Cab drivers taking customers for a ride
Industry insider says fare extortion ‘rife’
A GOLD Coast Cabs veteran says drivers extorting customers with overpriced fares is “rife” and accuses the company of turning a blind eye to complaints.
The insider is speaking out after Pacific Pines mother Kerry Brammer alleged in yesterday’s Bulletin she was kicked out of a taxi van for not agreeing to an overpriced un-metered fee upfront.
The whistleblowing Gold Coast Cabs driver said such fare extortion was common, 95 per cent of cabbies got away with it as few customers complained and those who did complain were ignored.
Gold Coast Cabs executive general manager Benjamin Lee is rejecting all of the accusations and urges customers to report any issues directly.
But the whistleblower said he wanted to apologise to the public for the state of the Gold Coast taxi service being “dismal” nowadays.
“Extortion via fixed fare is now rife and not addressed by the industry overseers due to collusion and intimidation by a high percentage of certain drivers,” the cabbie, who still works for Gold Coast Cabs said.
“Thank you Pacific Pines mother for making your complaint heard as 95 per cent of the time the extortion cabbies get away with their practices due to no customers making the effort to complain.”
The cabbie further alleged: “The taxi booking company let certain complaints go unanswered so as not to upset a majority of extortion cabbies from the set cultural norm.”
The whistleblower urged customers with complaints to lodge them with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, copying in Gold Coast Cabs, as this would “make the taxi company respond”.
Taxi industry “hierarchy” also had no idea of “infield” driver experience to understand the extent of problems.
In a direct message to the firm, the cabbie said: “Gold Coast Cabs get your act together, we are supposed to be a service industry.”
Mrs Brammer claimed the driver who picked her and her husband up at The Star casino rank on Saturday night allowed four other strangers in to join their trip to Main Beach and said he’d do it for $60 or $10 each.
They all refused and asked for the meter to be turned on. When they then rejected a counter offer of $50 from the cabbie he was two blocks into the trip, returned to the casino rank and made them get out, she claimed.
She then caught another cab to Main Beach for $20.70 and says a complaint left immediately via phone message had still not been responded to by midday Monday.
Gold Coast Cabs boss Mr Lee said he strongly rejected allegations that his taxi drivers setting overpriced, unmetered fares was a widespread practice.
The company management also “dismissed outright” claims it ignored complaints about fares from customers. “Gold Coast Cabs encourages and supports the use of the approved taxi meter legislated fare structure,” he said.
“We strongly encourage customers to report issues and we are always open and receptive to feedback.”
Mr Lee added customer grievances were taken seriously and are investigated.
“Such is the case with a reported complaint lodged by a customer regarding an alleged disagreement over a fare at the weekend.
“We are reviewing the allegations, have spoken with the driver and have contacted the customer who lodged the complaint in an effort to bring resolution to the matter.”