We had been playing football, and were running a little late, so my flatmate and I decided to get a cab to the bar where we were meeting friends, saving us a 20 minute walk across town.

The taxi arrived promptly, and drove us swiftly to our destination.

“How much is that mate?” I asked, feeling for my wallet.

“Err, whatever you normally pay” said the taxi driver

“I normally pay the going rate” I continued, now aware he was trying to scam me.

“Just give me what you normally pay.”

This was an opportunity not to be missed.

“I normally pay a pound.”

“It is more than that” he said laughing.

“How do you know? You asked how much it was normally, implying that you do not know how much it is. If in fact, you know it is more than one pound, that suggests you actually know how much the fare is.”

I had already decided to give him five pounds (the normal rate inclusive of a one pound tip), but wasn’t going to make it easy for him. Oh no.

“Would you have been so happy to correct me if I had estimated too high? If I had said “I’m not sure, maybe a tenner?” would you have laughed and said, “Oh it’s less than that Sir”?, I doubt it.”

I gave him four pounds with a demand for honesty with all his future customers. If a cab driver ever asks you how much you normally pay, then I ask you all to massively underestimate the amount. It is the only way they will learn.

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