As you all know, no doubt, in taxis worldwide they have meters which keep track of how far you go and the length of time that you are using the cab. This information is used by the meter to calculate how much you owe for the fare of taking you where you went in the taxi. The combination of distance/time used are caluculated based on Government regulations on how much taxi drivers are allowed to charge for their service.
In the Philippines, and every other country that I am aware of, the fare that you are to pay is the amount that is shown on the meter. In the Philippines, they have recently instituted a new law that you are to add P10 to the fare shown on the meter to cover the increased cost of fuel, but the price on the meter is what determines how much the total is.
In several recent articles on the site, we’ve been talking about taxis, change to pay the fares and such. There have been a few comments regarding taxi drivers who won’t use the meter. Most foreigners like us get very upset when a driver refuses to use the meter, or “forgets” to use it (conveniently). Then, at the end of the trip, he demands some price that is way higher than it should be. About 7 years ago, I was involved in an experience like this, and found a great way to deal with it.
I was living in General Santos at the time. The airport in General Santos is a fair distance from the City, maybe 20 to 30 minutes depending on the speed, traffic, etc. I had just flown in from a business trip in Cebu and was so happy to be home. When I got into the cab, I didn’t notice that he did not start the meter. After about 5 minutes of riding, I noticed that the meter was not turned on, but since we were already underway, I decided to sit back and see what the driver would charge me. I knew well that the fare from the airport to my house should run around P110 or so. I texted a friend (Filipino) and told him what was going on, and that the driver must think I am a tourist. We both laughed, and he was also interested to hear the outcome of my experience with the driver.
All along the way, I was very friendly to the driver, we talked, laughed and had a pleasant time on the trip. When we arrived at my house, I got out of the car, got my suitcases and headed toward the gate. The driver yelled at me – “Sir, you forgot to pay – it’s P400.” I turned around and went back to the cab. I told him that the meter said “Zero” – it was blank, no price listed. He said that P400 was the normal fare for this trip. I told him that I knew he was being dishonest, because I lived here and had taken this ride many times. I also told him that under Philippine law you were to pay the price on the meter, and the meter did now show any price, so I would pay nothing. He argued with me, and threatened to call the police. I told him that it was fine if he called the police, and I would also call the LTO (Land Transportation Office) so they could send somebody to take his license, because he was breaking the law by not using the meter. After a while, I told him that I would give him P100. He said “the normal fare is P120 from the airport to here!” ha ha… I said “You just told me that the normal fare was P400, were you trying to steal from me?” At this point, I gave him three choices:
- Accept the price on the meter (zero).
- Accept P100 and move on with his business.
- Call the police, and I would file a complaint against him.
He pleaded and pleaded with me to give him P120. I referred him back to the three choices. He talked to Feyma and pleaded with her. She advised him that he was supposed to use the meter. In the end, he took P100 and left. What else could he do, it was he who broke the law. I was only obliged to pay what was shown on the meter, and that was blank. He made a mistake that day and it cost him a few pesos. Ten or twenty less than it should have been, whether you choose my amount or what he claimed it should be.
Either way, it was he who messed up, not me.
My only advice on this strategy is that you should only do it in a place where you will be safe. If you are in a public place with a lot of people, I see no reason to pay a huge sum that is not right. If you let the guy take you into some dark ally, then you need to decide, because it may not be safe. The guy has already proved that he is dishonest by stealing from you, or attempting to do so. Violence may not be far off, if you let him get you into an area where he can’t be seen.
Overall, I find that the vast majority of taxi drivers, at least in Davao, are very honest and friendly. It is very rare that any of them try to rip me off. I only bring this up because it has already popped up in comments in recent days. I am very generous with tipping taxi drivers, generally I will give them P10 or so tip, even up to P20 if I really like them and they are nice to me. But, for the guy who tries to steal from me… look out. I don’t accept that lightly.
Pay what is on the meter, or offer what you think the trip is worth. No more.
Hi Bob. You mean you still pay cash with taxicab meters?
