This post was prompted by another post I read today about incorrect/false billing on taxi hailing apps in India. This also prompted me to start my first petition on Change.org and I request all Uber/Ola users to show their support]
source: www.cnc3.co.tt
However, the "scam" needs a deeper look - as pointed out in the post by naughtyhrn the scam isnt by PayTM. The real con artists here are the cab drivers and to a lesser extent - Uber.
Responsibilities of each party within this scenario
1. PayTM **
a. PayTM is merely a payment gateway. It merely enables the transfer of fund from your wallet to Uber/other
b. PayTM cannot be held responsible for validating the bill/amounts, its sub-items and any claims by vendor within this scenario (not sure what the legal burden here is)
2. Uber
a. Maintaining a database of tolls on routes and identifying the passengers (within the large taxi hailing service)
b. Charging the passenger the appropriate amounts based on base fare, distance, time and toll charges
3. Cab Driver
a. Paying the tolls (if any) which are automatically integrated within the bill to the user/uber within the app
Before I more further, I wanted to share the tolls on the Faridabad-Delhi road, where there are 2 types of charges at the same toll/location:
1. Delhi-Faridabad (DF) Skyway Toll
This is an elevated road where users can avoid the local traffic stretch - for which you are charged
a. Rs. 25 (1 way trip)
b. Rs. 37 (multiple trips over 24hrs)
This toll is mandatory for all vehicles passing through the DF Skyway and payable via cash, credit/debit cards, monthly RFID passes or app/wallets such as PayTM
2. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Toll
Charged by the MCD from all commercial vehicles that are entering Delhi. As mentioned by naughtyhrn
> a one-time entry pass into Delhi worth Rs 100, but its monthly pass costs Rs 3000. If a cab driver makes 5 trips in a day across the border, every customer will have paid Rs 100 extra for the toll
In a typical scenario, cab drivers make multiple trips in/out of Delhi each day. As such, it makes sense for them to buy a monthly pass. Assiuming just 2 trips into Delhi each day
| Type | Cost | Monthly Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| Pay per Trip | Rs. 100/trip | Rs. 6,000 |
| Monthly Pass | Rs. 3,000 | Rs. 3,000 |
Cab drivers can save Rs.3,000 each month by buying a monthly pass
In my experience, a large majority of Cab drivers that ply in/around delhi buy the monthly pass, thereby saving money - nothing wrong with that. And this is where the con starts
The Reality
While the cab driver possesses a monthly pass, the passenger on passing through the DF Skyway, will still be charged Rs.100 by Uber. This amount is subsequently paid out to the cab driver by Uber - something that essentially amounts to stealing IMO
Uber can merely hide behind the fact, that there is no mechanism for them to verify whether the Cab driver possesses a monthly pass or not - thereby just passing the blame.
Possible Solutions
- The cab drivers can be honest (who am I kidding) and refund the passenger Rs.100 that they will incorrectly receive from uber.
- Uber can add a feature within the app where the driver and the user can confirm if the toll paid was for a single entry or a monthly pass.
- Uber can require cab drivers to purchase the monthly pass via uber - this would ensure that cabs with monthly passes have this information within their database and passengers hailing these cabs are not charge the toll.