VietNamNet Bridge - Given that the recent overcharging scandal made by a driver of Trung Viet Taxi company has harmed the image of Hanoi’s taxi services, the Hanoi Taxi Association has set up a hotline for passengers to report problems related to taxi operations.

Taxi driver fined VND20 million for overcharging foreign tourists 

 

Inspectors check a taxi.

 

Mr. Do Quoc Binh, President of the Hanoi Taxi Association, said that the taxi driver’s overcharging act of Trung Viet company has affected the image of Hanoi’s taxi services in the eyes of international visitors and local people.

"Such drivers must be boycotted from the taxi industry to not affect other taxi drivers and taxi firms that work honestly," he proposed.

After this incident, the Association has set up a hotline (04 37710851 and 04 38525252) for the passengers to report any problem related to taxi firms.

According to the Hanoi Department of Transportation, in less than a month, Trung Viet Taxi was involved in two overcharging cases. In one case, inspector found out that the driver used a chip to change the fares. The authorities have asked inspectors to check the operation of this firm.

"If this company serious violates regulations on passenger transportation, it must be closed," said Deputy Director Nguyen Hoang Linh of the Hanoi Department of Transportation.

On his part, Director of Trung Viet Taxi, Mr. Doan Viet Ha, admitted that the company's recent leadership change has affected the management of drivers. But Ha said this is just "one rotten apple that spoils the barrel." The company set up a disciplinary council, fired the driver and imposed VND 20 million ($1,000) of fine on him.

To prevent such incidents, the company has tightened its discipline and will raise the fine on the act of overcharging from VND20 million to VND50 million.

On April 28, during their honeymoon in Vietnam, David Patrick and his wife were forced to pay VND980,000 ($7) for nearly 7 km distance from the Military History Museum to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. They took pictures of the taxi and the taxi driver to report to the authorities.

Minh Ha