Uber Hong Kong has been aggressively attacking the taxi market in recent years. Uber has recently notified selected customers in the app that it has launched a pilot program of "taxi fares by the meter".
Invited selected passengers can choose to request metered fares when booking a taxi through Uber, and the system will not calculate the estimated travel fare.
On the user's final bill, in addition to the taxi meter payment, Uber will collect a "passenger reservation fee" of 5 yuan per trip.
Wu Kuncheng, the permanent president of the Taxi Drivers Association, said that the industry emphasizes that taxis must be operated legally and cannot be confused with Uber, and they are worried that the meter-based charging plan "has monsters in the details."
He pointed out that Uber has been using the "burning paper" method to launch discount bundles to attract customers. However, if the taxi industry follows suit and offers discounts to passengers, it is illegal, and he directly criticizes the government for not properly monitoring the booking platform.
He also questioned that Uber's move was like "bleaching", confusing the business of illegal "white-plate cars", describing it as "shutting between the illegal and the legal."
Uber’s mandatory commissioning plan is to follow the transportation department’s fare calculation method, and the driver will input the fare on the meter
Uber recently sent an email to some "selected customers" saying that it has launched a pilot program for the "taxi (pay by the meter)" ride option. From now until June 30, passengers who book taxi services through Uber can choose "taxi (pay by the meter)". Charge by the Meter option.
Uber emphasized that fares will be based entirely on the fare calculation method of the Transportation Department in effect at the time, and the system will no longer display estimated trip fares in scheduled trips.
After the passenger gets on the bus, the taxi driver will turn on the meter, and after arriving at the destination, he will enter the total amount displayed on the meter in the App, including applicable fees such as tunnel and luggage fees, and the system will automatically calculate the applicable ride discounts. Plus a "passenger reservation fee" of 5 yuan per trip.
If passengers have applicable ride discounts in their accounts, they will see a green discount mark when booking a trip, and the relevant discounts will be automatically calculated by the system at the end of the trip.
(provided by Uber)
Different from ordinary electric taxis, passengers can check the itinerary and payment records in the Uber app or email after getting off the bus. They can also ask the driver for a machine-printed fare receipt. The whole process will continue to be paid electronically, and there is no need for cash transactions. It's no different than a regular Uber ride.
After getting off the bus, passengers can check the itinerary and payment records on the Uber app or email.
(provided by Uber)
Taxi Industry Questions Obfuscation
Wu Kuncheng, the permanent president of the Taxi Drivers' Association, said that Uber has launched a legal option for e-hailing taxis, but it has not eliminated the suspected illegal e-hailing vehicles such as "white-plate cars". , this bleaching effect is a problem in our opinion.” He also questioned that Uber’s move is to use the method of legal taxi booking to sell advertisements for illegal white-plate cars, in order to “confuse the public.”
Wu Kuncheng continued to point out that he has received complaints from a number of industry members, criticizing Uber for launching a reward system for "burning silver paper". After patronizing an Uber trip, passengers can receive either a free gift or a half-price patronage of Uber Taxi to induce passengers to use the app to book a taxi. Service, "He uses a lot of money to tie and link, as if the synergy effect is strong, and the market is distorted."
He also questioned that Uber would use an "additional ride" mechanism during peak hours to increase the fare per ride.
However, it is illegal for the taxi radio station to operate in the same way. It is questioned that the practice has caused injustice to the taxi industry, and it is directly accused of the government's failure to properly supervise Uber's operations.
Wu Kuncheng said that Uber launched a legal option to call a taxi, but it did not exclude the previous methods of suspected illegal e-hailing vehicles such as "white-plate cars". What a problem." (File photo / Photo by Law Kwan-ho)
Asked if Uber has room for cooperation with the taxi industry after launching a metered ride-hailing option.
Wu Kuncheng made it clear that he has reservations about Uber's practices and needs to carefully study "there are monsters in the details." He emphasized that the taxi service is completely legal and cannot be compared with Uber, which roams in the gray area.
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