some taxi drivers!
By danesmoniz
@danesmoniz (116)
Philippines
February 3, 2013 3:54pm CST
have you ever experienced when you were taking a cab then driver takes advantage of you when you're speaking a different dialect?
i've experienced this so many times already... does it really mean if you sound "probinsyana/probinsyano" they would think you're naive or a newbie in manila?
i'm working here in manila for 3 years now..but before that me and my family go back and fort here so i'm not really a stanger when it comes to commuting, routes and driving directions.
everytime when i know i'm going to be late i take a cab...so one time i was kinda anticipating that im gonna be late for an appointment, i told the driver im going to this place and we have to take the fastest route..and he said "yes, right away ma'am"..
my brother called me and i talked to him in vernacular...after that he was taking me to a different route, i called his attention and told him what was the route that i want..since i go to that place all the time i already know the fastest way of going there..and then he told me that he knows the route his beem driving more than 10yrs.. blah blah blah...
to make the story short i didn't argue with him.
the meter was like 352.10...i was 10 minutes late with my appointment..i paid the exact amount..i usually give tip to good drivers but for this one why should i?
i was really pissed off!
1 person likes this
14 responses
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
7 Feb 13
Yes, some taxi drivers can really be opportunistic. When they perceive you as probinsyana , they will find a way to trick you so you will pay them bigger amount.
Though, i always experience when in a taxi and we would speak Bicolnon, the driver would gladly say "are you Bicolanas " and would be very nice and kind to us, while we all speak Bicolnon. 
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
8 Feb 13
Funny, but some Taxi drivers can really be so enhusiastic in joining their kababayans in speaking same dialects. They become kind and accommodating when they learn that they are both from same province. 
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
11 Feb 13
right totally agree with that..well i think that's natural within us Filipinos, although sometimes there maybe some exceptions.
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
8 Feb 13
well i'm not really saying all taxi drivers are rude and oppurtunistic, there are still some that are nice and polite..actually some taxi drivers would asked you to translate a tagalog phrase to the dialect that you are speaking...:)
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
3 Feb 13
Some taxi drivers, really! Sometimes there are rude and very annoying. Some even offers not to turn on their meter and ask to do take you on your place for a certain price or "kontrata". You can't even report them to LTFRB franchise or when you report it, nothing will happen.
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
3 Feb 13
yup i agree with that. a lot of them always tries to outsmart you,there are even times that when you're in an area were taxi cabs are scarce they usually quote their own price!
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
25 Feb 13
i hope it would really change...also when it rains they add extra charge because tehy are saying they'll get us to the best route where there's no flodd...however i think its there job to take care of us rather than take advantage of us!
@donatello123 (326)
• Philippines
18 Feb 13
I really agree. Most taxi drivers take advantage of their passengers. I really hate it every time I need to take a taxi because I know the driver will ask me either to pay a fixed price or pay the meter then add 50 pesos or 100 pesos even. Most of the cases, I felt shocked seeing the meter went up very fast and high. I am lucky to find some honest drivers but finding them is very very rare. I really felt so bad about our country. Even foreigners know that Filipino taxi drivers are greedy of money. Taxi drivers charge high for foreigners. I hope this will all change.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
8 Feb 13
Thanks for sharing
Here in india we have so many languages and so many dialects, every 50 kms the language changes, the way you talk is enough for taxi drives to know you are an outsider they cheat you in many ways.
In Davao i was cheated once as i cant speak Tagalog.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
9 Feb 13
I am sorry that a taxi driver did that to you professor.
But i am proud to tell you that there are a number of taxi drivers , commended for their honesty.
They return belongings and money of foreigners who forgot then in their taxi.
So, this bunch of dishonest taxi drivers really put the Philippines in a bad light. 
But i am proud to tell you that there are a number of taxi drivers , commended for their honesty.
They return belongings and money of foreigners who forgot then in their taxi.
So, this bunch of dishonest taxi drivers really put the Philippines in a bad light. @danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
11 Feb 13
geezz.. i'm sorry to hear that too professor2010.
well i hope it won't happen again, it doesn't mean all taxi drivers here are dishonest and impolite. i hope that won't hinder you from visiting our country again.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
6 Feb 13
I heard that's a pretty common gig of taxi drivers in Manila. When I went there 3 years ago alone to meet my husband at the hotel he's staying, I was so nervous that I may chance upon a malicious taxi driver and I might lose my way. I've never stayed in Manila long enough to master routes and streets. I only go there as entry to other places like Subic, Tagaytay, etc.
Good thing, the driver was just okay and he was also from Cebu. He got me to my destination in less than 15 minutes from the airport. I think it's safe to ride airport taxis, even if it can really cost a fortune.
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
8 Feb 13
Well I don't really judge them in general... and yeah there really are taxi driver's that greets you when they know you are from the same province, i met those kind if drivers a lot of times and they were so nice! they even asked how's the province and also takes you to your appointment as fast as they could!
yup airport taxi's are really good... there plate nos. are jotted down from the airport for easy tracking, and airport taxis are more comfortable that the ordinary white taxis...
