2023-11-09 15:35:00
Between June and September, Annick had to take the taxi three times. Calling on different companies, she always connected her home on rue du bois communal in Loyers and the regional hospital center on the Meuse site, avenue Albert 1er in Namur. “A one-way trip, each time in the morning. I was counting on a relative to bring me back at the end of my visit,” explains this reader who contacted us, convinced that she had been the victim of a dubious process. There, I did not don’t take a taxi anymore, for fear of getting ripped off.”
For each of these journeys – approximately six kilometers for the most direct route – Annick has never had to pay the same amount twice. “Once, €24.80. The other time, €33.10. And the last time, €44.10,” she lists, supporting bank statements. Enough to make the Loyersoise wince, seeing her account get a little louder with each payment. “A driver told me that €44.10 was way too expensive!” Annick is convinced that she was fooled by a tampered with taximeter.
The Public Domain and Security (DPS) department of the City of Namur has never heard of such a case. Contacted by us, the boss of the first two transport companies (the cheapest) explains that such a practice is not possible in his opinion. For him, the most likely explanation for this price fluctuation from one day to the next is to be found in the fluidity, or otherwise, of traffic. “In our case, our taxis park in front of Namur station, they always return there, whether the customer stops there or has chosen another drop-off location. In any case, all our kilometers must be paid for by the customer. We therefore practice two rates. The T1 which we activate if the person wants a round trip. And the T2, in the case where the passenger wants to be dropped off somewhere but pays for the empty taxi return to its original location.”
Time is also money
According to the regulations of the City of Namur, the maximum prices (including tip and value added tax) set the amount of the charge at €3 and the kilometer price at €1.55. Taxi companies are entitled to a maximum discount of 10%. Not enough to explain the difference in “addition” observed by Annick. To which our taxi driver responds: “But we also have to take into account the wait. When we drive, the taximeter counts the kilometers traveled. But in the event of a stop, because of a traffic jam or a red light, we activate the hourly rate, set at €37/hour by the City. Ten minutes lost quickly add up to €6 more on the final bill. Then, at the moment, our vehicles are covering more kilometers given the construction site in front of the station which forces us to make detours behind the station.” One day is not the other and the vagaries of mobility in Namur would therefore be responsible for the fluctuation in the amounts that Annick had to pay. Who remains doubtful. “During these three journeys, we were not stopped by a red light, nor slowed down by a traffic jam.
“In any case, I don’t know any dishonest drivers in Namur.”, concludes the road professional.
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