One time from La Guardia to Little Italy I used my credit card to pay for the cab fare. After I swiped my card, the driver (a native of the Ivory Coast) said his wireless connection is not working so I had to pay in cash. Of course the touch screen immediately turn black. I paid the driver of course in cash the $42 fare plus tip and I insisted on a receipt.
Well…as expected my credit card billed me for that fare. The transaction went through….then the hassle of filling up forms etc…
The moral of the story I think is be careful of third-world taxi drivers. This is true whether you are in a third world city/country or first world one.
(BTW, paying with credit cards will eventually happen in the P.I.—Pinoy ingenuity wll provide it…you think?)
Hi Dr. Sponk Long- You and I will long be buried before taxis here start accepting credit cards. It won't happen anytime in the near or mid range future.
I need the little yahoo IM guy that rolls around laughing. Taxis accept credit cards, that's a laugh. It's hard enough getting the department stores to accept a CC, let alone anyone else. Ok, I apologize, I'm not laughing at you Dr. Long, just the thought of CC accpeting taxis.
good on ya Bob, I like the way u handled it !
Hi BrSpiritus- I think that Dr. Long's sense of humor is very dry, and often he says things intended to be funny, but can come across as serious. I've noted this before, so I expect that is the case this time too. I totally agree with you – credit cards for taxis? Ain't gonna happen….
Hi brian- the driver picked the wrong guy to mess with that morning! 😆
As smart as some Philipinos are I'm sure there are also a few rigged meters out there to boot,,lol
Sometimes, you can contract ahead of time the cost of the taxi. So there is no need for the meter. Is this illegal in PI?
I often wondered if when the taxi is being run off the meter if the driver is also stealing from an employer too. Assuming of course that the driver is working for someone else and is splitting the metered charges. I always tell the people that work for me that if I catch them cheating a customer I will fire them because they will eventually steal from me. A thief is a thief!
I hope that people in Manila get to read this one. 🙂 honestly bob, I wish tricycle would be limited to the barangays and suburban areas in gensan so that taxis and jeeps can take over the city. of course, they'll be more expensive so that's so-not-happening soon. in manila, when i get on a cab, even from the airport, i insist on the meter and get off when the driver doesn't agree.
Hi Tim Payne- I am certain that you are right on that one! 😆
Hi David B Katague- For me, I prefer to just use the meter when I ride taxi (which is not often). I do believe it would be illegal to do an agreed upon price, because the law is that the meter is to be used.
Hi Tom Ramberg- The way that the taxi system works in the Philippines, it is not possible for the drivers to be stealing from the taxi owner. The drivers are not really "employees" in the true sense of the word, they are more like private contractors as we would understand it. The taxi owner does not get part of the fare. Instead, the driver rents the taxi at a flat rate per day, so whether they get a single passenger in a day, or 100 passengers, the taxi owner gets the same amount.
Hi Cathy- That is one thing that I don't like much about GenSan – too many tricycles plying around the main streets of town. Here in Davao, tricycles are limited to residential areas, leaving the main streets less clogged up.
Nice article! It's very informative. I think that's a very good way of handling the situation.
Screw taxi drivers!
In my part of town where I grew up, no taxi driver wants to bring me home (coming from the mall, for example) even if I tell them I will pay more than the normal meter reading just because the traffic going to our place is so bad, as in TERRIBLY BAD. I end up having to take an fx. 🙁
@Beth – Pardon my ignorance but what is an fx?
I think it would be rare to have a tampered meter on a taxi in Davao. I always check the seals when I get in… just a glance to make sure nothing is strange about them. One thing I hate is the slow loss of the non-aircon taxis here. on top of the extra rate you either freeze to death in the aircon or have a taxi with a non-funtional / deliberately set low aircon and die in the heat. I'm looking forward to getting my own car. Even if driving is a PITA here it's better than dealing with taxis/jeepneys.
