Hello Chuxing has confirmed that some ride-sharing drivers violated platform rules by charging passengers for highway tolls during the National Day holiday, when tolls were waived for passenger vehicles. The company stated it has restricted the offending drivers from accepting new orders and processed refunds for affected passengers.
Multiple users reported that drivers demanded highway fees or additional 'gratitude fees' ranging from 30 to 100 yuan during the free-toll period. In one documented case, a driver intentionally delayed a trip to ensure they could pass through toll gates after the free period began, while still collecting a 60-yuan fee from passengers.
Hello Chuxing's official policy explicitly prohibits charging highway fees when no actual costs are incurred. The platform states that violations can lead to penalties, including the deduction of trust scores, temporary suspensions of 3 to 7 days, or permanent bans for repeat offenders.
Industry experts suggest that the platform's current monitoring mechanisms are insufficient. Recommendations include implementing real-time verification for toll charges, establishing automated warning systems for suspicious transactions, and explicitly classifying mandatory 'gratitude fees' as prohibited conduct.
