Taxi rates. Am I being scammed?

[vfl]

I need a sanity check here because I feel like some taxi drivers may be taking advantage of my naivety...

I took a cab from recoleta to palermo which was like ~8000 pesos, and that seemed reasonable. However, my cab ride back (which was actually shorter) cost me 18000. I contested it but the driver refused to lower the rate, said that’s the price and got offended I even questioned it, and it became a problem. I told the driver that the rate was more than double what I had paid on the way there, and no way it could be worth that much since it was even shorter.

He mentioned there’s a premium on rides after 10pm. I looked it up and it turned out he was right there is a tariff on late rides, and I didn't want to keep dealing with that situation as it had escalated and it was late at night, so I paid up and made my way home. But from what I read later online, it should only have been like 20% more.

I feel like I’m being taken for a ride here (literally and figuratively). It’s the second time something like this has happened and it’s leaving a bad taste in my mouth… feels cynical to think I am being scammed but at this point I don't know what else to think.

The other time it happened going to and back from a nearby western union, and the same thing happened. One super friendly cab driver gave me a super reasonable rate, and another guy charged almost double for the way back (both of these happened before 10pm).

Coming from Canada, I am not used to questioning every charge like this. Is it common to be scammed by taxi drivers like this? Am I just missing something obvious? Feels like 1/2 of all cab rides I have taken so far have been questionable, including a very suspicious ride from ezeiza airport to recoleta which cost me 50 CAD, when I was expecting a much lower rate.

I'd also be curious on how to best handle this kind of thing, especially when the driver gets offended and increasingly aggressive -it feels like a volatile situation and I have never had to deal with something like this before. I know, I've been lucky to be so sheltered by good service in Canada.

 

[arvest]

That is true, the late night rides are more expensive. Protip, use the app called "Didi". I'll use taxis from time to time when it's convenient. But late at night, long distance or from the airport I only use Didi as it's much cheaper

 

[Shpongle]

I learned in my first year on this continent:

Talking:

1. As a foreigner, don't open your mouth and display your accent if you don't have to (even if it's a mild one). Combined with the way you dress and act, you will quickly be known as a target for getting scammed pricewise. You are lucky if 50% of people don't treat you this way.

Taxis:

2. Never, ever use taxis that don't have a pre-agreed fare included in an app you can watch yourself (Uber, Bolt etc.)
3. If you're forced to take a regular taxi, always pre-agree the price. (This applies in all business dealings.)
4. Be careful of taxis that are not taxis (muggings etc.). Always ask the name of the driver and check if license plate is from the app you're using.

Purchasing assets:

5. If you absolutely must buy something more expensive, e.g a car, do it through a local friend or relative. Connections are everything here.
6. Bonus point. Always involve the most reputable, trustworthy lawyers referred by your expat friends when buying property. Even locals get scammed, even supposedly reputable local lawyers screw up deals and you end up with something you paid for but can't use / don't legally own.

You are a potential target here, almost always for money at the very least (if not also for crime). Just accept it as the day to day reality, make trustworthy friends, and learn to deal with it. My two cents.

 

[Neil]

Taxi premium useful to book,and check fares between addresses ,you got scammed!

 

[vfl]

Thanks, folks. In hindsight it seems obvious I got scammed and this post is embarrassing. Oh well, you live and you learn. Thank you for all the tips! Will definitely be taking Ubers from now on, or at least keeping my mouth shut during cab rides...

 

[Shpongle]

Better luck in future, it's a process we all go through. Your B.S. detectors and defenses will get better as time goes on.

 

[Ries]

I learned in my first year on this continent:

Talking:

1. As a foreigner, don't open your mouth and display your accent if you don't have to (even if it's a mild one). Combined with the way you dress and act, you will quickly be known as a target for getting scammed pricewise. You are lucky if 50% of people don't treat you this way.

Taxis:

2. Never, ever use taxis that don't have a pre-agreed fare included in an app you can watch yourself (Uber, Bolt etc.)
3. If you're forced to take a regular taxi, always pre-agree the price. (This applies in all business dealings.)
4. Be careful of taxis that are not taxis (muggings etc.). Always ask the name of the driver and check if license plate is from the app you're using.

