Are you obligated to pay cab driver who got lost?

[BedokAmerican]

Here's the situation:

I got in a taxicab at the Bedok MRT and asked to be taken to Bayshore Road, which is usually a $4-$5 fare. The driver, who had music playing, said ok. He mentioned the ECP and I said that's fine (only 1 exit away).

He then went the wrong way on the ECP. I reminded him I was headed to Bayshore Road and he said he was going to Beach Road. He then said he didn't know where Bayshore was. I told him go in the other direction to exit 6.

He exited at Fort Road and looped around and went the slow way through traffic back to Bayshore. He apparently knew where it was. The fare was $14. Since I wasn't sure of the "rules" here, I went ahead and paid the full fare because I didn't want to be tossed in jail or fined for evading a cab fare. I also was eager to get home and didn't want to argue with him and it would've been my word against his anyway.

Was I obligated to pay the full amount? Anyone else have experiences like this?

[PNGMK]

I'd have negotiated a discount. That's my normal practice. The legalities I don't know.

[Wd40]

I believe, you still have to pay him. But keep the reciept, file a complaint against the cab company and then ask them for compensation. I know it sounds stupid. But that sounds like the right procedure, because the driver is representing his company and its the company that has short changed you, so seek compensation from the company, which may actually be higher then the fare.

[bloodhound123]

From my personal experience cabbies offer you a discount if they realize that they have taken a longer route. This happens only if you bring it up with them in a not so harsh manner. Most cabbies that I have dealt with reciprocate back in a good manner if we dont go hard on them.

[sundaymorningstaple]

^^This.

[x9200]

^^same experience here. Only if the driver does not want to negotiate bring it forward to his company or LTA. I recon he will be in trouble if the later happens.

[beppi]

Since there are not many ways left for Singapore taxi drivers to cheat their customers, they sometimes take a longer route and pretend it was accidental.
They are very afraid of being reported, so pointing this out to them usually adjusts the fare to what you would normally have paid (a friend of mine was even offered a free ride after mentioning he'd report!).

[martincymru]

You are lucky. I had one driver who called his friend in Chinese 'cos he had never heard of Parkway Parade.

I just got out of the car after 1st traffic lights.

Generally though taxi drivers here ok.

[ecureilx]

I believe, you still have to pay him. But keep the reciept, file a complaint against the cab company and then ask them for compensation. I know it sounds stupid. But that sounds like the right procedure, because the driver is representing his company and its the company that has short changed you, so seek compensation from the company, which may actually be higher then the fare.

All taxis are tracked by GPS and the taxi company will know the score, when you complain .. and so will LTA.

If the guy is rude, go to LTA. If the guy seems genuinely lost, do as others say and 'be nice' and unless the meter is a midnight meter, I wouldn't bother for a couple of $ at the most ..

[BillyB]

A little off topic, but why don't the drivers use the GPS that is fitted into all / most of the meters?

IIRC, one driver told me it's not widely used because it costs them extra to turn the functionality on? (guess that makes sense from their point of view - why pay extra each day when you can act stupid, take longer routes and make more money).

Back on topic - and more so if you're a Brit - if you aren't happy with the route, huff and puff like a big girl and keep tutting loudly. Generally, most drivers will offer a discount if you keep that up for 5 mins!

[Chantikki]

Lost cab drivers almost always offer me a discount. Recently i had 2 cabs that I called to my house *forget* to turn the meter on. So I had to negotiate a fare. I take cabs all the time so knew the approximate cost. If you have the sg gothere app it will tell you what the cost should be.

[Strong Eagle]

A little off topic, but why don't the drivers use the GPS that is fitted into all / most of the meters?

IIRC, one driver told me it's not widely used because it costs them extra to turn the functionality on? (guess that makes sense from their point of view - why pay extra each day when you can act stupid, take longer routes and make more money).

Back on topic - and more so if you're a Brit - if you aren't happy with the route, huff and puff like a big girl and keep tutting loudly. Generally, most drivers will offer a discount if you keep that up for 5 mins!

Probably because they cannot spell the name of the street that you want to go to.

I make a value judgment... is this cabbie really stupid? If the answer is yes, I let it go... he needs the money more than I do.

[the lynx]

I've had a cab driver who forgot to turn his metre on AND took me to wrong destination using wrong route. At least he had his senses to tell me that I didn't have to pay for that trip.

[sosingaporean]

You can ask for a discount and threaten to report.

I usually don't pay.

[chaaraard]

Are you sure this happened in Singapore? I've never encountered it. Sure ppl here can treat others differently due to colour/ethnicity i.e. bankers smiling to us more often than they would local people; but i've never heard about taxi drivers ripping people off. In fact I have heard of stories about children ripping them off?