- Grand Slam action begins January 14
- Viewers have been asked to be alert for possible scams.
Fans heading to the Australian Open have been warned to be on the lookout for Melbourne taxi drivers who will try to rip them off by using a fraudulent payment method to rip them off.
Some taxi drivers are using this underhanded trick to charge customers up to $80 for a ticket from the MCG to Richmond, which is just a short walk from the famous stadium, and one traveler was recently told to pay $100 for a four-mile journey. .
Offending drivers have found a way to bypass the current payment system, which is linked directly to the taximeter to prevent taxi drivers from adding additional charges to the fare.
Instead, they are using a different portable payment terminal to bypass the meter and charge hugely inflated prices.
Taxi giant 13Cabs has called on the Victorian government to introduce new regulations to end the practice.
“This is the method they (drivers) use when they charge you $80 to take you from the MCG to Richmond,” said 13Cabs head of public affairs David Samuel. news corporation.
‘The taximeter is what creates integrity in the taxi. It is that taximeter that gives you the privilege of doing line and hail work.
Tennis fans planning to travel to Melbourne to watch stars such as Alex De Minaur (pictured) at the Australian Open have been told to watch out for timid taxi drivers.
Nick Kyrgios (pictured) will be one of the biggest attractions of this year’s Grand Slam.
Spectators taking taxis from Melbourne Park (pictured) have been told to beware of drivers using a separate payment system to scam them.
“If you want to abuse that privilege, you’re likely to lose it.”
Samuel added that it is currently possible to ensure that all payment terminals can only charge what is on the meter, but the industry still needs regulation to enforce that.
Australian Open fans have been hit by high prices on everything from tickets to food and clothing.
Last year, seats for the men’s singles final cost up to $6,000 each, with the cheapest tickets costing a staggering $1,998.
The pain in the hip pocket continued at merchandise stores, with an official tracksuit costing fans $419, official towels costing $79 and some baseball caps priced at $99.
Spectators paid $14.50 for a 16-ounce plastic beer glass and $29.50 for a glass of champagne.
Chili cheese dogs were $18.50 each, a beef burger and fries were $22.50, and chocolate bars were $6.
In 2023, the Open was selling designer backpacks for $449, Ralph Lauren water bottles for $99, and $419 for the jackets worn by the tournament’s ball kids.