Didi scam?

Question

I'm not sure if I've been fleeced. Any advice appreciated.

I booked a Didi from the pagoda to hanyangling. It shows less than RMB60. Upon entering the car, the driver asked if it's ok to use the highway, as the road is congested. I said ok and he said it will cost less than RMB20 for the till. Thereafter, during the ride, he said there MAY be additional charges. I was a bit confused. Upon entering the museum, he said there is a RMB3 parking charges.

After I got off the car, I got notified that the total charges was RMB119! Of which RMB16 was for the toll, the rest I'm not too sure.

I haven't confirmed the payment yet, as I'm just wondering why the driver can determine the price themselves. Doesn't it defeats the purpose of avoiding overcharging by the taxi drivers?

When I looked at the app a while ago, the price went down to RMB96. Is that a reasonable price to pay?

Thanks!

Answer

Didi, as a ride-hailing platform in China, generally provides a fare estimate before you confirm the ride. However, the final fare can differ from the estimate due to several factors such as tolls, traffic conditions, route changes, and surge pricing. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help understand your situation.

1. Estimated vs. Final Fare

The initial fare estimate (e.g., less than RMB60) is based on the standard route and traffic conditions at the time of booking.
If the driver takes a highway or alternative route, tolls and sometimes slightly longer distances can increase the final fare.
Additional surcharges like parking fees at destinations (e.g., RMB3 at a museum) are added to the total automatically.

2. Highway Toll and Route Changes

Drivers may ask for your consent to use toll roads; agreeing typically adds the toll cost to the fare, which is standard practice in China.
The phrase “there MAY be additional charges” usually refers to unpredictable traffic, extra distance, or toll roads; the driver does not arbitrarily set prices—it’s calculated by the app.

3. Fare Adjustment and App Notifications

After the ride, the app recalculates the fare based on the actual route and conditions. This can explain why the notification initially showed RMB119 and later adjusted to RMB96.
RMB96 seems reasonable for a Didi ride from the Pagoda to Hanyangling considering distance, highway toll, and any small surcharges like parking.

4. General Tips for Avoiding Confusion

Always check the fare estimate in the app and confirm if any tolls are anticipated.
Agree or decline highway use based on your comfort with potential additional charges.
Remember that the final fare is calculated by the app automatically, not set by the driver.

In conclusion, while the final fare may be higher than the initial estimate, the adjustment seems consistent with Didi’s system. The RMB96 final fare is reasonable for the trip, and there is no evidence of deliberate overcharging by the driver. Always verify in the app and keep screenshots if you need to dispute any charges.