Complaining about taxis in Singapore

the lynx · Post by **the lynx** » Tue, 16 Apr 2013 1:22 pm

Steve1960 wrote:I also have not had any of these experiences, not even the OT or Geylang comments.

Recently I had problems with the regular company I have used for the last year. The drivers no longer seem able to find my apartment block number. I admit Lorong 2 is a bit of a maze but the drivers now consistently wait at the wrong apartment block when I order a taxi over the phone.

After a few minutes they cancel the pick up and drive off then I have to start the booking process all over again.

It could be your phone number is linked to wrong address or wrong building name. Landline number. Happened to me before. Had to inform the cab company to update/amend the problem.

As for mobile number, I once had few awkward occurrences with taxi drivers when I use my mobile number to book one. I almost got booted out of my own taxi because the name that appeared in the booking was a different name. I had to show the taxi drivers the booking confirmation SMS that I was the rightful passenger.

Hannieroo · Post by **Hannieroo** » Tue, 16 Apr 2013 1:23 pm

No, I've only been here 6 weeks and I've had numbers 2, 4, 6 & 9. But at least they have licenses and seatbelts, eh?

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Tue, 16 Apr 2013 2:16 pm

the lynx wrote: It could be your phone number is linked to wrong address or wrong building name. Landline number. Happened to me before. Had to inform the cab company to update/amend the problem.

That's because of another reason actually. I think Comfort uses Street-directory.com maps, which do point some apartments wrongly ..

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The bigger issue is, even though most drivers have been driving for a dozen year or more, they never bother to stop to read the signs at the entrance of the block area - they just speed up thinking 'logically, if 407 is there, then 409 should be there as well' forgetting HDB tends to confuse some times. ... you can't blame the drivers much as well .. after all they are driving the whole day ..

the lynx wrote:As for mobile number, I once had few awkward occurrences with taxi drivers when I use my mobile number to book one. I almost got booted out of my own taxi because the name that appeared in the booking was a different name. I had to show the taxi drivers the booking confirmation SMS that I was the rightful passenger.

For me it happens, when I used my office phone: they expect a Chinese guy as the sms booking goes with a Chinese name, and then when moi turns up, some drivers refuse to even open the window .. I keep smiling and when they do auto-call - I show them the Phone ringing ..

and I never miss the chance to use the company phone to book cabs .. and see how some guys react

for fun ..

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Tue, 16 Apr 2013 2:19 pm

Sergei82 wrote:How about this situations: I am at Telok Blangah and I want to go to Raffles Place. I flag down a taxi and say "Raffles Place". Answer: "I don't know how to go to Raffles Place, but I know how to go to Harbourfront. I will take you there."
WTF????!!!!! That is not even close to where I need to be! That is a completely different place!

One of our mods on this board had the same happen to him sometime ago

Post by **nakatago** » Tue, 16 Apr 2013 4:01 pm

ecureilx wrote:
Sergei82 wrote:How about this situations: I am at Telok Blangah and I want to go to Raffles Place. I flag down a taxi and say "Raffles Place". Answer: "I don't know how to go to Raffles Place, but I know how to go to Harbourfront. I will take you there."
WTF????!!!!! That is not even close to where I need to be! That is a completely different place!
One of our mods on this board had the same happen to him sometime ago

That would be me. I was at at NUS Hospital. I got on a cab and told the guy I needed to go to the NUS Alumni center. The guy started driving and said he doesn't know how to get there so he'll take me to Clarke Quay instead.

Sergei82 · Post by **Sergei82** » Tue, 16 Apr 2013 4:02 pm

nakatago wrote:
ecureilx wrote:
Sergei82 wrote:How about this situations: I am at Telok Blangah and I want to go to Raffles Place. I flag down a taxi and say "Raffles Place". Answer: "I don't know how to go to Raffles Place, but I know how to go to Harbourfront. I will take you there."
WTF????!!!!! That is not even close to where I need to be! That is a completely different place!
One of our mods on this board had the same happen to him sometime ago
That would be me. I was at at NUS Hospital. I got on a cab and told the guy I needed to go to the NUS Alumni center. The guy started driving and said he doesn't know how to get there so he'll take me to Clarke Quay instead.

