Hailo - Are they charging a pickup fee now?

yqtwqxqm

3 times in the last month I have ordered a taxi via hailo in Dublin.
Twice from Ballsbridge and once when I arrived home to Dublin airport.
Each time they charged a pickup fee.
The one in the airport even did something with the meter and put his own charge in for my trip which was about a fiver more than it normally is.

I was talking to a friend and he has had a similar experience recently.

Now I was all for Hailo before just for the convenience of using it instead of hailing. Its not like I NEED to book them, I just use it out of convenience since their wasnt a booking fee. Now, if you have to pay a pickup fee , or even the driver can charge as much as they like instead of sticking to the meter. Seems like you are better off just hailing the taxi now and using cash instead of your credit card.

Hilly Bill

And they had the cheek to moan in the papers that some hotels were charging a booking fee and that made them look bad for charging extra.

yqtwqxqm

Ah well. Hailo was good while it lasted. Uber is sh!t. Back to the old days now.
Just hail a taxi if its there. If its not, walk.
I liked using them for the airport too, but now they are as expensive as anyone else to/from the airport too. In fact more expensive when they start messing with the prices.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

It may just be dodgy drivers adding to the meter themselves, you know.

I find Hailo pretty good regarding prices.

yqtwqxqm

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

It may just be dodgy drivers adding to the meter themselves, you know.

I find Hailo pretty good regarding prices.

They were supposed to just go b y the meter, but now they start messing with the meter when you get in.
Maybe hailo should do something about that or people with et sick of it and vote with thier feet.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

yqtwqxqm wrote: »

They were supposed to just go b y the meter, but now they start messing with the meter when you get in.
Maybe hailo should do something about that or people with et sick of it and vote with thier feet.

Report the driver then. Hailo are fairly strict about that sort of stuff. They'd kick off repeat offenders for sure.

suicide_circus

I got a hailo the other night and paid on card. I checked my online banking the next day and I had been debited the fare and then a separate charge of €1.

TheChizler

I thought there always was a booking fee included, the same as if you rang any taxi company.

yqtwqxqm

TheChizler wrote: »

I thought there always was a booking fee included, the same as if you rang any taxi company.

That was waived because they wanted people to use Hailo all the time instead of calling a cab, you just walk out to the road and Hailo it.
It seems they are big enough now to start sneaking in extra charges.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

suicide_circus wrote: »

I got a hailo the other night and paid on card. I checked my online banking the next day and I had been debited the fare and then a separate charge of €1.

€1 is a ghost charge to check the card is valid. It will be refunded back to your account in a few days.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

TheChizler wrote: »

I thought there always was a booking fee included, the same as if you rang any taxi company.

No callout/booking fee using Hailo AFAIK. I certainly was never charged one. Only extra charges were if I had extra passengers in car.

Mr.Frame

yqtwqxqm wrote: »

They were supposed to just go b y the meter, but now they start messing with the meter when you get in.
Maybe hailo should do something about that or people with et sick of it and vote with thier feet.

Curious as to what exactly you mean by "now they start messing with the meter when you get in."
So what are "they doing ", the meter has a screen on it , it shows the fare and all extra charges (should they be applicable) .
Are you saying you just sit there and watch him/her "messing with the meter" and cannot see what is going on ? and/or say nothing ?

yqtwqxqm

Mr.Frame wrote: »

Curious as to what exactly you mean by "now they start messing with the meter when you get in."
So what are "they doing ", the meter has a screen on it , it shows the fare and all extra charges (should they be applicable) .
Are you saying you just sit there and watch him/her "messing with the meter" and cannot see what is going on ? and/or say nothing ?

I dont know exactly how a taxi meter works, but he starts pressing buttons on the meter when i got in. The meter had x amount on it when I got to my destination. As soon as he stopped it went up by about €5 and thats what came off my hailo account.

machiavellianme

Did you have extra passengers or put bags in the boot?

the boss of me

There's no extra charge for luggage but if you used the toll bridge or tunnel on your journey that would have been added on. Also if you're being picked up at the airport did the taxi pick you up at arrivals or did he use the car park. If they used the carpark maybe they were adding on the parking fee.

