This situation has led some frequent users, such as a night worker who relies on taxis, to be unable to request new units after incidents where they mistakenly took another vehicle or canceled a service. This user, who estimates having spent a significant amount with the dispatch service, was blocked due to a misunderstanding, which led him to opt for local taxi drivers.
“"I am a frequent user, and due to an error, they blocked me."
Another similar case involves a user who requested two taxis and, upon realizing one was not from the dispatch service, was immediately blocked. A third person experienced a more delicate situation when trying to cancel a taxi to take her flatmate to the emergency room, later finding herself unable to request new services until she paid for the canceled trip.
From the Taragranca taxi cooperative, a spokesperson explained that the measure has been applied for years to prevent drivers from losing trips and to encourage proper use of the service. It was clarified that the request to pay the flag-down fare is not for collection purposes but for prevention, and that in cases of proven medical emergency, the penalty is not applied. Currently, payment of this penalty must be made in person at the cooperative's offices, although work is underway on more agile methods such as Bizum.
“"Paying the flag-down fare is not for collection purposes."
The cooperative is also considering future changes such as upfront payment or blocking a certain amount on the card, similar to car rentals, although this would require modifications to regional ordinances and regulations. Furthermore, it was highlighted that drivers themselves can also be penalized for rejecting services or failing to pick up customers.
The City Council has indicated that it is neither the owner nor responsible for the dispatch service, but has recommended that cooperatives improve prior information so that users are aware of the consequences of not using a pre-contracted service. This blocking practice, although common in other dispatch services nationwide, is usually temporary.
In parallel, the taxi sector on the island faces a legal battle with VTC licenses. The Contentious-Administrative Court number 2 of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria admitted on April 16 a lawsuit filed by a Cabify subsidiary against the refusal of the Sustainable Mobility Department to grant VTC authorizations. This dispute adds to other ongoing proceedings, questioning the current model that limits VTC licenses to one for every 30 taxis, with a maximum of 102 in Gran Canaria.
