Taxi Cheats in Vilnius - Avoid This Country
Aug 20th, 2011, 06:28 AM
#1
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Taxi Cheats in Vilnius - Avoid This Country
Yesterday I was brazenly cheated by a taxi from VIP Takksi at the Vilnius Airport. The starting fare was correct at 10 Litas but then the meter ran like wild. When I saw this I told the driver to return to the airport. I was ignored. The ten minute (or less) ride to my hotel was 82 Litas - 33 USD. My complaints were ignored and I was threatened when I initially refused to pay. I have filed a complaint with the airport.
My advise. Skip Vilnius. I had great times in Latvia and Estonia. The authorities at Vilnius are aware of these brazen acts and do nothing. Don't visit Lithuania until they clean up their act.
My advise. Skip Vilnius. I had great times in Latvia and Estonia. The authorities at Vilnius are aware of these brazen acts and do nothing. Don't visit Lithuania until they clean up their act.
Aug 20th, 2011, 06:58 AM
#3
Loved Vilnius. Would go there again. There are many countries that have the same problem. We have had that same problem in Barcelonia and Krakow, but woulds go to both cities again. Athens has a problem. For us, we wouldn't travel again if we worried about taxi theft. Happens in many cities in Europe. Richard P.S. Hope to go to Krakow again next year.
Aug 20th, 2011, 08:01 AM
#8
clausar; You remined me of the guy in Rome that tried to 'give' us a green felt jacket because he loved American's. Before you know it he had his hand trying to get into my daughters pocketbook. I took firm action. This was embarrassing. Had my pocket picked of 1400 FF in Paris on the Metro, about 200US dollars while with friends. However, we have been back to both cities.
Aug 20th, 2011, 08:36 AM
#10
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If you give us the details: cab number, time, driver, etc. I'll enter it into the database that authorities are using to discourage such practices. (Too bad for tourists that the database instructions are in Lithuanian.)
Aug 20th, 2011, 09:29 AM
#11
"<i>Taxi Cheats in Vilnius - Avoid This Country </i>"
Jeeze - That is like posting >>Beer costs $10 at Yankee Stadium - AVOID United States<< or >>Paris not worth it -- there are pickpockets<<
Did you ask the hotel what the typical cab fare is in from the Airport? Which hotel was it? Maybe 72 litas over the initial flag drop was appropriate -- or not.
Jeeze - That is like posting >>Beer costs $10 at Yankee Stadium - AVOID United States<< or >>Paris not worth it -- there are pickpockets<<
Did you ask the hotel what the typical cab fare is in from the Airport? Which hotel was it? Maybe 72 litas over the initial flag drop was appropriate -- or not.
Aug 20th, 2011, 10:17 AM
#12
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This is an idiotic reason to not go somewhere. Because you got ripped off (maybe) by one cab driver, you tell people to not go to an entire city?
Oh, my wife got sick in Rome, so we should never go back. The car rental agency in Cancun tried to over-charge me, so don't go to the Yucatan. An Indian restaurant in London did not make their curry the way I expected, so no more London. I ate haggis, yep no more Scotland. I had to wait in the airport for several hours in Iceland and spent money in the gift shops, stay away from that god-forsaken country. There was somebody smoking crack on the streets of Frankfurt, so...ok maybe I won't go back to Frankfurt because I didn't like it. A NY subway broke down on me while traveling between Queens and Manhattan, it ruined my entire year. A gas station on I-75 was charging 6 cents more per gallon than the one on the very next exit, so I can never drive on the interstate again. I type crazy things like this, so my wife is going to kill me.
dave
Oh, my wife got sick in Rome, so we should never go back. The car rental agency in Cancun tried to over-charge me, so don't go to the Yucatan. An Indian restaurant in London did not make their curry the way I expected, so no more London. I ate haggis, yep no more Scotland. I had to wait in the airport for several hours in Iceland and spent money in the gift shops, stay away from that god-forsaken country. There was somebody smoking crack on the streets of Frankfurt, so...ok maybe I won't go back to Frankfurt because I didn't like it. A NY subway broke down on me while traveling between Queens and Manhattan, it ruined my entire year. A gas station on I-75 was charging 6 cents more per gallon than the one on the very next exit, so I can never drive on the interstate again. I type crazy things like this, so my wife is going to kill me.
dave
Aug 20th, 2011, 10:52 AM
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One out of control taxi driver is hardly enough reason to avoid a country.
