Customers complain as the number of fraudulent cabs hits the 1,000-mark

Singaporean Ean Ean Hoo and her husband, frequent travellers to Viet Nam, knew they were being conned.

A taxi in downtown HCM City. About 1,000 unlicensed "black taxis" are defrauding the public in the city, according to the municipal Department of Transport.

Following a recent shopping spree, the couple had hailed a taxi and, once inside, couldn’t believe what was happening: an unusually fast metre showed a fare of VND800,000 (US$48.50) for a six-kilometre trip from Ben Thanh Market to Hotel New Epoch in Cach Mang Thang Tam Street.

Hoo knew that the trip would normally cost around VND80,000 (US$5), and after the staff at the hotel where she was staying discussed the matter with the driver, he agreed to accept a fare of VND100,000 ($6.10).

Hoo is only one of the increasing number of disgruntled taxi customers in HCM City.

The taxi she chose was one of the approximately 1,000 unlicensed "black taxis", as they are known in Viet Nam, operating in HCM City.

According to the HCM City Department of Transport, "black taxis" rig their metres by various means. Some use a remote control to make the metres run faster, making it difficult for city inspectors to detect the irregularity.

Many of the "black taxi" drivers receive a licence from the city and then are employed by a taxi company to get a badge and company name on their cars.

Some of them who work for smaller taxi companies buy the cars from the taxi company. The drivers then decide to quit and operate independently, keeping their company credentials.

Even though Dat Thep 5 Tourism and Transport company is no longer in business, taxi drivers are on the streets, still using the company’s name, according to Le Van Muoi, head of the guild.

Muoi said he still received complaints from customers by phone, even though the business has been closed for three months.

At least 200 taxis once owned by Tourism and Transport Company No 12 and taxi companies Hong Phuc and Hoa Binh are now being driven illegally on the streets.

City officials said the proliferation of illegal taxis was partly caused by the poor screening process of transport companies, with many unqualified applicants being accepted.

Apart from the number of cabs once owned by legal taxi companies operating on the roads, there are numerous gypsy cabs privately owned by individuals.

These taxis often gather at hospitals and shopping malls and have little identification and no company trademark on the outside of their cars.

Le Hong Viet, deputy chief inspector of the HCM City Department of Transport, said since April the department had issued fines for 207 fraudulent taxis.

The vice chairman of the HCM City Taxi Association, Duong Tien Thu, has asked transport companies to strengthen supervision of its taxis and drivers and make sure the city seal is placed on taxis.

The department issues the seal, which is supposed to be affixed on the right side of the front windshield of each car, to the companies, who are responsible for placing it on the taxis.

City regulations also require that the metre be placed inside a sealed plastic box inside the car.

(Source: Viet Nam News)