July 2, 2025 • 7 mins
Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti has been stung, Suzy our producer has been stung, Clairsy & Lisa opened the lines to ask callers about their experience with taxi drivers who are not doing the right thing.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
So an undercover blitz some Perth taxi drivers as planned
after complaints a growing number of drivers are not properly
using their meters. This has not happened to me, as.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
It happened to you, hasn't happened to well normally in
an uber.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Transport Minister Rita Safiotti has revealed that even she has
been stung and warned drivers that you can't set your
own fares. That's not the way it works. It hasn't
happened to you or eye, but it's happened to Suzie
sushi producer.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
You.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
When did this happen to you? Tell us what happened.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
This actually happened after our Christmas party in December. I
had a broken foot at the time, and I was like,
I need to go home. And we were in Mount
Lawley for our party and everyone has their Christmas parties
around the same time, so it was super busy and
usually I'd get an uber, but they were fully booked,
so there was a taxi right there and I was like,
you know what, I'm just going to get in. I
(00:49):
live in yo kind Mount Lawali, Yo Kind. I was like, no,
no problems could surely happen halfway down Walcott Street, I
realize the meter's not on oh, and I pointed it
out and he got very aggressive with me and made
up all these excuses that he was off the clock
and trying to do some extra money and stuff that. Yeah,
and he told me I know what the price is,
(01:10):
and I'm like, well, no, you sho. So I argued
with him. We got the meter running, and then he
stopped me on my street and tried to charge me
more than what was on the meter, so what he
had originally quoted, which was more, and we had an
argument about that with the moon boot almost and then
(01:36):
in the end he refunded me some money because he
had at first charged me more. And then I took
a photo of his license and the what was on
the meet, so I had a comparison to what I
was charged. And then I got out and he was
abusing me and drove off, and I took a photo
of the license plate number he stopped, got out of
(01:57):
the car and came towards me, and I was like,
I'm not going to be able to run away very
fast from this guy because I have a broken foot.
And yeah, We've got into a heated argument on the street,
and he was very worried about me reporting him, and
I was like, well, don't do dodgy. Yeah, and you
don't have to be reported.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
Exactly, But that vulnerability of not just being a woman
in the car with a busted foot, but the fact
that you can't see what the meter is doing can
make up any number.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
And if it happens, he knows what it costs.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
But that's not who I don't think, that's not the
met I think the meter is for us to know
what's going on. Rita Sofioti says, a taxi driver must
set the met in operation at the start of the
journey and stop it at the end of the journey. Well, yeah,
that's how a taxi works. And she's asked her people
to undertake a compliance blitz. They're doing a mystery shopper stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Can I do that, mystery passenger? No, I reckon, I'd
be a good mystery I'm that with some dark sonny.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
Yes, it's a little to come work.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So yeah, undercover transport officials will use taxis to make
sure that everything's being done right.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah, okay, and you survived. He did, and it has
happened to read her as well.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
But Johnny Como is called Hello John.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
John, Welcome guys.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
How you go on?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
You're a driver, aren't you?
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Yes?
Speaker 6 (03:15):
But my thoughts on this fly, uh, the take a
politicidn't get busted for them to do something because this
privilege has been going on for decades before I even
Urgle was here. The drivers have been uh, manipulating fairs
and all sorts of stuff. And I had an issue
(03:36):
of that long ago where I needed to catch a
camp because it was more convenient to go from the
city to come mate. So this guy decides we're on
the set on the freeway, and then he decides he's
going to go down Riverside Drive and go through the
city to go out to Coma. And I'm thinking, what, No,
that's not yeah, And when I told him, no, you're
(04:00):
going the wrong way, he got really stoppy, wow, really
really stroppy.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (04:08):
And in the end he did go up the freeway
because I insisted, but he was he told me, actually
told me I'm the driver, don't tell me how to drive.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
He was trying to fudge another ten bucks.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
I've had very good, lucky drivers. They usually asked me
which way I want to go?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yeah, which way? About with you, Roger, Well, I do that.
