Taxi trips are convenient for when you need to go somewhere quickly but cannot drive to your destination. They’re reliable and comfortable, and you don’t have to exert any effort to get around.

But did you know that falling asleep in one could easily cost you hundreds? Well, depending on the driver…

This is what happened to one Melbourne resident who experienced a rude awakening when he fell asleep in a taxi and discovered he was charged an outrageous fare.

A man who fell asleep in a taxi home from an airport was horrified and angered to wake to a $468 fare after an hour-long journey.

The customer, who goes by Ryan on social media, uploaded a video of him confronting the taxi driver about the ridiculous charge from Melbourne Airport to the suburb of Berwick, which is 75 km away. Based on a fare calculator, the trip should have cost about $146 at night and a maximum of $161 during peak time.

But Ryan's fare was almost three times that amount, and he wanted answers.

‘I just drive you from the airport. There are tolls on the way; there’s a freeway,’ the driver said in the footage.

A man was charged $468. Credit: NEOSiAM 2021/Pexels

‘I'm a new taxi driver. I just know what the meter is saying. How are you going to pay, buddy?’ The driver continued.

However, when Ryan asked how the journey resulted in a staggering $468 after ‘falling asleep for 20 to 30 minutes’, the driver became defensive.

The taxi driver said: ‘Buddy, stop complaining about me, okay? I’m a taxi driver, not a bank manager.’

The customer replied that he doesn’t ‘usually complain’ but insisted on ‘figuring it out’ with the driver.

However, the customer’s persistence seemed to irritate the taxi driver even more.

The customer uploaded the confrontation online. Credit: classyryan/TikTok

‘Buddy, how about you pay the money, and tomorrow you check what the f*** this is,’ the driver aggressively said before apologising for cursing when Ryan objected to the tone he was taking.

However, the fare wasn’t reduced – instead, the price went up even higher.

When Ryan took out his card to pay, the machine read $486.72 and not $468, which may already include the booking fee, government taxes, and a card surcharge.

‘You’ve put more on there,’ Ryan told the driver.

‘Buddy, please just give me your card,’ the driver replied.

The now-deleted footage, previously captioned ‘Never fall asleep in a taxi’, came as a shock to fellow passengers. Many expressed their horror in Ryan’s comments section.

‘He saw a vulnerable human and took his chances. I wouldn’t be able to control myself in anger!’ One social media user wrote.

Another said: ‘I would [have] got him to drive me to the police station.’

Others said the incident made it look like it was a promotion for other ride-sharing services, like Uber.

‘It's like an advertisement for Uber,’ someone claimed.

Some were outraged over the way the driver spoke to Ryan.

‘The way the cab driver speaks to you for asking reasonable questions is a disgrace,’ one pointed out.

While there were those, who thought that the fare made sense when calculated with all the surcharges.

‘Driver put surcharge prices, and that’s almost tripled the money than it usually is. When they put surcharge prices (rush hour $$), it’s always extra,’ someone offered.

It is understood that taxi drivers are legally allowed to negotiate fares with a customer before the trip commences. This also applies to rideshare services such as Uber. The fixed price must appear on the taxi driver’s screen.

Additionally, meters can be altered manually to include surcharges. Therefore, it is in the customer’s best interest to request a receipt at the end of the journey that explains the specific charges, such as booking fees and government levies.

However, these extra fees weren’t specified in Ryan’s receipt.

If this happens to you, the incident must be reported to the taxi company and a regulatory body such as Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV).

This comes after reports that a taxi driver had allegedly started his meter at $33.15 before commencing the trip. The customer (who saw the hidden meter) shared his frustrations online and called it ‘dodgy’. More details about this story can be read here.

Key Takeaways

• A Melbourne man fell asleep in a taxi and woke up to an alarming $468 fare for an hour-long journey.
• The taxi fare was almost three times more than what an automated taxi fare calculator estimated for the same journey.
• A video of the confrontation between the man and the taxi driver was uploaded on social media.
• It is advised that customers request a receipt at the end of the trip detailing specific charges and to report any complaints to the taxi company and relevant regulatory body.

Have you ever experienced anything like this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

 

[Baz1960]

Taxi trips are convenient for when you need to go somewhere quickly but cannot drive to your destination. They’re reliable and comfortable, and you don’t have to exert any effort to get around.

But did you know that falling asleep in one could easily cost you hundreds? Well, depending on the driver…

This is what happened to one Melbourne resident who experienced a rude awakening when he fell asleep in a taxi and discovered he was charged an outrageous fare.

A man who fell asleep in a taxi home from an airport was horrified and angered to wake to a $468 fare after an hour-long journey.

The customer, who goes by Ryan on social media, uploaded a video of him confronting the taxi driver about the ridiculous charge from Melbourne Airport to the suburb of Berwick, which is 75 km away. Based on a fare calculator, the trip should have cost about $146 at night and a maximum of $161 during peak time.

But Ryan's fare was almost three times that amount, and he wanted answers.

