Manila

[GoodEnough]

This whole debate has served to remind me of why, when arriving in Manila, I invariably use the coupon taxis: never a hassle over rates or meters as they're all posted. In my 17 years of taking these taxis I've never had a problem.

[Dg8787]

I text the oversight agency on the back of the slip of paper you get when you get the yellow taxi. To my surprise they responded within a few minutes. They asked for the receipt slip number and license plate of the taxi. I had texted earlier the date, time and details of the incident. I also reported the other incident months earlier but did not have the slip number nor the license plate.

Please keep the details, license plate number and other facts to make your reports.

BTW, I used the rates on the slip 70 drop charge and 4 pesos per 300 meters and calculated my rate would have been less than 200 pesos.

[Bushes]

RK, try this on the yellow and street taxis, just for your amusement. Or take a taxi right outside a bar / disco.

Next time you take a taxi, pretend to be in an intense phone call in English and just give the cabbie a building or street address. See what the cabbie does. Make the corrections when he deviates but you will find that pretending to be a newbie tourist does tempt a lot of cabbies.

I must say in all my years of using the yellow cabs I have NEVER had one try to rip me off (and I live here), either through fast meter or any other scam. It is high risk because you can call up the number on your receipt and speak to an operator. I had one driver ask me if I would call up the number and tell them how good his service had been, so someone must be taking notes at the other end.

[WestCoast1]

Unlike some on this forum, I like repeats.

I have my share.

Some drivers will not let you put a large suitcase or box in the back seat.

Nnnnnneeeeexxxxxttttt taxi!

[Red Kilt]

Like the OFW, many who have nothing or little also get ripped off. The OFWs are prime targets at the airports. Some get in late at night and have to wait to get to a bus or ferry terminal in the morning.

That's the reason why the yellow airport cabs were introduced some years ago and the regular white metered cabs were banned from the airports. There was a spate of organized robberies of returning OFWs and visiting Koreans with lots of bags. The driver would take a "wrong" turn into a deserted area where his accomplices were waiting to offload all the spoils and terrorize the arrivals. I recall that on one occasion they torched the cab to make it look like the driver was a victim too.

It occurred so often that the regular cabs were banned and the yellow cabs were introduced so that theoretically, the authorities had a record of every departure.

I must say in all my years of using the yellow cabs I have NEVER had one try to rip me off (and I live here), either through fast meter or any other scam. It is high risk because you can call up the number on your receipt and speak to an operator. I had one driver ask me if I would call up the number and tell them how good his service had been, so someone must be taking notes at the other end.

[Bushes]

Unlike some on this forum, I like repeats.

I have 2 old standbys coming over soon. The repeat girls are so much fun!

Some drivers will not let you put a large suitcase or box in the back seat. One excuse that worked for me is that if the trunk cannot close, I tell them it is too risky to have the trunk tired down and open on the streets of Manila. I often use the front passenger seat belt to strap a bag down.

Like the OFW, many who have nothing or little also get ripped off. The OFWs are prime targets at the airports. Some get in late at night and have to wait to get to a bus or ferry terminal in the morning.

I always put my bag in the back seat for that reason; I can get out when I want.

There is also the story reported some time back about a returning OFW who got out of the taxi at her destination and the driver sped off with her bags and pasalubong. He calculated that her stuff was worth more to him than the paltry fare that he missed getting. High risk if the OFW was able to get the cab registration and the story might be apocryphal of course but it made me think.

[Free2]

Landed at Terminal 2 this AM. Philippine Airlines now gives every passenger a free Globe SIM card that you can put into your phone as you sit in the airplane! Nice touch.

Found a stray white taxi outside, negotiated 400 (down from 500) to Chinatown. The suitcase went into the back seat (great tip to propogate, never put it into the trunk). 400 php is a bit high but who gives a damn. It would have been nice if the driver just shut the f* up and didn't think he was a damn travel guide. Shut up and drive!

Getting the phone unlocked this morning, but had time to get a SW off of Rizal Ave, 21 years old, has 3 year old daughter, cute girl, from Rizal province who came into town to working girl herself out. Paid 1000, went to a ST hotel nearby for 160/ HR. Lame service though, she refused to give me a BJ or let me suck her nipples. Good to get the first release of the trip out of my system though!

I have 2 old standbys coming over soon. The repeat girls are so much fun!

[WestCoast1]

I always put my bag in the back seat for that reason; I can get out when I want.

There is also the story reported some time back about a returning OFW who got out of the taxi at her destination and the driver sped off with her bags and pasalubong. He calculated that her stuff was worth more to him than the paltry fare that he missed getting. High risk if the OFW was able to get the cab registration and the story might be apocryphal of course but it made me think.