ArmaniJeanss

Recent new charge for bookings from hotel premises maybe?

http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0727/805266-taxis-hailo/

yqtwqxqm

the boss of me wrote: »

There's no extra charge for luggage but if you used the toll bridge or tunnel on your journey that would have been added on. Also if you're being picked up at the airport did the taxi pick you up at arrivals or did he use the car park. If they used the carpark maybe they were adding on the parking fee.

Just me. Bags in the boots. No tolls and I went to departures and hailod him there. If I hailo I dont expect a booking fee.
One was across the road from a hotel. I wasnt in the hotel.
Too many times for me now. Im just not going to bother with hailo anymore.
Pity uber is so sh!t too though.

Diabhalta

I paid 2 euro extra this friday. It was supposed to be like 9e and they charged me 11e. Me and my friend after 8pm, light traffic. Did the same distance and got a taxi at taxi rank later that night and it was 9e.

n97 mini

There is a booking fee for taxis. As Hailo is a taxi system perhaps that's the reason.

Having used Uber and especially Uber Pool extensively abroad the powers that be are doing the travelling public a major disservice by blocking its proper implementation here.

Terrontress

n97 mini wrote: »

There is a booking fee for taxis. As Hailo is a taxi system perhaps that's the reason.

Having used Uber and especially Uber Pool extensively abroad the powers that be are doing the travelling public a major disservice by blocking its proper implementation here.

If Uber is implemented in Dublin like it is in London or New York, that will be the end of taxis as we know it. So you'll have mass protests in the streets from the Irish taxi drivers.

I can't believe how cheap, quick and reliable it is. It feels like half the price of a London public hire taxi, but maybe the extra work it would generate in Dublin would get the men off the ranks, working more, and for a greater hourly rate.

Diabhalta

n97 mini wrote: »

There is a booking fee for taxis. As Hailo is a taxi system perhaps that's the reason.

Having used Uber and especially Uber Pool extensively abroad the powers that be are doing the travelling public a major disservice by blocking its proper implementation here.

I never paid any booking fee before. Also it states it on their website that no booking fee applies. I sent them an email about this and waiting for response.

n97 mini

Diabhalta wrote: »

I never paid any booking fee before. Also it states it on their website that no booking fee applies. I sent them an email about this and waiting for response.

Have a look at this. It appears the booking fee is optional and up to the driver to decide. Maybe Hailo drivers are sneaking it in as they know they can.

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi-and-bus-licensing/taxi/operating-an-spsv/taxi-fares/booking-fees/

Diabhalta

Says nothing about an app. On a tablet for example, not a telephone

n97 mini

Diabhalta wrote: »

Says nothing about an app. On a tablet for example, not a telephone

Do the drivers not get notifications by email or SMS?

Diabhalta

no they don't, they have an app running on the phone and they get notified there that somebody is looking for a taxi.

Losty Dublin

Terrontress wrote: »

If Uber is implemented in Dublin like it is in London or New York, that will be the end of taxis as we know it. So you'll have mass protests in the streets from the Irish taxi drivers.

I can't believe how cheap, quick and reliable it is. It feels like half the price of a London public hire taxi, but maybe the extra work it would generate in Dublin would get the men off the ranks, working more, and for a greater hourly rate.

As it stands Irish law states that any driver and their vehicle that carries passengers for hire or reward has to be licenced. While Uber can operate here it can't do so with private vehicles and drivers.

n97 mini

Losty Dublin wrote: »

As it stands Irish law states that any driver and their vehicle that carries passengers for hire or reward has to be licenced. While Uber can operate here it can't do so with private vehicles and drivers.

Yes, I think Terrontress knows that. Ireland seems to be in the minority when it comes to its approach to Uber, which smacks of protectionism.

Losty Dublin

n97 mini wrote: »

Yes, I think Terrontress knows that. Ireland seems to be in the minority when it comes to its approach to Uber, which smacks of protectionism.

Expecting your hailed and paid ride to be legally and insured hardly smacks of protectionism

n97 mini

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Expecting your hailed and paid ride to be legally and insured hardly smacks of protectionism

Uber insists all drivers meet various requirements, including proper insurance cover.

Having lived abroad for an extended period, where I used uber and uber pool on average 4 times a week, I found them to be of a noticeably higher standard all around.

strandroad

n97 mini wrote: »

Uber insists all drivers meet various requirements, including proper insurance cover.

