Yes, my hatred towards cab drivers' the ultimate
motivation in getting my car.
Most of them, Most- I emphasize, are full of shit.
When I was a passenger and even now that I'm a driver.
Never a believer in paying for bad service, cab drivers are the WORST that I've experienced.
I had enough of them farting in the confined area, singing along with shitty radio FM with their pathetic voice, bragging to me about their "success stories" (please, if you're so capable, you wouldn't be a cab driver), refusing to on their air con and what's more? Even digging his nose before giving me the receipt WTF?!
My purpose of taking a cab:
1) In a rush
2) Can't be bothered to walk
1) In a rush
2) Can't be bothered to walk
3) Not sure how to travel to the destination
Why pay 10 times the amount to take a cab when I can't even achieve my purpose?
Hence, I avoid cabs even when I was a regular user of public transport.
I would rather take the time and travel via bus or MRT, just so that I don't have to go through the trauma.
Hence, I avoid cabs even when I was a regular user of public transport.
I would rather take the time and travel via bus or MRT, just so that I don't have to go through the trauma.
Too many stories, I can't share enough. But here's a few:
The most typical incident (starting from the least serious)
Me: "Hello Uncle, Boon Keng Road please."
Taxi Uncle: "Girl ah, you mean Upper Boon Keng is it? Say properly la..."
Me: "Erms, Uncle, I mean Boon Keng Road, you know? The one beside Bendemeer..."
Taxi Uncle: "HELLO? I've been driving for the past 10 years ok?! Upper Boon Keng is Upper Boon Keng, Bendemeer is Bendemeer."
Me: "... I've been staying there for the past 20 years, my address is Boon Keng Road on my IC."
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Me: "Hi~~ Please go to Hougang first then Bendemeer"
Taxi Uncle: "Ok... You know ah, actually I was on the way to airport, then I saw the both of you like so poor thing flagging for cab at the ferry terminal, so I thought I'll be nice and pick you up."
-Me thinking... Sure, so nice then FREE? EH MR, I paying for your service right?! #YouMadIsit?
Taxi Uncle: -Sob stories telling session BLAH BLAH BLAH...
Me: "Uncle, I think you missed the exit leh..."
Taxi Uncle: "WHAT??? YOU DON'T COME AND TEACH ME OK, UNCLE EAT SALT MORE THAN YOU EAT RICE.
I DIDN'T GET MY AIRPORT SURCHARGE BECAUSE I'M SO NICE TO SEND YOU TWO!"
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Me: "Uncle, do you know how to go to this place?"
Taxi Uncle: "Ya la ya la, no problem one!"
Me: "Oh... Because I heard that you can call the HQ for directional assistance. Shall we check first?"
Taxi Uncle: "Don't need la, I can find my way!"
......After a long ride......
Taxi Uncle: "Er... I think we passed by your destination already, you want to walk there? Very near only."
Me -Looks at my crazy killer heels, scorching sun on the outside
(Reminding myself not to get mad because I must maintain the good mood today for my magazine shoot)
Me: "Nevermind Uncle, you just turn back, I'll pay you."
Taxi Uncle: "WA, just a short walk only leh, U-turn must take very long you know! The traffic is bad! Why're you such a pain?.... -continues nagging away"
Calls my editor: "Hello! I kinda lost my way, could you give me the directions?"
"Uncle, you U-turn, it's the building beside the petrol station that we passed by awhile ago."
Taxi Uncle: "YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO ASK EARLIER?
Now then you ask, waste my time to travel until here!"
(Raising his voice all this while and scolding me)
Unable to tolerate any longer, I dialed the cab company's number...
Me: "Hi there, I'm on this cab, SGB 12345X and I'm feeling extremely threatened.
He refuses to send me to my destination even when I offered to pay, after he took me to the wrong place.
Now he's shouting at me non-stop, as you can hear."
Taxi Uncle (shocked): "Wa, have to complain or not? Ok la ok la, I send you there!"
3 days later, cab company called me to follow up on the feedback.
Apparently, they have received countless complaints on this cab driver and he has already been blacklisted!!!
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Me: "Hi! Bugis Street please, go via Queenstreet there"
Taxi Uncle proceeds to drive through beach road and la salle #SayWhat?
Totally off track from my instruction! My retail shop's at Bugis, so I take a cab everyday
and it only costs $5 per trip from Bendemeer Road.
The fare this time actually came up to a whopping $10-
the cab was also stuck because he tried to navigate past the small alley
beside la salle instead of the usual route.
NO WAY!