Hi Beth- Yes, same in Davao that taxi drivers are sometimes selective if they will take you or not. They are not supposed to do that either! 😉
Hi BrSpiritus- Just in case Beth doesn't see your question…. an FX is an SUV type vehicle… usually a Tamaraw FX. It is sort of like a taxi, maybe in combination with a bus. They drive a specific route, and pick up passengers as long as they can fit another one in (you can always fit one more, right?). They have FX units in Manila, and i think in Cebu too.
I agree that tampered meters would be very rare in Davao. I hear that in Manila they have them, though. I don't think driving is a PITA here… I enjoy it! 😆
Many recent articles and comments may be giving the impression that Taxi rides are a huge problem in Davao City, compared with Manila Davao is a paradise for taxis
Hi John- I certainly never meant to imply that Davao is a problem in terms of taxis. I even pointed out at the end of my article that the vast majority of taxi drivers are honest and friendly. Also, I wrote about an experience in GenSan. If anybody took it to mean that taxis are a problem in Davao, I want to be clear – they generally are not. For every 1,000 taxi rides, you may run into one or two problems, I'd guess. That's a good record.
Hi Bob,
I remember one time in Jakarta a few years ago I had to take a taxi across town.
After we started going I noticed the meter wasn't turned on.
Fortunately I had memorized a useful phrase in broken Indonesian ( Malay) that worked like a charm.
" You no meter, I no pay ! " In the blink of an eye the meter was turned on!!!
Hi Randall Jessup- Maybe we had the same taxi driver! 😆
Hi BrSpiritus,
Bob is right. An FX is actually just a shortened term for Tamaraw Fx. It is like a step above a jeepney ride but lower than the privacy of a taxi. It's usually airconditioned but you'll be lucky to really feel the cool air unless you sit in the front with the driver where the vents are. They sit 2 in the front next to the driver, four in the middle row, which should just be good for 3 people, and 4 in the back which is 2 on each side and the seats are facing each other like a regular jeepney. They charge a set fare from point a to point b, let's say P30 but if you happen to catch the ride in between two regular point in their route, most likely, you pay half, much like how they operate a jeepney. They ususally have FX station and if you want to catch a ride from a mall, you would have to line up, wait for the FX to come back from their normal route( normally about 15 to 30 minute wait), get your space in the FX and spend the rest of your trip being squeezed and tumbled inside. 🙂 If you sit in the back, expect to be tumbled like in the dryer. If you sit in the middle, expect to be squeezed like an orange. If you sit in the front, just close your eye if you don't want to see the driver's moves up close. 😀
Hi Beth- Perfect description! I liked it! 😉
Bob, one advice for foreigners who will fly in to Manila is to book their taxi thru Nissan rent-a-car or coupon taxi. It's not totally expensive but definitely more expensive than the usual metered taxi. The service is good and you feel safer since the drivers are courteous and uniformed. From the last time we used them, it's around 400 pesos for one-way centennial airport to makati.
Bob: in Manila, if the driver won't meter, I just get out. Many of the Manila drivers are armed, and you can see where that can lead. Much better to get out and take another taxi than to get into that confrontation. Also, when drivers pull this stuff, I've started writing down numbers and filing complaints with the LTO. Believe it or not, they WILL actually be fined!
Hi Cathy- I have used those services in the past myself, and indeed I think it is a good way to go. Thanks for the tip!
Hi John Miele- I would certainly agree that you should keep your own safety in mind before doing this, and I did point that out in the article. I have only done this one time, and I was already into the taxi ride before I realized that the meter was not being used.
I am happy to know that the LTO follows up on the complaints that you register!
one time when the taxi picked me up he said more after we took off from the airport in Manila. I started to get out in the middle of the road. The driver was shooked and said dont do that and pulled over and let me out. I just picked up anther taxi and asked the faire. and got to the other airport for the right amount of money.
Hi don m.- Glad to hear that you were able to work it out without too much problem.
Kamusta ka Bob,
That taxi driver was lucky, I would have kept on walking into my house and let him call the police. But I also understand what you say about it could be a dangerous situation as well…and would have to be careful.