That is much tougher!

Steve1960 · Post by **Steve1960** » Tue, 16 Apr 2013 5:44 pm

[quote It could be your phone number is linked to wrong address or wrong building name. Landline number. Happened to me before. Had to inform the cab company to update/amend the problem.

No, same mobile number for 12 months. 10 months of faultless pick ups, for the last 2 months 70% of the time the driver does not make it to our block. When I make the booking there is an automated voice which confirms my home address.

I know exactly where the driver is waiting because I can call the taxi company and get his location. It's just a little too far for me to walk there before the driver leaves.

Steve1960 · Post by **Steve1960** » Tue, 16 Apr 2013 5:45 pm

Sorry messed up the quote thing!!

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Tue, 16 Apr 2013 5:55 pm

ecureilx wrote:
Sergei82 wrote:How about this situations: I am at Telok Blangah and I want to go to Raffles Place. I flag down a taxi and say "Raffles Place". Answer: "I don't know how to go to Raffles Place, but I know how to go to Harbourfront. I will take you there."
WTF????!!!!! That is not even close to where I need to be! That is a completely different place!
One of our mods on this board had the same happen to him sometime ago

Also could have been me trying to get from my home lin serangoon north to the Westin Stamford Swisshotel in Raffles City.

morenangpinay · Post by **morenangpinay** » Tue, 16 Apr 2013 6:03 pm

aside from the maniac... i get the usually angry cab drivers because they don't like going to far flung areas like bukit timah, then there are clueless drivers who ask me back if i know the direction, then there are the ones who drop me off at the wrong building.

at one point i was dropped off at the next building while i had a bad sprain.

movingtospore · Post by **movingtospore** » Tue, 16 Apr 2013 9:12 pm

Compared to Hong Kong I think the taxis here are pretty good, and usually pretty courteous. Clueless, but OK. They are nuts there. Which is ironic as I vastly prefer HK for most other things..

Mexikaner · Post by **Mexikaner** » Wed, 17 Apr 2013 8:58 am

Many times already it's happened to me that I ask if I can pay by NETS, for which the answer it's always: " sorry...the machine it's not working, cash only..."
what if I'm not carrying any cash and I forget to ask at the beginning of the journey??

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Wed, 17 Apr 2013 9:13 am

I reckon the driver will then ask you to withdraw cash from an ATM (and they seem to know where ALL of them are). Actually, it's just a ruse in most cases as they have to wait about a week to get their money if you pay by NETS or CC, whereas with cash, it's in hand. This ruse happens all the time so if you want to push your luck, you can try. Otherwise, the driver should tell you his machine is OOO at the start of the journey.

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Wed, 17 Apr 2013 9:39 am

sundaymorningstaple wrote:I reckon the driver will then ask you to withdraw cash from an ATM (and they seem to know where ALL of them are). Actually, it's just a ruse in most cases as they have to wait about a week to get their money if you pay by NETS or CC, whereas with cash, it's in hand. This ruse happens all the time so if you want to push your luck, you can try. Otherwise, the driver should tell you his machine is OOO at the start of the journey.

As per Comfort Taxi rules, if the driver didnt' display a note that his Nets machine is OOO and didn't verbally tell you, especially when you are tired, you can demand that he switch off the meter while he locates and atm for you to withdraw money.

And comfort rules state drivers cannot go around with a broken NETS machine - they can be penalised .. as per my Taxi driver friends.

BTW, the reimbursement for NETS is also faster now, by midnight - not one week, but some drivers still want it NOW than wait till end of the day.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:33 am

I rarely, maybe once in a blue moon, take a taxi, so my data might well be suspect.

Most of those times are after our quarterly eagles gathering when I couldn't be bothered remembering anyway!

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Complaining about taxis in Singapore

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