The Taxi Drivers and Operators Association has called on cabbies and passengers to avoid potential confusion over electronic payments by communicating clearly with each other.

The call on Friday came a month to the day after it became mandatory for taxi drivers to provide at least two e-payment options.

The Transport Department has received 65 complaints as of April 17, with the grouses mainly about cabbies failing to offer electronic payment methods and certain platforms charging passengers transaction fees.

Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, association secretary-general Wong Tai-hoi said most of the complaints arose as a result of a lack of communication.

“For example, I may provide two electronic payment options, but a passenger may use something else,” he said.

“[They would say] why can't you provide, say, the credit card payment option, why don't you have it? Aren’t you supposed to provide it?”

Wong pointed out that even though there are stickers on taxis showing which e-payment methods are available, drivers working different shifts might offer different options without changing the stickers.

He urged drivers to make it a practice to make it clear to customers when they board which two payment options they offer.

Passengers, Wong added, should at the same time also keep cash in hand in spite of the availability of e-payment options, Wong added.

He also pointed out that while Octopus Card Hong Kong has waived handling fees for cabbies using its app for business purposes, it is uncertain whether the arrangement is permanent.

The cost of using e-payment methods, Wong stressed, is very high for drivers.


Edited by Thomas McAlinden