I got ripped off by a taxi at Singapore
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You tip?Originally posted by JSV: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
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Please tip SMRT cabbies , they deserve more tips then any other cabbies , cos their CEO begged commuters to reward their cabbies with tips .
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JSV... contact LTA again... if not, write to TODAY newspaper...
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It is a good thing that you got his liscense plate I hope that this taxi driver would get fired
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JSV,
can you....................just forget about this and continue with your life?
life is not about grumbling here only because of your overpaid fares.
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Its some 2 months since this incident was first heard.
I think nothing much was done by LTA about this.
Besides, there is another case of rip-off recently.
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So,
compared to theirs, this is just a small incident.
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Really, no use about "crying over split milk". Get on with your life, JSV. And all the best for you. -
JSV has every right to make a claim. It's his hard-earned money after all, and he was ripped off. What's your problem, Mr Yuen? Feeling too generous all of a sudden huh? Reimburse JSV then if you want him to at least have any notion of forgetting this whole issue.Originally posted by SGEMP:JSV,
can you....................just forget about this and continue with your life?
life is not about grumbling here only because of your overpaid fares.
-------------------------------
Its some 2 months since this incident was first heard.
I think nothing much was done by LTA about this.
Besides, there is another case of rip-off recently.
-------------------------------
So,
compared to theirs, this is just a small incident.
--------------------------------
Really, no use about "crying over split milk". Get on with your life, JSV. And all the best for you.
Obviously you've failed to realised this whole issue isn't solely about the money involved. JSV wants justice to be served. That's it. -
Yes. LTA need to get off its arse and start doing something.
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Btw, you could start threatening to forward to matter to Singapore's tourism board. Might get these lard-arsed overpaid civil servants to actually do their jobs (as opposed to doing something generally).
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not sure if referring this rip-off case to Small Claims Tribunal is possible or not
but JSV, you can consider referring to SCT.
hope this helps -
better than you ah.. wanna commit suicide!Originally posted by SGEMP:JSV,
can you....................just forget about this and continue with your life?
life is not about grumbling here only because of your overpaid fares.
-------------------------------
Its some 2 months since this incident was first heard.
I think nothing much was done by LTA about this.
Besides, there is another case of rip-off recently.
-------------------------------
So,
compared to theirs, this is just a small incident.
--------------------------------
Really, no use about "crying over split milk". Get on with your life, JSV. And all the best for you.
people want to complain let them complain ok? dont be a sour milk -
This taxi driver who overcharged is a smear on the face of Singapore tourism. And to wipe this smear off, I would love to see him being taken off the streets.Originally posted by SGEMP:JSV,
can you....................just forget about this and continue with your life?
life is not about grumbling here only because of your overpaid fares.
-------------------------------
Its some 2 months since this incident was first heard.
I think nothing much was done by LTA about this.
Besides, there is another case of rip-off recently.
-------------------------------
So,
compared to theirs, this is just a small incident.
--------------------------------
Really, no use about "crying over split milk". Get on with your life, JSV. And all the best for you.
If a taxi driver had overcharged me as well, then I would do everything I can to make him suffer for it. I don't want no bloody cheats plying our streets and tarnishing the reputations of those drivers who are just trying to earn an honest living.
My dad is a taxi driver as well (Comfort), and he works long hours to put all his four children through university. Even so, I've seen him round down the fares of students and senior citizens who take his cab. And to have the reputation of cabbies tarnished by fare cheats... that just won't do.
It is not just about JSV crying over spilt milk, but also about preventing good cabbies like my father from slipping and falling on the milk.
If the cabbie's a cheat, then I say, let's get him off the streets. -
.... Rest assure , Singapore cabby who wanna overcharge taxi fare , trust me , they wouldn't do it on locals ... not that they scared , just that it's a simple logic , he's looking for trouble .
They have been doing it for decades .... just that it's not been publicised over the years !
It's not a secret cabbies always prey on tourist and caucasians .... Just sad these cabbies not tactful enough .
I for one , so far so good .
