THE importance to consumers of getting a receipt from a taxi driver for their journey has been stressed by the Commission for Taxi Regulation.
But a spokesperson for Swift Taxis told the Limerick Post that it puts an extra imposition on them. “This is a legal obligation and we have to adhere to it.
“We are going to have the whole country littered with receipts. It means having a printer installed in each taxi, at a cost per unit of between €300 to €400 euro.
“The public are not fully aware of all the extra costs we have to absorb. This week, I have to renew my taxi licence. Ten years ago, I paid three pounds for a 10 year licence…now it is €250 for three years. There’s a whole range of other costs…”
He said that business is not what it had been.
“There is less demand for taxis in Limerick, and like lots of others, we are feeling the pressure”.
A taxi receipt printed by the printer attached to the meter (not hand-written) will include details of the vehicle licence and vehicle registration numbers, the distance of the journey undertaken, the amount paid, the date and duration of journey.
Commissioner for Taxi Regulation, Kathleen Doyle, explained: “Most customers will find their journey extremely satisfactory and we are pleased with the general level of compliance and standard of service within the industry.
“However, where there is dissatisfaction, it is essential that people know how to make their feelings known and seek the appropriate action. The first step in this is to take your receipt”.
She continued, “All complaints are investigated by the Commission, the provision of a receipt is beneficial to both customer and driver in this respect as it gives indisputable facts about a journey.
“In the event of customer dissatisfaction about a fare, driver conduct, or condition or cleanliness of a vehicle, we advise customers to pay the fare displayed on the meter including extras, and then make a formal complaint by requesting a form from our National Consumer Information line on 1890 60 60 90 or by download from www.taxiregulator.ie”.
The provision of receipts has been a legal requirement since September 2006 for small public service vehicle journeys.
All customers are entitled to be given a printed receipt at the end of a taxi journey, and a written receipt on payment of the fare for a hackney or limousine journey.