Related story from Jakarta. I went to a disco one evening about 11 pm to check out the FL, but didn't see any eye candy worth approaching. I left after one drink and jumped in the first taxi at the street (they were lined up). I mentioned the hotel name and off we went. At light traffic it should have been 6-8 minutes ride. Halfway thru I looked up from my phone and saw the meter was off and we were in the wrong part of town. I mentioned the meter to the driver, and at the next alleyway he turned (rather harshly) into the alley (crappy area) and drove a hundred meters down the alley and pulled over. He mentioned an exorbitant price to take me to the hotel (about $25). No, thanks guy, just take me back to the disco. "Get out". I looked around, it was very dark and a crappy place. A perfect place to drop off a bule to get rolled. No, thanks, not getting out. I continued to read on my phone. A minute later he told me to get out again. We sat for a good 3-4 minutes in silence, and finally he sped off. About halfway to my hotel he again pulled over the taxi and told me to get out (this time on a busy street). No, thanks. I told him that if he took me to the hotel I would pay him something, and if he took me to the disco that there was no money. I kept reading. Another 2 minutes of silence and he sped off, this time to my hotel (always appreciate your door security), driving too fast and swerving on purpose. When we pulled up he asked the exorbitant price again. I got out without paying and told the security guy who opened my door what the driver was asking. The driver and security guy argued and the security guy laughed, then asked me to give the driver the equivalent of $4 USD. Sure! Lesson learned: If you don't exit the vehicle, he cannot possibly get another paying customer.

[Red Kilt]

Lesson learned long ago: When traveling to / from the airport, make sure that your main luggage ends up in the back seat, not the trunk. If you must step out of the taxi, its much easier to get at your luggage in the cabin of the car than in the trunk.

I think the presence of Uber / Grab has made the metered guys more honest.

Good reminder WC.

I always put my bag in the back seat for that reason; I can get out when I want.

There is also the story reported some time back about a returning OFW who got out of the taxi at her destination and the driver sped off with her bags and pasalubong. He calculated that her stuff was worth more to him than the paltry fare that he missed getting. High risk if the OFW was able to get the cab registration and the story might be apocryphal of course but it made me think.

Certainly the Grab and Uber guys have changed the game a bit, especially around Makati and Ortigas where people are likely to have Uber / Grab contacts. Probably not so much around Malate / Ermita / Binondo but this is just an opinion from a regular taxi user.

[WestCoast1]

Not at all true Bushes as has been repeated time and again on this thread by those of us who live here and use taxis ALL the time.

You can be ripped off by taxis all over the world if you are not prepared for it. My good experiences with taxis is probably due to being proactive and aware of the scams (in Phils, Laos, Thailand and Mongolia). Although I don't agree with Bushes generalization (as shown above) I do agree with him that if the meter is not set at the start of the trip, get out and get another cab. Don't wait until he is 5 minutes into the trip.

Concur. Its rare that a driver pulls that no-meter trick, but it does happen sometime. You can refuse and step out, or if already underway he is required to take you back to your origin (if he won't, just step out at the next light or traffic stoppage). Lesson learned long ago: When traveling to / from the airport, make sure that your main luggage ends up in the back seat, not the trunk. If you must step out of the taxi, its much easier to get at your luggage in the cabin of the car than in the trunk.

I think the presence of Uber / Grab has made the metered guys more honest.

[Dg8787]

I am of two minds on this issue.

Tossing him a pittance by our standards saves a lot of hassle, you can walk away for 200 p $US4 or spend time arguing, or spend a lot more if LE gets involved (they need their cut as well you know) or have some hassle later when the guy comes back with his buddies to talk about the issue.

Remember we are in an Asian culture where "face" is important. If someone with nothing else to lose loses "face" then they have nothing else to lose and everything to gain by regaining it, sometimes by violent means.

On the other hand tossing the 200 p just encourages it in the future.

I tend to take the pragmatic short term approach and just toss the extra money so I can walk away from the immediate problem because the long term is a more general issue than one of personal concern. I know it is passing the buck and not solving the bigger problem but even if I have to pay the 200 p several times a week, it is still a better solution than getting into one major hassle. I find as I spend more time here I am better at avoiding the 200 p problems so it is actually getting a little better.

I totally agree with you. It is not worth it to get in to a hassle for 200 pesos. I was just reporting the actual events and in no way am I telling anyone else to do the same.

Thanks for the actual experience replies. All others are just academic book learning and or hearsay.

I am only saying from my last 2 T1 Yellow taxi experiences that they were trying to rip me off again.

