The taxi driver must be nuts?! Pissed off early in the morning!
By laydee
@laydee (12798)
Philippines
October 3, 2012 5:46am CST
Took the taxi this morning (as I always do). Upon reaching my destination, the bill was around Php 92.50 (around $2.00) then I handed him a Php 100.00 bill and he was telling me that he didn't have change, so while we were both looking for some change in our pockets, the taxi meter turned Php 96.00 and he said "I have Php 2.00 so I only owe you Php 2.00" so I exclaimed, "No, you owe me Php 7.50" then he said that it was only Php 2.00 because the meter was at Php 96.00! He said the meter should be followed and since I was still inside the taxi cab then the bill should be Php 96.00!!!!
I was really angry but since I had other things to do, I just nagged him and got out. I was so furious I wanted to report the person but heck, it wasn't a good start for the day and I thought that a measly Php 7.00 shouldn't ruin my day. But I swear, I never will ride that franchise again!
Was he right?? Shouldn't the meter be turned off when the person has arrived in the destination??
1 person likes this
11 responses
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
5 Oct 12
I believe that the meter should be turned off when you had arrived at your destination. Taxi drivers should have a good conduct training. Sometimes, they answer you back and most of the time, they won't give change. I always tell the cab drivers that we are both working, making ends meet that is why they should be honest in giving change.
Count other bad things on cab drivers? That won't spoil our moods..
Do you have a specific kind of taxi franchise that you always call or ride?
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
6 Oct 12
I don't usually have a specific or taxi franchise that I ride, I just choose whatever is available but I guess I should next time around so that I could complain to the management about this behavior.
Thanks for the response, have a great mylot experience ahead!
@viju0410 (2286)
• India
3 Oct 12
Hi friend,
I can understand how annoying it is when we have to face such drivers & change/s too. Try to think that it was a charity made you to that driver and start your day with a nice smile. Whatever he did was absolutely incorrect and this shows a greedy habit of his too.
I too face such problems regularly as here too, the auto rickshaw drivers never has the change and they either over-charge us or a few good persons charge a penny lesser due to no-change situations.
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
6 Oct 12
I think those cabbies don't deserve to drive, neither do they deserve passengers! I did think about complaining but I guess I was just too tired to do so, but next time I see him, I would not take his cab - ever!
Thanks for the points, I did think of charity instead of being angry.
@Naseem00 (1996)
• Pakistan
4 Oct 12
The guy should have waited another few minutes to get the meter to Php 100.00 and tell you he owes you nothing 
What you did was absolutely right. Your time is more valuable then few Phps and ruining your day for somebody like him would not have made him any bad.
What you did was absolutely right. Your time is more valuable then few Phps and ruining your day for somebody like him would not have made him any bad.1 person likes this
@HosmanF (92)
• Belgium
4 Oct 12
Good evening dear Laydee , well this story reminds me soo much why i always tend to let thingz by , because i dont like conflicts , but related to your story after i finished reading , i remained a little bit sick about the taxi driver husling for a few Php , but for me logicaly , once you gave him the 100 bill and he told you that he has no change , he surely watched the meter , and it was its duty that ariving at destination , he stops the meter ( afer he told the client the fair amount and the client could see )so he had the intent to keep the meeter on and waste time while you look after change and him also "looking" for he's change.
I wish you a beter evening dear Laydee.
Hosmanf
@riyauro (6421)
• India
3 Oct 12
Oh yeah i have been through this kinda situation too my friend. It is like they have made their favorite line ' I don't have change' I give a crap. I sometimes fight with them 
.. well he was not right at all and he has to turn off the meter once reached the destination. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead. 
.. well he was not right at all and he has to turn off the meter once reached the destination. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead. 1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
3 Oct 12
he should have stopped the meter the moment you got there. maybe he left it running so you'll be forced to forego the change.
when i was riding taxis regularly, i would check the amount and estimate the total as we got closer to my destination. i will round it off, give him the amount as soon as he hits the brake, and get off. if it's 72.50, i'd give him 80.
1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
3 Oct 12
The meter should definitely have been turned off. You shouldn't have to pay for the time it takes to pay the driver.
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
3 Oct 12
I'm not really sure about when a meter should be stopped, but you definitely have a point of contention here. Technically, the meter continues on whilst the passenger is still inside the vehicle. But usually, taxi drivers turn off the meter as soon as they had reached the destination. And we pay the amount reflected. But in your situation, I believe the driver was in the wrong. You had in the first place handed him the payment. It wasn't your fault that he had supposedly no change for it (other drivers deliberately say this so that people wouldn't bother getting the change anymore).
@marguicha (215469)
• Chile
3 Oct 12
It happened to me about two weeks ago when I took a taxi to a friend`s house. It was midmorning, so the driver should have had change. He didn`t even if I did not have a very big bill. My friends had to gather even the coins around the house so that I could pay him. Taxidrivers should carry enough change
. As for the meter, I ask the amount as soon as I reach my destination. I can read it, but I want the driver to read it too
. I learned that the hard way, of course
.
. As for the meter, I ask the amount as soon as I reach my destination. I can read it, but I want the driver to read it too. I learned that the hard way, of course.
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
3 Oct 12
The driver should have turned the meter to "Time off" when you reached your destination. and you should not have been charged for looking for change.
@Starmeka (13)
• United States
3 Oct 12
It sounds like the taxi driver was just trying to get more money from you. He should of stopped the meter as soon as you got to your destination like you said, although I haven't used a taxi in a while that just doesn't make sense. I would at least try to report the situation to the company.
Well hope this doesn't ruin your entire day! Have a good one =))
