Annoying / Dishonest Hong Kong Taxi Drivers
Jan 8, 2019, 1:40 pm
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2014
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Posts: 715
Annoying / Dishonest Hong Kong Taxi Drivers
Hong Kong taxi drivers are becoming more obnoxious than normal. 
On my last visit (around Christmas / New Years), I found two growing trends.
1) Drivers refusing to accept a fare.
2) Drivers refusing to use the meter.
For example, we were near the TST MTR station and wanted a ride to Knutsford Terrace. We must've had at least 7 taxis IN A ROW refuse to drive us there. In some cases they would pretend not to know where it is. So I produced a map showing it. They would still refuse. So I picked other destinations that were near, such as the Mira Place hotel. They would still refuse, generally without explanation; just a shake of the head and a dismissive wave of the hand.
And often at night, they would not let you into the cab until you told them your destination. They'd then say, $200 (instead of using the meter).
As I understand it, both of these are illegal.
I'm told you can report them. Is it worth the effort? Or does the licensing board just look the other way? Do you need their driver tag, or is the car tag enough?
As long as people tolerate this, it will continue to happen.
On my last visit (around Christmas / New Years), I found two growing trends.
1) Drivers refusing to accept a fare.
2) Drivers refusing to use the meter.
For example, we were near the TST MTR station and wanted a ride to Knutsford Terrace. We must've had at least 7 taxis IN A ROW refuse to drive us there. In some cases they would pretend not to know where it is. So I produced a map showing it. They would still refuse. So I picked other destinations that were near, such as the Mira Place hotel. They would still refuse, generally without explanation; just a shake of the head and a dismissive wave of the hand.
And often at night, they would not let you into the cab until you told them your destination. They'd then say, $200 (instead of using the meter).
As I understand it, both of these are illegal.
I'm told you can report them. Is it worth the effort? Or does the licensing board just look the other way? Do you need their driver tag, or is the car tag enough?
As long as people tolerate this, it will continue to happen.
Jan 8, 2019, 7:45 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 969
Depending on the MTR exit, it's 6-7 minute walk to Knutsford Terrace, less to Mira. Taxi drivers here don't like short hops; they never have. They want the longer, more lucrative rides. A two-min ride for just the flag fall? Nope.
Again at night, they want to be picky about the rides. No it's not legal. Yes it's annoying as f...
You can report them, for what it's worth. Don't know what 'tags' are but to report a driver you need the Taxi Driver Identity Plate Number with Name of Driver (take a photo) or Vehicle Registration Number (but ideally both), plus other details.
Report Form: https://www.tcu.gov.hk/taxi/index.htm
Again at night, they want to be picky about the rides. No it's not legal. Yes it's annoying as f...
You can report them, for what it's worth. Don't know what 'tags' are but to report a driver you need the Taxi Driver Identity Plate Number with Name of Driver (take a photo) or Vehicle Registration Number (but ideally both), plus other details.
Report Form: https://www.tcu.gov.hk/taxi/index.htm
Jan 8, 2019, 8:04 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Executive Club
Posts: 111
Depending what TST MTR entrance/exit you are at, the nearest one to Knutsford Terrace is approx. just over 300 meters away and the furthest is approx. just over 700 meters., although an easy HK$24 earned that equals to approx. US$3.06.
The taxi driver COULD have been parked up for 1 min or 30 mins waiting for a customer, the taxi driver should not have refuse a fare but put yourself in his shoes would you have taken the fare?
Fares off the meter is illegal and it is up to you if want to report the taxi driver on either of the offences.
2 articles about HK taxi drivers For and Against.
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...ernment-brings
https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters...t-condemnation
The taxi driver COULD have been parked up for 1 min or 30 mins waiting for a customer, the taxi driver should not have refuse a fare but put yourself in his shoes would you have taken the fare?
Fares off the meter is illegal and it is up to you if want to report the taxi driver on either of the offences.
2 articles about HK taxi drivers For and Against.
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...ernment-brings
https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters...t-condemnation
Jan 8, 2019, 8:46 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: MP, BR
Posts: 375
Hong Kong taxi drivers are becoming more obnoxious than normal.
On my last visit (around Christmas / New Years), I found two growing trends.
1) Drivers refusing to accept a fare.
2) Drivers refusing to use the meter.
