The surcharge menace
WHILE more passengers may be choosing to book a taxi instead of flagging one down, I think it is presumptuous to attribute it to a stronger economy ("More book taxis in stronger economy"; Jan 18).
I was back in Singapore recently for a short visit and without a shadow of doubt, it has become extremely difficult to flag down a taxi in the streets.
Every time, I had to wait for at least 20 minutes to 30 minutes before I could get one. Many empty taxis zoomed past with the "on call" sign on, but none stopped at the taxi stand. Even those that were dropping passengers at taxi stands did not pick up new fare.
On several occasions, I have seen rows of taxis waiting with engines idling at side roads with their "on call" signs on. One of those places is Queen Street.
The taxi drivers are very smart. They know that if they ply the streets hoping to pick up passengers, it would be a game of chance. However, if they just parked at a street corner and waited for a booking, their chances would be far better.
When the bookings come in, they can select a preferred one - for example, those going to the casinos or airport - and ignore those that they don't want - for example, those going to Tuas.
And by waiting at corners like Queen Street, they know their chances of getting a fare go up exponentially. Orchard Road and Bras Basah are busy areas and cabbies are confident they will receive a booking within a couple of minutes.
The reason cabbies prefer bookings over casual street fares is the multitude of surcharges they earn from taking booked calls. After having been away for two years, I was shocked to note, on my return home, how costly a taxi ride had become.
For instance, one taxi ride cost $4.60, but the surcharges bulked up the total fare to $11.40. Isn't it bizarre that the surcharges add up to more than the actual ride cost? If a Singaporean like me is confused and annoyed, imagine what a tourist would be thinking? Most likely, that he has been ripped off. I can't recall any other place with such a convoluted taxi fare system.
If we cannot live with a free-market system, let's switch to a full booking system like in New Zealand. The Land Transport Authority should be under no illusion that all is well and there is no need to fix the problem.
Patrick Tan
MR PATRICK TAN: 'The reason cabbies prefer bookings over casual street fares is the multitude of surcharges they earn from taking booked calls ('More book taxis in stronger economy'; Jan 18). After having been away for two years, I was shocked to note, on my return home, how costly a taxi ride had become. For instance, one taxi ride cost $4.60, but the surcharges bulked up the total fare to $11.40. Isn't it bizarre that the surcharges add up to more than the actual ride cost? If a Singaporean like me is confused and annoyed, imagine what a tourist would be thinking? Most likely, that he has been ripped off. I can't recall any other place with such a convoluted taxi fare system.'
Aiya apply to CDG taxi nia lah....Other company where got so strong booking.
kopi up liao but nv down when the cost price drop.ma de. everything up also no down. only coe up and down in sg
Originally posted by 韩飞官:kopi up liao but nv down when the cost price drop.ma de. everything up also no down. only coe up and down in sg
must filter off pple like TS, TS pls post your name here so if i ever get a call name xxx(TS) i die die also won't take.
Originally posted by FT:must filter off pple like TS, TS pls post your name here so if i ever get a call name xxx(TS) i die die also won't take.
Yes, KNN cannot get taxi, taxi driver problem ar??? why not the LTA problem? why not the system problem? You think we like to go sentosa?? what makes him assume that we park and wait for call?? then might as well all TD dun drive, just park and wait, see how people on the street going to react.
taxi is a premium service in sgp.
now diesel went up from 0.88 to 0.95, who is absorbing the 0.07c per litre?u complain abt surcharge, we TDs diam diam abt diesel costs from our own pocket.
u want solve problems, u ask lta introduce minimum $15 or meter, whichever is higher, for flag down(meaning non call) after 8pm. u anywhere in sg also dont need to call, all TDs will just pick and go, no need surcharge.
Best is meter starts at $5...... city charge remains at $3 aiport $8 ha ha ha
Let them shout , the more they shout , the more it will be good .
Originally posted by Cktan1973:Best is meter starts at $5...... city charge remains at $3 aiport $8 ha ha ha
That's the problem brother, with so many different type of surcharge and add on, sure TD will drive to greener pasture leaving those on the normal street, sea and ferryharbour port empty unless connected. This is not TD fault, it is the peoples who make and implement the surcharge policies fault, TD like me also human, and human will go for bigger pie, even if you working, the other company pay more high and offer you, you also will jump ship, it is human nature.