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Early this morning I went to PAL Centennial Airport to fetch the significant other who was arriving from Bangkok, Thailand. I couldn’t bring my car because of the ‘color coding’ scheme so I thought that we’ll just get one of those yellow metered taxis there. True, they actually cost twice as much as the usual taxis but given that you won’t have to haggle with the taxi drivers who usually prey on hapless passenges, I thought that the price is well worth it.
Imagine my surprise when after getting into the cab, the yellow metered taxi driver said that the fare going to my place in Sta. Mesa would cost me P550. I asked the driver ‘Isn’t this supposed to be a metered taxi?’ I don’t know if he heard me or just pretended not to hear because he just went ahead and called his dispatcher using their on-taxi radio. He confirmed with his dispatcher that we will be paying P550. I was about to argue some more but the significant other told me to just let it be.
Now, the fare going to my place only costs about P140. Even if you double that or even triple it, I shouldn’t be paying anything more than P420. But really, that’s beside the point. If you’re gonna tell the world that you’re strictly a metered taxi and that although you cost a few pennies more than the usual taxi, then for Pete’s sake stick to the program. Be a frigging metered taxi and make sure your drivers don’t become mercenaries preying on tired passengers. We already have a lot of those! For all the good publicity that this yellow metered taxis is given, this really isn’t good for PAL heck, it’s not even good for the country’s tourism.
What’s really frustrating about this is that, it’s not just the taxi driver who’s doing the scamming, even the airport operator is in on it too. Which makes one wonder what kind of controls the owner of this PAL accredited taxi service is doing to monitor their operation, or do they even have one?
I see all those stickers on the windshield of those yellow metered taxis in PAL and I can’t help but think BS. Just another one of those despicable practices that ruin the Philippines travel experience. I really hope the management of this yellow metered taxi in PAL Centennial Airport looks into this. These guys are giving the Philippines a bad name.
By the way, if you’re gonna look into this, the yellow sticker on the windshield says 336 and the time we took that taxi was around 4:00 AM (Nov. 12, 2009) going to Sta. Mesa. And yes, I actually heard the driver talking to the guy in dispatch and them agreeing to the amount. The driver didn’t even give me a receipt.
Anyway, for those travelers looking to hire one of these yellow metered taxis, the prudent thing to do would be to insure with the dispatch that the driver will be using the taxi meter. I know you shouldn’t have to do this given that that’s what their supposed to do, but it seems you can not trust people these days to do what they’re supposed to do. So better make sure so you don’t get the kind of drama that I had.
I’m pretty sure that this is an isolated incident, but the fact that the taxi driver connived with the dispatcher, there is most assuredly a practice of this sort going on. I just hope their management looks into this ASAP.
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12. November 2009 at 9:13 am
and they even closed some gates, making it more difficult for the passengers to find and choose the white-colored taxis (flag-down P30).
13. November 2009 at 12:23 am
want the cheapest way? take the bus…
19. November 2009 at 6:54 am
You're absolutely right, they're too greedy chomping on anything they could get their teeth into, parang mga buwaya. There was one instance during Christmas that they came outright at balikbayans to ask for Pamasko. Ang ka kapal ng mga apog nila. Sana, mag malasakit naman sila ng konti .
I've written once a letter to the editor of The Inquirer about these bad practices of people at NAIA , but nothing came out of it. Perhaps they need more complainants to act on the matter.
All the best.
4. December 2009 at 8:56 am
It is a shame that there are so many dishonest folks in the world. I thought we had all of them in the US. lol Sorry you got robbed, so to speak, but think how many others are being ripped off and it does look bad for tourism. Thanks for the heads up!
Friends 4 Life!
7. December 2009 at 2:37 am
i got robbed last Nov. 27 too… i just arrived from US and was too tired to argue with the driver. i am a frequent traveler and i know the rates so i asked the driver why is the fare ended up 736 when i use to pay around 200 only (max 250 pag traffic).. he said he doesn't know as he is only a driver earning on a commission basis. i called the number at the dispatch slip and someone took my complaint… the girl on the phone said what they can do is cancel or suspend the taxi driver. but the conversation is very casual and i didn't sense they are taking complaints seriously. 2 years ago when they introduced the yellow taxis it was perfect and i am glad then na meron na taung maayos na airport taxi system… but now wala nanamang kwenta!!!
18. December 2009 at 7:17 am
I have not much time, but I've got many useful things here, love it!
14. January 2010 at 7:52 am
I would like to know how one can obtain a passport from the Philippines to travel to England for medical treatment? Thank you.
17. April 2010 at 12:48 pm
Had the same experience in Mactan Cebu International Airport.
I asked for a regular taxi and they readily loaded my things in the yellow cab that meters almost twice than the regular taxi fare…
What I did was I forcibly got my things from the trunk of the yellow cab and then walk until I reached the Domestic Departure area of MCIAA.
Most of the white taxis drop travelers there.
15. June 2010 at 11:05 pm
Yeah it’s definitely much easier to travel in a limousine or taxi rather than using public transportation…especially if you are a tourist visiting.
13. September 2010 at 10:52 am
I fully sympathise with those cheated by the yellow cabs. I fell victim this morning at 4am (Sept 13, 2010). I have taken cabs from Philipine airports here hundreds of times. Each time, I still have the fear of all these nonsense from the drivers. They just dont give up and continue to go on with all their stupid tricks of cheating. That’s why all my friends have given up coming here. This morning, when I boarded a Yellow cab (TYN 341), the booth was closed, n the driver confidently told me he is starting the meter at P70. After traveling a while, I asked him why I cant see the meter updated. He replied that I dont have to worry as he started the meter at P70. I knew he is up to no good cos he did not give me a ticket as in the past. When I arrived in Makati, the usual fare is about P250, but, the meter still do not show the fare. I asked the driver how much is the fare? He started to press on some buttons, and it was registered P541. I immediately told him that there is fault in his meter, as the local taxi would cost about P120, and at most yellow cabs would cost P250. He shoke his head and told me he does not know and this is what the fare is. This is not the first time I met with this kind of situation….but, have learnt to live with it cos I strongly believe any complaints would not work especially in this country….dats whyt its not going any where economically…hahahaha.sory.
10. March 2011 at 9:13 pm
got scammed just this afternoon by a yellow cab at Terminal 3.yellow metered taxi plate number TXS205 driver name: Philip Sy Vios 2009-2010. My regular fare with yellow taxi from the airport to Edsa monumento is about P390 no traffic and about P430 to P500 with moderate to heavy traffic. and today was not even close… without any traffic, the taxi meter reads 660+ then when i went out to get my bags in the compartment b4 paying it then the magic meter just jump to 726 pesos in less that 20secs. thats when i told the driver that his cheating too much… and he just told me “pang Meryenda lang Sir” then drive off. he just got away with P300+. I hope he’ll get suspended with my complain. TXS205 driver name: Philip Sy- Chinese Look, wears glasses and talks like a Tomboy. Drives a Vios 2009-2010.. if im not wrong the body number o the Taxi is W-022.