A Melbourne bartender has recounted a bizarre and frustrating feud with a local taxi driver, which began with a refused meter and an attempted overcharge and escalated into a campaign of cancelled bookings and 'wild goose chases'.
The Initial Dispute: A Refused Meter and a $40 Fare
The worker, who regularly takes taxis home after 12-hour night shifts, said the ordeal started at 6am at Beaconsfield Station. After finishing work and catching a train, he booked a ride with 13cabs for a trip that normally costs a maximum of $25 in a taxi.
Upon arriving home, the driver allegedly stated the fare was $40. The bartender immediately noticed the taxi meter had not been turned on. He challenged the driver, insisting the correct fare was $25. The driver, after attempting to argue, reluctantly accepted the lower amount.
Escalation: Cancelled Bookings and Phone Abuse
However, the conflict did not end there. The bartender claims the same driver later repeatedly accepted and then cancelled his pre-booked trips, knowing the system would not automatically assign another cab. This tactic effectively stranded him.
"He could stop me getting a taxi and he could keep going until he gets bored," the man wrote on Reddit. He reported the incidents to both Safe Transport Victoria and 13cabs but received no response. The taxi company later banned him from making bookings.
Frustrated, the bartender began retaliating. He started booking cabs under different names and sending the driver on false pick-up missions around the area. This sometimes resulted in the driver calling to verbally abuse him over the phone.
Industry Response and Wider Problem
In a statement to the Daily Mail, a 13cabs spokeswoman said the company takes allegations of meter refusal "extremely seriously". She confirmed that using the meter is a fundamental requirement and not optional, adding that drivers face suspension for such breaches.
The spokeswoman also revealed that 13cabs is lobbying state governments to outlaw handheld payment terminals not connected to the taxi meter, a measure only adopted in South Australia so far. This would prevent drivers from bypassing the regulated meter pricing entirely.
The story resonated online, with dozens sharing their own taxi horror stories. One commenter noted dodgy practices are "driving themselves out of business," while others pointed to the tracking and transparency of ride-share apps like Uber as a consumer safeguard.
The Victorian Government is implementing tougher rules, including a two-strikes policy for serious fare-related offences, which can result in a driver losing their accreditation.
