An Ontario woman was charged nearly $7,000 for a taxi ride

An Ontario woman was shocked to find she was charged nearly $7,000 for unknowingly using an unauthorized taxi company on the first leg of her trip to Antarctica.

“Our first stop was in Santiago, Chile, and unfortunately we got ripped off,” Pat Shackledy of Midland, Ont., told CTV News Toronto.

Shacklady told CTV News Toronto that she and a friend booked a taxi in advance to pick them up from the Santiago airport in January.

Pat Shackledy, pictured above, was shocked to find he was charged $7,000 for unknowingly using an unauthorized taxi company on the first leg of his trip to Antarctica. (Handout)

Instead, he said he was certain upon arrival that their driver had been involved in an accident and had been sent to another company.

Shackledy said the couple offered to pay in cash; “Unfortunately, they said no. “They didn't take cash, they had to pay by credit card.”

He was given a receipt for $45,000 in Chilean pesos, about $62, and continued his journey, he said.

But when Shacklady returned home, her credit card statement showed $6,943.

“When I got home and looked at my bank account, I almost had a heart attack,” she said.

When Shacklady contacted Bank of Montreal (BMO), her claim was initially rejected and she was told she would not be compensated.

“If it was only $200, I'd say I got ripped off for it, but $7,000, that's a lot of money,” he said.

The Canadian government currently has a travel advisory warning travelers to Chile about taxi scams. It advises on its website that there have been reports of fraud near airports and to use taxis only at designated locations and to always check the amount on the card reader before paying. It is also recommended to avoid unmetered taxis.

CTV News reached out to BMO and said a spokesperson is looking into Shaklady's case. They later confirmed to CTV News that the $6,943 would be refunded to her card.

“I'm happy because it's a lot of money. It's a big relief,” Shackledy said.

Pat Shackledy, pictured above, was shocked to find he was charged $7,000 for unknowingly using an unauthorized taxi company on the first leg of his trip to Antarctica. (Handout)

In a statement to CTV News, a BMO spokesperson said it was “pleased that the customer's issue with the merchant was resolved through the standard dispute resolution process.”

“We encourage customers and cardholders to be vigilant, especially when traveling, and regularly review their activities and statements to ensure they can confirm and validate all payments,” the statement said.

It's a good habit to never take your credit card out of your sight, no matter where you are, as this is when a fraudster may try to charge you extra without your knowledge.