Cabby forces us to alight for a new booking, then accuses us of slamming his boot
A cabby tried to dump a STOMPer and her two friends off at an industrial estate after he got a new booking, then aggressively accused them of slamming his taxi's boot.
Here's what the upset STOMPer wrote in an email today (July 2):
"I would like to bring to the public's attention the outrageously bad service of a taxi driver.
"His behaviour caused us shock and displeasure. We have never come across a service as bad as this, nor been threatened like this.
"On June 27 at around 11:00 pm, we took this taxi, from Dunlop Street.
"After requesting that the taxi driver go to 3 places, Ubi, Bedok and Tampines, the taxi driver, drove off with no objections.
"Around Ubi, the taxi driver told one of us that he has another booking at the airport and asked all 4 of us to get off at Ubi Industrial Estate, at a bus stop, without an apology.
"Without any warning, he stopped at the bus stop, hazard lights on and put his brakes on.
"We said that it is not fair because he hadn't even sent any of us home, and he should have told us his objections when we first got into the taxi instead of dropping us off in an industrial estate.
"The cab driver thought about it and then proceeded to go to the first location we requested when we got on the taxi.
"Upon reaching the first location, we gave the taxi driver $10 for the fare but he said he didn't want to take a cent from us (meter shows $8).
"So we got out of the cab and requested to have the boot opened for us to get the camera equipment out. After getting the camera bags out, I closed the boot.
"One of the other passengers took a photo of the number plate to make a complaint and this was when the taxi driver got out of his taxi and confronted us, shouting at us that we slammed his boot.
"When one us said that we did not, he turned to her and confronted her instead and the taxi driver asked if we were students, and this other passenger asked the taxi driver what does he want from us by getting out of the taxi.
"It is only when he realised that he was being recorded that he backed off.
"The driver not only displayed extremely bad service to paying customers but also threatened our safety.
"1. He did not protest against driving to 3 places but went on to claim that he had a booking and wanted all of us to get off at the first destination.
"2. He offered no apology and wanted to drop all of us off prior to our first destination. At an industrial estate, no less. Is this how he treat other paying customers as well?
"3. He groundlessly accused us of slamming his boot when we did not. He also questioned if we are students, which has no relevance in this context at all. What does this mean? Does he discriminates against students or minors?
"4. He stepped out of his taxi to confront us. Is this considered a threat?
"LTA have said that they will launch a detailed investigation into this matter, and have asked for more details.
"ComfortDelGro have offered their sincerest apologies via email and stated that they have issued a warning to the driver, and will monitor his performance. They did not try to find out any more details, and responded to the complaint in a condescending manner."
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If you are willing to admit faults, you have one less fault to admit.
I think the cabby forgotten he has an advanced booking or the booking time is near that he decided to forsake his pax. He should offer the paxs to drop them off somewhere convenient, return the initial $2.80 or $3.00 but keep the distance fare (only fair this way)and help them flag another cab before going off his business. Maybe the paxs series of destinations came about during the journey or changes to destinations that cause the driver anxiety. If Comfort has given him another chance then perhaps there is more we do not know. Just my opinion.
-- Edited by frenzs on Monday 6th of July 2009 02:33:05 PM
frenz is right... they might have wanted to go 3 more places upon reaching ubi... many many paxs do that... for me if i can i go i cant means i cant and just smile and say soli la cannot.. if u say early maybe can here then say 3 more place... get another cab.. byr byr
It is written: "Upon reaching the first location, we gave the taxi driver $10 for the fare but he said he didn't want to take a cent from us (meter shows $8)."
Passengers should be happy to see such generous TD, why complaint?
Story is one sided, probably only reach Ubi then say another two places, cabby must be not happy but actually the other two places also very near airport not sure what so difficult for him to bring them there. To me once u pick a pax must bring them to their destination and never to drop them half way.
