Pay a taxi no more than the meter shows on a journey inside the licensing district, and ask for a receipt if you want one: Cannock Chase's driver conditions require a written receipt on request showing the driver's name and licence number. A driver may sometimes ask for payment before setting off, and the council's own passenger guidance accepts that after a late-night venue. The council's rules do not say whether you pay by cash or card, so ask before you travel if it matters.
Paying at the end of a metered trip
For a hackney carriage the amount due is the figure on the taximeter when the journey ends. The council's policy says the driver should state the fare displayed and ask the customer to pay no more than that, and that the meter must be used for journeys that start and finish inside the district, including pre-booked ones. That is the legal ceiling, not a target. You can always pay less if the driver agrees. How the figure is built up is explained in how taxi fares are worked out.
Receipts
A receipt is your evidence if the fare is later queried, if you need to reclaim business travel, or if you have left something in the cab. The local conditions give the right in three places: the general driver conditions say a driver must give a written receipt on request that specifies the driver's name and licence number; the hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licence conditions both require licensees to issue a hirer's receipt on request; and the policy's annex on fares says a receipt must always be provided for any journey if the passenger asks.
- Ask for the receipt before you get out, not after the cab has gone.
- Check that it shows the amount, the driver's name and the driver's licence number.
- Photograph it, or write down the plate number, if you may need it for a complaint or lost property claim.
- Keep it with your booking confirmation if the journey was private hire.
Paying before you travel
| Situation | What the council's documents say |
|---|---|
| Late at night, after a venue | Passenger guidance says being asked for some payment upfront is acceptable practice |
| Driver has reasonable cause for concern | The policy says the council will support drivers who ask for the appropriate fare before the journey |
| Private hire booking | The price is agreed with the operator at booking; follow the operator's instructions on how payment is made |
| Daytime, no reason given | Not addressed directly; you are entitled to ask why and to choose another cab |
An upfront request does not raise the legal ceiling. On an in-district hackney carriage journey the meter figure is still the most that can be charged, so a request far above any plausible fare for the trip is worth questioning before you hand anything over.
Agreed fares for journeys beyond the district
On a journey ending outside the district, a driver can charge more than the meter only if you agreed a different fare before setting off, as taxi journeys that cross a council boundary explains.
Cards, cash and apps
The council's policy sets out detailed rules about meters and receipts, but we did not find a clause saying that every driver must accept card payments. Some councils elsewhere do impose such a condition. If you do not carry cash, ask when you book or before you get in. For private hire booked through an app, the payment method is normally set up in the app at the time of booking and shown in the confirmation. Keep the confirmation: it serves as your record of the agreed price.
When a payment goes wrong
- Do not argue about the meter inside the vehicle if you feel uncomfortable. Pay what is shown, ask for a receipt and note the details.
- Record the plate number, badge number, date, time, route and the amount on the meter.
- Complain in writing to the licensing authority. Overcharging is one of the complaints the Licensing Unit says it can investigate, and the passenger guidance specifically advises obtaining a receipt and contacting the Licensing Unit in a fare dispute.
- Where you believe a crime has taken place, such as threats or theft, contact the police.
The steps and evidence to include are covered in taxi complaints and lost property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a taxi driver have to give me a receipt?
If you ask, yes. The Cannock Chase conditions require a written receipt that gives the driver's name and licence number, and say a receipt must always be given when requested.
Can a taxi driver ask for payment upfront?
Sometimes. The council says upfront payment is acceptable after a late-night venue, and it will support drivers with reasonable cause to request the fare in advance.
Do taxis have to accept card payments?
The council policy we reviewed does not set out a requirement to accept cards. Rules differ between councils, so ask before the journey.
What if the meter fare is higher than the estimate I was given?
For journeys inside the district you pay the meter figure, which cannot be exceeded. If you were quoted a firm price for a journey leaving the district, the agreed fare applies. Ask for a receipt and raise any difference with the council.
Who do I contact if I think I was overcharged?
The licensing authority that issued the vehicle's plate. In Cannock Chase that is the council's Licensing Unit, which can investigate overcharging complaints.