Is Yandex Taxi safe to use in Istanbul — double charging scams?

When paying cash, the meter may show a higher amount than the price displayed at pickup. In one reported case the final fare was 56 lira more than the initial quote (264 → 320 lira). Support attributed it to a 'navigation error' and offered a 65-lira discount on the next ride rather than a direct refund.

If the route uses a toll tunnel (e.g. the Eurasia Tunnel between the European and Asian sides), the app warns you before booking that the final price may be higher by up to ~200 lira. The toll is charged separately at the end of the trip — one reported case was 170 lira extra.

Another driver trick: accepting a ride, then driving to a different area and running the meter without picking up the passenger — apparently when drivers dislike the destination. Take a screenshot and contact support; refunds are issued in such cases.

Yandex Taxi operates in Istanbul, but some drivers try to take advantage of passengers. A common trick is double charging: if you have no mobile data and can't see that your linked card was already charged, the driver presents a terminal and you end up paying twice.

If you get double charged, contact Yandex Taxi support immediately. Keep your receipts and note the car number and driver's name. Support may stall, but mentioning that you'll post everything publicly and involve the police usually results in a refund.

Key rule: before paying via the driver's terminal, make sure you have internet access and can check the ride status in the app. If you're offline, don't tap your card on the terminal — wait until you're connected and verify whether the payment was already processed automatically.