Technology Fees - Can we charge what we want?

[mercenary for hire]

Could have been an Uber limo that was €60.

[Octavia1]

I've suspected for a while that Uber might be quoting prices higher than the legal metered fare to my UK passengers.Nothing concrete to back it up but the passengers always seem surprised when I call out the price at the end.

If Uber or any other app gets a passenger to agree to €40 on a job but I only charge €30 on the meter have they covered their arse legally?And could they pocket the difference?

Most likely they can ..if the driver charges the legal fare ...an  the add on is deemed a "technology fee"  for usin the app now that fn  precedented  technology fee ... but it be bad for uber competetivly wudnt it not ?

[mercenary for hire]

Hard to tell Octy.Many of their UK users don't care about the price as they're using business accounts.They are already used to surge pricing at busy times in the UK.They might be happy to pay anything just to catch their flight. Their app might have different conditions compared to the Irish version.

[markmiwurdz]

I've suspected for a while that Uber might be quoting prices higher than the legal metered fare to my UK passengers.Nothing concrete to back it up but the passengers always seem surprised when I call out the price at the end.

If Uber or any other app gets a passenger to agree to €40 on a job but I only charge €30 on the meter have they covered their arse legally?And could they pocket the difference?

Most likely they can ..if the driver charges the legal fare ...an  the add on is deemed a "technology fee"  for usin the app now that fn  precedented  technology fee ... but it be bad for uber competetivly wudnt it not ?

Uber are probably adding on goodo for rush hours and the likes calling it surge price or some other name and pocketing it all for themselves.

[mercenary for hire]

The Uber passenger app is very slick I can see why they like using it.When I was in Liverpool and Manchester recently it worked flawlessly.Loads of drivers.

[MK]

When i was Turkey recently i used the local taxi app and uber. The uber one was flawless and cost half the price to the same destination.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rat Catcher]

Uber charges the metered fare for a taxi in Dublin. The app gives an estimate of the fare before you order which is in the form of a range e.g. €17 - €23. When you ordfer it chrges the upper end and refunds any change due on completion of the journey. I don't use Free Now in Ireland myself anymore on account of the €1 surcharge but I'm told it also charges the upper end of it's fare estimate when you order a cab and refunds the excess on completion of the journey.

Why doesn't Free Now offer Mopeds in Ireland? They seem rather popular in Milan, they're even supplied with a safety helmet and a small luggage box.

[Rat Catcher]

Reply from NTA... which confirms that you can charge what you like if you have a dispatch operator licence.

Dear Mr O'Connell,

Thank you for contacting the National Transport Authority (NTA). We refer to your recent correspondence received on the 5th September 2022.

A driver may charge no more than is calculated on the taximeter. The cost of the trip remains as calculated on the taximeter as the Maximum Fare.

A booking service provider, however, may charge whatever it likes to its contracted customers for using its technological platform to book a journey. For example in relation to the Freenow
Technology Charge, it is up to the customer to decide whether they want to use the FreeNow App to book an SPSV, with the extra €1 it will cost, when compared to other booking service providers who do not charge this technology fee. It is the customer’s choice to change to another booking service provider if they so wish.

Therefore, using the Freenow example, the technology fee to FreeNow may never be added to the taximeter rate or collected by drivers.

Should you wish to apply for a dispatch operator licence the application form can be found on the

Forms & Guides section of NTA’s website.

Yours sincerely,

National Transport Authority

[Octavia1]

Uber charges the metered fare for a taxi in Dublin. The app gives an estimate of the fare before you order which is in the form of a range e.g. €17 - €23. When you ordfer it chrges the upper end and refunds any change due on completion of the journey. I don't use Free Now in Ireland myself anymore on account of the €1 surcharge but I'm told it also charges the upper end of it's fare estimate when you order a cab and refunds the excess on completion of the journey.

Why doesn't Free Now offer Mopeds in Ireland? They seem rather popular in Milan, they're even supplied with a safety helmet and a small luggage box.

 insurance ?

[Bob Shillin]

Reply from NTA... which confirms that you can charge what you like if you have a dispatch operator licence.

Dear Mr O'Connell,

Thank you for contacting the National Transport Authority (NTA). We refer to your recent correspondence received on the 5th September 2022.

A driver may charge no more than is calculated on the taximeter. The cost of the trip remains as calculated on the taximeter as the Maximum Fare.

A booking service provider, however, may charge whatever it likes to its contracted customers for using its technological platform to book a journey. For example in relation to the Freenow
Technology Charge, it is up to the customer to decide whether they want to use the FreeNow App to book an SPSV, with the extra €1 it will cost, when compared to other booking service providers who do not charge this technology fee. It is the customer’s choice to change to another booking service provider if they so wish.

Therefore, using the Freenow example, the technology fee to FreeNow may never be added to the taximeter rate or collected by drivers.

Should you wish to apply for a dispatch operator licence the application form can be found on the

Forms & Guides section of NTA’s website.

Yours sincerely,

National Transport Authority

So there is no such thing as a maximum taxi fare in effect, or is the NTA trying to protect taxi drivers from further hits by apps, and is content to let the pax take the pain?

[mercenary for hire]

I think Freenow knew more commission increases would force more drivers to use the competition.For me 15% is already high enough that I've reduced my usage of their app considerably.I can't be the only one moving away and promoting the competition to any Freenow passengers that will listen.

The technology fee isn't a new idea.I believe they also charge it in other countries too.Remember they're owned partially by BMW who charge a subscription fee to use the heated seats on new cars.

[watty]

At least the NTA have a sense of humour by inviting you to apply for a dispatch operator licence.

[Shallow Hal]

At least the NTA have a sense of humour by inviting you to apply for a dispatch operator licence.

I'd say that was typed with a wry smile on the typers face!!

[silverbullet]

At least the NTA have a sense of humour by inviting you to apply for a dispatch operator licence.

I'd say that was typed with a wry smile on the typers face!!

I have one.

[Belker]

At least the NTA have a sense of humour by inviting you to apply for a dispatch operator licence.

I'd say that was typed with a wry smile on the typers face!!

I would agree Hal, but still there is a lorra food fer thought in there.

The First question that springs to mind is do FN have the NTA in their pocket ?

And Fair Dinkum to Stephen fer posing the question to them and following up on it.