Having lived abroad for an extended period, where I used uber and uber pool on average 4 times a week, I found them to be of a noticeably higher standard all around.

Were the taxis good there?
Hailo taxis are good in my experience, and if you had any grievance it's much better to have the taxi regulator in your corner than a private company with a phone rep overseas putting you on infinite hold as they know the worst thing you can do to them is to delete their app.

Cookie_Monster

n97 mini wrote: »

Uber insists all drivers meet various requirements, including proper insurance cover.

Having lived abroad for an extended period, where I used uber and uber pool on average 4 times a week, I found them to be of a noticeably higher standard all around.

it's like the Airbnb thing though, it may result in tax evasion as the drivers aren't necessarily declaring all the income and paying appropriate tax...

And then surely drivers must be insuring their cars as commercial vehicles to provide appropriate cover and given the mess that insurance in Ireland currently I I question whether that is actually happening.

Mr.Frame

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

it's like the Airbnb thing though, it may result in tax evasion as the drivers aren't necessarily declaring all the income and paying appropriate tax...

And then surely drivers must be insuring their cars as commercial vehicles to provide appropriate cover and given the mess that insurance in Ireland currently I I question whether that is actually happening.

So you are assuming drivers dont pay tax and you question whether drivers are properly insured ??
Really ???

Cookie_Monster

Mr.Frame wrote: »

So you are assuming drivers dont pay tax and you question whether drivers are properly insured ??
Really ???

I said 'may', it is potentially an issue but not accusing anyone. Re the insurance, yeah I would doubt proper insurance is in place on the majority of cars.

Exact same issues being faced in Auckland.

n97 mini

mhge wrote: »

Were the taxis good there?

Not as good as ubers, which is one of the reasons uber is so successful.

As regards disputes, there is little scope as the fare is predetermined to within a very small (like €1) range and paid by credit card. With uber pool it's always predetermined to the exact fare, and is typically about 60% of the full fare.

n97 mini

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

it's like the Airbnb thing though, it may result in tax evasion as the drivers aren't necessarily declaring all the income and paying appropriate tax...

Here's the rub. If the tax authorities wanted to they can compel uber to hand over all driver records, similar to what they do with Airbnb. 100% of records are in one location.
http://www.mazars.ie/Home/News/Latest-news/Revenue-and-Airbnb

OTOH taxis in Ireland all have individual meters which store no information.....

strandroad

n97 mini wrote: »

Not as good as ubers, which is one of the reasons uber is so successful.

Uber makes sense where taxis are woeful, absolutely, but with the abundance of taxis and Hailo here I don't really see a gap for it to fill.

As regards disputes, there is little scope as the fare is predetermined to within a very small (like €1) range and paid by credit card. With uber pool it's always predetermined to the exact fare, and is typically about 60% of the full fare.

I'm not talking fare disputes, but when a driver abuses or assaults you, does not return the stuff you left behind etc. If all Uber does is some hand-waving you have no recourse really outside of courts.

thomas anderson.

Complain to Hailo. The support there is very good to get back to you and refund any overcharging. I've had to lodge complaints about a couple of drivers and always got a refund

n97 mini

mhge wrote: »

I'm not talking fare disputes, but when a driver abuses or assaults you, does not return the stuff you left behind etc.

Sound more like the stories you hear about taxis! But thankfully I've never been assaulted or abused by a taxi driver, though I have had a few rude ones. Something I haven't had with uber, but I've not been using it for as long. After your journey is over you rate the driver out of 5. I'd imagine if a driver gets a few zeros he/she would be removed. No similar rating system with taxis.

EDIT: if your rating as a driver on Uber drops below 4.6 you will be removed.

n97 mini

mhge wrote: »

Uber makes sense where taxis are woeful, absolutely, but with the abundance of taxis and Hailo here I don't really see a gap for it to fill

It's far cheaper, tho the rates are set on a city by city basis. My most recent experience I'd estimate it's about 40% the cost of a taxi on a short journey and 50% the cost on a 10 mile journey. Uber Pool is cheaper again, at probably about 30% if you don't mind sharing.