Me: "Uncle, I'm not gonna pay you $10 for sure. I take the cab everyday to my shop, don't treat me like a fool."
Taxi Uncle: "Ok la, it's my fault that I went the wrong route (Wrong your ass, go and die.
I told you exactly where to go). How much do you usually pay, just pay me that amount k?"
Me: "My usual cab fare to bugis during off-peak hour like now is $5, maximum also $6."
Taxi Uncle took the $6 and threw me a sarcastic remark: "Girl, next time no money don't take cab."
Hmms... Exactly why I'm taking your cab and you have to drive me around.
SURE.
I'VE THE MONEY, BUT NOT MEANT FOR YOU TO CHOP ME LIKE A CARROT OK?
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Even now, as a driver, my feud with cab drivers is inevitable.
Their favorite past time's cutting into my lane randomly and slowing down immediately.
Speeding up- once I signal my intention to change lane (That's why in SG, you can never signal first,
you have to move and signal at the same time! Nobody's willing to give way)
Cab drivers are FOREVER stopping right in front of me to pick up passengers, blocking my route.
Haven't we seen enough of cab drivers moving out of the taxi stand abruptly without signaling?
Like as if they own the road...
The other day, I was driving along Ann Siang hill when I wanted to make a turn to the other side of the road.
Unfamiliar with the area, I thought I saw the opposite traffic coming my way and had a shock.
So I made a gradual stop to confirm on my direction, while I noticed a cab driver coming up right behind me.
So I signaled reverse to get on the right track, instead of giving way, he inched forward and kissed my ass.
He got down of his cab, insisted that I reversed and was caught on his "CCTV".
My car barely even moved!!!
I took a look at his car, nothing at all, not even a scratch.
He then started threatening me to call the police and claim my insurance etc.
Cab driver: "Girl, you're just a P-plate, if I do this, you'll definitely get into trouble!"
Me: "Uncle, how can you let it go?"
Cab driver: "I don't know la! Because of you, I didn't pick up the passenger in front you know?
Missed my cab fare, how are you gonna compensate me?"
I KNEW IT! All he wanted was to blackmail me for his coffee money!!!!
My gf suggested for me to keep it low and let things go,
as it would only be my disadvantage since I'm still a P-plater (FML for being a new driver)
Gave him $20, he took it and left. Dafuq?!
After the incident, everyone told me that I should report him for blackmailing!
Too bad I didn't note down his car plate, I've decided to regard it as I've given the money to someone worse off than a beggar :)
For sure, I'm not the only one going through this.
Countless of my friends have warned me about cab drivers bullying new drivers on the road,
I should have known better!
I should have known better!
I'm never someone that just believe in hear-says, until I experienced it for myself.
Now that I did (too many encounters), I've decided to pen them down and share it with you!
Share with me your stories too! ;)
**Disclaimer: There are of course, good cab drivers around. But we will leave that for next time.
Meanwhile, I'm staying focused with my topic on the bad experiences. (Note: This is not a case study, so I need not balance with the good side. I'm just ranting it out)
Take this with a pinch of salt and chill! ♥
♥
33 comments:
well, u r lucky gal. i just met an accident with the cab driver last last wk. i was driving along PIE first lane and then buang into a CAB who apparently STOP IN FIRST LANE!!!i ask him y he stop, he say infront got car but i din see him signal stopping or slow down at all! is like eBRAKE!!! i tried to siam but failed n buang the car 's butt. i told him can we do a private settlement, he say cannot cos is comany's car. then i ask for contact number, he refuse to give and drove off. ask me to dial the cab hotline to reach him?!!!?!?!!! he look so guilty to stop in first lane
bloody hell, till now, my left arm still aching and numb becos of the stupid accident. STOP IN FIRST LANE!
Plenty, especially those who take a longer route to earn more money.
But the most memorable one was when my friend puked in the cab due to the bumpy ride (speed and break). I apologised but he kept nagging away. Pulled up at a petrol station without telling us, didn't stop the meter and called us to get out of the cab so he could wash the car, with a very rude tone.
Demanded us to compensate him for the inconvenience and claimed that he can't drive the cab for 1-2hours because of the smell. But wait, the windows were winded down once my friend vomited and there was no smell at all. Most of the vomit went into my friend's bag.
A female friend of mine was scared of having trouble and just decided to pay him a few bucks more and left. I would definitely not let it go that easily.
i have encounter taxi going by the longer route and he claim that he is new to the taxi company. If he is new to the roads of singapore, then probably he should ask first instead of driving his own way in no shortcut to the destination i wanted. I just kept my cool and just paid more in the end. However, it was totally boiling deep inside for parting my money for his inexperience.
