Did the taxi driver take me for a ride?

[byseeksconseil]

I came back from a trip to Malaysia and took a taxi from Changi Airport to Bukit Batok Street 25.

Trip began at 18:30 pm and ended at 19:21 pm. The meter fare was $27.80 (with all surcharges, the amount was $41.79). I don't know if the driver took a longer route than he should. Despite having lived in SG for a couple of years (on and off), I am not very familiar with the roads. So I am not sure if I was taken for a ride or not.

For the trip earlier from the same location to the airport, the meter fare had been $ 21.65 (10:32 am to 11:01 am).

But I also realize that the time was different. So that could be why.

Could anyone please let me know if the meter fare ($27.80 from airport to bukit batok ST 25) was more or less right? Obviously it was not the amount I am concerned about. It's principle.

I could supply more details of the trip if need be.

Thanks.

[Max Headroom]

Call the taxi company. If it's traffic conditions and surcharges that caused the difference, then ok. But if there's something else going on, then they can easily check the driver's route taken.

[x9200]

Looks suspicious. You have not taken the receipt?

[zzm9980]

There are higher surcharges leaving the airport than going to it, and higher ones at night than at 10:30am. Especially if it was a Sunday.

That said, there is still a base fair difference of ~$6. It seems a bit high, but I don't know if that's scandalously high. It could just be a slight route variance and/or additional evening traffic vs your morning commute to the airport.

Also, were they identical cabs? Or did the porter at Changi shove you into a black Chrysler or C-Class benz? Those are 10-20% higher.

To give you an idea, I normally pay $13-$15 to go to the airport from my home. I've paid as high as $27 to come back. That was a late Sunday night (about midnight) in a Black Chrysler. Most direct route taken both times.

[NZDave]

Seems a little high to me, Sembawang -> Changi was ~$27, return $35, at busy time of the day.

[ScoobyDoes]

It looks, more or less, correct.

You are $5 just for a pick-up charge from Changi so add that straight away to your $21.65 it took to get to the airport. Add a bit of rush hour traffic and it accounts for the difference between $26.65 and $27.80.

On top of that add a 25% Peak Hour Surcharge to the metered fare.

Remember you are maybe around 35kms from the airport so it's quite a hike across the island.

[Saint]

Maximum it should have cost is $35.50 including all surcharges, the max meter charge is about $26.20 for 36km

[byseeksconseil]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Just to make it clearer, the $27.80 was the base meter fare - before the airport surcharge, peak-hour surcharge, and administration charge (for card use). After all those additions, it came to $41.79. And it happened yesterday - Thursday.

And yes, those were identical cabs - Comfort Taxi (the blue one) for both trips.

I'm ok with all the surcharges and the administration fee because I knew about them already. What I am concerned about is that the driver could have taken a longer route, resulting in a higher base meter fare.

I have kept receipts for both trips. So I can make a complaint if I feel justified to do so.

This is what happened for the trip (from airport to home, 18:30 pm - 19:21 pm - there was a peak hour charge, among others, which I am fine with).

When I got in, I told him my destination, and my preferred route: take PIE and exit at Bukit Batok East Ave 3. He nodded.

I then went back to my phone. After a while, he suddenly said: Sorry, I passed PIE already. I forgot to tell you earlier that PIE is jammed at this time and therefore I will go a different route - he mentioned a road name which I cannot remember now, but it had Clementi in it.

I asked if the alternative route would take longer.

He said no, adding that since this is the rush hour now, it would take 45 mins to get to my destination whichever route one takes.

I began to pay more attention to where he was going. I don't know the road names. But it seemed that we went through the CBD area - we went past the Singapore Flyer. After a while, we went past NUS. Then he took Bukit Timah road - we went past Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Then he went on PIE towards TUAS. Finally he exited at Bukit Batok E Ave 3 and reached my destination.

[Mi Amigo]

Since you have the receipt I would suggest you call Comfort and tell them what happened. In my experience they take this kind of feedback seriously and will investigate. Then it will be up to them to discuss the matter with the driver and decide whether or not his story is reasonable.

[ScoobyDoes]

I then went back to my phone. After a while, he suddenly said: Sorry, I passed PIE already. I forgot to tell you earlier that PIE is jammed at this time and therefore I will go a different route - he mentioned a road name which I cannot remember now, but it had Clementi in it.

I've been stuck in hell of a jams along PIE at that time of night from the airport, though half the time I am driving it after leaving the car there. There are jams from before Eunos to KPE to CTE, AMK, Adam, Eng Neo and the BKE all before you even hit passing Ngee Ann.

Taking ECP is a longer distance but I've done it myself in the evenings as the PIE could easily add 50% of the time out West - your receipt will give you the distance travelled and you can work out the expected fare based on that alone. $3.20 for the 1st km, $0.22/400m up to 10kms then $0.22/350m over that whereby if you travel below 30kph it hits $0.30 I think.

It takes about 27-28kms to reach Ngee Ann from the airport via the PIE and during rush hour a normal quiet 30min trip for me near there can easily hit 45-50min.

As I said, more or less it looks about right.....no matter the longer distance or time stuck in a PIE jam. The only difference is that I think you got home 10-15min quicker by avoiding the PIE.

[x9200]

If you have a receipt there has to be the distance printed on it. At least all I have seen so far had it.

Going ECP->AYE->Cle Ave 6-> PIE link to BktBtk East Ave 3 is a reasonable route, but what you described looks more ..AYE-> Cle Rd -> PIE ->.. what is surely not reasonable

[Strong Eagle]

Having done the airport to Watten Estates route countless times, I'd say it's a tad high but not out of the question. I've spent in excess of $40 because of traffic and time of day.

[byseeksconseil]

Thanks for the additional replies. The distance run from airport to home was 35.4 km. From home to airport was 30.5 km.

It seems that there is a mixture of opinions as to whether I ought to complain about this driver. Given the relatively strict regulations here, I am generally inclined to give taxi drivers the benefit of the doubt. Still in two minds.

[Strong Eagle]

Thanks for the additional replies. The distance run from airport to home was 35.4 km. From home to airport was 30.5 km.

It seems that there is a mixture of opinions as to whether I ought to complain about this driver. Given the relatively strict regulations here, I am generally inclined to give taxi drivers the benefit of the doubt. Still in two minds.

It's not worth the hassle.

[sundaymorningstaple]

byseeksconseil,

I really feel sorry for you. The entire Little Red Dot is out to screw you. First your neighbour make too much noise. Eventually you still couldn't have your OTT way so you moved out.

Then, because you probably moved out for no 'real' reason in a normal persons mind, your landlord took you to task. Again, you seemed to create your own problem.

And now, you have a problem with an extra bit of taxi fare and even considering all the evidence, you are still of two minds. I'm damned glad I'm not you. I'm afraid if I was such a miserable person, I'd jump off a bridge somewhere to put the world out of their misery.