Taxi operator Lynk to introduce €1 ‘tech fee’ later this week

Taxi operator Lynk is set to introduce a €1 ‘tech fee’ later this week.

The new charge will come into effect from Wednesday, November 29, adding an additional €1 on top of fares for bookings made with Lynk on its app or via the web.

The company said the fee is being brought in “to help support our technology costs”.

“As a Lynk App or Web customer our top priority will always be to provide you with the most reliable service possible,” an email sent to Lynk customers read.

“In order to do this we need to occasionally adjust our charges to keep pace with costs.”

The additional fee will be deducted from the customer’s card along with their fare. Customers paying by cash will also have to pay their €1 tech fee by card, by calling a hotline number sent to them via a completed booking email.

Lynk is promising that customers will be able to avoid the new charge soon with a new Lynk Premium service “where there are no tech fees”, with customers encouraged to keep an eye on their email for news about the service.

Business arrangements for Lynk clients with bill-pay accounts or contracts will not be affected by the tech fee.

A similar €1 fee was introduced by taxi app Free Now in July 2022. It was further increased in January, up to €3 for vehicles that can hold five people and €5 for premium vehicles. The tech fee remains at €1 for vehicles that hold up to four passengers, however.

Lynk and the National Transport Authority (NTA) were contacted for comment.

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