Pls don't discriminate cab drivers, they are on the road most of the time and they are so much experienced than anyone who drives.
Not all cab drivers are like this. I have met nice cab drivers which gives way to me whenever I am overtaking, changing lane or making a turn etc.
better luck next time.
And pls do not look down on cab drivers who are lowly educated or unsuccessful. Some are highly educated too, Just that its time for them to retire or watsoever reason they have, so decided to go on this line.
anyway, i dont think you are going to approve my comments anyway. you always only approve comments that are favorable to you.
You know, about the "they have received countless complains on this cab driver' issue, i think the company just tells that to every customer to make them feel more satisfied. every time my mum makes a complaint on taxi drivers, the company will tell her that this particular taxi driver has been blacklisted blah blah... all bullshit i think.
agree wit anon...until she is a better driver she wont feel that taxi drivers are annoying..new drivers are annoying too!
Well, i've pretty much had good encounters with taxi drivers.
I've taken a couple of free rides when I was a student because they refused to take my money:
1. I was sobbing non-stop when I went to the A&E unit when I found out my mother was involved in a serious accident.
2. I was caught in a heavy rain and attempting a sprint home from the bus-stop 10 minutes away from home.
So, I'm pretty lucky in that sense :)
"singing along with shitty radio FM with their pathetic voice, bragging to me about their "success stories" (please, if you're so capable, you wouldn't be a cab driver)"
Oh, man.. You are such a brat.
Oh well, I think there're all kinds of pple. Not fair to judge cab drivers like the way u do. I've had rude Cab drivers before but I've aso had countless of nice cab drivers too. I think it is how u portray urself. To be honest, I take cabs all the time but most of e time, they r really v friendly & nice pple.
C'mon, they r on e road all the time, daily. Sometimes they can be grumpy & naggy but I feel we shld always put ourselves in others' shoes. They too, meet nasty passengers all the time. But, if we as passengers cld do our lil part, being a lil nice, friendlier to them, I'm sure they will aso be nice too. I always have good conversation with them and sometimes, they'll give me "discount".
And I think not only cab drivers r bad drivers leh. On the whole, I feel singaporeans r quite reckless drivers. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Singaporean myself but I've seen how some pple drive on e road. It's horrible. So, before pointing ur finger at others, maybe u shld reflect on urself too.
Yup, dont discriminate cab drivers. So what you drive? Like a big deal? Erm?? Please be more humble.
Please don't so mean... Did you board a cab and out of 10 times they piss u off? You definitely can't deny the fact that those u have met are merely the 'black sheep' of the whole lot. Yes, cab drivers can be quite a tyrant on the road.. but no need to dedicate a post just to put them down? Think of the family behind them who needs them as a breadwinner. Since you value ur family so much, & i believe some of your readers out there have cab drivers as their fathers too, so please have a heart and feel for them......
p.s my dad is a cab driver and i am ur reader. :)
Well bad experience from cab drivers:
1) When they are "Mute"/no indication/like a blockhead that he/she acknowledge on the direction/route when you tell him/her. You need to repeat, worrying that he/she might not heard you.
2) Like to ask you which route to go. When obviously is the shortest route possible.
3) When he/she know this expressway does not link to the destination but like to mislead you by asking you if you want to go by this expressway at the very last minute. When you have no choice but to agree. Since it's too late to make changes and you trust him/her since he/she as a cab driver should know where that expressway link to better than most passengers. But when you realised you got into the wrong place. He/she blamed you that you agree when he/she asked.
P/S: Above are a few bad experience I encountered.Those are really blacksheeps who spoilt our day.They should really do die in a fire.LOL!But at times I do meet some really nice,polite,friendly cab driver when I am lucky.Just hope we won't get to meet those blacksheep cab drivers again!Who want to pay for a service but get this kind of treatment?
My dad is a taxi driver... :( my whole family rely on his daily income. I guess he must be the best taxi driver in singapore cos he's so experienced and hardworking <3
Well said pal! I super agree with you:)
@PrincessMic: I know right babe. They do that all the time! Now I've learnt to drive a lot slower because of these inconsiderate cab drivers. Time to install a cctv to make these road bullies pay!
@swz: Was your friend even drunk or sick in the first place? If not then it's obviously his fault! I've been through these bumpy rides and always feel discomfort after that (a huge urge to burp it out). Before I drove, I thought it inevitable. Now I know for sure it's the driver's choice to provide their passengers with comfort or not.