Another great story Bob, salamat,
Danny
Hi Danny- I don't mind paying what is fair, but when the guy tries to steal from me, it angers me. I would be tempted to just walk in the gate and leave him there too. 😆
Ah ok, the fx is like the vans that operate to the outlying cities in the province. I see them at gaisano and SM and they go to mati, kidapawan etc. Maybe I should withold the PITA comment until I get to drive. I'm really missing the freedom having my own car gives. It had been a year since I drove when I went to the US but I drove my dad's car in Florida and I drove the company van in Alaska (had to take a guy to the hospital).
Hi BrSpiritus- Yeah, exactly right on the FX units. Only difference is that the ones here are for out of town trips. The ones up north are for local use.
Hi Bob, when I lived in Manila earlier this year taxi drivers were my biggest problem.
I've had them all, some that try not to use the meter, some that cover the meter with a cloth but have left it running previously so you get the big bill which DOES show on the meter. Some that have thrown me out of their cab because I insisted on the meter, some that refused to take me when I didn't agree with their inflated price.
It was so rare to find an honest driver that when I did I tipped him 100 pesos and told him why.
The best news when I was there, was when the police had a sting operation in Makati, they caught lots of taxi drivers doing the above, they lost their licences and were fined… my sadistic and revengeful side also laughed after reading about the driver that (allegedly) tried it on with the Head of the LTO, he had to drive in a panic to the LTO office with his passenger, he was arrested and lost his licence… so there is karma after all !! 🙂
Hi gerry- That is a good one about the Head of the LTO! I would have loved to see the face of that taxi driver!
This is very instructive Bob, down to the last caveat. Taxi drivers make lame attempts to earn extra money. I have accepted this fact when I was in Manila. My rule then was always to add P10. & if he doesn't flag down the meter , I call his attention to make sure that he knows that I know the usual charge. If I had experienced bad taxi drivers, what more with people who look like tourists? This is bad.
When I was in DVO, I was amazed at how "cool" the taxi drivers were. In Manila, taxi drivers are far from flexible. They can only drop you off to one place, they don't like circuitous trips. Unlike in DVO, we would ask the driver to take us to this place and then let's pick this friend and go to another and another..Until we filled up the cab, yet no complaints.
I have personally yet to run up on a 'hot' meter, so to say. I use Taxi's here in Davao all the time, every day, many time a day (I'm a little scared to drive in what they call traffic here…LOL). I do however and mentioned this is in the other story about how I have a problem getting change back from many of them. I do however have and have had some of the greatest taxi cab drivers ever in all the places I've been in this world. The other day I hoped in one and then realized I only had a p500 note. The man gave me 5 p100 notes before we got to the mall and when I hoped out I gladly gave him a p40 tip for doing so, he was a very nice man as well. My favorite trip here in Davao though was a trip out on the town one night. The man was using a Taxi that I was sure would fall off the frame before we made it to the destination. None the less he was a very funny man, of older age but understood my english and the other 4 Filipino people in the cab with me. He was a very slow driver, but I have to say he was a great man who regardless of his cab's condition showed much happiness and honesty in who he is and what he does.
Hi Bob,
Here is the link for the stupid taxi driver… have a laugh on me.
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20081110/tph-cab-dri…
Hi Bob, here is the link to the stupid driver
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20081110/tph-cab-dri…
Enjoy !!!
If they MUST by law use the meter than why whenI land in MNL do I always get a set fare instead of meter fare?
I had the same trouble too Bob .. When i landed in manila the second time and took a taxi from the international, airport to the domestic airport ..they are just a few minutes apart .So when i got in the cab the driver took off then he said to me ..he would charge me a flat fare to the airport of 300 pesos ..i said that I didn't have to pay if he doesn't turn on the meter ..?He stared at me then he reached over and turned on the meter ..the fair was 50 pesos ….he lost some moneys on me to Bob … Phil R….P.S. he let me off at the wrong airport…. hee hee 🙂 OH WELL !!!!
