Taxi drivers in Inverness have branded as “insulting” the fare rise being offered by councillors.
The authority’s licensing committee will meet next week to discuss the proposed fare rises, which if approved would mean a 20p basic rate increase.
However, members of trade body the Inverness Taxi Alliance have called for a 50p rise – having last year appealed the decision to raise the fares by 30p.
They could appeal again, or take their case to a judicial review.
Drivers in Lochaber and Caithness, as well as a single Inverness operator, have called for fares to be kept the same.
Dingwall operators have called for the fares to increase in line with inflation since the last tariff increase.
The row has prompted a backlash from some customers who have written to the council saying that the fares are already too high.
Responding to a consultation launched by the council earlier this year, Joseph Lafferty said that he has travelled and lived all over the world, with Inverness the most expensive town for taxis he can think of.
He also criticised the standard of transport saying the cars are “shabby and the drivers unkempt”.
Laggan resident Anastasia Young, 17, who has no other means of getting around because of the limited public transport links to the town said that “taxi rates should be going down not up”.
And Fraser Cardow, who has lived in Boat of Garten for three years, said: “Lower prices would reduce loneliness and isolation, which must cost the council thousands in care costs, occupational therapists, false 999 calls etc.”
However, a number of customers signed a standard letter, supporting a 50p increase for an average journey, saying that: “I do not think after four years of no increase this would be excessive”.
Another letter from the Inverness Taxi Alliance was signed by 43 drivers in support of the higher rise.
The alliance’s vice-chairman Duncan Fraser has written to every Highland councillor to state their case.
He said: “There is certainly no fairness or economic sense in the Highland licensing committee’s insulting offer proposed.
“It is important that the rises proposed by the Inverness Taxi Alliance are represented at the licensing committee on August 11 for all the right reasons.
“Failure to do so will be a disservice to the public as well as the trade.”