Wanny Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Just got back from a trip to Edmonton for a MMA event. After the event we took a cab to head to a bar. Half way to the bar i notice there was no fair meter, seemed odd to me but figured I had a few more beers at the event than I realized and it was somewhere in there. We get to the bar which was not a very long ride and the cabby says $35 bucks. Apparently it's a flat rate no meters required.... I said seems kind of odd but paid him anyways. Then our friends who went the exact same distance got charged a flat rate of $45 bucks for the same taxi (van). Seems a little off to me. Any one else experience something like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadensis Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 sounds fishy... was it a cab with a company logo on the door? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 There are so many scams on the go everywhere, edmonton is definitely no exception for sure... I personally haven't run into it but I guess it's worth checking for a meter from now on. all taxi's are supposed to have them. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Edmont...4846/story.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanny Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 Seems like a scam. Next time I will be checking for sure. I was telling the guy I'll give him $20 and we'll call it good but he got crazy. Tried driving away with the door open and us inside of it. So seeing how's my buddies gf was in the back seat I just payed it and took his license plate. Probably try and report him out of spite. heres the company logo that was on the side of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I definitely would report it if you have the license plate number - probably be doing someone else a favor for sure. Those logos are easy to replicate - I have my company logo's on my car done up on magnetic strips, easily done and easy to remove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhurt Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Here is how I see it, it looks more like a shuttle service then a taxi cab. So if their licence is as a shuttle service then they could technically charge flat rates and not meter rates. Cars and Vans in shuttle services (espically airport shuttle) can variey due to size of vechile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headscan Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 Report them. Airport Taxi Services is not licensed to pick up passengers within the Edmonton city limits according to their own website. Sounds like someone freelancing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 headscan beat me to the punch and is correct... http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/quick+...9124/story.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanny Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 The event was at the marriott cree resort which is out of town I guess but not the airport which is what these cabs are designated for. I dug a little deeper and found this so looks like they do have set fares. Seems like these rates are from the airport to what ever zone so I don't know how it would work from the casino to down town. Still odd that one van was $35 and one was $45. Since this is not common and 'special' to Edmonton I feel they should have a sign which states how the charge and/or let us know when we get in the cab how it works and what fare to expect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sundancefisher Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 The event was at the marriott cree resort which is out of town I guess but not the airport which is what these cabs are designated for. I dug a little deeper and found this so looks like they do have set fares. Seems like these rates are from the airport to what ever zone so I don't know how it would work from the casino to down town. Still odd that one van was $35 and one was $45. Since this is not common and 'special' to Edmonton I feel they should have a sign which states how the charge and/or let us know when we get in the cab how it works and what fare to expect. US cities like Denver also have these zonal fares. Still the scam there is they run the meter. Get to the stop, meter says $81...you pay and tip...they don't own up and say the flat fare is $55... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headscan Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 I travel A LOT for work and have taken taxis in more cities than I care to count. Every city I've been in has livery laws that require rates to be posted, whether meter rates or zonal fares, which is why cabs all have those stickers in the windows. The fact that you and your friends were charged different prices for the same trip really says to me that either both of them were freelancing or at least one of the drivers was dishonest. I'd call the Edmonton Vehicle for Hire Commission and report it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headscan Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 US cities like Denver also have these zonal fares. Still the scam there is they run the meter. Get to the stop, meter says $81...you pay and tip...they don't own up and say the flat fare is $55... Those rates are only from DIA to various parts of the city if I recall correctly. Going to the airport or within various points in the city is metered. But yeah, I've had a driver there try to pull that on me. When he turned on the meter I asked what he was doing since it was a flat rate. He pretended it was an accident and turned it back off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanny Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 The fact that you and your friends were charged different prices for the same trip really says to me that either both of them were freelancing or at least one of the drivers was dishonest. I'd call the Edmonton Vehicle for Hire Commission and report it. Ya that is true, still makes it look dishonest. I have written Edmonton Vehicle for Hire Commission an email and will let you know what their response is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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