Hi brian- There are laws for all kinds of things…. some people don't follow them, though. 😆
Hi Phil R.- He got you back by taking you to the wrong airport! 😆
Hi gerry- I will check that out, thanks!
Hi again Bob,
Yeah, I don't mind paying either, BUT, when I know there being dishonest, that would put me in a different frame of mind with them.
I don't have too much experience with taxi's, but when I was living in Maryland, and doing business in Washington, DC, I would take a taxi to meetings sometimes because of parking issues downtown. I had a contractors meeting with the Navy one time downtown, so I parked my car at the Mall near the Smithsonian Museums, then hailed a taxi. He was Indian, and ask me where I was going, I told him. The place I had to go was only a few blocks down….but was still a far piece to walk. The first thing he asked me was "are you from out of town", well technically I was…lol….so I told him I was from out of town. So he said welcome to DC, and our journey started. Now I had time to kill, I still had about an hour and half to be at my appointment, so wasn't in a real big hurry. The taxi driver started to head out of town, towards Crystal City area, and towards National Airport(Reagan International now). So I knew what he was doing, and when we get to my final destination, which should have only taken about 5 minutes, took about a half hour or so…plus many more miles than necessary. He told me it would cost $20.00 for ride, and I told him he was crazy. I explain to him that I was from out of town, but from just across the Potomac River in Maryland, and I know this city like the back of my hand, and have been driving in and around for many years now, I was even born in this city. He got a big surprised look on his face, and I gave him $5.00 and got out of his cab with no argument, I explained to him that I was going to call the cab company and report him…..but I never did, wish I had, but I didn't. Well that is my only bad experience with a cab driver……so far…..will see what happens when I get to the PHilippines.
Salamat,
Danny
I read about the taxis before even comming to The Philippines for the first time and reading many of the comments here confirms what the travel books say. From my own experience I have always tried to have the correct amount and the plus ten peso before entering a cab. On my recent visit to Iligan I used cabs more than I did Jeepneys and the rate was 60 peso in the city plus 10 peso tip so I made sure I had a 50 and a 20. I knew about the no change routine.
When I first learned about the " The Meter Isn't Working " rip-off , a reply I came up with for that is " If your meter is not working I wonder if your brakes are working either, sorry, no thanks "
One taxi ride I took I still chuckle about which I refer to as the " Push To Start " . The taxi battery was not good enough to start the engine yet the cab was in a row with other taxis. The driver had a couple of other drivers push the cab so the driver could start the engine.
In reviewing all of these comments I have an idea for the next time I want to use a cab where they are lined up. Before getting in the cab I may ask the driver " Do you have change " and if he gives the standard reply of " No " I will reply " neither do I so no ride " .
Dead and buried? Not me, I'm going to live forever. Such harsh talk….
I've had good luck with Taxi's. Well I didn't think one was going to leave me dead. Some have been a bit old.
I guess when I tipped that guy $5.00 at the airport he was jumping for joy inside. Takes time to get use to the lower expectations here. 🙂 He let me use his phone, I wouldn't have given him anything for pushing my bags, I told him no three times.
Wow P400. l wouldn't have known any better when I first got here so it would have worked. Now they would have had to call the police, but that could go badly. That didn't scare you? You got your temper up didn't you? LOL I would have too, well probably. I've had cabbies offer to take me from Cebu to Bogo for P1800. It just occurred to me that he could say that and then when we got here claim he told me two five (for those that have not actually got here yet, usually instead of saying 2500 people will say two five peso). I'd be stuck if he did that, wouldn't I? P2500 is the more common rate I get. I'm sure they wanted fuel too at P2500 when that has been the fee offered. They often offer me that on my way to the bus terminal. Sometimes it sure is tempting but I think too much like a Filipino now. Let me see, the Bus is P100 and a taxi is P2500 + fuel. Gotta be richer than me to take a taxi for that kind of difference. 🙂
Heck customs got P3000 out of me when there should have been no tariff, I felt like a freaking ATM when I first got here.
