Taxi Scams: How to Avoid Them

Expert tips from a reliable taxi transportation company

Traveling on a taxi can be an effective way to get to your destination. Yet it can also cheat you of your money if that cab is not from a reliable taxi transportation company. There are many forms of scamming which may be tried on you. Here are some of them and how to protect yourself from them.

“Conveniently” broken

One of the main scams used by an unreliable taxi service is to explain that their meter or credit card machine is broken. This allows them to force you to pay in either cash or to pay more than the trip costs. A good way to avoid this scam is to check in advance if the meter and credit card reader are working properly. In case the meter is not working establish a price beforehand. You may want to check if there are flat rates for certain routes such as traveling to the airport.

Be taken for a ride

Another common scam attempted by cab drivers who are not part of a reliable taxi company is to inflate the bill. This is done through a method known as “Taking the passenger for a ride” or “Scenic route”. It consists of the driver taking you through a long circuitous trip to your destination when there are shorter and quicker routes. To avoid such a scam when they ask you how long are you in the city, state that you are familiar with it. Also, monitor your route on smartphone map application when possible.

While many cab drivers prefer to earn their payment through honest transport of passengers, there are some which use scams. Among the popular forms are “conveniently” broken machines such as the meter. And the “taking you for a ride”/”scenic route” method. To avoid getting involved in such deceptions, contact a reliable taxi transportation company. An example of one such contractor is Best Taxi in Sioux Falls, SD.

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