Scottish couple charged £500 for FIVE-MINUTE taxi journey while on holiday in New Zealand

[webfact]

TAKEN FOR A RIDE 

Scottish couple charged £500 for FIVE-MINUTE taxi journey while on holiday in New Zealand

John Barrett and his wife travelled just 500m in the taxi and were charged NZ$930 for the trip

By Kara Godfrey

 

The distance was just 500m from the train station to the airport

 

SCOTTISH couple John and Susan Barrett were shocked to find themselves charged $930 (£483) for a five-minute taxi ride while on holiday in New Zealand.

 

The pair were travelling from Wellington Railway station to an apartment on Johnston Street - just 500m away.

 

After arriving in Wellington on January 21, the couple found a white car parked in the taxi rank with a Wellington roof sign, with the driver showing them a photo ID card, according to Stuff.co.nz.

 

John admitted "nothing at the time" made them suspicious of the driver. The meter reader said the price was under $10 but the driver's hand obscured the card reader, which he handed over for payment when they arrived at their destination.

 

Full story: https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/8294826/scottish-couple-500-pounds-five-minute-taxi-new-zealand/

 

-- The SUN 2019-01-29

[ukrules]

Pay them cash, especially if you can't see the amount clearly displayed on the device.

 

Some people are literally too dumb to use things like credit cards. It's a good job their bank will refund them as this is absolute fraud.

[AlexRich]

I would have refused to pay. Let them call the Police, it is basic fraud.

[sweatalot]

I heard the Thai taxi society has invited that driver for a crash course

[colinneil]

Maybe the taxi drivers name was Somchai.

[overherebc]

2 hours ago, AlexRich said:

I would have refused to pay. Let them call the Police, it is basic fraud.

Meter said under 10 dollars.

The driver used a card reader that was somehow rigged to overcharge. 

At what point would your refusal to pay have come in?

Or could it be that the

9.30 fare became 930 in the the cards system somehow?

[bluesofa]

47 minutes ago, sweatalot said:

I heard the Thai taxi society has invited that driver for a crash course

Is that with the emphasis on 'crash'?

[JAG]

Time a for a Kiwi cabbie to return a forgotten bag containing cash and jewelry?

????

[Berkshire]

And I thought New Zealand was supposed to be the least corrupt country in the world.  Yes, corruption is more about government behavior, but this doesn't look good from a public perception standpoint. 

[neeray]

Let no man/woman ever again malign the service and reputation of a Thai Taxi operator.

This Kiwi has made his Thai counterparts look positively angelic.

[simtemple]

Maybe New Zealand is recovering costs incurred by other quality  tourists from the UK:

 

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6636919/amp/Traveller-family-caused-havoc-New-Zealand-lands-UK-moaning-holiday-hell.html

[roo860]

Maybe New Zealand is recovering costs incurred by other quality  tourists from the UK:
 
 
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6636919/amp/Traveller-family-caused-havoc-New-Zealand-lands-UK-moaning-holiday-hell.html

Irish gypsies.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[80sboy]

I am from NZ and most Taxi drivers in NZ are not an accurate depiction of the tangata whenua/people of the land, you would not find a Kiwi behind the wheel of mosts cabs. 

[AlexRich]

3 hours ago, overherebc said:

Meter said under 10 dollars.

The driver used a card reader that was somehow rigged to overcharge. 

At what point would your refusal to pay have come in?

Or could it be that the

9.30 fare became 930 in the the cards system somehow?

I don’t pay taxi fares with cards. For that short distance, why would anyone pay with a card?

[maxcorrigan]

3 hours ago, roo860 said:

Irish gypsies.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Or "Pikeys" to be exact ie. travellers that don't travel minority group that have special rites in fact!

[thaibeachlovers]

News reports say the money has been returned to the victims. The card company was able to trace the taxi.