Eurostar Arrival in Paris - High Pressure Taxi Drivers!

Yes, unfortunately this is a real problem. Thanks for reminding people, we've had several threads on here with people having the same bad experience.

Smart move! This problem has increased dramatically during the Euro Finals, unfortunately.
Never go with anyone who approaches you on foot. Remember that legitimate taxi drivers line up at the official Taxi stands and do not leave their vehicles.
Look at the meter before you get in - it should have no money on it until the driver starts the engine, when it will read 2.80 EU.
There is no charge for luggage.
There are no fixed rates other than the airport runs.
There are flat fees going to and from both airports, depending on address:
50 to 55 EU from CDG
30 to 35 EU from Orly

If you want to find out how much it would cost to go from Point A to Point B, you can get an estimate from this site, which is pretty reliable.
(Not pushing G7 Taxis, but it is a reliable company which I use on a weekly basis)
http://www.taxisg7.fr/index.php/concierge/estimation-tarif-duree-course

Good for you. The real drivers are having terrible problems due to frauds like this. Not only do they lose fares, but they lose their good reputations, as well.
That was probably not a real license waved in your face. Unfortunately, this station, with people waiting to "help" you at the machines and these illegal drivers, is the first impression some visitors get of this wonderful city.

So why is this not dealt with by Paris authorities. Given how regulated cabs are, surely they could do something about the scammers if they chose to. Perhaps they can't keep a rube from going with someone who quietly approaches them in the station itself, but to allow those standing in the taxi queue to be harassed is really inexcusable and clearly something Paris authorities could deal with if they chose to. Given what a black eye it gives the city, it would be in everyone's interest to do so.

I was in this same situation in Paris this May. Fortunately, I had read the threads in this forum so I was aware of the scammers, but I wasn't prepared for how many there would be nor how aggressive they are! My friend actually started to go with one of these guys but I grabbed her and said, "They are scammers so let's go to the official line" and we had to push our way through those scammers to get to the official queue. We had almost no wait and got into a super clean taxi with a wonderful driver. I wish we had asked the driver about all those aggressive scammers. I agree with janettravels44 that the officials should do something about it. I also wish they'd do something about the aggressive hucksters selling selfie sticks in front of all the popular attractions. I'd like to take those selfie sticks and--- well, you know.

At the moment - in fact, all year long - the City authorities have had much more on their collective minds than dealing with scam artists.
Security levels are at the highest level and protecting passengers, tourists and residents in public spaces are the current priorities.
Gare du Nord is undergoing a major overhaul, in case anyone has missed all the upheaval.
When it's finished, the Taxi stand will be moved underground, to speed up boarding and help alleviate traffic jams around the station. It's highly likely that the scam taxi drivers will go elsewhere.

It doesn't actually take a lot of resources to deal with this sort of thing, just the will to do it. For example, cities that ticket cars who gridlock intersections don't tend to grid; cities that don't have this problem routinely. They rarely ticket but when they do it for awhile motorists learn that it is a risk and it change behavior. You don't have to enforce this kind of harassment continuously; you just have to do it often enough that it is a risk for the scum bags who do it.

The scamming is getting more aggressive in many places in Europe, gleaned from reports here, from friends, and my own experience. We aren't privy to police reports of what is actually being done--and there is usually more than meets the eye--but it seems small time crooks are moving in while security forces are focused on real dangers. So it's best to keep people informed.

So why is this not dealt with by Paris authorities.

There have been scams against tourists going on in the open at Gare du Nord since at least 1988. I doubt the Parisian authorities consider stopping them a high priority.

Finally, here is a page from the Paris Prefecture de Police.

http://www.prefecturedepolice.interieur.gouv.fr/Demarches/Particulier/Autres-demarches/Taxis-parisiens-Vous-etes-client

It has a link to a complaint form in English if you have had a bad experience with a licensed taxi, and it has a link to a brochure in English telling people how to distinguish a real taxi and not to accept offers. Though the police are aware of the problem, there is no place to complain about Gare du Nord scammers. However, if you want to report something, the Prefecture de Police is where to start.

Thanks all for the replies, the adventure in the train station added to our Parisian experience, and it was a good chance to show our teenagers how to handle situations like this. Considering the crowds in France for Euro2016 we had a great time and saw the police in force at most of the highlights of Paris - at the Eiffel Tower we saw a pedi-cab driver harassing people at a crosswalk get caught by a bicycle officer. I'm missing Paris already...

Kaeleku--these aren't cab drivers soliciting and scamming. They are illegal drivers, same as you see in the entry hall at CDG or the ones you are warned not to use at Dulles in DC.