MEL taxi scam

[MikeG]

The other week I was down in Melbourne from Canberra for a conference, and after an early morning flight I was approached as I exited the terminal by a gent of... shall we say... western-Asian descent, who asked if I wanted a cab. I was kinda still half asleep, so I uttered yes, to which he asked me to follow him. First of all, I must say that being driven in a Mercedes might have social status, but the car was pretty ordinary compared to my BMWs, but the fare!!! well over $100 - WTF? This has got to be a scam. Normal taxi fares to Southbank (after some research) is only ~$80. Is it just me or is this something that travellers should be made aware of?

M

 

[RooFlyer]

Is it just me or is this something that travellers should be made aware of?

Its illegal; the guy almost certainly wouldn't be registered and if there had been an accident you would have had few rights, except in civil. Even in third world airports, its a bad idea and will usually lead to be ripped off.

 

[UP4014]

Melb seems worse than Sydney, you see the drivers hanging around baggage claim jiggling their keys and talking in low tones trying to get your attention.

In Sydney they are moved on pretty quickly but Melb airport doesn't seem to be so concerned.

 

[Blackadder]

Recently the touting has been a subject of a ACA report, seems to be a issue just with MEL predominately.

 

[LondonAussie]

This is a very common scam in airports all over the world, the fake taxi drivers will try to solicit people in the baggage claim area. There's lots of warnings in the news and travel sites etc

 

[serfty]

Is it just me or is this something that travellers should be made aware of?

It's not just you and travellers should be made aware of and/or reminded.

I never use touts, even yesterday, I was approached as I made my way from T1 to T4 for the 901 bus to broady and my $2.30 fare home.

 

[MikeG]

This is a very common scam in airports all over the world, the fake taxi drivers will try to solicit people in the baggage claim area. There's lots of warnings in the news and travel sites etc

I've never seen anything reported for Australian Airports, and this is the first time I've ever been asked at Australian airports after plenty of flights over the past 25 years. At least it was work's dime, and not mine. I'm considering myself educated now.

 

[AIRwin]

"Melbourne Airport is cracking down on touting. All commercial transport businesses operating at Melbourne Airport have signed up to terms of access that prohibit touting. Penalties apply for registered operators who don’t abide by their terms and conditions. Approved CPV operators are subject to a national police check, and required to have appropriate insurances for the businesses they are running. By reporting your experience, you can help us remove touters from our airport and create a much safer arrival experience for the millions of travellers at Melbourne Airport each year."

From:

Melbourne Airport - Passenger Information | Melbourne Airport

Official Melbourne Airport website. Live flight times and updates, parking offers, arrivals and departures information and shopping options. Melbourne Airport.

www.melbourneairport.com.au

Crackdown on touting at Melbourne Airport

cpv.vic.gov.au

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

I took a ride with one of these fellows at Melbourne many years ago. It turned out to be a very useful service, and I used it for many years. I could book a car and be picked up exactly when I wanted. I also had a bill sent to me every month instead of having to record every journey for tax. I searched for a similar service in Sydney, but never found a reasonablely priced one.

Sometimes, it works.

 

[Happy Dude]

I took a ride with one of these fellows at Melbourne many years ago. It turned out to be a very useful service, and I used it for many years. I could book a car and be picked up exactly when I wanted. I also had a bill sent to me every month instead of having to record every journey for tax. I searched for a similar service in Sydney, but never found a reasonablely priced one.

Sometimes, it works.

Prior to rideshares, I also had a private transfer guy in Melbourne who had a small fleet of 70's merc, which we used in our wedding party. But he didn't hang around arrivals looking for business.

 

[Hvr]

And if you do get a legitimate taxi at MEL AP then you get to convince them to use the meter.
Frankly the hassle is barely worth it when trying to use a taxi anymore.

Taxi passengers across Australia say drivers increasingly demanding upfront cash instead of using meter

NSW Taxi Council says ‘no excuse’ for drivers to charge off-meter, while industry under pressure with fees frozen since 2014

www.theguardian.com

 

[Mattg]

I've never seen anything reported for Australian Airports, and this is the first time I've ever been asked at Australian airports after plenty of flights over the past 25 years. At least it was work's dime, and not mine. I'm considering myself educated now.

Was covered on AFF a few years ago:

Melbourne Airport Taxi Touts Scamming, Harassing Tourists

Something needs to be done about the taxi touts harassing and scamming tourists arriving at Melbourne Airport.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Sadly, it's still a problem.

 

[levelnine]

I don't get why Mel Airport hasn't been able to crack down on them.

They literally stand at the exact same spot (immediately after you exit the secure area of T1) and ask pretty much everyone that walks past them.

Gives visitors to Melbourne a terrible first impression, so I would have thought it'd be in the Airport's interests to get rid of them.

 

[drron]

I think it has got worse over the years. Mrsdrron had to use the conveniences when we arrived this afternoon. I was approached 3 times whilst waiting for her and another twice when walking to the real taxi.

 

[flyingfan]

They literally stand at the exact same spot (immediately after you exit the secure area of T1) and ask pretty much everyone that walks past them.

Agreed, I think it was MEL that used to play PAs that touting was illegal, not to accept and to use the taxi ranks (or a booked service). I don’t know the provenance of these drivers but last time I saw them they weren’t at all discreet and it’d be so easy to identify/round them up.

 

[Saab34]

This was actually on A Current Affair this week. Make sure you watch the episode lol.

'We don't know who they are': Calls to stamp out illegal drivers at airports

9now.nine.com.au

I always see them hovering around the exit area down the bottom of the escalators at T4 Arrivals.

 

[UP4014]

I don't get why Mel Airport hasn't been able to crack down on them.

They literally stand at the exact same spot (immediately after you exit the secure area of T1) and ask pretty much everyone that walks past them.

Gives visitors to Melbourne a terrible first impression, so I would have thought it'd be in the Airport's interests to get rid of them.

Very similar to arriving into a number of South American countries.

 

[jb747]

Given that it’s illegal, but that they are always openly there, you’d have to assume that someone is being paid to leave them alone.

 

[dk4]

It doesn't help that MELbourne airport moved the taxi ranks to the extreme ends of the complex, way down past T4 and up past T1, to create the ride-share spot at T2... so if you do want a taxi, and arrive at T3 or T2, the touts have a captive audience, or you have a long walk!

It happens regularly at SYDney T3, down in the Qantas domestic arrivals area. Often the HC car drivers milling around don't have bookings, and are touting for business, I always get asked there as well.

 

[Rich]

I had one approach me at T1 on Sunday right after we grabbed our bags.