Originally Posted by
YariGuy
You can't even trust the big taxi brands anymore -- the last time I was ripped off it was by Jinjiang (I documented it either in this thread or a related one).
With GPS being prevalent, the most common scam I've run into is doctoring the meter, but by 5-10% distance-wise. So my standard operating procedure upon entering a taxi is saying my destination, and the precise distance. That worked until the last time. It does cause a lot of grief, but I enjoyed lecturing the guy the last 1/3 of my ride on how he shouldn't rip people off and how he's lucky I'm not calling the police.
If the driver is not wise onto me knowing their scam, I let them drive into my compound, and I tell them I've alerted security not to let him out. Then we start the lecture / negotiations. I'm of the idea not to pay them anything at all, but my wife thinks I should pay them something. She's too soft.
My last taxi ride from PVG to downtown was the final straw that pushed me to full time didi (or maglev/subway). The guy did as you did and ran the meter hot the whole trip and a ride that should have cost 170 was showing 350 by the time I arrived at my apartment.
I had picked up on it about 10 mins into the ride but didn't say anything as I wanted to get home. When he stopped in front of my place I told him that I will pay him 170 for the ride and nothing more. He sheepishly smiled and accepted it. I don't need that hassle on my life so I've stopped with them altogether.