This month, I received at least two or three e-mails with stories regarding modus operandi in taxicabs and all of 'em were about holdups. My sister had a different experience when she and her classmates took a cab from school (Katipunan).
To make the long story short, the driver drove them to an isolated place and asked them to pay 250 pesos for a 1 km ride even though it was not. His excuse was the cab they boarded is an "airport service" and the rate applies. If I'm not mistaken, they were five of them in the cab but were scared to make a move. Also, according to my sister, the doors cannot be opened from the inside. Thank God, the driver let them out after they paid him a hundred pesos for a very short ride. They got the license plate and reported it after the incident.
Yesterday afternoon, my sisters and I took a cab again since it was raining and we forgot to bring an umbrella. "Nestie" (the cab driver) was kinda talkative. He brags that his meter is fair and believes that there is some kind of bad Karma for those who cheat their customers. I grabbed the opportunity to ask him questions regarding the taxi business and I was surprised how "dirty" it really is. Let me just enumerate the things I've learned from him to make it simple.
1. Don't believe in the "Meter is sealed" sticker - The term is "batingting" for dishonest cab meters. An extra charge will be added in a single click of a button. Nestie told me that the switch can be installed in the shifting gears, headlight switch and even in the car stereo volume.
2. Airport Service Cabs are usually colored Yellow and the drivers should have a big I.D. indicating he is an authorized Airport Service Cab driver.
3. The address of the taxi owner (or company owner) should be written outside the car's doors. It's suspicious to see a Cavite or Bulacan address if they are picking up customers in Cainta area.
4. I asked him cab names that are safe and those that should be avoided (Feel free to object).
Avoid: Wallies, Glowing stone, Romcat and Tocadera
Safe: Basic, Dollar (the red ones) & 24/7
Please take time to read these taxi safety tips on this link:
http://bantayturista.com/pages/guidelines.php
I will ask my sister to comment on this blog for the plate number of the taxi. Be safe always.
To make the long story short, the driver drove them to an isolated place and asked them to pay 250 pesos for a 1 km ride even though it was not. His excuse was the cab they boarded is an "airport service" and the rate applies. If I'm not mistaken, they were five of them in the cab but were scared to make a move. Also, according to my sister, the doors cannot be opened from the inside. Thank God, the driver let them out after they paid him a hundred pesos for a very short ride. They got the license plate and reported it after the incident.
Yesterday afternoon, my sisters and I took a cab again since it was raining and we forgot to bring an umbrella. "Nestie" (the cab driver) was kinda talkative. He brags that his meter is fair and believes that there is some kind of bad Karma for those who cheat their customers. I grabbed the opportunity to ask him questions regarding the taxi business and I was surprised how "dirty" it really is. Let me just enumerate the things I've learned from him to make it simple.
1. Don't believe in the "Meter is sealed" sticker - The term is "batingting" for dishonest cab meters. An extra charge will be added in a single click of a button. Nestie told me that the switch can be installed in the shifting gears, headlight switch and even in the car stereo volume.
2. Airport Service Cabs are usually colored Yellow and the drivers should have a big I.D. indicating he is an authorized Airport Service Cab driver.
3. The address of the taxi owner (or company owner) should be written outside the car's doors. It's suspicious to see a Cavite or Bulacan address if they are picking up customers in Cainta area.
4. I asked him cab names that are safe and those that should be avoided (Feel free to object).
Avoid: Wallies, Glowing stone, Romcat and Tocadera
Safe: Basic, Dollar (the red ones) & 24/7
Please take time to read these taxi safety tips on this link:
http://bantayturista.com/pages/guidelines.php
I will ask my sister to comment on this blog for the plate number of the taxi. Be safe always.
