I got ripped off by a taxi at Singapore
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Receipt : He tore of a page from a booklet wrote it by hand. Pre-printed Booklet said SINGAPORE TAXI. It is obvious this guy was a cheat!
The guy asked for my hotel room number and cleverly put it on the receipt against the licence plate number.
He probably never thought I will write down the licence plate number.
I did not ask the hotel to call for a taxi. Taxi was waiting outside the hotel.
I am going to wait for LTA to get back to me. I am sure they are looking in to this
Let us wait and see 
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Normally from Orchard to Airport is about $14 , plus midnight is $7 , total is about $21 , even plus advance booking $5.20 , still far below $48 .
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SHB 7448R is a Toyota Crown operated by Smart Auto, which is green in colour. If you paid $48, I think that amount would have easily gotten you a ride on a Merc taxi.
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We're glad you enjoyed your stay in singapore, but the general consensus is that god's fair.
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I have heard back from LTA ( Bus and Taxi Regulation division). Some has been assinged to investigate this matter. I will be faxing him /her the copy of the receipt in drivers own handwriting when requested. He cannot deny that there was no such ride at 4.45 AM.
I also wish I had taken the picture fo the car with the licence plate with my camera phone!
I am sure his happiness is going to short lived, when LTA fines him big! For me it is a mtter of principle.
Should I be writing to Smart Taxi also, now that some has identified the licence plate number as Smart Taxi ! -
Hmm maybe ask the LTA first? wouldn't want Smart to start taking defensive actions would you.Originally posted by JSV:I have heard back from LTA ( Bus and Taxi Regulation division). Some has been assinged to investigate this matter. I will be faxing him /her the copy of the receipt in drivers own handwriting when requested. He cannot deny that there was no such ride at 4.45 AM.
I also wish I had taken the picture fo the car with the licence plate with my camera phone!
I am sure his happiness is going to short lived, when LTA fines him big! For me it is a mtter of principle.
Should I be writing to Smart Taxi also, now that some has identified the licence plate number as Smart Taxi !
If you are a foreigner, and you keep up the pressure, I have no doubt LTA will take action. Singapore is all about appearances. -
Hey i sorry to hear about ur story. These pple r really the black sheeps of spore. Shame of them.
Do update on the outcome.
CheerS -
Thanks! Yes! I am a foreigner. I am going to keep up the pressure. I just JPGed the receipt in my digital camera and I will be emailing to LTA.
I bet that someone at SMART are already reading these message boards and has already alerted the driver -
wah.. ur fren ar?Originally posted by SBS9818A:SHB 7448R is a Toyota Crown operated by Smart Auto, which is green in colour. If you paid $48, I think that amount would have easily gotten you a ride on a Merc taxi.
but Merc cab need to pay $48 meh? i thought same price also? -
Dear
Thank you very much for your message. I have attached the picture of the receipt with this note. (Please see the picture).
This driver gave me a receipt under the company name "SINGAPORE TAXI". He tore up a sheet from a booklet and gave it. Apparently no such taxi company exists and this taxi actually belongs to SMART AUTO as per information I got from Singapore message boards. Apparently this taxi driver has printed his own taxi receipts and ripping off several people. Does SMART AUTO know about the SINGAPORE TAXI receipts handed out by one of their drivers? Such taxi drivers are disgrace to clean image of Singapore.
When I asked for the machine printed receipt, driver refused to give it saying the machine was broken.
As the taxi was nearing the airport meter showed $14.20 and suddenly changed to $48 at the time it stopped, while I was looking out the window.
Driver asked for my room number (which was 1421) at Meritus Mandrin and wrote that as the taxi number.( He thought he is being a clever fox). Since I was a foreigner and rushing to catch the plane, I did not want to argue with him and politely noted the taxi number (SHB 7448R) at the back of the receipt and paid $48 plus Additional $2, (Since I did not have the change) and walked off. Driver also refused to sign the receipt, when I asked for it.
However it is easy for the investigating officer to find out who was driving that taxi during that time of the day (4.50AM) which is in the receipt and easily compare the handwriting.
