With only a month left of 2023, Antalya decided to increase it's taxi fares by a noticeable amount. The head of the Antalya Branch of the Consumer Union has reignited the ongoing controversy surrounding taxi fares, declaring the minimum fare charged by taxi drivers for short distances as unlawful.
The Antalya Metropolitan Municipality recently adjusted taxi fares, implementing a significant 42% increase in the metered rate, effective from August 15, 2023. This alteration raised the initial meter rate from TL 14 to 20, raised per-kilometer charges from TL 18 to 25, and elevated the waiting time fee to TL 84. Furthermore, the short-distance fee increased from TL 50 to 60.
Neşet Gündüz, the head of the Consumer Union Antalya Branch, emphasized that the short-distance fee is an administrative decision and is not obligatory for consumers. He encouraged passengers to challenge these charges, stating that the taxi meter is the only legitimate basis for fare calculation, and said, "If there's a taxi meter, the fare should correspond to its display. Those who paid TL 60 should seek a refund by presenting their receipt to the arbitration board. Serious penalties are applicable when complaints are filed with the Provincial Trade Directorate."
In contrast, Ilker Karahan, the General Secretary of the Antalya Drivers and Carriers Chamber, defended the short-distance fee, arguing that it safeguards both taxi drivers and consumers from potential disadvantages. Karahan highlighted the challenges faced by taxi drivers during extended wait times in queues and suggested that the fee compensates for disruptions resulting from short-distance trips.
Concurrently, the Transportation Ministry has introduced regulations for couriers, focusing on the transport of essential supplies. The rules specify vehicle age limits, requiring motorcycles to be under ten years old and cars under 20. License holders must ensure timely deliveries, decline shipments to impossible addresses, and provide protective gear, despite no specified delivery times. The regulations prohibit transporting restricted goods while allowing additional services upon customer request.
If you have Uber app installed on your phone in Turkey, you also must have received a notification regarding the increase of fixed fares no matter the distance.
The Antalya Metropolitan Municipality recently adjusted taxi fares, implementing a significant 42% increase in the metered rate, effective from August 15, 2023. This alteration raised the initial meter rate from TL 14 to 20, raised per-kilometer charges from TL 18 to 25, and elevated the waiting time fee to TL 84. Furthermore, the short-distance fee increased from TL 50 to 60.
Neşet Gündüz, the head of the Consumer Union Antalya Branch, emphasized that the short-distance fee is an administrative decision and is not obligatory for consumers. He encouraged passengers to challenge these charges, stating that the taxi meter is the only legitimate basis for fare calculation, and said, "If there's a taxi meter, the fare should correspond to its display. Those who paid TL 60 should seek a refund by presenting their receipt to the arbitration board. Serious penalties are applicable when complaints are filed with the Provincial Trade Directorate."
In contrast, Ilker Karahan, the General Secretary of the Antalya Drivers and Carriers Chamber, defended the short-distance fee, arguing that it safeguards both taxi drivers and consumers from potential disadvantages. Karahan highlighted the challenges faced by taxi drivers during extended wait times in queues and suggested that the fee compensates for disruptions resulting from short-distance trips.
Concurrently, the Transportation Ministry has introduced regulations for couriers, focusing on the transport of essential supplies. The rules specify vehicle age limits, requiring motorcycles to be under ten years old and cars under 20. License holders must ensure timely deliveries, decline shipments to impossible addresses, and provide protective gear, despite no specified delivery times. The regulations prohibit transporting restricted goods while allowing additional services upon customer request.
If you have Uber app installed on your phone in Turkey, you also must have received a notification regarding the increase of fixed fares no matter the distance.