RANT! SCAM ALERT! Taxi Drivers Overcharging! Don't Get Ripped Off, Folks!

[Bob Heller]

Hey, all you friends heading to Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, take note!

Have you ever been asked for an additional 20 yuan by taxi drivers as a so-called "toll fee" when travelling from downtown Hangzhou?

• In my opinion, you don't need to pay this money at all!
• Hangzhou is a popular tourist destination, and many first-time visitors, particularly those on a tight schedule, may mistakenly comply with whatever the taxi driver asks simply because they are in a rush.
  • (Psst, I will let you in on a secret – Xiaoshan Airport is indeed far away from the city center, and taking the expressway is a normal route.)
• So why shouldn't passengers pay this extra charge? Here is the explanation:
  • If you ask the driver: Driver Sir, do you have any official receipts for this 20 yuan charge? ("Receipts," or "发票" fāpiào, are the official payment vouchers)
    • He would most likely say: Nope!
  • Next, you could inquire: Why should I pay this money without a receipt?
    • They might reply: It is the toll fee I'll incur when returning empty-handed. However, how can that be our responsibility as passengers going to the airport?!
• I travel frequently throughout the year from Hangzhou, and every time I exit Xiaoshan Airport to head back to the city center via the expressway, I indeed have to pay for toll fees, and taxi drivers always provide a printed receipt, which is your proof for toll payment.
  • How about having a taxi driver say – "Oh well, this toll fee is already covered by the passenger who travelled with me earlier." Dream on!
• In conclusion, please keep in mind that this additional charge when travelling from the city center to the airport is not necessary. I never paid for it since day one!
• If drivers think they are not making decent earnings due to this arrangement, then it would only be fair for them to voice their concerns to relevant authorities or come up with alternative means to address this; however, they are not justified asking passengers for unaccounted money. This is basic requirement, otherwise do not expect us to pay!

️ Take note! Watch out for potential scams by taxi drivers at Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport.

• Some devious taxi drivers will already start asking for the so-called "highway fee" once you get in the car for the trip.
• Should you refuse to pay, some may even boot you off the vehicle! I've been unfortunate enough to experience this before, and I took action by filing a complaint against them.
• How to avoid getting scammed?
  • Be firm from the beginning - if the driver mentions the extra charge as soon as you enter the cab, make it known that it is unreasonable and instead choose another vehicle, or once you are more than halfway into a journey, be resolute in refusing to pay and warn them that you can record their license plate number as proof for your next complaint.
• Today, my taxi driver even told me that I was the first passenger he met who did not pay. Well, good luck to him in the future: let's hope he does not encounter anyone like me again! Hmm!
• Honesty, while I have not incurred any actual loss, being forced to argue every time I travel by taxi is really exhausting.
• However, Hangzhou still holds a special place in my heart. In particular, during the month of October, throughout the city, you can smell the scent of osmanthus (一种香香的小黄花), making it even more lovely than ever!

Tags: #business_journey #Hangzhou_travel #traveler_tips_for_avoiding_traps_in_Hangzhou #Xiaoshan_Airport_transportation #extra_charges_by_taxi_drivers #travel_complaints #tips_to_prevent_being_scammed

[Tracy Hoppe]

If it were me, I wouldn't kick you out. I wouldn't have even opened the door for you in the first place.

[Karen Zulauf]

Some people just can't handle the truth.

[Linda Dietrich]

I just always pay up...

[Kay Oberbrunner]

Haha, gotta give a thumbs-up to the poor chumps.

[Benjamin Dooley]

I always pay it because I just want to get home quickly. It's only 20 yuan, about the price of a bubble tea. This situation is the government's doing, and it's been this way for decades. It's always either the driver or the passenger who ends up losing out, while the toll collectors just watch. If you don't want to pay, you can always take the subway or a bus.

[Kathryn Hermiston]

There's no toll going from the city to the airport, but you definitely have to pay when leaving the airport.

[Delia Jast]

Ride-hailing services hardly go to Xiaoshan Airport anymore. Only newbies would probably still take airport fares. Most drivers avoid it. If they go and don't charge the highway toll, they'll likely lose money. If they do charge it, passengers might complain, which is even more hassle. So, they just don't accept airport trips anymore.

[Rosemarie Sawayn PhD]

It's better if they don't accept the ride; it saves everyone the trouble. Getting kicked out of the car after the ride has been accepted is a real pain and wastes time.

[Delia Jast]

The subway goes directly there. Why not take it?

[Frank Cole]

There's still a demand when you're dragging luggage and it's inconvenient. The subway is indeed fast and punctual, though.

[Joanne Swift]

Another one of those clickbait posts fishing for attention.

[Jeremiah Bednar]

Just sharing some business trip experiences, that's all.

[Marcos Goodwin]

Xiaoshan Airport has been trending recently, with a video from CCTV. Here's the deal: it's free to enter Xiaoshan Airport, but leaving via the airport expressway costs 20 yuan, and the Hongkan Road toll is 10 yuan. If you drop off a passenger in the morning, you'll likely have no return fare and have to drive back empty. For instance, take that order I mentioned: a flat rate of 35 yuan. I drove the passenger 21km in 25 minutes, then drove back empty another 21km, 25 minutes. My electricity cost was 0.5 yuan. My time cost is 40 yuan (I could earn 40 yuan an hour doing other simple jobs). Add the 20 yuan highway toll, and my total cost for this single trip was 60.5 yuan. But I only earned 35 yuan, meaning I lost 25.5 yuan. What am I supposed to do?????? Who willingly does business at a loss???? So now, I pretty much have to stick to specific zones for rides. I avoid the airport if at all possible; I'd rather get no rides than go there!!!

[Jo Douglas]

When a situation arises where neither drivers nor passengers are satisfied, the relevant authorities should step in to resolve it. It's not right to unfairly burden consumers.

[Mr. Ryan Hermann]

Newbie Didi drivers might still go to the airport without being reimbursed for the toll, but they'll only make that mistake once. Next time, they'd rather cancel the order and take the penalty points than go. If this keeps up, it'll become difficult to get a Didi to the airport. The subway is very convenient and goes directly there.