Purchasing assets:

5. If you absolutely must buy something more expensive, e.g a car, do it through a local friend or relative. Connections are everything here.
6. Bonus point. Always involve the most reputable, trustworthy lawyers referred by your expat friends when buying property. Even locals get scammed, even supposedly reputable local lawyers screw up deals and you end up with something you paid for but can't use / don't legally own.

You are a potential target here, almost always for money at the very least (if not also for crime). Just accept it as the day to day reality, make trustworthy friends, and learn to deal with it. My two cents.

In 15 years, flagging down taxis on the street, I have been overcharged perhaps twice.
99% of cabdrivers are very honest.
personally, I only take Uber or similar rides when I need to go someplace outside of the city proper. I am not a big fan of the dudes who drive em, smothered in aftershave, listening to commercial trap music, although every once in a while you get a nice one, who isnt too stoked up on steroids.
Mostly, I take the colectivo, which runs 24/7, goes everywhere, and is dirt cheap.

 

[Terrell]

I need a sanity check here because I feel like some taxi drivers may be taking advantage of my naivety...

I took a cab from recoleta to palermo which was like ~8000 pesos, and that seemed reasonable. However, my cab ride back (which was actually shorter) cost me 18000. I contested it but the driver refused to lower the rate, said that’s the price and got offended I even questioned it, and it became a problem. I told the driver that the rate was more than double what I had paid on the way there, and no way it could be worth that much since it was even shorter.

He mentioned there’s a premium on rides after 10pm. I looked it up and it turned out he was right there is a tariff on late rides, and I didn't want to keep dealing with that situation as it had escalated and it was late at night, so I paid up and made my way home. But from what I read later online, it should only have been like 20% more.

I feel like I’m being taken for a ride here (literally and figuratively). It’s the second time something like this has happened and it’s leaving a bad taste in my mouth… feels cynical to think I am being scammed but at this point I don't know what else to think.

The other time it happened going to and back from a nearby western union, and the same thing happened. One super friendly cab driver gave me a super reasonable rate, and another guy charged almost double for the way back (both of these happened before 10pm).

Coming from Canada, I am not used to questioning every charge like this. Is it common to be scammed by taxi drivers like this? Am I just missing something obvious? Feels like 1/2 of all cab rides I have taken so far have been questionable, including a very suspicious ride from ezeiza airport to recoleta which cost me 50 CAD, when I was expecting a much lower rate.

I'd also be curious on how to best handle this kind of thing, especially when the driver gets offended and increasingly aggressive -it feels like a volatile situation and I have never had to deal with something like this before. I know, I've been lucky to be so sheltered by good service in Canada.

You were overcharged. It happens. But there is not much that you can do about it in the moment other than tell him to sod off and start an argument. Their country, their home field advantage.

For me, taxi overcharging is so rare an occurance that I just pay it rather than waste my time arguing with a cretin. Filing a complaint is a waste of time because, without a receipt, it's your word against his.

For any large expense that is typically negotiated, have a local do the talking. I would do this in Bolivia and Colombia, and the seller, service provider or property owner would always be despondent after the price was fixed and he/she heard my accent. Shrewedenss cuts both ways.

 

[sergio]

In 15 years, flagging down taxis on the street, I have been overcharged perhaps twice.
99% of cabdrivers are very honest.
personally, I only take Uber or similar rides when I need to go someplace outside of the city proper. I am not a big fan of the dudes who drive em, smothered in aftershave, listening to commercial trap music, although every once in a while you get a nice one, who isnt too stoked up on steroids.
Mostly, I take the colectivo, which runs 24/7, goes everywhere, and is dirt cheap.

Going to the provincia by public trtansport is a real pain. I haven't had problems with Uber.

 

[Ries]

Going to the provincia by public trtansport is a real pain. I haven't had problems with Uber.

I have a friend who takes the 152 to mashewicz . But she is local, and earns in pesos.
I just dont like the smell in Ubers. Plus, I am an old hippie, socialist, and just feel more comfortable in a bus or regular taxi. But I have to go to Pilar, I take an uber, or I use a taxi app that books in advance with a fixed price. Easier to get a camionetta with a taxi service, too. I use one called Taxi Base 3.0, its a co-op of a few dozen taxis. Worker run and owned...