Originally Posted by Chinatrvl (Post 20048354)

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Those have become rare during the current crackdown. Best is to call hotel staff or the airport police when this happens - or just threaten the driver to do so in any language. He will agree to the standard price, as his alternative is an impounded car and a ride to jail.

As always, it is still best to avoid private taxi drivers (dark red and an X in the plate ( 沪[.]•X...)) and blue ones that linger about in tourist spots.

On a side note, it's a pitty that this thread is still active, as not just most advice and facts given by one poster are totally wrong, but the whole story seems fabricated.

Originally Posted by Jamoldo (Post 20049222)

I think mine was one of the light blue ones. But I had taken plenty over the weekend which were legit. Like I said it was in the official taxi queue. License plate (which I know nothing about) is key. I know in Beijing you want the 京B plates...

Originally Posted by Jamoldo (Post 20042468)

I'm bumping this up due to an interesting experience in getting ripped off this (early) morning in Shanghai.

In short: I unknowingly took a fake taxi from my hotel (Meridien near People's Square to PVG)

It looked like the real thing (colors, make of vehicle) etc and was standing in the official line at the hotel. It had a meter that looked legit. I was tired (5am wakeup) and got in. I didn't notice anything strange (not that I was looking) until I was most of the way to the airport and the meter read something like 200 RMB (It seemed expensive, I usually pay 165-180 or so). I was thinking maybe I got taken for a ride (we took the Lupu Bridge) but I don't know SH well, and the guy was flying (we got to PVG in something like 30 mins).

I get out of the cab, and ask for a fa piao. The guy helped me with my my bag and the meter showed 248 RMB. I felt something was off but figured, maybe I had been taken for a ride and since I had the fa piao.. I paid, took my fa piao and went into the airport.

In the lounge, I looked at the fa piao again, very interesting. Apparently I traveled 64.7km, all in the span of two minutes (752 AM - 754 AM - FWIW I left my hotel around 540 AM - talk about lightning speed!) and apparently, according to the meter the date is September 30, 2012. Oh and the kicker? The fa piao says 228 RMB was my fare.

All I could do was chuckle, since I'll expense the cab and explain to HR what happened.

Just wanted to add this note to tell people to be cautious. A google search on "Shanghai Fake Cabs" brings up a number of articles.

Originally Posted by Jamoldo (Post 20049222)

I think mine was one of the light blue ones. But I had taken plenty over the weekend which were legit. Like I said it was in the official taxi queue. License plate (which I know nothing about) is key. I know in Beijing you want the 京B plates...

Originally Posted by mnredfox (Post 20049391)

Hopefully not one of the main companies, do you recall the company?

Reminder to make sure the meter starts when you get in. While it still can be tampered with, this is less often (though still happens frequently) than someone who started their meter already.

Originally Posted by Jamoldo (Post 20049651)

I don't honestly and I've already submitted my expenses.

The meter only started when I got in, that I made sure of.

Originally Posted by Jamoldo (Post 20064948)

It is wrong to let them get away. But how much time and energy is it worth spending on it now?

It's a lesson learned and one to pass onto others so perhaps they won't have the same experience - that's how I see it.