For example, we were near the TST MTR station and wanted a ride to Knutsford Terrace. We must've had at least 7 taxis IN A ROW refuse to drive us there. In some cases they would pretend not to know where it is. So I produced a map showing it. They would still refuse. So I picked other destinations that were near, such as the Mira Place hotel. They would still refuse, generally without explanation; just a shake of the head and a dismissive wave of the hand.
And often at night, they would not let you into the cab until you told them your destination. They'd then say, $200 (instead of using the meter).
As I understand it, both of these are illegal.
I'm told you can report them. Is it worth the effort? Or does the licensing board just look the other way? Do you need their driver tag, or is the car tag enough?
As long as people tolerate this, it will continue to happen.
On my last visit (around Christmas / New Years), I found two growing trends.
1) Drivers refusing to accept a fare.
2) Drivers refusing to use the meter.
For example, we were near the TST MTR station and wanted a ride to Knutsford Terrace. We must've had at least 7 taxis IN A ROW refuse to drive us there. In some cases they would pretend not to know where it is. So I produced a map showing it. They would still refuse. So I picked other destinations that were near, such as the Mira Place hotel. They would still refuse, generally without explanation; just a shake of the head and a dismissive wave of the hand.
And often at night, they would not let you into the cab until you told them your destination. They'd then say, $200 (instead of using the meter).
As I understand it, both of these are illegal.
I'm told you can report them. Is it worth the effort? Or does the licensing board just look the other way? Do you need their driver tag, or is the car tag enough?
As long as people tolerate this, it will continue to happen.
Sadly there's not much you can do but in your case, unless you're hauling a lot of things with you, walking is/was the best option.
Jan 8, 2019, 10:53 pm
#5
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You can report them and most taxi drivers don't care because the penalties are too lenient and most complainants will not bother with going along with the full prosecution procedure (e.g. giving statements to police, actually showing up in court as a witness, etc). The police are out there in undercover trying to catch the illegal fares and they catch a bunch of drivers every week, but obviously that hasn't stopped the taxi drivers from ripping off passengers.
Sadly there's not much you can do but in your case, unless you're hauling a lot of things with you, walking is/was the best option.
Sadly there's not much you can do but in your case, unless you're hauling a lot of things with you, walking is/was the best option.
Jan 24, 2019, 7:51 pm
#6
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,222
My favorite are the ones who don't understand simple English names for famous hotels or places, then when i switch to mandarin, they don't remarkably don't speak mandarin either. HK is more and more a jive turkey city, I used to like is as an occasional escape from the mainland but now I prefer to stay in Shanghai as I think it's nicer.
Jan 24, 2019, 8:11 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: MP, BR
Posts: 375
My favorite are the ones who don't understand simple English names for famous hotels or places, then when i switch to mandarin, they don't remarkably don't speak mandarin either. HK is more and more a jive turkey city, I used to like is as an occasional escape from the mainland but now I prefer to stay in Shanghai as I think it's nicer.
Jan 24, 2019, 10:38 pm
#8
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Hong Kong taxi drivers are becoming more obnoxious than normal.
On my last visit (around Christmas / New Years), I found two growing trends.
1) Drivers refusing to accept a fare.
2) Drivers refusing to use the meter.
For example, we were near the TST MTR station and wanted a ride to Knutsford Terrace. We must've had at least 7 taxis IN A ROW refuse to drive us there. In some cases they would pretend not to know where it is. So I produced a map showing it. They would still refuse. So I picked other destinations that were near, such as the Mira Place hotel. They would still refuse, generally without explanation; just a shake of the head and a dismissive wave of the hand.
And often at night, they would not let you into the cab until you told them your destination. They'd then say, $200 (instead of using the meter).
As I understand it, both of these are illegal.
I'm told you can report them. Is it worth the effort? Or does the licensing board just look the other way? Do you need their driver tag, or is the car tag enough?
As long as people tolerate this, it will continue to happen.
On my last visit (around Christmas / New Years), I found two growing trends.
1) Drivers refusing to accept a fare.
2) Drivers refusing to use the meter.
For example, we were near the TST MTR station and wanted a ride to Knutsford Terrace. We must've had at least 7 taxis IN A ROW refuse to drive us there. In some cases they would pretend not to know where it is. So I produced a map showing it. They would still refuse. So I picked other destinations that were near, such as the Mira Place hotel. They would still refuse, generally without explanation; just a shake of the head and a dismissive wave of the hand.
