What happens if you ditch a taxi

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Taxi drivers work hard, so they deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. But what happens when a passenger refuses to pay their fare or abuses a driver? As important as it is to know your rights, no taxi driver really wants to have to enforce them.

To avoid an unwanted situation from arising, there are certain steps you can take which minimise the potential for aggravation. The more cash you carry in your vehicle, the greater the risk of robbery. So, do everything you can to keep the cash you carry to a minimum: install a card machine; drop cash off to a safe and secure place half way through your shift; keep a secure box in the taxi.

Fitting a dividing screen can also go some way to protecting drivers from having to deal with an unsavoury situation, by preventing passengers from being able to access the front cab during transit. By installing a visible CCTV system, passengers know that if they act out of place they could potentially be prosecuted for it and asked to explain their behaviour.

A wide-view mirror is another effective deterrent for bad behaviour. If Live Chat is unavailable call us on If someone refuses to pay a fare, you should never put yourself in danger trying to stop them leaving the vehicle. Always stay in the cab where you can call for help if an incident takes place.

If you ever feel unsafe or unsure about taking a job, refuse it. But please be mindful that it is an offence for a licensed driver to refuse to take a journey without a reasonable excuse. The fact the customer is drunk or the route distance is too short is not an excuse. If a customer has concerns about the route taken or the cost then this should be raised with the driver or their company. Disputes like this are civil matters and not criminal and therefore not a policing matter.

The driver and customer must try to settle the dispute but if not should exchange details and the matter can be raised as a small claims case. If you feel that you could be the victim of a bilking, or have been the victim of this type of crime, then please contact us us. If this is not the case, please report this incident to us online.

Alternatively, please contact us by using our Live Chat facility, which can be accessed by clicking the button on the right of the screen. If a passenger refuses to pay a taxi fare or leaves the vehicle without paying then this is theft and should be reported by calling Sign in to your account. Report online. Report an incident. Review reports. Report an incident Review reports. About Us About Us.

How to contact us How to contact us. Learn how you can make the most of traveling and have successful trips. What would you do if you accidentally stiffed a cab driver? You could be the most honest person in the world, but if you forgot to hit the ATM and don't realize it until the end of your cab ride, you're going to be stuck with a bill you can't pay.

In the movies it's common for empty-pocketed riders to make like a jet as soon as the taxi stops; but as you'll find out below, running from your cab fee is a very bad idea.

Read on to learn the proper way to handle the uncomfortable situation of not having the cash to pay for your cab ride. Not paying your cab fare is considered theft of services, often referred to as "defrauding an innkeeper".

If your lack of payment was honestly an accident, you'll get your chance to prove that at court, but if you can't prove it, your punishment varies by state.

Not only that, but in some cities , private taxi cab owners add your name to a blacklist, so catching a ride becomes a whole lot more difficult to achieve. One of the most bizarre punishments ever dished out for not paying a cab fare comes from Ohio where a judge gave a woman a choice -- walk 30 miles in 48 hours or spend the next 30 days in jail.

Don't worry, though. You can avoid fines, jail time, and a walk of shame by following these rules for what to do if you ever can't pay your cab fare. Be Honest With Your Driver.

There's a good chance your cab driver is pretty good as sensing whether you're trying to stiff them or just having a really bad day. Your first step to make good on forgetting your cash is to be open and honest with your driver as soon as you realize your mistake.

If you're willing to work the problem out, chances are your driver is too; ask them how other people in your situation have handled this happening, and what way-to-get-money options he or she feels comfortable with helping you achieve.