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 8:16 PM
Subject: Feedback Reply from LTA
Our Ref: LTA/BTR/C38.006.01511854/1
Date : 20-OCT-2006
SHB 7448R
FEEDBACK NUMBER:426854
Thank you for your feedback of 18/10/2006, and I am sorry to hear of your
unpleasant experience.
The Land Transport Authority does not condone any malpractice or misconduct
by errant taxi drivers in any incident involving taxi passengers and view
all complaints lodged with us seriously.
In this respect, we wish to inform you that we will be assigning an
Investigation Officer to look into your feedback against the specified
taxi. The case officer may contact you for clarifications when necessary.
If your case is a straight-forward one where evidence against the errant
driver is strong and the facts are not disputed, we will strive to reply
within a month from the date we receive your feedback. However, if the
case is more complex, we will need more time to ascertain the intricacies
of the case, and we seek your understanding that we may take longer than a
month to reply to you.
We thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
EXECUTIVE (VOCATIONAL LICENSING)
BUS & TAXI REGULATION DIVISION -
at least LTA is replying.. but.. 1mth???? even with the licence no. , date and time?
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Investigation takes time... taking into account the coffee breaks and muffins and chit chats during office hours.Originally posted by I-like-flings(m):at least LTA is replying.. but.. 1mth???? even with the licence no. , date and time? -
Originally posted by kaister:Investigation takes time... taking into account the coffee breaks and muffins and chit chats during office hours. NYPD donuts??
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Originally posted by I-like-flings(m): NYPD donuts??
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I got a bad experience with cabbies too... when i direct him to my workplace which is quite ulu, he refuse to turn into my company private carpark!!
Then he juz stop outside. I was so angry that I almost wanted to complain to the operator.
Arent cabs suppose to bring us where we wanted to?!! -
Hmm, I'm sure all the Krispy Kreme donuts are doing the LTA guys wonders..Originally posted by kaister:Investigation takes time... taking into account the coffee breaks and muffins and chit chats during office hours. -
To JSV : There is no need to forward anything to Smart Taxis , complaint to LTA is sufficient , cos LTA will sent an Investigating officer to Smart to further his investigation .
Just get on with your life first , those LTA fellas will contact u once the investigation is completed . -
actually, visitors to any country, always get ripped off in taxis.. dont know why..
even with the meter and all, theres just so many loopholes
JSV.. ur cab looks like this...
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Originally posted by 105090:
In fact , American navy fellas is smart , come to think of it , before they gets on board , usually , they asked : " How much ? " , then we would say : " On meter " , they just don't stop here , they would continue asking : " Singa Dollar or US Dollar ? " ....... and also they always asked : " For all of us ? "
[b]actually, visitors to any country, always get ripped off in taxis.. dont know why..
even with the meter and all, theres just so many loopholes -
Folks,
FYI- After 2 weeks I received the following response. What is puzzling is that I have already provided all the information to LTA in my previous mail.
I will post my response to LTA shortly!
From: >>>>@lta.gov.sg
Dear Mr
We refer to your feedback of 18 Oct 2006 concerning the above subject
To enable us to investigate the matter conclusively, we would appreciate it
f you could provide us with the following additional information:-
a) Date and Times of incident (boarding and alighting time)?
b) Please email a copy of the fare receipt if any?
c) Did the driver switch on the taxi meter?
d) If yes, how much was the fare recorded on the meter upon arrival?
h) Anything else do you wish to state?
i) In the scenario that driver refutes the fine and claims trial in
Court. Are you prepare to testify in court if required to do so? If yes,
Please let us have your particulars eg. Name, NRIC and address etc.
We appreciate your early reply and once again thank you for you feedback
for REGISTRAR OF VEHICLES
LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY -
Hello,
Answers to your quesions are given below:
a) Date and Times of incident (boarding and alighting time)?
>>Oct 17th 2006 Approxinately 4.30 AM( Boarding) and 4.50 AM (Alighting)
b) Please email a copy of the fare receipt if any?
