Price Watch/ You spot the prices, we ask the questions: Last week a reader complained about being charged an extra euro by a Dublin taxi driver because he had two shopping bags with him.

This week taxi drivers who start the meter running ahead of time come under the spotlight. Bruce Sutherland says he has a "grudge" against taxi drivers who start the meter running as soon as they reach the pick-up point.

"Now I don't have a problem with this if I have called them out and then keep them waiting, but if I have specified a collection time and they arrive early, I object to being charged while they wait."

Frequently, he says, he has ordered a cab to pick him up for an early-morning run to the airport, and has had his taxi arrive more than 10 minutes early, "and found the meter running when I get into the cab well before the pick-up time I requested. What is the official line on this, as otherwise this is a very simple way for the drivers to add on a little extra to the fare by always arriving early?"

Sutherland says he was in Belfast earlier this year where he and a group of friends stayed at a hotel. "One of the group had ordered a taxi the next morning, which my fiancée and I decided to share, but had yet to check out. The driver waited nearly 15 minutes for us to check out without starting the meter. In Dublin, you can be guaranteed the meter would be well on its way by that time."

The fare card carried by every taxi driver clearly states that "the fare is calculated from the time the hiring begins", which would appear to indicate that under no circumstances should a cab driver set the meter running if they arrive at the pick-up point prior to the scheduled time. The driver is already charging an additional €1.50 to the cost of the cab for the telephone booking, which should cover any waiting period.

We contacted the Garda Press Office who agreed that "without a shadow of a doubt" a taxi driver should not start the meter before the time he's been booked. If, however, "you agree a time with a driver, then he is entitled to put the meter on at that time regardless of whether or not you're ready", a Garda spokesman said. If you do feel the meter has gone on too early, pay the fare, get a receipt and contact the Carriage Office.