‘I just drive you from the airport. There are tolls on the way; there’s a freeway,’ the driver said in the footage.

View attachment 18358

A man was charged $468. Credit: NEOSiAM 2021/Pexels

‘I'm a new taxi driver. I just know what the meter is saying. How are you going to pay, buddy?’ The driver continued.

However, when Ryan asked how the journey resulted in a staggering $468 after ‘falling asleep for 20 to 30 minutes’, the driver became defensive.

The taxi driver said: ‘Buddy, stop complaining about me, okay? I’m a taxi driver, not a bank manager.’

The customer replied that he doesn’t ‘usually complain’ but insisted on ‘figuring it out’ with the driver.

However, the customer’s persistence seemed to irritate the taxi driver even more.

View attachment 18359

The customer uploaded the confrontation online. Credit: classyryan/TikTok

‘Buddy, how about you pay the money, and tomorrow you check what the f*** this is,’ the driver aggressively said before apologising for cursing when Ryan objected to the tone he was taking.

However, the fare wasn’t reduced – instead, the price went up even higher.

When Ryan took out his card to pay, the machine read $486.72 and not $468, which may already include the booking fee, government taxes, and a card surcharge.

‘You’ve put more on there,’ Ryan told the driver.

‘Buddy, please just give me your card,’ the driver replied.

The now-deleted footage, previously captioned ‘Never fall asleep in a taxi’, came as a shock to fellow passengers. Many expressed their horror in Ryan’s comments section.

‘He saw a vulnerable human and took his chances. I wouldn’t be able to control myself in anger!’ One social media user wrote.

Another said: ‘I would [have] got him to drive me to the police station.’

Others said the incident made it look like it was a promotion for other ride-sharing services, like Uber.

‘It's like an advertisement for Uber,’ someone claimed.

Some were outraged over the way the driver spoke to Ryan.

‘The way the cab driver speaks to you for asking reasonable questions is a disgrace,’ one pointed out.

While there were those, who thought that the fare made sense when calculated with all the surcharges.

‘Driver put surcharge prices, and that’s almost tripled the money than it usually is. When they put surcharge prices (rush hour $$), it’s always extra,’ someone offered.

It is understood that taxi drivers are legally allowed to negotiate fares with a customer before the trip commences. This also applies to rideshare services such as Uber. The fixed price must appear on the taxi driver’s screen.

Additionally, meters can be altered manually to include surcharges. Therefore, it is in the customer’s best interest to request a receipt at the end of the journey that explains the specific charges, such as booking fees and government levies.

However, these extra fees weren’t specified in Ryan’s receipt.

If this happens to you, the incident must be reported to the taxi company and a regulatory body such as Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV).

This comes after reports that a taxi driver had allegedly started his meter at $33.15 before commencing the trip. The customer (who saw the hidden meter) shared his frustrations online and called it ‘dodgy’. More details about this story can be read here.

Key Takeaways

• A Melbourne man fell asleep in a taxi and woke up to an alarming $468 fare for an hour-long journey.
• The taxi fare was almost three times more than what an automated taxi fare calculator estimated for the same journey.
• A video of the confrontation between the man and the taxi driver was uploaded on social media.
• It is advised that customers request a receipt at the end of the trip detailing specific charges and to report any complaints to the taxi company and relevant regulatory body.

Have you ever experienced anything like this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

We all have a responsibility to look after ourselves in public. He is lucky that he wasn't physically harmed or worst. Yes, you should be safe in a taxi. But you need to keep aware.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I would have stayed in the cab and rang the company, not got out until it was sorted out.

 

[Mars]

My experience with a taxi driver wasn't on cost, but where he was. I asked him if he knew where the entrance to the freeway was, he said yes and continued on his way. He went past the entrance and turned into a street beside the freeway. He continued down this street on the wrong side of the road at 100ks. I told him this is not the freeway slow down and get on the right side of the road. It was a bit scary.

 

[Georgie27]

My partner needed to go to the local Hospital for an appointment after Heart Surgery, I had gone back to work by this time. My Partner had to direct the driver to the Hospital from the back seat, that was fun because the accent and language barrier. Wouldn't you think that it would be requirement to know where Hospitals were.

 

[mylittletibbies]

My partner needed to go to the local Hospital for an appointment after Heart Surgery, I had gone back to work by this time. My Partner had to direct the driver to the Hospital from the back seat, that was fun because the accent and language barrier. Wouldn't you think that it would be requirement to know where Hospitals were.

Many years ago, my ex worked for a cab.company in Melbourne.
Times must have changed because he definitely had to know the location of all city and suburban major hospitals, railway stations etc, actually had to sit an exam, before he could get the job. Obviously speaking good English was also a prerequisite.

 

[SGH]

I seem to remember all taxi drivers had to sit for a test before they were allowed to take to the road in a cab. And they had to dress appropriately in a shirt and tie, and would always assist passengers with their shopping/luggage etc.