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Agreed do this and contact The New Paper confirm next day you will get a reply and a hamper at your door stepOriginally posted by scabstermooch:Btw, you could start threatening to forward to matter to Singapore's tourism board. Might get these lard-arsed overpaid civil servants to actually do their jobs (as opposed to doing something generally).
Go for it man and ignore other ppl's reply to forget this matter...
Let me tell you that the Taxi service in Singapore sucks big time we locals here have very little say go and kick up a ruckles man...you have every right -
shud come and take the taxis in jb man, i wan to see how he complains by then
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Folks,
Finally I got the response from LTA-
Read on !!
It is obvious I should have been charged only $25.20. I do not understand the logic of LTA that they could not find any more "Singapore Taxi Receipt books in the taxi and hence could not prove it. ( Don't these LTA people know that the receipt books would have long gone from the taxi). Also I produced them the copy of the receipt! What else they want? It is obvious LTA has decided to take the easy way out.
These kinds of drivers give a bad name to a wonderful Singapore. But for ths incident, I had a great time at Singapore. I am planning to be in Singapore again in July this year again.
I hope , I don't run in to the same Taxi drive again
JSV
From:
LTA
[Add to Address Book]
To:
Subject:
Re: Complaint against taxi driver SHB 7448R
Date:
Tuesday, January 23, 2007 2:29:44 AM
[View Source]
Dear Mr XXXXXXXXXXXXXXx,
Thank you for your email of 28/12/2006.
We have since completed investigation into the matter. Following the driver's denial of the incident, we proceeded to download data from the taximeter of the said taxi. However, the data revealed a trip from 4.44 am to 5.12 am, reflecting the fare of $25.20/-.
We then proceeded to check the timing of the taximeter to ascertain if it had been tampered in any way, but found the taximeter to be functioning correctly. In addition, we were not able to locate any 'Singapore Taxi Fare' receipt book within the said taxi.
As we do not have concrete evidence against the driver (which is imperative in order for us to prove our case beyond reasonable doubt in court), we regret that we are unable to take punitive action against the driver for the alleged offence of overcharging. Nonetheless, the driver has since been warned to refrain from any errant practice, and his vocational licence record has been updated to reflect the occurrence of this incident. Should the driver fail to comply with our regulations hereafter, we will not hesitate to take more severe action against him.
We hope to seek your understanding on this matter, and thank you for bringing the matter to our attention.
Yours sincerely
Bus & Taxi Regulation Division
Land Transport Authority
Singapore -
My response to LTA. I guess next step is to write Singapore Tourism board and the owner of the Taxi Company.
JSV.
Dear Mr. XXXXXX,
Thank you very much for your message.
Quote:
Following the driver's denial of the incident, we proceeded to download data from the taximeter of the said taxi. However, the data revealed a trip from 4.44 am to 5.12 am, reflecting the fare of $25.20/-.
Unquote:
This the proof of my earlier statement that I took the ride in that taxi from 4.4AM to 5.12 AM.
I also produced a copy of the SINGAPORE TAXI receipt with his ( Driver's ) own handwriting for $48. Whatever extra copies Singapore Taxi receipt books he had would have been removed by him, once the investigation started. It is the first thing someone will do (Hide the evidence). LTA could have easliy compared the taxi driver's handwriting with the one in the receipt (provided by me) and proved the case.
As I mentioned before it is not the question of money- It is the question of principle. I shall appreciate if you will let me know whom I should appeal to .. Is it Singapore Tourism board?
I thank you for your time. Please do let me know whom I should appeal to and their contact information.
Yours Sincerely
JSV -
Copy of the Singapore taxi receipt!
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It is obvious to me that LTA is trying to sweep the issue below the carpet and some officer at LTA is trying to cover up. I have provided copy of the receipt given by the taxi driver . What else they want was as proof ? Simple handwriting comparison will prove my point.
I have decided to write directly to Yam Ah Mee - CEO of LTA and Low Tien Sio - Depoty CEO of LTA as a next step. Let them decide what to do! Entire org chart of LTA is here
http://www.lta.gov.sg/corp_info/doc/org.pdf
Again it is not a question of Money. Corrupt taxi drivers like this guy are disgrace to the great country of Singapore and its wonderful hospitality.
