if you enjoy chopping the US Navy for a ride, the LTA will come after you.
today, i picked up 2 young ¹íÀÐ from marriot hotel. the first ang moh opened my front pax door n asked the fare from marriot to sembawang naval base. i said it should be less than $25. they agree n both jump up to my cab.
i send them to the gateway inn at canada road and the fare was $22.55 with partial peak-hour rate. they pay me CASH n i waited outside the inn hoping to catch ang moh that might 1 2 go down town. also, to make sure i had sent the 2 monkeys to the right place.
few seconds later, i saw the 2 monkeys came out from the inn with a piece of paper. it shows 'sembawang whales' and it is another few hundred meters away. apparently it was my mistake, so i gratefully bring them there without turning my meter on.
upon reaching the 'sembawang whales', i let them alight by the road side becos there were cars n taxi jamming inside a only small carpark cum taxi stand. i told the 2 monkeys, 'dont worry, this ride is free!'
juz when i was about to reverse my cab to do a 2 points turn, a middle age man with the size of like TDO walks toward my cab n signal me to stop. i thought - wah, ho seh liao,this guy must be going back to town. as he walks closer, he used his index finger to signal me to lower down my window. unexpectedly, he put his right hand into my cab through the opened window n showed me a pass. to be frank, i didnt catch what was the pass. it was too fast n too low from my eyes view to see. anyway, the next question came from him tells me that he is someone from the Low Talent Authority.
he asked:" what was your last fare?" i look at my meter (my meter not on) n look back at him and said: "$22.55" he said:" your meter was not on n how could you tell is $22.55?? are you charging them by trip or go by meter??"
i quickly explained that it was becos @#$%^&* and so i @#$%^&* he said:" nevermind, give me your vocational licence."
i thought this time jia lut liao, must go LTA drink kopi liao. than i saw an older man walking towards us. apparently he had went to check with the 2 monkeys to see if i was using the meter n to verify my statement. after the verification, the middle age man walks back to me, passed me back my VL and said:" ok, we received many complaints from the US embassy about taxi drivers overcharging the navy. anyway, i think you are innocent. well, you've done an excellent service n i hope you will keep up the good service."
as he walks closer, he used his index finger to signal me to lower down my window. unexpectedly, he put his right hand into my cab through the opened window n showed me a pass. to be frank, i didnt catch what was the pass. it was too fast n too low from my eyes view to see. anyway, the next question came from him tells me that he is someone from the Low Talent Authority. after the verification, the middle age man walks back to me, passed me back my VL and said:" ok, we received many complaints from the US embassy about taxi drivers overcharging the navy. anyway, i think you are innocent. well, you've done an excellent service n i hope you will keep up the good service."
kekeke
-- Edited by taxiuncle at 11:27, 2008-06-04
From your description it seem the guy quite rude to use finger to signal you, you should ask him to practise some basic manners even if they are investigating... Eventually they have found and commended you for a good service so probably they found that you did not charge these 2 guys you should have tell them to you coy to commend you mah.
drive honestly and can reach home sleep peacefully without any worry of coy ppl call the next day when we r SLEEPING!!!! knn these ppl does not know we work night shift... today evening coy lost and found called me to say a pax left wallet in my cab... with many cash.. i found nothing.. and pax board my cab at abt 1950..coy call at abt 2100.. knn dun know any gundoo will call me tml again to check...
I understand there is standing orders forUS ships personnels alongside naval base. 1. Avoid taxis.To take free shuttle buses to train stations for transfer to town. and back to base. 2. Insist paying taxi by meter fare. 3. Avoid conversation with cab drivers.Do not disclose your identity, vessels's name,departure and arrival date,missions,etc. 4.All personnels are "ban" and prohibited to go to a place called "GEYLANG". etc......
Richard G wrote:From your description it seem the guy quite rude to use finger to signal you, you should ask him to practise some basic manners even if they are investigating... Eventually they have found and commended you for a good service so probably they found that you did not charge these 2 guys you should have tell them to you coy to commend you mah.
basic manners? mai lah, i'm scare that he would pull out a pair of scissor n cut my VL into 2 leh.
well, i believe most of the drivers are honest one. those that over charged the US navy are the minority.
I am always against cabbies overcharging pax, be they locals or foreigners. If can't cope becoz cost is too high, then dun drive limo lah.... switch to normal cab lah... u can earn a decent amount every month to provide for the family.
GIVE BACK OUR INDIVIDUAL TAXI OWNERSHIP YOU DUMBASS LTA!
Then I'm sure there will be less over-charging and if those still insist to over-charge, I'm sure the gahmen have alot of brilliant idiots to come out with new laws.
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No one understands the plight of being a taxi driver unless you had first hand experience - So STOP whining and start driving!
camry, send a copy of your love letter pertaining to the INDIVIDUAL TAXI OWNERSHIP to the ST forum lah, let more ppl read n know the dark side of our trade.
you may wish to use my personal detail if you want.
_______________________________________________________ "juz when i was about to reverse my cab to do a 2 points turn, a middle age man with the size of like TDO walks toward my cab n signal me to stop." _______________________________________________________
Wah! Taxiuncle, thanks for the compliment. You can still remember my statistics ah. Bt the way, that LTA guy so happen to be my cousin hor. We share same genes that's why walk the same way.
-- Edited by The December One at 23:56, 2008-06-06