Night Out & Got Robbed
Be careful when you get drunk in Prague. My son got separated from his brother and friends when out one night, got into a taxi at the road side, gave the taxi driver a card with his accommodation on. The next thing he remembers he is in an area he did not recognise miles away from where he ask to go. Bashed and robbed of his wallet, ipod and watch. Common sense .. take a taxi from reputable taxi company – for your safety!
We having reports from many tourists that Prague Taxi drivers are happy when they can accept foreign currency. Not because they need it but it is a chance for them to rip you off. So be aware and keep in mind that 1 Pound is not same like 1 CZK .. It seems that many taxi drivers there don’t want to know exchange rates.
Prague Taxi Safety Tips
• Don’t get into a taxi that is parked in front of the train station or at a tourist site. These are waiting for unsuspecting tourists and are known to charge rates several times higher than they should be.
• If you need to catch a taxi on the street, make sure it is a real, registered taxi. The yellow roof lamp must be permanently installed and must say TAXI in black letters on both sides. The company name, license number and rates should be printed on both front doors.
• Try to find out beforehand how much your ride should cost. If you’re stopping a taxi on the street, you can ask the driver before getting in and even pay in advance if the amount sounds reasonable. If you’re ordering a taxi by phone (always a good idea), you can get a price estimate from the dispatcher.
• Once in the car, make sure that the rate on the taximeter corresponds to the price list posted in the car. If it doesn’t, bring it to the driver’s attention or have him stop the car and get off.
• You have the right to request a printed receipt from the driver. If he refuses to give it to you, you can refuse to pay the fare.
Taxi regulations
Reasons for this were that there were too many licenses issued and no regulation of their activities. However the final straw appears to have broken the camel’s back. One passenger objected to being charger 8,000 CZK (250 USD) for a ride of about 3 kilometres and the City Hall had to step in with a solution. The deregulation of rates from October 15, 1996 had been cancelled and instead the strict guidelines were introduced. Unfortunately it didn’t help much.
Have you been victim of Prague Taxi drivers? Share your story with us. Email: [email protected]