[Bushes]

Proactive in the sense of telling the taxi driver the route to take is a way to let him know you are not a tourist. As in, don't xxxx with me. That and being aware of the scams, whether meters or faking amount of money handed over and the list goes on. Seen them all.

The meter and routing is key in the beginning and sets the stage. I am sometimes busy or preoccupied or tired and forget the routing in a known place and find the taxi going the long way. Usually I catch it and pay USD1 more but it eats at my pride. If I know the route and costs and the meter appears fast, I ask them to pull over and get another taxi; unless it is pouring rain, a typhoon, or steaming hot. But, as you would say, isn't that always?

For visitors, I always give them my address and suggested directions in English and the local language. Usually works but not always. Had a seasoned traveler who did need help but ask what the usual fare was to my place from the airport. He had paid 50% more and it ruined his week. I was like, it is only USD4 and you got to see some of the cities main attractions again.

It does not happen often, but I have had Uber email me and say my trip was too long and offer a future discount. I almost had a heart attack.

Maybe because of my age and forgetting to set the stage properly when getting into a taxi, I am having long routes and bill switches quite often in known locations. About once a month for the former and once a year for the latter.

Next time you take a taxi, pretend to be in an intense phone call in English and just give the cabbie a building or street address. See what the cabbie does. Make the corrections when he deviates but you will find that pretending to be a newbie tourist does tempt a lot of cabbies.

Not at all true Bushes as has been repeated time and again on this thread by those of us who live here and use taxis ALL the time.

It's funny how we can go for 2 or 3 weeks or even 1 month on ISG without taxi stories at all and then suddenly we get a break-out of them.

You can be ripped off by taxis all over the world if you are not prepared for it. My good experiences with taxis is probably due to being proactive and aware of the scams (in Phils, Laos, Thailand and Mongolia). Although I don't agree with Bushes generalization (as shown above) I do agree with him that if the meter is not set at the start of the trip, get out and get another cab. Don't wait until he is 5 minutes into the trip.

.

[Wicked Roger]

Not at all true Bushes as has been repeated time and again on this thread by those of us who live here and use taxis ALL the time.

It's funny how we can go for 2 or 3 weeks or even 1 month on ISG without taxi stories at all and then suddenly we get a break-out of them.

You can be ripped off by taxis all over the world if you are not prepared for it. My good experiences with taxis is probably due to being proactive and aware of the scams (in Phils, Laos, Thailand and Mongolia). Although I don't agree with Bushes generalization (as shown above) I do agree with him that if the meter is not set at the start of the trip, get out and get another cab. Don't wait until he is 5 minutes into the trip.

Agreed as I use the white ones from T3 and never been ripped off ever. I have never had issues in Cebu ever. In Manila yes a few times but asking to put the meter on or return to the hotel and ask to find another taxi works wonders.

I have has as much or more trouble in other parts of the world such as Africa and NYC.

[Red Kilt]

All taxis, especially airport ones, will try to rip you off.

Not at all true Bushes as has been repeated time and again on this thread by those of us who live here and use taxis ALL the time.

It's funny how we can go for 2 or 3 weeks or even 1 month on ISG without taxi stories at all and then suddenly we get a break-out of them.

You can be ripped off by taxis all over the world if you are not prepared for it. My good experiences with taxis is probably due to being proactive and aware of the scams (in Phils, Laos, Thailand and Mongolia). Although I don't agree with Bushes generalization (as shown above) I do agree with him that if the meter is not set at the start of the trip, get out and get another cab. Don't wait until he is 5 minutes into the trip.

[Bushes]

Actually, DG thought the fare should have been P250. So tossing the taxi P150-P200 will still be in DG's favor while making his statement or point. To actually get an estimate is to do an Uber or Grab ride estimate. So DG doesn't lose any money but just actually get less of a discount on his "ride. " 100% discount is not the same as paying a premium to avoid trouble. We are only talking about paying USD4 to avoid trouble or taking USD5 in benefits or services.

Came across an interesting post on the Singapore and Dubai thread on paying real money to avoid trouble.

hhttp://www.internationalsexguide.in...=1#post2136680

I am of two minds on this issue.

Tossing him a pittance by our standards saves a lot of hassle, you can walk away for 200 p $US4 or spend time arguing, or spend a lot more if LE gets involved (they need their cut as well you know) or have some hassle later when the guy comes back with his buddies to talk about the issue.

Remember we are in an Asian culture where "face" is important. If someone with nothing else to lose loses "face" then they have nothing else to lose and everything to gain by regaining it, sometimes by violent means.

On the other hand tossing the 200 p just encourages it in the future..