Taxis to be told not to over-charge

Thursday 22 May 2014

The price of a taxi journey in Jersey could be tightly controlled in future following plans to cap fares. The Transport Minister, Deputy Kevin Lewis intends to set maximum tariffs which would apply to both rank taxis and private hire cab companies.

Currently, fares for public rank taxis are already controlled by the Minister, while private hire companies are free to set their own fares. That means the same journey could cost a different price depending on which taxi is making it.

Deputy Lewis has now written to all cab companies, the Jersey Taxi Drivers Association and the Jersey Cab Drivers Association saying that he wants to cap fares, and calling them to a series of meetings in order to decide what that top fare might be.

The move follows a review of the Island's taxi service. TTS says that review found that customers are confused about the two types of taxi and the different fares they charge. The Department says there was one proposal which had universal agreement - setting an industry-wide maximum fare tariff for all taxi-cabs.

Of the 742 individual responses received in the consultation, over 90% agreed that the Minister for TTS should set a maximum level of fares for all taxis.

Deputy Lewis says that setting capping fares would provide certain for the customer, while also delivering a reasonable return to the taxi service providers.