Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the growing issue of discrepancies between estimated and actual fares in the ride-hailing market, particularly focusing on the controversial practice of drivers requesting "return empty fees" for cross-city rides, which has become a common yet problematic phenomenon in the industry [1][10]. Group 1: Market Conditions - In the first half of 2025, Shenzhen's transportation authority reported 556 violations related to ride-hailing operations, a 73.21% increase from the previous year, alongside 53,526 valid passenger complaints, averaging nearly 300 per day [1]. - The average daily order completion per vehicle in Shenzhen increased from 11.82 to 12.69 orders, with 57,111 vehicles completing at least 10 orders daily, up from 48,402 [3]. Group 2: Driver Practices - Drivers are increasingly requesting additional fees for cross-city rides, citing low income due to high platform commissions and the prevalence of order transfers between platforms [3][10]. - A driver reported that the practice of requesting return empty fees has become a "hidden rule" in the industry, reflecting the financial pressures faced by drivers [3]. Group 3: Passenger Experiences - Passengers have reported being pressured to pay return empty fees, with some agreeing to additional charges out of safety concerns during late-night rides [6][7]. - A passenger experienced a significant fare increase due to a driver deviating from the planned route after refusing to pay a return empty fee, resulting in a final fare of 315 yuan instead of the estimated amount [6][4]. Group 4: Platform Responses - Ride-hailing platforms like Meituan and Didi have stated that they do not permit drivers to request return empty fees, labeling such actions as deceptive [5][9]. - Didi's customer service confirmed that while drivers can negotiate return fees, the amount should not exceed the actual highway tolls incurred, which has raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of this practice [9]. Group 5: Legal and Regulatory Perspectives - Legal experts indicate that while the collection of return empty fees may be legally permissible under current regulations, it is deemed unreasonable due to the lack of standardized pricing and the potential for exploitation of passengers [10][11]. - Recommendations include the need for regulatory bodies to prohibit the collection of return empty fees and for platforms to take responsibility for managing driver compensation more effectively [11].

责任编辑：李铁民 新浪科技讯 9月17日下午消息，近日，有网友反映自己遭到美团打车"催收式"短信通知提醒交费。相关 帖子显示，美团打车给该网友发送警示短信称，"乘客您好，平台必须严肃警示您……打车账单已经逾 期5天，务必于今日23：59前点击链接立即结清，否则将直接降低您在平台的个人信用。"相关话题引发 争议。 对此，美团客服回复，针对网络出现的短信截图，经了解，催款费用为乘客乘车后应付的车费。当完成 乘车后，乘客如次日仍未支付相关费用，平台会在5天内定时发送3次美团app提示及1次短信提示乘客付 款给司机等相关方，内容大致如下："【平台记录】XX师傅已经反复关注您的账单，驾车服务辛苦不 易，恳请您理解和支持。尾号XXXXX的车费，请前往官方app完成支付。"5天后多次提示乘客仍未付 款，就会触发网络所传的短信提醒。提醒语气确有较为生硬之处，我们已经进行调整，感谢您的关注和 提醒。（罗宁） ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the backlash against Meituan Dache for sending aggressive collection messages to users regarding overdue payments, which some users find excessive and inappropriate for small amounts owed [1]. Group 1: User Reactions - Users have expressed their frustration on social media, describing the collection messages as akin to those from debt collection agencies, particularly when the owed amount is as low as 10 yuan [1][9]. - One user highlighted that they were unaware of using Meituan Dache and found the urgency of the payment reminder to be unreasonable, questioning the platform's business practices [1][9]. Group 2: Collection Practices - The collection messages sent by Meituan Dache create a sense of urgency, warning users that failure to pay by a certain time could lead to penalties, including a reduction in personal credit on the platform [1][3]. - The messages often include threats of account suspension or being reported to credit agencies if payments are not made promptly, which users find alarming for minor debts [10][15]. Group 3: Historical Context - The aggressive messaging strategy is not new, as users have reported similar experiences in the past, indicating a pattern in Meituan Dache's approach to overdue payments [1].