October 2012 - Taxi Talk Magazine

$7 million loss >>>
fare evasions fleece taxi drivers
The Victorian Taxi Association
has estimated that fare evasion
costs cabbies about $7 million a
year. Source: Herald Sun
Taxi drivers are being fleeced of
millions of dollars because of passengers’
declined debit cards.
The Victorian Taxi Association
has estimated that fare evasion
costs cabbies about $7 million a
year.
That figure includes cases where
an Eftpos card was declined and
the passenger did not pay the fare.
Some cabbies said they let
these customers go to avoid being
attacked or having their taxi damaged.
George Dedic, a 20-year taxi veteran,
said not demanding payment
from passengers whose cards had
been declined cost him $540 in 2
1/2 years.
He believed some customers
knowingly got into taxis without
having enough money in their bank
account to pay the fare.
“I can’t do nothing. I don’t want
to be stabbed or bashed,” Mr Dedic,
67, said.
“To call the police for
$20 or $50, you reckon
it’s worth it? It’s not.”
The comments came
as a driver bashed by a
drunken passenger early
yesterday said he didn’t know if he
would get back behind the wheel.
Himmatt Garg, 30, suffered a
broken nose and cheekbone during
the assault in Upwey.
Indian-born Mr Garg picked up a
20-year-old in Ringwood and drove
him to an address in Mast Gully Rd
just before 1am.
The driver was punched in the
head up to six times and pulled
from the car after the pair argued
over the $50 fare when the man’s
Eftpos card was declined.
The attacker fled and Mr Garg
walked to a service station, where
he flagged down a passing police
patrol. He was taken to hospital
and later released.
Senior Constable Melinda Bailey-Taylor
said the attack may have
been avoided if the fare was prepaid.
Cabbies can demand prepaid
fares between 10pm and 5am and
can run a pre-approval on a credit
or Eftpos card.
Victorian Taxi Association
spokesman David Samuel said
fare evasion was increasing as
more people paid electronically.
He said the attack on Mr Garg
reinforced calls for stiffer penalties
for cabbie-bashers, an education
campaign and changes in vehicle
design.
Victorian Taxi Directorate
spokesman Bob Neilson said
pre-paying cut fare evasion and
protected drivers by reducing the
likelihood of fare disputes.
Taxi inquiry supremo Allan Fels
said many drivers chose not to get
an estimate of the fare.
Police told a public hearing of the
taxi inquiry last month a specific
fare evasion offence was needed.
by: Amelia Harris, Angus Thompson D
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12 | October 2012
Taxi Talk - Voice of the Taxi Industry