A new one was recorded in Athens taxi scandal: the driver, driving from the KTEL Kifisos station towards the port of Piraeus, refused to turn on the taximeter, demanded from two young passengers €80and after their refusal, he dropped them off on the road.
According to Zouglathe incident occurred on the route from the KTEL Kifisos bus station to the port of Piraeus. Passengers claim that the driver did not turn on the taximeter and instead demanded a flat fee, explaining that due to traffic jams and the fact that due to such a trip he allegedly loses the opportunity to take other orders.
Similar details are given Athens Voice: according to the passenger complaint, at first it was about €40, but already on the road the driver raised the demand to €80citing traffic congestion. The taximeter, according to passengers, was never turned on.
“I am in command here”
When passengers refused to pay what was considered an unreasonable amount, the conflict escalated. According to Greek media reports, the driver dropped them off before the trip was completed and drove off.
Proson reports that during the argument, the driver allegedly told the passengers: “I’m in charge here.” The phrase, of course, is worthy not of a taxi, but of a small feudal principality on wheels. Only the license, alas for him, is not issued for the principality.
To avoid identification, the driver, according to passengers, drove away with the trunk open: in this way he tried to cover the car’s license plates and prevent them from being recorded on video or photos. He also writes about this Thriassio.gr.
Passengers filmed the conversation
The attempt to hide the numbers did not seem to help completely. The passengers managed to record the conversation and verbal conflict with the driver. According to Greek media, the materials can already be used for verification, and SATA, the Attica taxi drivers’ union, has been informed about the incident.
— Athens News (@russianathens) July 8, 2026
SATA is now expected to respond and take possible action to establish responsibility. If the complaint is confirmed, it may be not just rudeness, but a violation of transportation rules: refusing a taxi meter, imposing an inflated price and disembarking passengers at their destination.
Not the first time in recent days
This episode looks especially significant against the backdrop of another recent case, when a taxi driver, following a complaint from passengers, demanded from tourists instead of the normal cost of about €45 €170. The Athens News already wrote about this incident: The taxi driver took €170 from tourists instead of €45 and got caught.
In both cases, the scheme is similar: passengers are in a vulnerable situation, the route is connected to transport hubs, the driver does not want to work according to the meter, and the price turns from a tariff into an improvisation. Humanity invented the taximeter precisely in order not to argue with the driver about his mood, traffic jams and subtle inner world.
What is important for passengers to know
During a normal trip around the city, the driver is required to turn on the taximeter. Fixed tariffs apply only in strictly defined cases, for example on official routes from the airport to the center of Athens, and should not turn into free creativity on the topic “how much do I want today.”
If the driver refuses to turn on the taximeter, demands an unreasonable amount or behaves aggressively, the passenger should, if possible, record the car number, time, route, pick-up and drop-off location, and also save video or audio if it is safe to do so. This may be grounds for a complaint.
For tourists and residents, such cases are especially unpleasant, because they hit not only their wallets, but also the reputation of the city. One driver can do more damage to the image of Athens in ten minutes than bad weather, traffic jams and a closed kiosk combined.
Main conclusion
The story of €80 for a trip from Kifisos to Piraeus shows that the problem of “taxi without a taximeter” is resurfacing during the high season. This time, passengers not only refused to pay the inflated amount, but also recorded the conflict on video.
If SATA and the competent authorities really begin to respond quickly to such cases, some drivers may remember that a taxi is a licensed service, and not a mobile auction. Especially in a city where tourists already go through a quest every day from the heat, luggage, ports, buses and the eternal question: “is this a normal price or have I already been given a nice shoe?”
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