‘$80 from MCG to Richmond’: Tennis fans warned of rogue taxi tactic ahead of Australian Open
Tennis fans are being urged to watch for a dodgy payment method being used by cowboy cabbies to sneakily price gouge unsuspecting passengers, expected to sting during the Australian Open.
Victoria
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The Allan government is being urged to crackdown on cowboy cabbies ahead of the Australian Open, amid calls for an overhaul to stamp out a dodgy payment method that allows drivers to charge outrageous prices.
Tennis fans have been warned to be on high alert for rogue drivers hoping to rip them off with outrageously high prices at Melbourne Park.
It comes as taxi company 13cabs called on the state government to make a technological fix in every taxi to stamp out predatory behaviour that has become rife during high-demand periods.
Each taxi has a payment terminal attached to its meter which prevents drivers from adding extra charges to a ride.
But in a bid to bust the system, some cabbies are using a separate handheld payment terminal to charge inflated amounts, bypassing the meter entirely.
It’s prompted calls for the government to introduce mandatory regulations that link all payment terminals in a taxi to the car’s meter.
13cabs head of public affairs David Samuel said the unethical practice needed to be stamped out urgently.
“This is the method they use when they charge you $80 to take you from the MCG to Richmond,” he said.
“The taxi meter is what creates integrity in the taxi. It is that taxi meter that gives you the privilege to do rank and hail work. If you want to abuse that privilege, you’re likely to lose it.”
In one recent example of blatant price gouging, a reveller leaving a concert in Port Melbourne was asked to cough up $100 for a six kilometre journey to Spotswood.
The concert-goer ended up paying $50 for the trip after a second driver refused to turn their meter on.
Mr Samuel said over 85 per cent of complaints relate to drivers refusing a fare or not turning on their meter.
The government introduced regulations in 2023 that make it mandatory for drivers to turn on their meter for any unbooked trip that is hailed from the street or a rank.
Despite that, greedy taxi drivers continue to prey on unsuspecting passengers, particularly during busy periods such as the Australian Open.
Mr Samuel said the regulator, Safe Transport Victoria, needed more boots on the ground to proactively patrol the industry.
But he said the long-term fix is connecting all payment terminals directly to the meter to prevent overcharging at the source rather than relying on passengers .
“The technology exists — it’s just a matter of implementing a regulation to ensure it’s used,” he said.
“Passengers, whether locals or tourists, deserve a fair and transparent system they can trust. It’s time to end the era of rogue drivers once and for all.”
A government spokesman said they will engage with industry and explore “new ways to improve the passenger experience”.
“Price gouging has no place in Victoria and we’re always looking for ways to deliver better outcomes for customers,” he said.
Drivers risk a fine of almost $2000 if it is proven that they have not used the meter when required to.
Passengers are urged to dob in drivers refusing to turn on their meter.
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