Free Now

TreyAz

So just used this app for a cab from Glasnevin to Churchtown. Estimate on app was €18-24, which I guess didn't take into account extras such as number of people (4) and luggage. Charged fare was €51. Looking at the reviews of the app there are many complaints about the difference between estimated and actual.. so do they just cynically present a low estimate ? Makes things very awkward for the driver surely at the end ??

LawBoy2018

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058232854/free-now

Since when is luggage a factor? The number of passengers has always been extra per person. I suppose you're paying the evening rates too rather than the day rates at this time of night.

Have you heard of Bolt? I've heard good things. I might give it a wack this week.

Peregrine

Which way did the driver go? What was the initial charge on the meter?

TreyAz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118626742#Comment_118626742

Shouldn't the evening rates be part of the estimate at least, and probably the number of passengers too ? How could the estimate be so far off ?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118626787#Comment_118626787

He went on M50 (which I realize is more expensive than through town), didn't notice initial charge unfortunately.

L1011

Luggage fees were removed ages ago. Can't find out how long ago as it's ancient history really - they're on a 2005 rate card I found but nothing newer

If you work out the distance, the fare was probably right for going via the M50 but a driver should offer you the shorter (if slower) route also.

TreyAz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118626838#Comment_118626838

To be honest, the fare seems reasonably ok. But how do they get away with "estimating" it so low ? How could it ever be "€18-24" like it said on the app during booking ? Is that not just dishonest ? Then the driver blames the app, and the app support blames the driver.

Peregrine

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118626812#Comment_118626812

Ah. The Free Now estimate sounds about right for the direct route through town. The much higher fare sounds about right for the M50 route. The M50 route is three times longer and not any quicker at that time of the day.

Did you ask them to go the M50 or did the driver choose that route?

athlone573

Going the M50 was what cost you

The trip would have been on the meter and would have been at Sunday rates including a euro or so for each extra passenger.

You'll know for next time!

Peregrine

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118626873#Comment_118626873

€51 for Glasnevin to Churchtown with no traffic is daylight robbery in my opinion. The driver should have taken the direct route and saved you over €25. It's not the app's fault, the app estimated the fare using the direct and reasonable route. The driver took you on a scenic drive, basically.

Put it into here and compare the fares for the routes that come up on the map:

https://www.transportforireland.ie/fares/taxi-fare-estimator/

Atlantic Dawn

Who decided to take M50?

TreyAz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118626896#Comment_118626896

The driver just chose it. I had no idea the fare would be double, naive I guess on my part !

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118626904#Comment_118626904

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118626918#Comment_118626918

I guess take nothing for granted is the lesson here, and query stuff up front...

athlone573

The driver should go the most direct route unless you agree otherwise. As you might well do, for example if you wanted to get to the airport quickly.

Did they ask you "do you want to go via the M50"?

If not, you would have cause to put in a complaint to the taxi regulator. I'm not sure exactly what happens then but presumably, if a driver gets a number of complaints made against them they get asked for an explanation.

munchkin_utd

Glasnevin to Churchtown is 11km direct compared to 33km via the M50 which is a gigantic difference in distance travelled

How can a taxi driver choose to go a route that is that much longer without telling the customer ?

vandriver

You were ripped off 100%.Report it to the NTA.

However....(unpopular opinion coming)...for a very high cost economy,our taxi fares are really too cheap.This allows unscrupulous drivers to overcharge by going the long way.

Any tourists I've had in the taxi from other high cost economies can't believe how cheap our fares are.