That change thing must be a much bigger issue in other part so the country that it is in Cebu or they just don't try that on women. I don't know.
Hi Bob….your story of the taxi driver and the blank meter was a situation that i have experienced a few times, mostly in manila, and I handle that in the same way as you did…however I added something more…i always carry a small digital camera…so, if the situation get's dificult, I'll take a pic of the METER first…then the DRIVER…and the the TAXI….with the registration plate!….This ALWAYS get's results….and the only "hassle" to me is…deleting the pics on my cam…(wink)
Regards,
Ken
This is a little bit history about Davao that I was told. Taxis almost became extinct once. Maybe it did and PUs (little mini cars) took over. They had set fares, no meters. Then Holiday taxis started. The idea was to introduce trustworthy taxis in the city – IDs were displayed, phone numbers to report to were shown, etc etc. There was a bit of trouble to set this standards and a lot of drivers were fired. Any complaints on them, they were instantly let go. Gradually, the example set in and people started trusting the taxis again. Now, there are lots of taxi companies around. If they want to compete successfully, then they have to show the same safety standards to passengers. This is why Davao is known to have safe and trustworthy taxis.
Hi Danny- Ha ha… that taxi ride is a classic! It just shows that bad taxi drivers can be found anywhere.
hi bob, last Saturday night, me and some of my friends took a taxi to going home, i was so disappointed to the driver because, he dont even telling us that aside from the 30pesos when the meter start, he said that we need to add another 30pesos, but i said why, he said its more than 3 person in the back, we’re 4 in the back and 1 in the front, so for me its not overloading thats why i argue to him, then he said if we dont want to pay another 30pesos we should take another taxi, so my friends agreed ofr the another 30pesos. but for me its not nice. and i hate that driver so much. in the meter our bill is only 95 but we pay for 125 plus the tollgate i dont know how much that, but my friend pay the tollgate. 30 pesos still 30 pesos..
Hi lou – You are only obligated to pay the price on the meter. But, P30 is not huge. I would rather pay P30 as a tip, but if it is demanded, I would probably refuse!
Hi Bob New York- I've seen some "push to start" taxis here in Davao too, but only once or twice. I am under the impression that there are not too many taxis in Iligan, is that still true?
Hi Rusty- I was not scared, and certainly it did not get my temper up. I remained calm, and was calm the whole time in my discussion with the taxi driver.
Hi Ken Gregson- At times when I had a digital camera with me, I've done that too, and you are right.. it is extremely effective.
Hi Ellen- I didn't know about this, Ellen, and I appreciate you telling the story. I am not certain, but I would guess that Holiday has the largest fleet of taxis by far in the City. I have always been treated well by Holiday drivers, and have found them helpful.
been there too Bob P300 from Davao airport to the new microtel until i threatened to call the police and file a complaint then he pleaded with my wife "for christmas" it was february
Hi Tommy- Kind of hard to get into the Christmas spirit in February! Especially when the guy just tried to rip you off! 😆
HI Bob,
There never seemed to be any shortage of taxis in Iligan City. I don't recall having any problem there with the taxi drivers either although I always had the correct amount ready. Taxis are also lined up at the main entrance to the recently opened Gaisano Mall as well as a few of the other busier spots in the city. I am not sure about the north and south bus terminals as I have not been to either of them yet.
Hi Bob New York- Everytime that I have gone to Iligan, I had my car, but I didn't remember seeing too many taxis. I guess I just wasn't looking!
I have never had a really bad experience with a cab driver in Davao. Most there are at least efficient some of the cabs are in bad shape and I hate when they have trouble keeping them running at stop lights. That happens often, but you also have the apposite extreme with wonderful helpful and friendly drivers with nice cars. It really isn't fair that they both get paid the same.
On the other hand bad experiences with cab drivers seem to be the norm everywhere else I have used them in the Philippines admittedly I haven't been out of Davao a lot. I don't recall any outside Davao that DIDN'T try to up the rate or try to not turn on the meter except the special ones at the airport in Manila but they already charge a premium.
