Like cabbies all over the world, Singaporean taxi drivers are favorite punch-bag for complaints.
-We're stupid, greedy and rude.
-We have no idea where we're going and we deliberately take a longer route to cheat you. When you specified the "3 in 1" (Shortest, Cheapest & Fastest) route, our brain must equal to "Google Map" or we're stupid or unscrupulous cheats. You're always a gullible victim for an easy ripe off.
-We're are money-face because we always spurn your requests for a discount. You've every right to a discount when you feel that we have taken a longer route instead of the one you've in your mind. Customer is always right. Like a restaurant, we must provide free water.
-When you request us to drive faster, we should drives like a maniac, cutting in and out of lanes and stop whenever and wherever you like...We're the most horrible, reckless drivers from hell, other motorists are angels from heaven. And when we don't obey your commands, we are belligerent and obnoxious.
-Our cabs are filthy all the time. It should be kept sparklingly clean with a refreshing aroma like the toilet of a boutique hotel. When you are inside our cab, you want to feel that you're inside the toilet of NKF ex-CEO, not a shit shade with bucket latrine of the sixties.
-Our cashless payment terminal is always faulty when you want to pay by Nets or credit cards. It then becomes our problem, not your fault when you've no cash to pay. We should let you off, if possible, if the amount is small or wait for you patiently to withdraw from ATM or your home.
-We seldom return lost valuables and if we do return them, its unethical to ask for extra taxi fare incurred. It's our duty to return lost items and a criminal offense to keep them, (Fine $500 , Vocational License will be revoked). Preferably, we should let you know where we stay so that you can pick up the lost item from our house or meet you somewhere convenient for the handover.
-We cannot feel disappointed when no tip is given for extraordinary service because it's part and parcel of our job to always provide good service at all time. No tipping. please?
-We barely speak good English, or if we do, we never shut up, especially when the subject is about PAP or LKY.
-We cherry-pick our passengers like PAP's gerrymandering in redrawing electoral boundaries after a general election. Damn "kaisu"!. Always afraid to loose out to others. Think of self benefits only.
-We're present everywhere except, of course, when you really need us. Long queues of customers are always present at popular places like Vivo City, Great World City, etc..... but we prefer to park our taxis at horses betting centers at Bukit Merah, Kranj Race Course, etc...or drive our families and KTV mistresses around, depriving you of an essential public transport service. We use our taxi like personal car. We're really pathetic, stupid and irresponsible.
-When we don't help to load your luggage into the trunk, you can kick and trash the interior of our cab, like Mdm. Quan Yifeng of MediaCorp (Link) and get away with it because she is somebody in Singapore. Is loading and unloading baggage mandatory?.
-When you see the "BUSY" sign on the roof of our taxi, you know we're cheating the system to get into CBD for the extra $3 and surely not for other good reasons.
-We hid ourselves like mice when surcharge is not-applicable but appears like swans of bees when any surcharge kicks in. We're greedy like pigs but reluctant to plough the rice field like an obedient buffalo.
-When your boss gave you a hard day in the office, it's easy and good to let off your steam at us. It's the fastest way to DE-stress after work.
-When you can't book a cab through the call center on rainy days or peak hours, you're exasperated and complain.
-When a cab arrives late or never arrive after your booking, you're infuriated and complain.
-And when a driver arrived punctually and saw you got onto another empty cab, the taxi driver complains (to whom?).
-In Singapore, it's so easy to complain. In fact, there is a "brilliant" website specifically dedicated for all complaints on taxi drivers at http://singaporetaxi.20m.com/. (Link). It's very popular with thousands of members. Quick, sign up to be a member. It's free. LTA is always happy to entertain your complaints. Our Transport Minister is paid millions a year to help you eradicate nasty and lousy taxi drivers from the road.
-My dear readers, I invite you to add a few more complaints about taxi drivers under "comments". I'll not feel offended, I promise! In fact, I'll take your complaints seriously and try to improve my services to you. Without customers like you, I'll be out of business and job. Customer is always right! right?. My motto at work is "I'll do the impossible at once, miracle takes a bit longer"
Taxi drivers are like rats or street bums. Unfortunately, they are a part of the city----a necessary evil.
I don't like to be a taxi driver if I can find other suitable jobs but driving a taxi isn't for everybody. It takes a certain temperament. I for one, find it dull and tedious. But it gets me out of the house to meet some really good people, put three meals on the table and put my two children through university. Driving allows me to socialize a bit and is relatively mindless. I don't need to use a lot of my brain.
As the saying goes, if I can't take the heat, I'll get out of the kitchen. How long more will I drive a taxi? I don't know, but as long as I do, I'll try my best to do a professional job and keep this blog going.
15 comments:
Most of my taxi riding experience has been positive. Most as there are always a few bad apples around.
I know you have this feeling of resignation but keep your chin up. I know good taxi drivers and I had many good conversations albeit short ones with them. I am sure you're one of the good ones.
out of interest what test do you have to do to be a singapore taxi driver? in england it takes about 4 years to become a taxi driver which is why they all know where they're going in a city much bigger than singapore. there's a reason people complain about taxi drivers here
People always said London Cab Driver is much better.I would like to ask you,if you are prepare to pay London Taxi Fare in Singapore.Why you dun compare us to Kuala Lumpur taxi driver?
I agree, you get what you pay for but that's no excuse for such a poor service from 75 percent of taxi drivers in singapore. Why would you pay plumber to fix your sink if he didn't know what he was doing? It's your job. Do it properly
The streets and buildings in England do not change much. In Singapore, you will constantly see new buildings project and new streets being worked upon.
singapore, very nica country, very strange drivers
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So if someone got a cancer or some illness then go see the doctor,paid the high out-of-pocket medical expenses.Are you sure this poor fellow will get 100% cure or recover?
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Really langgar! What to do? It's just job hazards I must say. Hope it's not that bad lah!
Hi, Gintai,
You'll know when you're on the job. Recently, my company called me up for an explanation when they received a complaint against me from a PRC female passenger that it was rude of me for using the phrase "FT" (Foreign Talent) at her. She also complained that she felt offended when I casually remarked that "she want to save a few cents by asking me to make a "U-Turn" at a traffic junction". Four days had passed since her complaint. I'm waiting for an official warning letter from my company. Getting many frivolous complaints is usually the order of the day. I always tell myself that I'm with the stranger for 20 mins. at most. Bear with it, take a deep breath and all things will turn out ok in the end. So, don't worry. Happy Driving Soon. Bye
you guys are really complain kings and queens. don't complain about how the government brought injustice to you guys. don't try to conceal the fact that you guys did not work hard enough and you were CEOs, CFOs, or some senior management before you became a taxi driver. blame your parents for bringing you to this world and became taxi drivers. no pity. blame your life don't blame others.
Taxi drivers love to complain how they became one. Not necessarily due to old age or poor economy. Go think of why they were chosen to be let go. Surely, they were unlikeable. Stupidity provoked the management, thought they were damn good and indispensable etc. I know of friends who were let go from their previous employments due to their superiority complexions. They thought they were damn good etc. In fact they ignorantly thought that the whole world revolve with them. Stupid old people. Especially those born in to 50s and 60s; they thought they were the economic movers, Yes they are, but they are dispensable, Go drive more trips.
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