Elderly Brussels Artist Alleges Taxi Scam: 260 Euro Ride Sparks Controversy on Eid Al-Adha

Christian, a 68-year-old Brussels resident, accuses a taxi driver of having swindled him on June 6 by making him pay 260 euros instead of 116 euros for a ride. "What happened to me is beyond comprehension and common sense. I am slightly disabled in my lower limbs. I usually travel by taxi in Brussels. I had a particular taxi driver who regularly transported me, but he was not available that day, as it was the Feast of the Sacrifice," explains this professional visual artist to La Dernière Heure. The sexagenarian is used to taking taxis from the Taxis Verts company. But that day, he was billed twice to his great surprise.

"I’ve always liked this company because they don’t operate on a meter. The price is set in advance by phone. But this time it was a bit special. I had to go to three different places in Brussels to pick up and drop off heavy objects. At the end of the ride, I ask him the amount to pay: 250 euros," details Christian. He pays 250 euros in cash instead of 116 euros. The driver justifies this increase by the shortage of drivers on the day of Eid. "I was terribly tired and annoyed. I give him 250 euros as well as a 10 euro tip, all in cash," he continues. But Christian didn’t buy this argument.

The next morning, he tries to check with Taxis Verts. "I manage to get in touch with the manager who tells me that the ride was recorded in the system at 116 euros. However, since I had paid in cash, there was no proof that I had paid 250 euros. The manager doubted my word and said I was at fault, because I should have paid by credit card," he recounts. Michael Leidensdorf, manager of Taxis Verts, assures that "there is no specific or automatic surcharge related to a religious holiday. To claim the contrary is puzzling."

He continues: "The price of the ride booked by the customer with the option of payment in the vehicle was set at 116 € for a ride that lasted 2h20. This price is in our system. In accordance with the applicable regulations (Taxi Ordinance), Taxis Verts applies a pricing policy modulated according to objective parameters such as distance, estimated travel time and traffic conditions." Christian is demanding the refund of the difference, but he will not prevail. "Regarding this complaint, we have already contacted the customer several times and asked him to provide us with proof of payment or the receipt issued after the ride," adds Leidensdorf.

And he concludes: "To date, he has not been able to produce a document attesting to an amount higher than that set by Taxis Verts. We have all the written evidence. On our side, we questioned the driver, who confirms that the amount paid corresponds to the announced price of 116 euros, the customer even having added a 4 € tip." The sexagenarian then files a complaint with Test Achats.