Vienna station taxis face scrutiny over illegal fare practices

ORF reports that passengers taking taxis at Vienna Central Station are being warned about unauthorised flat fares, refused rides and other practices. The situation has not improved despite checks, and further measures are now being discussed.

Passengers have reported being presented with a fixed price when they get into a taxi or being told they must take a particular vehicle. Eveline Hruza, a spokesperson for the 40100 taxi dispatch centre, told ORF’s Wien heute that every customer and tourist has the right to choose any taxi and does not have to take the first vehicle in the queue.

Fares must be calculated using the taximeter, she said. Drivers may not set arbitrary prices. Passengers also have the right to pay by card or app and to receive a receipt. Flat fares agreed at the location are permitted only in certain cases, such as a journey leaving Vienna for the airport. Fixed prices are also allowed when a taxi is ordered with a destination address.

The practices at the station, where tourists in particular are apparently being targeted, are not new. Many of the drivers reportedly work independently rather than for a taxi company. Hruza said 40100 had not recorded any cases recently, but customers call the centre every day for advice after experiencing conduct at the station that should not have occurred.

Hruza advises passengers to order a taxi instead of using the taxi rank, even when one is available. Drivers caught violating the rules face fines of between 200 and 7,000 euros. Repeated violations can lead to the loss of their taxi licence, but the existing checks and penalties have apparently not been enough to deter the practices.

The industry is holding talks on additional measures, Hruza said, with several stakeholders involved. Any changes will be announced once an agreement has been reached. Complaints can be submitted through a feedback form to the Vienna taxi guild or the relevant taxi dispatch company. A receipt, licence plate number, company name, time and route can help with investigating a case.