Speaker 6 (04:28):
I mean people tell me sometimes I don't go the
way Google Maps saying going this way yea, And I was, okay,
you're fine.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
You know, I might think it's longer.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
But you know you're paying for the right. If you
want to go that way, you go that way.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
And John the lassie you wanted a stroppy driver when
they're taking you home.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
That's very uncomfortable.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Not good. Thanks John, Thanks for you.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
It's a wisdom Paul, and jup has called Paul, what's
your experience with this situation that morning?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
You know, when you go a single like you don't
have someone there can run you for a wheel alignment
or something you can't do yourself. Like highers that I've
got a taxi to where I go and then I said, well,
I've got to go back and kick it up, and
I don't know what time, and he goes. He gave
me his card, he actually had like a taxi business card,
(05:17):
and he says, I'll just ring us up and I'll
come and get you. And he says, as long as
it's not like you've got to be there that second,
and anyway, he's left the meter off, like Susie said,
but he's nothing like him, and he's done a cheaper
because I know it's thirty bucks to get there, and
he did it for twenty that's all right, A good experience. Yeah,
(05:38):
and more than once. I said to him, well I
sort of need someone now, and he goes, as long
as you don't need me there in ten fifteen minutes,
now I can fit you in. And so I've kept
the card and I get lifts everywhere. And I remember
ringing in one Saturday I had because they'll do a
wheel alignment on Saturday where I go and he says, well,
(06:00):
I'm not in the taxi, but I can still do it,
so yeah, no worries. Then he actually had his mum
and he was taking his mum shopping, so I met
her as well. Pretty cool people.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Yeahs like you're a very own Parker in Thunderbird, like
a mate.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Yeah yeah, yeahm off on the way and he dropped
the price down.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
He's getting guaranteed regular work.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Okay, yeah, well just when whenever you need it. It's
not that regular that you get car stuff done. But
I thought it was awesome, and then I heard Susie's story.
It's completely different.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, it wasn't good. It's good.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
There are actually.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
At least it was a bit of light with a
shade like that. Mum was in the car to meet her.
Oh my god, I have a chat with your cab driver.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
There was to be his best mate and they've got
to drop mom off on the way.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Mom's in the car for a chat. I wonder if
she biked.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
I
So an undercover blitz some Perth taxi drivers as planned
after complaints a growing number of drivers are not properly
using their meters. This has not happened to me, as.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
It happened to you, hasn't happened to well normally in
an uber.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Transport Minister Rita Safiotti has revealed that even she has
been stung and warned drivers that you can't set your
own fares. That's not the way it works. It hasn't
happened to you or eye, but it's happened to Suzie
sushi producer.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
You.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
When did this happen to you? Tell us what happened.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
This actually happened after our Christmas party in December. I
had a broken foot at the time, and I was like,
I need to go home. And we were in Mount
Lawley for our party and everyone has their Christmas parties
around the same time, so it was super busy and
usually I'd get an uber, but they were fully booked,
so there was a taxi right there and I was like,
you know what, I'm just going to get in. I
(00:49):
live in yo kind Mount Lawali, Yo Kind. I was like, no,
no problems could surely happen halfway down Walcott Street, I
realize the meter's not on oh, and I pointed it
out and he got very aggressive with me and made
up all these excuses that he was off the clock
and trying to do some extra money and stuff that. Yeah,
and he told me I know what the price is,
(01:10):
and I'm like, well, no, you sho. So I argued
with him. We got the meter running, and then he
stopped me on my street and tried to charge me
more than what was on the meter, so what he
had originally quoted, which was more, and we had an
argument about that with the moon boot almost and then
(01:36):
in the end he refunded me some money because he
had at first charged me more. And then I took
a photo of his license and the what was on
the meet, so I had a comparison to what I
was charged. And then I got out and he was
abusing me and drove off, and I took a photo
of the license plate number he stopped, got out of
(01:57):
the car and came towards me, and I was like,
I'm not going to be able to run away very
fast from this guy because I have a broken foot.
