Tactics Of Tourist Taxi Drivers : Top Alerts

For any tour to be organized smoothly, a tourist would require the below mentioned ingredients, which are, a good hotel to stay, and a comfortable vehicle, to cover all the tourist attractions and a knowledgeable guide. 

It is here that a driver’s service would be needed as an essential tool to service the guest. Majority of taxi drivers are prompt in their services and respect tourists and take care of them. However, like any other services, few Tourist taxi drivers are smart enough to cheat an unsuspecting tourist by deploying innovative means and making some quick money.

What are the tactics employed by them, let’s find out.  

The divert destination driver:

Now, how does this scam work? At the Airport, a line of placards with names of guest and hotel with flight details are scribbled by the host hotel protocol or tour operator. Now the scamster driver will receive the placards outside the arrival hall and memorize the details of the target customer.

This scamster driver will quickly create a new placard and stand ahead of the genuine driver outside the arrival hall. He will then zero in on the potential guest and take him to another hotel, on the pretext that the original hotel booked for is closed for renovation or such similar excuses.

As this trip was NOT part of the itinerary, the driver will plead for a fare and convince the customer to pay up.  After boarding your taxi, confirm that you are going to the right place or hotel as per your plans.  

Sometimes drivers assume themselves and take you to another Taj hotel or Radisson hotel in the same city since many branded chains of hotels have multiple hotels in the same city.

The fuel top up scam drivers:

Here the driver takes advantage of the previously known itinerary of the guest. Midway through the tour the driver will tell the guest that he needs money to top up for fuel.

He will then re-assure the guest that this would be repaid at the end of the trip after seeking fund transfer from the company. So on the day of returning to the airport at the conclusion of the vacation, the driver will deliberately drive slowly to reach the airport. 

The passenger in his/her anxiety to proceed for the check in, in all probability would have forgotten about this fuel advance or even if the guest remembers, he will short change the guest on the pretext, he doesn’t have the exact amount. Now, the guest knowing he has to catch the flight would have to reluctantly forego some portion of the advance on account of this. 

The confidence trickster drivers:

On a tour, drivers would go out of the way, to be helpful to the tourist traveling in their vehicle. The driver would ascertain subtle personal details of the guest while conversing and see if he is a potential target.

At the conclusion of the tour, the driver will ask for a handsome loan from the guest with a promise that it would be returned in a few days. The reason for taking the loan will generally revolve around a medical emergency in the driver’s family or children's school fee, etc.,.  

Now, this loan deal happens without the knowledge of the tour operating agency, and is a direct deal between the driver and the guest. Once this loan is given by the guest to the driver, the driver would invariably switch off his mobile. So with nowhere to go, the guest approaches the tour operating company for help.

By this time it is too late, as the driver, generally hired on ad hoc basis by the tour operating agency, would vanish, thus forcing to write this amount as a bad debt.

Shopping:

Drivers gain the confidence of tourists and take them to shopping places in order to get commission.   It is the responsibility of the tourist to decide where to shop and what to shop,"let the buyer beware."Tour Operators or Hoteliers are not responsible since it is not in their knowledge.

Please take caution and check yourself before buying any local products. Most of the shops in tourist locations sell substandard products, sometimes overpriced in order to give commission to drivers. 

Clarity on payment of toll, parking and interstate taxes:

Get clarity from your Tour operator with regard to payment of toll, parking, interstate taxes, driver food and accommodations.  Reputed tour operators include all and give instructions to drivers to pay for the same by paying advance.  However, sometimes drivers request guests to pay for the same.  Seek clarity with tour operator and clarify before making payment

Drink & Drive:  

It is important to ensure that your driver is not drunk while driving / on duty.   Some drivers, specially driving during evening time might keep sipping from their water bottle, give attention and see what they are sipping /  drinking. 

Some drivers get drunk after duty and smell a lot when they report the next morning.   Please take a look at them and ensure no drink smell comes and they are fit to drive.  Inform Tour agency if you find anything fishy to change drivers. 

Please do not force drivers to drive fast, please plan your travel accordingly, especially if  you are reaching airport to board your flights, ensure that you leave early and have sufficient time to reach. Ensure tourists sitting in front put on seat belts too and it is always recommended for all tourists to put on seat belts during their travel for safety. 

Tips :

Drivers normally look forward to tips from tourists though the tour company adds their allowances and pays them.   It is recommended giving them food wherever you eat in tourist places, if you eat in expensive restaurants, you may give them Rs.150/- as courtesy for lunch. 

Depending on the number of days of services, driver’s behavior you may decide to tip them.  You may pay around Rs.2000/- to Rs.2500 for a 7 days trip at the end of trip. Kindly check in the hotels / resorts where you stay for driver accommodations, especially if your stay  involves a remote area, hill stations, etc.,  most of the resorts charges Rs.200 to 250/- for 3 meals ( lunch, dinner and breakfast) and provide dormitory accommodations. 

Drivers are normally available for driving / service morning 08.00 am to evening 08.00pm.   Please inform them to have their meals, especially during lunch time and keep them happy and talk to them too while driving.  Please respect, appreciate their service and driving skill. Please do not leave any valuables in the vehicle.   It is always better to check the vehicle while boarding and getting down for your bags and belongings.

What can be done to avoid such scams: 

Firstly, after alighting from Airports ascertain the details of the driver’s name and vehicle number from your tour operating agency when in doubt.  In case, a driver seeks emergency funds for wayside expenses, always involves the tour operating company and insists on a WhatSApp message confirmation from a representative of the tour operating company.

Thirdly, whatever may be the compelling circumstances, avoid giving loan to a driver, to be collected later. This never happens and though during the operation of the tour, you may be familiar but at the same time you have to be firm in dealing with the driver. That way, you will safeguard your financial interest as well.

Skyway International Travels Pvt Ltd., :

The company has a verified set of drivers, and all drivers employed by them hold a police verification certificate. They employ checks and balances in their operating systems to ensure customers are not put to hardship during a tour and uphold the highest standards of services thereby maintaining over a 3 decades of good track record in the industry. Call our tour executive mobile no. +91-9845199077 or +91-9845168081 for hiring reliable taxi service in India.