@heaytheblogger (2876)
• Philippines
5 Feb 13
Yes, I’ve experienced such Taxi Drivers, most especially those who are living from the provinces and reside to live in the city to work there. Somehow, they are pretty much attached to their mother tongue that they can’t transition it. However, I don’t find it as a language barrier nor a problem. As long as they understand what I am trying to say. And they know the routes.
But if I noticed that they are pretty much thinking that I am newbie in the urban life, I would totally make a statement and tell them that they are doing something wrong, most especially they are not turning the taxi meter on. It’s not a good way to approach in such taxi business.
@heaytheblogger (2876)
• Philippines
7 Feb 13
True! they are really in to making more money in a way that is totally unfair. This should always never be tolerated.
Thanks for your response.
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
6 Feb 13
yup...sometimes i don't know if they are just "absent-minded" for turning the meter on or they're just acting like they forgot to turn it on... so wise but not so nice!
@randomarts09 (1405)
• Indonesia
5 Feb 13
That kind of taxi driver piss me off. He was thinking about his own benefit by using further road. So he can charge more by that. He thought his passenger doesn't know a lot about the road. And worse yet, he made you late by 10 minutes. If you actually remember his identity (which usually put in the cab), you can report him to his taxi company. If it's reputable taxi company, then this driver could face his consequences.
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
8 Feb 13
You know what if i'm going to see him again i'm going to remember him..
i wasn't really paying attention to the taxi's company name since i was so busy texting and explaining to the person waiting for me...but this time i'll be smarter.:)
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
4 Feb 13
oh yeah, i think this is common here in the city. most taxi drivers would take advantage, and that is indeed the truth. I would say that there are really people or drivers who would try to earn more by acting as if they know what the route to take is, but we end up paying more.
I have even experienced one who pretended that he heard wrong, but it was really different, and the places i said did not even sound the same! Ha.. now though we can report them so let us just do that and do our share when it comes to teaching these abusive drivers a lesson.
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
4 Feb 13
yup! i've experienced something like that ... i told him i'm going to "Katipunan" then i notice he wasn't going the route where we should be. then i asked him, he said "sorry ma'am i heard it was Eastwood" ... ooooh please?!
@xtedaxcvg (3189)
• Philippines
4 Feb 13
Taxi drivers nowadays in our country are either rude or cheats, or even both. I also agree that LTFRB has no power over these abusive drivers. I've tried calling their hotline once and got nowhere. I also learned from a taxi driver that even when you go to court against a taxi driver, you'll just be wasting your time and money.
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
4 Feb 13
I know right?...sometimes you need to take extra extra mile so you can achieve justice in our country!
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
4 Feb 13
You should have written down the plate number and operator of the taxi and inform the office your experience with the driver. I have this habit of jotting down the plate number and also the phone number of the taxi operator so that whatever happens while I am on the taxi, I already have his plate number with me. I would also sometimes send it to my husband or to a friend so that they know that I was riding a taxi.
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
4 Feb 13
thanks jenny! that's i really good suggestion i'll keep that in mind..
i also jot down the plate no. and send it to my husband, but only if i took a cab alone or late at night.
and you know what i've noticed some of the operator's tel. nos. are faded, you could hardly see it, i hope taxi drivers don't intentionally erase it.
@Raine38 (12257)
• United States
4 Feb 13
Even if you don't have that dialect accent them pesky cab drivers will always find more ways to scam you and make you pay more than necessary. If none of their tactics work, they will outrightly ask you of some additional money for, say, traffic, extra mile, not having enough passsengers to pick up in the destination, etc. I even have that driver asked me for more tip just because he said he's running late for his lunch hour and he's really hungry but he chose to drive me instead. Can you believe that?
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
4 Feb 13
so rude! how could we be responsible for their lunches or their boundaries...at the first place their the ones who's driving not us!...i pity them but sometimes they're not worth the sympathy because they become abusive.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
3 Feb 13
you need to come to mexico... they all drive like crazy people here. Its real bad in the city..
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
3 Feb 13
really?...what do they usually do?...some taxi drivers in the philippines don't really violate traffic rules but some of them have a lot of mischiefs!
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
4 Feb 13
right! that's why sometimes i would just opt to take the subway although its so congested all the time but atleast you won't get late..you can even save money..
@blitz1224 (94)
• Philippines
4 Feb 13
Try to use the web app called taxikick. Or go to their website www.taxikick.com. You can report the violation, plate number, etc. while you are still in the taxi. This app is link to LTFRB so expect that your complain will be address properly. You can even tweet them @taxikick to report or complain. Hope it will help you.
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
8 Feb 13
Thanks a lot for this! This is gonna be helpful somehow... i just hope the department will act on it right away
@gamarays12 (85)
• Philippines
4 Feb 13
thats one reason why i dont take cabs whenever Im alone....I might fight with the driver with an attitude problem...
@danesmoniz (116)
• Philippines
4 Feb 13
well fighting with them is too dangerous..they might drop you off a place where you're not familiar or they might hurt you..
some of them carry deadly weapons you know..