And yeah, We've got into a heated argument on the street,
and he was very worried about me reporting him, and
I was like, well, don't do dodgy. Yeah, and you
don't have to be reported.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
Exactly, But that vulnerability of not just being a woman
in the car with a busted foot, but the fact
that you can't see what the meter is doing can
make up any number.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
And if it happens, he knows what it costs.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
But that's not who I don't think, that's not the
met I think the meter is for us to know
what's going on. Rita Sofioti says, a taxi driver must
set the met in operation at the start of the
journey and stop it at the end of the journey. Well, yeah,
that's how a taxi works. And she's asked her people
to undertake a compliance blitz. They're doing a mystery shopper stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Can I do that, mystery passenger? No, I reckon, I'd
be a good mystery I'm that with some dark sonny.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
Yes, it's a little to come work.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
So yeah, undercover transport officials will use taxis to make
sure that everything's being done right.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Yeah, okay, and you survived. He did, and it has
happened to read her as well.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
But Johnny Como is called Hello John.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
John, Welcome guys.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
How you go on?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
You're a driver, aren't you?
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Yes?
Speaker 6 (03:15):
But my thoughts on this fly, uh, the take a
politicidn't get busted for them to do something because this
privilege has been going on for decades before I even
Urgle was here. The drivers have been uh, manipulating fairs
and all sorts of stuff. And I had an issue
(03:36):
of that long ago where I needed to catch a
camp because it was more convenient to go from the
city to come mate. So this guy decides we're on
the set on the freeway, and then he decides he's
going to go down Riverside Drive and go through the
city to go out to Coma. And I'm thinking, what, No,
that's not yeah, And when I told him, no, you're
(04:00):
going the wrong way, he got really stoppy, wow, really
really stroppy.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (04:08):
And in the end he did go up the freeway
because I insisted, but he was he told me, actually
told me I'm the driver, don't tell me how to drive.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
He was trying to fudge another ten bucks.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
I've had very good, lucky drivers. They usually asked me
which way I want to go?
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yeah, which way? About with you, Roger, Well, I do that.
Speaker 6 (04:28):
I mean people tell me sometimes I don't go the
way Google Maps saying going this way yea, And I was, okay,
you're fine.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
You know, I might think it's longer.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
But you know you're paying for the right. If you
want to go that way, you go that way.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
And John the lassie you wanted a stroppy driver when
they're taking you home.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
That's very uncomfortable.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Not good. Thanks John, Thanks for you.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
It's a wisdom Paul, and jup has called Paul, what's
your experience with this situation that morning?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
You know, when you go a single like you don't
have someone there can run you for a wheel alignment
or something you can't do yourself. Like highers that I've
got a taxi to where I go and then I said, well,
I've got to go back and kick it up, and
I don't know what time, and he goes. He gave
me his card, he actually had like a taxi business card,
(05:17):
and he says, I'll just ring us up and I'll
come and get you. And he says, as long as
it's not like you've got to be there that second,
and anyway, he's left the meter off, like Susie said,
but he's nothing like him, and he's done a cheaper
because I know it's thirty bucks to get there, and
he did it for twenty that's all right, A good experience. Yeah,
(05:38):
and more than once. I said to him, well I
sort of need someone now, and he goes, as long
as you don't need me there in ten fifteen minutes,
now I can fit you in. And so I've kept
the card and I get lifts everywhere. And I remember
ringing in one Saturday I had because they'll do a
wheel alignment on Saturday where I go and he says, well,
(06:00):
I'm not in the taxi, but I can still do it,
so yeah, no worries. Then he actually had his mum
and he was taking his mum shopping, so I met
her as well. Pretty cool people.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Yeahs like you're a very own Parker in Thunderbird, like
a mate.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Yeah yeah, yeahm off on the way and he dropped
the price down.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
He's getting guaranteed regular work.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Okay, yeah, well just when whenever you need it. It's
not that regular that you get car stuff done. But
I thought it was awesome, and then I heard Susie's story.
It's completely different.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, it wasn't good. It's good.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
There are actually.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
At least it was a bit of light with a
shade like that. Mum was in the car to meet her.
Oh my god, I have a chat with your cab driver.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
There was to be his best mate and they've got
to drop mom off on the way.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Mom's in the car for a chat. I wonder if
she biked.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
I
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