Taxi Meter Scam Alert
The following has come to our attention.
The Problem: Some airport taxi operators are turning their meters on before passengers enter their vehicle.
The Immediate Solution. If, when you settle into an airport metered taxi the meter is already displaying the $8.50 minimum figure(which is correct), request the Operator reset the meter in your presence. If you are refused, please exit the taxi and hire another who waits for you to get settled in before starting the meter.
[Should time allow, please advise an Airport Ambassador of your reasons for changing taxis, and better yet, take note of the company and please contact BTV Operations Manager, Mr. Rick Varney with your experience, at: rvarney@btv.aero. He'd be most interested.]
The Why’s. Some of the Operators are priming their meters in hopes of beating customers out of a maximum of $5. So we’re only talking short sighted crooked, LOL, but nonetheless the sorts who should be weeded out of the airport, as the airport taxi Operators are quite often Vermont’s first representation to the outside world(whose patronage, frankly, we all rely upon to one extent of another).
How it works. The $8.50 minimum fare includes up to 2 miles of travel and/or waiting time. So some Operators who think themselves clever souls have begun starting and then pausing(Time Off) their meter when they calculate that the $8.50 minimum is just about expired.
A sure sign the Operator is cheating you is if the meter begins accumulating dimes as you’re rolling out the exit of the airport. Meaning the Operator has timed it well enough to get the whole fiver, and more telling, that he/she is practiced!! In which case, for one reason or another, ask the Operator to swing back into the airport, then refuse to pay, and immediately report the incident to an Airport Ambassador while requesting the presence of a Burlington Airport Police Officer -if you would please- followed by a note to Mr. Rick Varney, as noted above.
If nothing else, it should develop into an entertaining story you can share for years to come.
At the very least! there will be some “instant karma” as the Operator will lose your fare and thus the hours spent awaiting his turn. Followed, at the very least -assuming he is not immediately suspended for the remainder of the day or pending a hearing- by having to start over at the back of the queue.
March 6th, 2010 at 11:16 am
If you have the time and you’re the playful sort who would adore a more elaborate tale … when you stop curbside at the terminal, don’t explain why you’re getting out. Let the Operator make the call. Whether an Ambassador off the curb, or the Airport Police complaining about your theft of services, which will likely be threatened when you refuse to pay. Keep your cool and keep track of the meter; immediately make it the focus of attention. Whatever authority shows up first, have them inform the Operator to “pause” the meter, thereby preserving the electronic evidence. If it is not cleared, you will have proof positive the driver primed the meter if it is registering anything other than eight dollar fifty cents. If it is cleared, be certain to question why the Operator cleared the meter part of the conversation. Keeping in mind too, the Operators on the queue immediately following this joker will testify to the fact you he just left the premises with you in tow, and that the meter should still be on $8.50 for a trip around the block.
April 6th, 2010 at 10:04 am
I’ve noticed your website a while ago, just recently did i start noticing it more and more. Very useful information, thank you and keep it coming.
April 8th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
thanks a lot !! very helpful post!
August 23rd, 2010 at 5:48 pm
This is a good blog. Keep up all the work. Thanks :)