I know a lot of people post about drivers that try to cheat them.
I've been not europe - not ALL countries - but almost all - more than 90 times and have only had a driver try to cheat me once - in Prague. The answer is simple. At the end of the ride get out of the cab - look dithery if you need to have him pull the luggage out or whatever - then give him what he deserves and walk away. They will not assault you - penalties are huge - and if they shout curses, who cares. I'm sure he called me several ver colorful things - but when I told him to call the police and I would stand there and wait for them to come - he just drive away.
I know a lot of people post about drivers that try to cheat them.
I've been not europe - not ALL countries - but almost all - more than 90 times and have only had a driver try to cheat me once - in Prague. The answer is simple. At the end of the ride get out of the cab - look dithery if you need to have him pull the luggage out or whatever - then give him what he deserves and walk away. They will not assault you - penalties are huge - and if they shout curses, who cares. I'm sure he called me several ver colorful things - but when I told him to call the police and I would stand there and wait for them to come - he just drive away.
Aug 20th, 2011, 12:02 PM
#16
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I had exactly the same scam pulled on us in NYC years ago. Fortunately, I'd just read about it in NY Magazine just prior to our visit there. The phony meter read something like $35 for what should have been an $8 ride. My SO wrote down the taxi licence number, yelled at the cabbie and tossed him a ten dollar bill and we walked away. He did write to the NY Taxi Commission but of course got no response.
This is life, Always. You just have to learn to stick up for yourself or walk away and let it run off your back.
This is life, Always. You just have to learn to stick up for yourself or walk away and let it run off your back.
Aug 20th, 2011, 09:29 PM
#17
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Very simple. Government/airport is very aware of problem and done nothing. I have been to 100+ countries and have experienced this problem only one other time. Other Baltic countries do not have this problem.
Aug 21st, 2011, 01:12 AM
#18
When I lost the 1400 FF on the Paris metro to pickpockets I was not happy. Took me about an hour to 'get over it'. I wasn't about to allow that incident to distract from our vacation in a wonderful city. To suggest not to visit a country because of a worldwide problem with taxi's is immature and silly. Get over it. Vilnius is a wonderful city.
Aug 21st, 2011, 01:46 AM
#19
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I've never been to Vilnius, but I do know how to use Google and check out tourist information. Two minutes' online searching produced these:
<i>Avoid the overpriced taxis at the airport taxi rank – get the tourist information counter in the airport (9am-9pm) to call you one, for £7.50/30 </i>
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ci...ect-break.html
<i>Vilnius International Airport seeks to provide quality passenger services to ensure you have a pleasant travel. Recently, they have been receiving numerous complaints regarding the unsatisfactory taxi service. To find out the reasons and encourage decisions, we are asking you to inform Vilnius airport about your unpleasant experience or the one that fell short of your expectations when travelling by taxi to or from the airport. To register your complaint, please click here. </i>
http://www.lithuaniatourism.co.uk/index.php?id=337 (Lithuanian National Tourist Office: also lists the rail and bus options)
<i>Avoid the overpriced taxis at the airport taxi rank – get the tourist information counter in the airport (9am-9pm) to call you one, for £7.50/30 </i>
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ci...ect-break.html
<i>Vilnius International Airport seeks to provide quality passenger services to ensure you have a pleasant travel. Recently, they have been receiving numerous complaints regarding the unsatisfactory taxi service. To find out the reasons and encourage decisions, we are asking you to inform Vilnius airport about your unpleasant experience or the one that fell short of your expectations when travelling by taxi to or from the airport. To register your complaint, please click here. </i>
http://www.lithuaniatourism.co.uk/index.php?id=337 (Lithuanian National Tourist Office: also lists the rail and bus options)
Aug 21st, 2011, 02:42 AM
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travel.state.gov warns of this if you had simply done research
to suggest that one should not visit a place
based on a poor personal taxi driver selection
is silly laughable and illogical.
Labeled cabs and cab stands work best for me or bus or walk
this happens worldwide to the clueless...
Not a good idea to share cabs with strangers either
in case you are as clueless about that.
Lots worse things can happen be more careful next time.
to suggest that one should not visit a place
based on a poor personal taxi driver selection
is silly laughable and illogical.
Labeled cabs and cab stands work best for me or bus or walk
this happens worldwide to the clueless...
Not a good idea to share cabs with strangers either
in case you are as clueless about that.
Lots worse things can happen be more careful next time.