@Clearing it off: OMG. I've encountered that once as well! But at least mine was really polite and I was in a good mood. He gave me a slight discount though! I mean, if you're learning and need experience, then you should pay for it. I'm not your guinea pig, my time is precious!
Who are you to call them unsuccessful? So you think you are successful in comparison of what? Money? C'mon, you just lucky to be in a family that doesn't require you to face many life problems. And to be frank, you owe a lot of what you have today to your looks, which again is credits of your parents.
If they are road bullies, you're a cyber bully.
@Anon: I approve comments that are logical, but not those that hurl direct insults. You can prove your point and make your own judgement, that's fine.
Anyway that aside, it's like a relationship. When more bad things happen over the good, will you really, still remember the good? I cab a lot, and this post isn't just my experience in a week. It's over time, accumulated through the years.
Of course, there are good cab drivers around. Very unfortunately though, there are more black sheeps than white. If you were to dine at a restaurant, and the service was bad, wouldn't you go like "ABC restaurant has terrible service?"
And you aren't judgemental? What makes you think that the entire restaurant doesn't have good service staffs? See where I'm going?
If one's successful at the age of retirement, they would either have a business to depend on or traveling around as a high flyer, not slogging their life out. Truth. (Highly educated doesn't equate capability nor success)
I'm making a point in this post- my unhappiness towards most cab drivers. This isn't an essay nor a case study, I need not state both the good and bad side. Same for any complaints that anyone would make :)
No hard feelings, so chill.
@Anon: Hahhaa.. Yea, that might be their way of appeasing the customers actually! Well, at least after I made the call, he sent me to my destination (goal achieved). I'm sure the cab company keeps a record- so if he does that too often to other customers, he can kiss goodbye to his job.
@Thedialy: Even my friends that have driven for years on the road hate cab drivers. So I take your comment as invalid :)
@Anon: Wow, so nice of them :) Of course, there are nice people around, no matter what jobs are they in.
I've a met bangala construction worker that picked up my wallet and returned to me too! But if I were to tell that to the girl that was raped or molested by a construction worker, do you think she would have changed her perception?
Food for thought.
Thanks for sharing, I've met really nice cab drivers too, but my impression has changed since the last incident.
@Anon: Brat? Because I'm paying for a service and yet having to tolerate noise pollution? Sure.
@Anon: No customers are there to listen to stupid complaints. There's a reason why counsellors exist. If they need someone to talk to, complain sob stories to, pay for it. I do not pay to listen to naggings. (Customer service's golden rule, never complain to a customer)
I know that it's a tough job, that's why I would always make it a habit to be friendly towards them. I would greet them politely and never forget about thanking them. But how often do I get back the same treatment?
If I have to put myself in other people's shoes, why didn't you put yourself in my shoes in the first place? :)
@Anon: Hello my dear! Just so you know, my uncle's a cab driver too. He's really good though, know his routes within a finger snap. I do not deny that there are good cab drivers around :) Take my post as a pinch of salt, like anybody that's ranting and complaining about their bad experiences.
Trust me, it was accumulative that I decided to burp out this post.
I apologize if it affects you or upset you in anyway, but it's a fact that I've been through this and merely wanted to share. Will definitely include a disclaimer for u :)
@Anon: Exactly! Omg, I've experienced all those that you've mentioned as well! LOL. Funny how it's like striking lottery for a good cab driver to come along :p
I've met those really optimistic and motivative cab drivers that make my day too, but how often? Singapore really needs to improve on customer service as a whole, I guess.
@Anon: He must be! :) I Hope he isn't anything like the bad experiences I've encountered but one of the angel-like cab drivers that I meet once in awhile!
I agree to some of your comments but my personal opinion -- please spare a thought for people who are cab drivers.
why make a post on it ?
Yeah don't discriminate cab drivers not all of them are bad. I cab often and most of the drivers I've came across are nice. Yes I've had some bad experiences but even at other places we get bad services at times.
I guess they're nice cause I always made a point to be polite.
Hi babe! May i know where did you get the beige dress u wore while posing with ur car? Its gorgeous! Hopefully u will be able to see this post! Thanks babe!
Hi, may I know where u get the dress from? The last few pics of this post. Thanks!
Hi, may I know where u get the dress from? The last few pics of this post. Thanks!
Cab drivers are terrible. That's why I help poor people carry all their groceries to the door when I take them home from shopping even though they can't afford to tip me, give people free rides when they have some sort of hardship, and trust black people to go inside to get money to pay without leaving collateral because I don't want them to feel insulted. Ask the stranded lady I took home at 3:00 in the morning even though she did not have money with her what a bad, bad man I am!
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