for the journey.

“A taxi driver must not refuse to provide a regulated service because a passenger requests a metered fare.

“Transport legislation does allow a driver to require a deposit for a fare … if they believe they may not get paid at the completion of the trip.”

Mr Davies said he raised this issue with TMR six months ago.

“I told them they needed to up their game in terms of enforcement officers out there, and they told me they would work on it,” he said.

“But then they said something about having an issue getting enforcement officers out late at night in entertainment precincts.

“But my comment was that this behaviour was not occurring between 9am and 5pm.”

Mr Davies said these taxi drivers’ tactics created a safety issue if intoxicated passengers could not afford the inflated fare and tried to walk home.

A cab driver proven to be overcharging can receive a $575 fine.

Passengers can report dodgy cab drivers through TMR by calling 13 12 30 or emailing [e-mail].

Providing the driver’s authorisation number, vehicle number plate, time and location of the fare, and taxi company will help TMR take action.