Due to the cost I rarely use taxis here, they're only really a last resort if I can't get a bus or train, whereas I used uber all the time abroad as it's so affordable.

strandroad

n97 mini wrote: »

Sound more like the stories you hear about taxis! But thankfully I've never been assaulted or abused by a taxi driver, though I have had a few rude ones. Something I haven't had with uber, but I've not been using it for as long. After your journey is over you rate the driver out of 5. I'd imagine if a driver gets a few zeros he/she would be removed. No similar rating system with taxis.

EDIT: if your rating as a driver on Uber drops below 4.6 you will be removed.

You can be dropped from Hailo for bad reviews also. But more importantly, if you misbehave as a registered taxi driver your license i.e. your livelihood is at risk. With Uber, if you misbehave they kick you out and you sign up with another private company such as Lyft, Blablacar etc. It's just a different level of protection.

strandroad

n97 mini wrote: »

It's far cheaper, tho the rates are set on a city by city basis. My most recent experience I'd estimate it's about 40% the cost of a taxi on a short journey and 50% the cost on a 10 mile journey. Uber Pool is cheaper again, at probably about 30% if you don't mind sharing.

Due to the cost I rarely use taxis here, they're only really a last resort if I can't get a bus or train, whereas I used uber all the time abroad as it's so affordable.

Until you're hit with surge pricing! To use Uber regularly in Dublin i.e. a congested city plagued with strikes and critical accident would probably work out the same as taxis - you save some, you pay over the odds some.

Mr.Frame

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I said 'may', it is potentially an issue but not accusing anyone. Re the insurance, yeah I would doubt proper insurance is in place on the majority of cars.

Exact same issues being faced in Auckland.

Where licensed taxis are concerned ( in Ireland ) proper insurance is in place, it has to be.

n97 mini

mhge wrote: »

Until you're hit with surge pricing! To use Uber regularly in Dublin i.e. a congested city plagued with strikes and critical accident would probably work out the same as taxis - you save some, you pay over the odds some.

Just wait for the surge to drop again before booking. In the vast majority of cases uber would work out cheaper. E.g. coming home from the pub 2 miles away on a Sunday evening. But it's all about consumer choice. If people prefer to pay more for a taxi that's their business, but it's not a reason to stifle others.

Mr.Frame

Uber doesn't work the same way in Ireland as it does in the States or other European cities.

n97 mini

Mr.Frame wrote: »

Uber doesn't work the same way in Ireland as it does in the States or other European cities.

Page 2....

n97 mini wrote: »

Having used Uber and especially Uber Pool extensively abroad the powers that be are doing the travelling public a major disservice by blocking its proper implementation here.

Cookie_Monster

Mr.Frame wrote: »

Where licensed taxis are concerned ( in Ireland ) proper insurance is in place, it has to be.

I'm not arguing that. I saying that I highly doubt all Uber drivers have full PSV insurance on their privately held cars. standard SD&P policies simply won't allow that kinda of hire for reward to be covered.

Diabhalta

Got a reply from Hailo today re my complaint about those 2 euros added and they confirmed that there is no booking fee.

So basically I got robbed by the driver, which is a different case.

the boss of me

Diabhalta wrote: »

Got a reply from Hailo today re my complaint about those 2 euros added and they confirmed that there is no booking fee.

So basically I got robbed by the driver, which is a different case.

This is from the Hailo driver blog..as you can see in certain cases it IS Hailo company policy to apply the pick up charge. This charge is then passed as a bribe to reception staff. This policy has angered a lot of Hailo drivers who have decided to apply the pick up on all jobs..

Diabhalta

There is no reception in my house, that's for sure.

Mr.Frame

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I'm not arguing that. I saying that I highly doubt all Uber drivers have full PSV insurance on their privately held cars. standard SD&P policies simply won't allow that kinda of hire for reward to be covered.

The situation doesnt arise in Ireland as the Uber model used in other countries is not used here

Mr.Frame

Diabhalta wrote: »

Got a reply from Hailo today re my complaint about those 2 euros added and they confirmed that there is no booking fee.

So basically I got robbed by the driver, which is a different case.

Drivers are allowed to charge a 2 euro extra for a booking, that has been that way for years.
However in their "wisdom" Hailo asked all drivers not to charge the 2 euro pickup. So in fairness the driver loses out the 2 euro , plus Hailo take 12% of the total fare.
Hailo might seem great for passengers , but idiot drivers who take that rubbish from Hailo have only themselves to blame.
Its a win win for Hailo and idiot drivers lose out.
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