[serfty]

Originally Posted by simongr

That was probably the cabcharge fee - whatever is on the manual docket if then paid by a CC attracts an 11% charge (10% cabcharge fee and gst thereon).

Interestingly, there is NO GST payable on a cabcharge 10% fee; the government treat it like any other bank fee.

It a dubious practice when a CC company charges 11%.

[opusman]

Well they're not a taxi so I don't know if they would use the CabCharge system for payments - there was certainly no sign up anywhere that I can remember. Possible though I guess. Either way, it's naughty (actually illegal) to add a charge on AFTER I have signed for a specific amount, it should have been added at the time.

[simongr]

Originally Posted by serfty

Interestingly, there is NO GST payable on a cabcharge 10% fee; the government treat it like any other bank fee.

It a dubious practice when a CC company charges 11%.

Not sure - I know that when I compare my Amex/Dinres statement with a manual Cabcharge receipt I always need to gross up by multiplying by 1.11 - always works...

It's not so much whether they are a taxi or whether they have use dthe cabcharge system. I will have a look at a docket I have at home to see if it is disclosed there.

Don't we have at least one resident taxi driver that can shedsome light on this?

[vt01]

Never tried it and probably never will.

Like a number of others I have a local guy who I call. He has a group of drivers so I don't always get him as a driver.. All of them are always very friendly and helpful and there on time. Not silver service, just a regular 1 year old comfortable falcon.
As a bonus, he always brings me a chocolate bar when I return from o'seas...

[serfty]

Originally Posted by simongr

Not sure - I know that when I compare my Amex/Dinres statement with a manual Cabcharge receipt I always need to gross up by multiplying by 1.11 - always works...

It's not so much whether they are a taxi or whether they have use dthe cabcharge system. I will have a look at a docket I have at home to see if it is disclosed there.

Don't we have at least one resident taxi driver that can shedsome light on this?

There's a bit more from a discussion on this topic here on AFF: actual cab fare charged to your credit card account? (Read how the thread unfolds).

Some relevant posts are #24, #35 & #37

Cheers ...

[SF&]

Originally Posted by SilenceFOOL!

Anyone used Qantas Drive? How would you rate it?

What exactly is Qs definition of "highly appointed vehicles" esp. standard and luxury
sedan/s?.....I'm hoping something better than an AU Falcon with 15" steelies.

At risk of sounding xenophobic - please explain - are the drivers likely to understand me and know how to get to Tulla? More importantly, will they wear deodorant

Last time I took at taxi to Tulla it not only cost me a small fortune, it nearly cost me my life!
Also looking at SilverTop taxi Silver Service as Plan B.
Thoughts? Advice? Experiences?

Last time in Melb I entered the taxi queue got in the cab and i had to direct him to the MCG!! Blow me down i line up early sunday morning who is waiting first in line 'taxi driver form hell' I had to direct him back to tulla form the hilton.

i now stick to the reliable sky bus in melb and in peak hour sneaks up the inside lane past the trafiic jam. Its clean, usely not packed and faster than cabs.

they badly need a train like hkia into the cdb.

Qantas drive seem to be 30%- 50% more expensive than other limo services avail on websites.

[serfty]

Originally Posted by SF&

Last time in Melb I .. direct him to the MCG!! ... I had to direct him back to tulla ...

i now stick to the reliable sky bus in melb and in peak hour sneaks up the inside lane past the trafiic jam. Its clean, usely not packed and faster than cabs. ...

Agreed

The SkyBus takes no more than 25 minutes between the City and MEL. Aside from the early morning hours it departs every 10 minutes on Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun and 15 Mins Sat, Tue & Thu.

Three guys coming to OZFest decided to share a Cab from MEL to the city; they mentioned later the total fare was over $80! This should have been around $45. After querying this it seems the taxi driver took advantage of their lack of MEL knowledge and went via the 'western ring road', adding over 20km and 20 mins to the travel with a correspondingly inflated fare.

These days my order of priority for MEL transfers is:

1. Skybus,
2. Hire care (e.g. Thrifty),
3. any other practical means to avoid a taxi &
4. Taxi.

[SilenceFOOL!]

Originally Posted by vt01

As a bonus, he always brings me a chocolate bar when I return from o'seas...

I want your guy!!!! Chocolate is the way to every girls heart

After careful consideration have decided to take my own comfortable 4 year old Falcon and pay extra for the long term undercover parking (only for 6 days) closest to terminal.
Atleast can be guaranteed driver i.e. ME will know where they're going and wear deodorant

Sad to see that eveyone thinks Melb taxi drivers are crap (which they are, no doubt about it).

Slightly OT but what about the fact that Melb doesnt have a rain/light rail link to CBD.
Embarassing? Not worth it? Skybus adequate? Hasn't it been promised for what seems like the last 25 years or something?? Is it ever going to happen?

[NM]

Originally Posted by SilenceFOOL!

Slightly OT but what about the fact that Melb doesnt have a rain/light rail link to CBD.
Embarassing? Not worth it? Skybus adequate? Hasn't it been promised for what seems like the last 25 years or something?? Is it ever going to happen?

Not going to happen while the Taxi lobby is strong.

[serfty]

Originally Posted by SilenceFOOL!

... Slightly OT but what about the fact that Melb doesnt have a rain/light rail link to CBD.
Embarassing? Not worth it? Skybus adequate? Hasn't it been promised for what seems like the last 25 years or something?? Is it ever going to happen?

Originally Posted by NM

Not going to happen while the Taxi lobby is strong.

Nor while both the SYD (build "For" the Olympic games) and BNE ("Friendship" games) railway lines continue to struggle financially.