Avoid being taken for a ride in a taxi

Unfortunately, the dishonest cabbies give a bad name to the entire corps of drivers. These bad apples can seem likeable enough when they think that they are going to get away with something, but if confronted or questioned they can quickly become aggressive, belligerent and even dangerous. The following are just a handful of stories about a few of the tactics from some of the bad taxi drivers haunting the streets of İstanbul.

One of their favorite tactics is to change the meter to a higher rate. This can happen before a passenger gets into the taxi or while they are driving. I have had many drivers who thought they could get away with changing the meter to the night rate while we were driving, which would have resulted in a much higher fare. When I pointed out that the meter had been changed, the reply was usually that there must be something wrong with it, and they would sheepishly change it back to the day rate. A few drivers, however, have become angry at being caught in the act. One driver kept changing the meter back and forth between the day and night rate as we drove. When we reached my destination, I got out of the car and motioned for a nearby police officer to come over. Leaning into the window, I gave the driver a 10 lira note and told him that was the actual fare, and if he had a problem with me paying that amount, I would be happy to discuss it with the police. Needless to say, the disgruntled man grabbed the money and sped off.

All official taxis are equipped with meters. Always make sure that the meter is on and that the appropriate rate is displayed. For the day rate, the meter will display the word gündüz. The night rate is in effect from midnight until 6 a.m., and the meter will then display the word gece. If the wrong fare base is displayed, do not hesitate to tell the driver. If he argues, says the meter is broken or offers to drive to your destination for a flat rate, do not take that cab. The dishonest drivers will try this particular ploy on anyone they suspect of being a tourist. Many visitors do not know how much taxi fares should be and are not familiar with the system to know the different rates, and they end up paying much more than they should.

The crooked drivers also try to do a bait and switch with money when passengers pay. For instance, many passengers have handed over a TL 50 bill and waited for their change. Unbeknownst to the passenger, the driver will have quickly changed the original bill with a TL 5 note. An argument usually ensues, with the driver insisting that they had only been given a TL 5 bill and demanding further payment. Some drivers have actually become violent and physically attacked passengers who have not paid over the additional money. A good way to avoid these problems when paying a fare is to announce the amount of the bill you are handing over. For those with enough Turkish skills, in addition to saying what denomination of bill was handed over, it is a good idea to specify exactly how much change you expect back.

If a cab driver suspects that a passenger is unfamiliar with the city or does not know how to reach their destination, they will often take a circuitous route to get there. This particular ruse seems to be one of the all-time favorites of the dodgy drivers. A friend grabbed a taxi in Taksim one night and was heading home to Emirgan. She eventually reached her home, but not until the driver had taken her on a tour of the Golden Horn, all the way to Eyüp and then, finally up the Bosporus. I have had numerous cabbies try to take me the long way, claiming there was too much traffic on the normal route. One driver tried to take a friend and me from Taksim to Üsküdar by way of the second Bosporus bridge. When I insisted we take the first bridge instead, he told me the first bridge was closed and we had no choice. Unfortunately for him, we were able to see the first bridge and see that the traffic was flowing smoothly. When I laughed and pointed to the bridge and told him to go the way I said, he became angry and started yelling at my friend and me. He still refused to go the route I wanted, and as we sat in traffic near the exit for the first bridge, my friend and I quickly exited the cab. The driver began screaming at us, and we called to several police officers who were directing traffic. When the driver realized the police were approaching his cab, he suddenly became very quiet and insisted there was no problem at all. They allowed him to drive away when the traffic started moving, and then they graciously flagged down an empty taxi to take us home via the first bridge.

The key is to stay alert when in a taxi so that you are not taken for an unwanted, and extended, tour of the city. If a problem arises and if at all possible, call over a police officer to help out. Often the sight of a uniform will diffuse the situation when the driver knows he is in the wrong. If you feel that there will be an altercation about payment when you are nearing your destination, have the driver drop you off at a bakkal or local business you know in your neighborhood. Your neighbors are a good resource to settle disputes or call the police if needed. If tourists suspect they have been taken advantage of, they can try to get out of the cab at a large hotel and ask the doorman to help them.

As I stated earlier, the majority of taxi drivers in İstanbul are very honest, and they would never think of trying to swindle passengers. It is the minority of deceitful drivers who have given all cabbies here a bad name. The city should take action against the dishonest drivers to get them off the streets. In most major cities of the world, taxis are required to have photo IDs displayed at all times, and there is a card giving the number to call for complaints, with instructions. If the city would decide to enforce such a rule, it would be much easier for residents, as well as tourists, to file complaints against the fraudsters. Taxis are an important part of city life, and we should be able to feel safe when we get into a cab, regardless of if we are foreign or Turk.