Hi John H- Thankfully, Davao City is in the process of upgrading the entire fleet of taxis. I think that by the end of next year all of the old taxis that don't meet standards will be off the road. About half or more of the cabs have already been replaced with new or nearly new vehicles.
Bob,
It may be possible that they may have been obscured by some of the heavy Jeepney traffic. I was in the " downtown " shopping area at what appeared to be rush hour one evening and one of my Filipino friends hailed a cab in less than 5 minutes. I couldn't have seen it comming with all the full jeepenys on the street at that time.
Another spot where about half a dozen taxis were lined up were across the street from Mindanao Sanatarium Hospital on Tibanga Hwy. about 1/4 mile up the road from Elena towers Inn. Another of my Iligan friends also had an on call taxi friend and we used that a few times as well.
As far as really " looking " for the amount of taxis on the streets in Iligan, there were so many other things that attracted my attention I really did not pay that much attention to them. Where I live, in the suburbs of New York City, I use my own car for everything and public transportation in itself always seems kind of foriegn to me LOL .
I also remember when we came out of some of the stores there, my friends would hail a cab and it did not seem to take long at all, regardless of where in the city we were. So I would have to conclude, yes, there are a fair amount of taxis in Iligan City .
One form of transportation I did notice were the tricycles. A dozen or more lined up waiting for passengers in several locations with what appeared to be few takers. I would have liked to try one but my friends told me they do not go that far and were not going where I wanted to go. Next time however I'll take a ride on one anyway even if it only goes around the block or something. That is still something I want to look at more in Iligan, residential neighborhoods.
Hi Bob New York- Thanks for the follow up report. I used to own a fleet of tricycles in GenSan… made a fair little income from them too! 😆
Hi Bob,
An action such as yours, purposely stiffing a taxi of 10 or 20 pesos, shows a lack of understanding of Filipino pride and/or an absurd level of recklessness on your part.
You admit to your own recklessness when you stated, "My only advice on this strategy is that you should only do it in a place where you will be safe. If you are in a public place with a lot of people, I see no reason to pay a huge sum that is not right. If you let the guy take you into some dark ally, then you need to decide, because it may not be safe. The guy has already proved that he is dishonest by stealing from you, or attempting to do so. Violence may not be far off, if you let him get you into an area where he can’t be seen".
The obvious point here that you yourself made is that the taxi driver may physically harm you, but what makes you think that the taxi driver would not save his revenge for a later date? This is where Filipino pride may fester and build. His revenge may be served against you in ways that you could not imagine at a time and place that the insulted Filipino could control. Shockingly, this guy knew where you lived because he dropped you off. Also, you probably could have negotiated a fee of 110 pesos, which you knew was the right price by your own admission and no one’s pride or wallet would need to have been hurt.
Regards,
James
Hi James- Well, as this happened about 7+ years ago, I guess that your suspicions are wrong.
By the way, I talked to Bebe regarding your last comment, and she assured me that there was no problem with what I wrote, so I guess you were wrong there too…
I guess none of us are perfect, including you. I only relate my experiences here, I don't say that what I do is perfect.
Regards to you too…
Maayong Buntag Bob
I got a good laugh out of this article. Of all the time I have been to the RP I have never had a Taxi driver not use his meter. My wife on the other hand had this problem when she went to Manila for her Visa. My wife and her friends told the driver to pull over and left the taxi when the driver refused to use the meter. After telling the driver he would be reported for not using the meter he left with out getting paid. They easily found another taxi to take then the rest of the way. As for me I have had good luck with taxies. I even had one give us money back when we had contracted him until 4 pm and we had our business done by 2 pm. I told the driver it was ok that he kept the money since we had an agreement with him but he insisted on giving us some of our money back. He received a good tip.
Hi Larry- Wow, I'm really impressed with the driver who gave you a partial refund! I've never even heard of that before!
I have the same problem with that every time. They don't use the metro and they never give the change back ! Thanks Bobs for all these informative posts!
Hi reden- I am glad that you find some of my articles helpful!