Foreign Taxi Driver Frauds

[irc]

I have read of a few of these recently where when paying by card the driver alters the amount. Banks are refusing a charge back because it was an in person transaction.

Is it just me that thinks this is easily avoided by paying in cash. Or alternatively double checking the amount before swiping.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jun/22/pari...

[s1962a]

foreigners eh?

[markh1973]

irc said:

I have read of a few of these recently where when paying by card the driver alters the amount. Banks are refusing a charge back because it was an in person transaction.

Is it just me that thinks this is easily avoided by paying in cash. Or alternatively double checking the amount before swiping.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jun/22/pari...

I paid by cash when I was in Buenos Aires. The driver then decided to report that I hadn't paid. Uber decided that they believed the driver not me. Now I know why the prevailing advice was that the uber drivers wouldn't pick up someone wanting to pay by card - it gives them a chance of being paid twice.

[MrBogSmith]

As the article says, that needs taking to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Let Mastercard decide.

Amex are really good with chargebacks. Partly because you're dealing directly with them rather than a bank.

I was getting bounced between the Trainline and the rail operator recently for a cancelled train. Chargeback on Amex sorted in a few days.

The downside is is less widely accepted.

[Furbo]

MrBogSmith said:

Amex are really good with chargebacks. Partly because you're dealing directly with them rather than a bank.

This must be a different Amex from the one I use, who are absolute shysters with Chargeback and S.75.

[catso]

Admittedly, I've never used Uber but I've always paid Taxis in cash, same goes for small items such as coffees etc.

Maybe it's because I'm old fart but at least I've never been ripped off in doing so.

[MrBogSmith]

Furbo said:

MrBogSmith said:

Amex are really good with chargebacks. Partly because you're dealing directly with them rather than a bank.

This must be a different Amex from the one I use, who are absolute shysters with Chargeback and S.75.

On the customer or merchant side?

I've been on both and my experience is it heavily favours the consumer across all card providers. PayPal are also very strong for the consumer, but are quite slow to resolve.

[Countdown]

markh1973 said:

I paid by cash when I was in Buenos Aires. The driver then decided to report that I hadn't paid. Uber decided that they believed the driver not me. Now I know why the prevailing advice was that the uber drivers wouldn't pick up someone wanting to pay by card - it gives them a chance of being paid twice.

I dont use Uber a lot but I thought everybody paid by Card?I snt the CC linked to the Uber account?

[Tam_Mullen]

Countdown said:

I dont use Uber a lot but I thought everybody paid by Card?I snt the CC linked to the Uber account?

Not sure if they have the option in the UK, but when in Brazil it would let me pay the Uber with cash. It was still the set fare on the app, just paid cash.

[Furbo]

MrBogSmith said:

Furbo said:

MrBogSmith said:

Amex are really good with chargebacks. Partly because you're dealing directly with them rather than a bank.

This must be a different Amex from the one I use, who are absolute shysters with Chargeback and S.75.

On the customer or merchant side?

I've been on both and my experience is it heavily favours the consumer across all card providers. PayPal are also very strong for the consumer, but are quite slow to resolve.

Customer.

Chargeback - they continually ask for more info on a piecemeal basis. Then say no.

S.75. - persistently deny having received stuff. Recently made a CEO office complaint, and they repeated that they had not received anything despite it having been sent four times. Sent them screen grabs and all of a sudden they found it.

Used to be OK, lately ste.

[loskie]

Some types of restaurants I'm wary of paying in anything other than cash. They should prefer it too as there will be less charges if handled legitimately and even less if not.

[Sheepshanks]

catso said:

Admittedly, I've never used Uber but I've always paid Taxis in cash, same goes for small items such as coffees etc.

Maybe it's because I'm old fart but at least I've never been ripped off in doing so.

I've been ripped off multiple times by taxis abroad and I always pay cash. I got away without paying at all in Barcelona on a trip from the airport which was 2x what it should have been. The hotel receptionist came out and tore the taxi driver a new one to the extent that the police they have on Las Ramblas there took an interest and she took me away.

In the case in the OP, I'm amazed Monzo dug their heels in - although it does make a change from when firms normally always give in when the press contacts them.

As another poster mentioned, I've had no trouble getting Amex to do chargebacks although I can only recall doing it twice. I've had flat refusals from other card providers.

[MrBogSmith]

Furbo said:

Customer.

Chargeback - they continually ask for more info on a piecemeal basis. Then say no.

S.75. - persistently deny having received stuff. Recently made a CEO office complaint, and they repeated that they had not received anything despite it having been sent four times. Sent them screen grabs and all of a sudden they found it.

Used to be OK, lately ste.

I may have been fortunate.

From a merchant POV we had 3DS enabled which essentially eliminated people falsely claiming fraud. So instead they'd try other categories like 'subscription not cancelled', even through the service wasn't a subscription. We'd still lose some of those even though the proof was clear there was no subscription and contracted a charge-back / industry expert who'd prepare all the cases in a format that was best for the case handlers.

[Countdown]

Tam_Mullen said:

Countdown said:

I dont use Uber a lot but I thought everybody paid by Card?I snt the CC linked to the Uber account?

Not sure if they have the option in the UK, but when in Brazil it would let me pay the Uber with cash. It was still the set fare on the app, just paid cash.

Tbf Ive only used it in the UK and Dubai and it took payment automatically. It sent me a separate message asking if i wanted to leave a tip.

[Earthdweller]

s1962a said:

foreigners eh?

What else do you call people that live in foreign countries ?

[finlo]

A friend of mines first Uber trip was in Manchester and within minutes of him paying (by card) someone was having a spending spree using his card details in New York!

[Countdown]

finlo said:

A friend of mines first Uber trip was in Manchester and within minutes of him paying (by card) someone was having a spending spree using his card details in New York!

Talk about unlucky.

[Wills2]

It's a nasty trick, but I guess the lesson is to check the amount on the screen before you insert your card and enter your pin as you're not tapping the card for a £500 payment are you, and if you have taken the limit to that well that's another lesson.

[davek_964]

You can get caught with cash too - I did many years ago. I was given the correct change - for a fairly high value note - and only noticed the next day that it was the wrong currency and worth f**k all.
Lesson learned and wouldn't fall for it again.

[gareth h]

I had the €50 for €20 switcheroo by an Italian taxi driver in Rome, me “sorry mate” and gave him another €30 (plus tip), only to check my wallet when I got in the airport to find the fifty missing, bd!