>> This was already sent to Tan Wee Lee on Oct 20th, 2006.. I have attached the copy one more time.Recirpt said SINGAPORE TAXI . He ripped it form small booklet and hand wrote the receipt with his own handwriting.
c) Did the driver switch on the taxi meter?
>> Yes Driver switched on the meter. Just couple of minutes before the taxi entered the airport, the meter was showing something like $14.20. when the taxi reached the airport, he was pressing few buttons and suddenly it showed $48
d) If yes, how much was the fare recorded on the meter upon arrival?
>> Just couple of minutes before the taxi entered the airport, the meter was showing something like $14.20. when the taxi reached the airport, he was pressing few buttons and suddenly it showed $48. He said he added the night time charge etc and hence it is $48. driver refused to give the machine printed receipt. he said printer is broken.
h) Anything else do you wish to state?
>> During the ride taxi driver kept asking me questions like whether I am new to Sinagpore etc. I guess he decided to rip me off when he realized I do not know t he local culture taxi rates etc,Driver asked for my room number (which was 1421) at Meritus Mandrin and
wrote that as the taxi number.. Since I was a foreigner and rushing to catch the plane, I did not want to argue
with him and politely noted the taxi number (SHB 7448R) at the back of the receipt and paid $48 plus Additional $2, (Since I did not have the change)
and walked off. Driver also refused to sign the receipt, when I asked for it.
He is not only ripped me off. But also the taxi company by keeping pre-printed receipts like Singapore Taxi
i) In the scenario that driver refutes the fine and claims trial in
Court. Are you prepare to testify in court if required to do so? If yes,
Please let us have your particulars eg. Name, NRIC and address etc.
>> Sir. I am in United States of America. Does LTA expect me to come to Singapore for this spending additional US $2000? If LTA is >> willing to foo tthe bill, I will be happy to vist Singapore again! Alternatively, I can talk to you or the judge over the phone, if needed or if you can schedule the case when I come to Singapore next time, I will be happy to testify in court.
>> My address :
From: Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 1:17 AM
To: '[email protected]'
Subject: RE: Feedback Reply from LTA
Dear
Thank you very much for your message. I have attached the picture of the
receipt with this note. (Please see the picture).
This driver gave me a receipt under the company name "SINGAPORE TAXI". He
tore up a sheet from a booklet and gave it. Apparently no such taxi company
exists and this taxi actually belongs to SMART AUTO as per information I got
from Sing apore message boards. Apparently this taxi driver has printed his
own taxi receipts and ripping off several people. Does SMART AUTO know about
the SINGAPORE TAXI receipts handed out by one of their drivers? Such taxi
drivers are disgrace to clean image of Singapore.
When I asked for the machine printed receipt, driver refused to give it
saying the machine was broken.
As the taxi was nearing the airport meter showed $14.20 and suddenly changed
to $48 at the time it stopped, while I was looking out the window.
Driver asked for my room number (which was 1421) at Meritus Mandrin and
wrote that as the taxi number.( He thought he is being a clever fox). Since
I was a foreigner and rushing to catch the plane, I did not want to argue
with him and politely noted the taxi number (SHB 7448R) at the back of the
receipt and paid $48 plus Additional $2, (Since I did not have the change)
and walked off. Driver also refused to sign the rece ipt, when I asked for
it.
However it is easy for the investigating officer to find out who was driving
that taxi during that time of the day (4.50AM) which is in the receipt and
easily compare the handwriting. -
It is almost a month. I wonder what kind of investigation LTA is doing? I have not heard from them yet.
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Originally posted by JSV:It is almost a month. I wonder what kind of investigation LTA is doing? I have not heard from them yet. mus b u nt ang moh lor
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LTA investigation seems to be one big joke.
It has been 2 months and they have not responded to any of my follow up messages / reminders.
I used to tip between 15% to 20% on each ride. Next time I am in SG, I will stop tipping the taxi drivers. I guess I can ecover the money that way -
Long
Transaction
Always