And often at night, they would not let you into the cab until you told them your destination. They'd then say, $200 (instead of using the meter).
As I understand it, both of these are illegal.
I'm told you can report them. Is it worth the effort? Or does the licensing board just look the other way? Do you need their driver tag, or is the car tag enough?
As long as people tolerate this, it will continue to happen.
if you cant avoid taxis, just hop on and tell them your destination, otherwise go to a police station. reporting them after the incident is a waste of time even if you have their name and license plate.
Last edited by kaka; Jan 24, 2019 at 10:44 pm
Jan 24, 2019, 10:43 pm
#9
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Depending what TST MTR entrance/exit you are at, the nearest one to Knutsford Terrace is approx. just over 300 meters away and the furthest is approx. just over 700 meters., although an easy HK$24 earned that equals to approx. US$3.06.
The taxi driver COULD have been parked up for 1 min or 30 mins waiting for a customer, the taxi driver should not have refuse a fare but put yourself in his shoes would you have taken the fare?
Fares off the meter is illegal and it is up to you if want to report the taxi driver on either of the offences.
2 articles about HK taxi drivers For and Against.
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...ernment-brings
https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters...t-condemnation
The taxi driver COULD have been parked up for 1 min or 30 mins waiting for a customer, the taxi driver should not have refuse a fare but put yourself in his shoes would you have taken the fare?
Fares off the meter is illegal and it is up to you if want to report the taxi driver on either of the offences.
2 articles about HK taxi drivers For and Against.
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...ernment-brings
https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters...t-condemnation
Mar 11, 2019, 9:10 am
#11
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And I immigrated to HK 20 years ago, and I have no issues with taxis. Maybe 1% of rides I have a slight issue, but 99% are fine, and that's with close to zero Cantonese. And I will always be much more comfortable getting into a licensed taxi than some random private person's car.
Mar 11, 2019, 9:36 pm
#12
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Not worth the effort.
Taxi operations in Hong Kong is fairly complicated than many imagine.
To make thing simple - let's say you file the complaint and the police take actions against the driver. So what? First - the impacted passenger will have to testify in court against the driver. I don't believe many would return. In addition - even convicted, the driver will not lose the privilege of driving taxi.
Sorry to say - the lapse in regulations allow these bad apples to do these. So the HKSAR Government should do something, not you.
Don't know you like to support illegal activities.
Taxi operations in Hong Kong is fairly complicated than many imagine.
To make thing simple - let's say you file the complaint and the police take actions against the driver. So what? First - the impacted passenger will have to testify in court against the driver. I don't believe many would return. In addition - even convicted, the driver will not lose the privilege of driving taxi.
Sorry to say - the lapse in regulations allow these bad apples to do these. So the HKSAR Government should do something, not you.
Don't know you like to support illegal activities.
Mar 17, 2019, 6:11 pm
#14
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Join Date: May 2006
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Not worth the effort.
Taxi operations in Hong Kong is fairly complicated than many imagine.
To make thing simple - let's say you file the complaint and the police take actions against the driver. So what? First - the impacted passenger will have to testify in court against the driver. I don't believe many would return. In addition - even convicted, the driver will not lose the privilege of driving taxi.
Sorry to say - the lapse in regulations allow these bad apples to do these. So the HKSAR Government should do something, not you.
Don't know you like to support illegal activities.
Taxi operations in Hong Kong is fairly complicated than many imagine.
To make thing simple - let's say you file the complaint and the police take actions against the driver. So what? First - the impacted passenger will have to testify in court against the driver. I don't believe many would return. In addition - even convicted, the driver will not lose the privilege of driving taxi.
Sorry to say - the lapse in regulations allow these bad apples to do these. So the HKSAR Government should do something, not you.
Don't know you like to support illegal activities.
cant believe you support illegal activities
Mar 17, 2019, 6:14 pm
#15
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Join Date: May 2006
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And I immigrated to HK 20 years ago, and I have no issues with taxis. Maybe 1% of rides I have a slight issue, but 99% are fine, and that's with close to zero Cantonese. And I will always be much more comfortable getting into a licensed taxi than some random private person's car.
ive been rejected fares enough not to take them now. and their driving is worse than my sister’s- shes clocked less than 100 driving hours.
I would be waiting for 20 minutes+ just to get a cabbie would would bother to stop to ask where im going, then drive off. so whats the point. more to add is that half the time the face on the photo isnt the same as the driver