LTA should know this issue is NOT going to go away easily.
Does any one know the address /email for Smart Auto? I am sure they do not want this kind of bad publicity either and they should know they have a dishonest taxi driver in their fleet. Their fellow honest taxi drivers ( Some of whom I am sure are reading this forum, can see the pictue of the receipt and decide for themselves, what kind of crook they have among themselves. Smart Auto should fire this taxi driver. -
Something is suspicious here:Originally posted by JSV:Copy of the Singapore taxi receipt!
1) Is there a company known as "Singapore Taxi"?
2) There are no serial number on the receipt. No license numbers found on the receipt as well.
3) Not all fields are filled
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And since it was said that the receipt booklet was removed when investigations started, this means the following possibilities:
1) Two or even more drivers operating this particular taxi
2) The dishonest driver(s) of this taxi may have fled with the receipt book and never come back again
3) The receipt book may be a photocopy(photocopies) of taxi receipts
4) The receipt was issued to cover up the rip-off incident.
5) hand-written instead of being printed. easily tampered by dishonest cabbies
more speculations relating to this incident may be coming -
JSV, if you need to:
1) Do write-up to the newspaper agencies to inform them of your predicament
2) You can consider lodging a complaint to Singapore Tourism Board.
For your reference, the STB organisational chart is attached here:
http://app.stb.com.sg/asp/abo/abo02.asp
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And.........JSV, are you sure that the dishonest cabby is from SMART AUTOMOBILE which is slightly blue-green in colour?
If not, why earlier on you mention the taxi colour as blue? -
I scanned the exact receipt as given to me.Originally posted by STN:Something is suspicious here:
1) Is there a company known as "Singapore Taxi"?
2) There are no serial number on the receipt. No license numbers found on the receipt as well.
3) Not all fields are filled
----------------------
And since it was said that the receipt booklet was removed when investigations started, this means the following possibilities:
1) Two or even more drivers operating this particular taxi
2) The dishonest driver(s) of this taxi may have fled with the receipt book and never come back again
3) The receipt book may be a photocopy(photocopies) of taxi receipts
4) The receipt was issued to cover up the rip-off incident.
5) hand-written instead of being printed. easily tampered by dishonest cabbies
more speculations relating to this incident may be coming
There is nothing called Singapore Taxi ( However how will a tourist like me know?)
Receipt was in a small Pad form ( about 50+ receipts. he tore of a page and gave me. I bet several drivers are using this on unsuspecting tourists and locals. Any local printing press can do this in bulk or even in small quantities.
Print a book for $10 and scam the tourists. Who cares if teh image of Singapore goes down!!
Most probably Taxi company is not even aware of this scam (Thanks to this forum, now they may be aware of this, if they are reading the posts here).
Driver did not fill l out all fields. Even in the Lincense plate row, he put in the hotel room number I stayed. When he asked for the room number I stayed, I did not suspect it. I managed to get the license plate number, even though I was in a rush to catch the flight.
LTA could have simply compared the handrwriting of the driver with the receipt. -
And.........JSV, are you sure that the dishonest cabby is from SMART AUTOMOBILE which is slightly blue-green in colour?
If not, why earlier on you mention the taxi colour as blue?
STN,
It was determined that the taxi is from Smart Automobile based on the license plate number. It was at 4.45AM and dark and hence I might haev misunderstood as blue. However License plate number cannot lie. Also LTA has located the taxi meter data from 4.44AM to 5.12AM! -
U still in Singapore?
Write to the papers and the whole incident will come to light
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I wrote to CEO of LTA and I did not get any reply.
I am planning on psting the names of the so called investigators in the forum. That should interesting ;-)
Perhaps they got taken care by Taxi company so that this will go away -
ahh JSV..
hate to say, but you be wasting your time if you post all the names and what-not here.
your avenues of complains is definitely LTA. since you are overseas, that makes communications more difficult definitely.
you also should had made your case more clearer. more example, you can explain that the receipt you had is not the official receipt but some receipt torn from somewhere etc.
goodluck